America the Beautiful by Moon Unit Zappa

But none of this became how she defined herself. She and her dad, Frank Zappawere heralded for their iconic hit, “Valley Girl” - and every girl emulated and revered her, not really getting that she was our pop culture’s sociologist creating satirical layered cultural commentary.Ī few years later, MTV premiered “Let’s Talk About It”– another great song from the 80s with her brother Dweezil. Moon spoke to us and mocked the superficiality of America’s culture, specifically LA, and specifically “The Valley” – through our AM/FM speakers. When I say she was the voice of the 80s, she was. Early in her years through her music and MTV commentary - and later in her years through the written word. She could grasp and see what was ironic and absurd and noteworthy among our peers and in our world – and then would release it creatively on a variety of platforms. She embodied all that was beauty and confidence, hilarity and high spirits – and modesty.Īn Interview With the Exceptional Moon Zappaĭespite being the cultural icon of the MTV GENERATIONand a staple in the in-crowd who was frequently featured in all the teen mags, she somehow always seemed to be the low key outsider looking in, rather than the provincial self-obsessed insider looking within.

Moon was adorned in an ivory lace vintage dress, a thick brown leather belt, combat boots and an air of comfortable playfulness. Our beloved late friend JJ was chic and cool and precocious (she was obsessed with The Smiths, Poison perfume and blackberry lipstick as a preteen) – and she always brought me to all sorts of cool places filled with eccentric and creative artists and musicians. I met Moon Zappa many moons ago – at a house party in the Hollywood Hills when I was a kid.

America the Beautiful by Moon Unit Zappa