Frank and Moon Zappa Talk "Valley Girl" | Letterman 

You can just sense the intelligence and wit of both Zappa's.

She's astonishingly articulate, witty and inteligent for a 14 year old. Well, no suprize there considering who's daughter she is ...

Wow! Moon was more mature as a 14 yo than most of our elected officials today.

You can tell Dad is proud of her. He's trying so hard not to step on her lines.

My grandma once casually said "Oh Yeah, Frank Zappa - we used to have dinner with him and his wife sometimes." WHAT???? OMG

I miss Frank, he was so intelligent. Moon was impressive for a 14 year old in this interview. She was mature beyond her years in this interview.

My brother baby sat Moon and Dweezel Zappa when Frank had family in Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii back in the late 60s!!!!! Time certainly flies.

"I'd like to do a Hawaiian Punch commercial." -Moon (Unit) Zappa. Classic!

I grew up in Studio City, California, and knew Zappas kids, a little bit. We had mutual friends, etc. Frank definitely raised his kids well. They aren't perfect, like most of us. They were a lot of fun. Good people. Miss Frank so much!!

Moon is incredibly Poised, Charming and Pleasant. She must have a Great dad!

I was amazed when Moon announced she was only 14 here. She showed the poise, confidence and ability to intelligently engage as someone with much experience. Kudos to Frank.

The best part is watching the pride in Frank's face everytime Moon speaks so colloquially and succinct. I would be equally as proud as a father.

We lived in "the valley". Used to see Frank, his wife, and kids around, a lot. Spoke with all of them, many times. Super nice, engaging, and fun family. Frank was a real genius in many ways, but always listened, and was interested in whoever he was speaking with. His kids were the same way. Good parenting. Moon was several years younger than me, but I had a crush on her, when she was older than this clip. Really cute, and quick witted Great family, and a great time associating with all of them.

Wow, just blown by how mature and poised Moon Unit was throughout the entire interview. I had almost forgotten this album and the unrelated movie that followed. Valley Girls were definitely a phenomenon that swept the country.

"A mind is like a parachute, it needs to be open to work". - Frank Zappa.

She is more intelligent and mature at 14 than most 25 year olds today.

"Hawaiian punch commercial, or an Encino housewife"

My roommate in 1979 was obsessed with Frank Zappa and I still thank him for introducing him to me.

Frank Zappas charisma and musical genius combined with his one of a kind uniqueness is totally awesome. Such an out of this world guy who still seems completely down to earth. R.I.P.

My jaw dropped when she said she's 14

Moon is hysterically funny. Such poise

He was brilliant. Too many people wrote him off as weird, but he was incredibly intelligent.

I used to love when Moon was VJ'ing on MTV. Her sense of humor had me in stitches.

Never been a big fan of his music but I seriously enjoy EVERY interview I have ever seen with Frank. Very smart and witty guy.

Letterman had only been on the air for about 7 months at this point. I fondly remember staying up late and watching many of those shows.

I saw Frank Zappa in concert in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, about 1988. A young woman tried to climb up on stage but security grabbed her. Frank had her put up onto the top of a huge bank of speakers where she couldn't get down. She sat perched up there for a couple hours about 16 feet above the stage. Concert was great.

She's so mature sounding, my jaw dropped when she said she was 14 years old. She has a strong command of the english language. So does her father ...he taught her well.

You can tell they've answered the names question so many times that they're ruthlessly well-prepared for it.

Frank has such a sly and knowing smile in this.

The look she gave when Dave said she must be making a lot of money of the song. Lol. Quick witted just like her dad.

Thank you for this. Frank Zappa was a great man. He is missed. He did as much as he could to introduce the world to the great music of the 20th century.

Frank Zappa is the man. One of the original GOATs.

That was a LOT of fun. Love their dry wit.

"life was pretty sick back then, wasn't it?" The look, that statement, perfect.

Dweezil is such an awesome musician

Always a delight to see this man!

I just smiled through this whole interview. The world needs more genuine people like these two. Please excuse me now. I am going to jam out to "Valley Girl" now. Peace everyone! ✌️

My husband went to the same school and had playdates with Dweezil. There are some colorful parenting stories.

Why is it, that through the awesomeness that is Frank; there is a "squidward is not impressed" shining through...years before there ever even WAS a "Squidward"🤣 Moon is a doll😍 Frank sure let his daughter shine😎 This is legendary awesomeness🙏

Frank, being on a level several stories above the audience

The humor in this is subtle perfection.

Fantastic! RIP Frank

Frank Zappa is a very interesting character. It's like he knows so much that he does not talk about.

One of my all-time favorite Zappa clips (along with this one) was when he appeared on Crossfire and deep-fried those bloviating meatheads over music censorship.

oozing guru wisdom. how solid they both are in manner, how relaxed they are in this most intense of spotlights. if that's weird, we all need to be weirder.

Frank Zappa was on another level😉 A very cool dude.

I laughed so hard when in the beginning Dave was talking about how successful her dad was and she rolled her eyes

I love Frank and Moon and the whole family. They are wonderful people that are all amazing.

AMAZING how Dave turned the interview around

Frank is the cooolest dude ever. Great musician and saw thing just a little clearer than most. Rest in peace.

Zappa helped me through my teenage years.

Frank was brilliant and moon shines

Interesting Frank factoid. I don't know of any other music artist who only had one Top 40 hit, Valley Girl, in this instance, and *never* performed that song live in concert. That's Frank Zappa, ladies and gentlemen.

My first Zappa album was Overnite Sensation ! Love that to this day ! since the early 70s !

Frank has always owned the coolest facial hair

Incredible composer; saw his som, Dweezel, a few years ago in concert carrying on his father’s musical legacy. Excellent band.

Imagine having such a great artist on your show and asking about the names of his children. Seems like a bit of a wasted opportunity.

I was 15 when the "Valley Girls" single was released. I purchased it, the 12" single edition, with a picture sleeve. On that photo, Moon's hair was shoulder-length. She'd cut it, by the time they made this appearance on Letterman. It's always a pleasure to watch Frank Zappa speak. Just to look into his eyes, and feel the wheels turning...One knows a great intellect is processing. I have grown to appreciate Frank's recording career. No one else ever did what Frank did. It's beyond analysis: either you find it intriguing, or, not. In 2023, I found myself getting obsessed with his albums again. It keeps my brain happy, to listened again and again, trying to figure it all out. It was great to see this clip.

Good to see Frank wearing shoes. I remember he'd come to parent-teacher open house sans shoes. I still love Moon's "Valley Girl" speak!! Nostalgia!

Holy cow 14 that's crazy my 50 year old brain would have thought older for sure. She seems so mature for 14 that's wild.

I was also 14 when this came out and I had the album. I loved them both! Moon is one day older than I am. All the girls spoke valley girl including me because of this album!

Frank was a genius and to me a funny comedian with his lyrics.

Frank and Moon with the 80`s perm🤣🤣

This is the side of Frank Zappa that I wish more people knew. I love his music, but his social commentary is spot on. He's no fool and wouldn't be played for one by anybody.

Who remembers Frank Zappa's album "Jazz From Hell" getting a parental advisory sticker, despite being an instrumental with no lyrics?

I am from the Philippines and I like Frank Zappa 's music.

Proud dad.

This was where it all started for me. I was not a Valley Girl but I could sound like one. I loved Frank Zappa but this song❤️❤️

I still have this Zappa record in my collection. had no Idea what a ship ariving too late was about. but still like it.

Saw Zappa live in 1981 at the Stanley Theater in Pittsburgh. My very first concert!

I love them both awesome people.

Takes me back to Filmore West in San Francisco. When Frank preformed The MudSharks. Epic !

Frank just epitomized indifference. He seems like someone who would rather be anywhere else than on TV.

I adored this family..Growing up in middle class America when all my friends were Valley style preppy types. I was a black kid into break dancing, Billy Idol, Madonna, and Duran Duran..So I mixed well into just about any social dynamic..but I was such a closet Valley guy.

Best valley girl impression ever.

Frank was always ahead of the curve.

love them so much. and I so miss Frank.🖤

It's times like this I wished Zappa was still alive! Could you imagine him on between two ferns with Zack "oh what's his name?"

To appreciate the genius of Frank Zappa, you have to understand his sense of humor, and in the case of his daughter, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.

That was like, totally awesome! For sure!!

What a treat. Thanks.

The world was a better place with Frank in it.

One of the oddest, strangest, most bizarre bunch of people ever.

Man, I love that novelty song!

Dave definitely doesn’t know how much of a musical genius frank was. Frank is for sure one of the people we lost too soon.

Man I miss Frank a lot. Get his book if you can, it's awesome. A real genius.

She mocked Valley girls way before mocking them became a trend.

I know exactly what it’s like to grow up in The Valley. I grew up in North Hollywood and I remember that song. I also have the movie Valley Girl” with Nickolas Cage. Good times.

Frank was a smart guy he knew what was going on in the world

Frank's Dad was a Nuclear Scientist who worked on some Top Secret stuff.

Wow! Thank you for the video

I love Frank Zappa. Went to See him in concert in San Francisco at the Filmore in the late 60s.. changed me forever ❤️

I remember as a teenager, sneeking in the exit and up the back stairs to the balcony at the movie theater to watch "1001 Motels" over and over again. I must have been 15 years old.

Frank Zappa had charisma!

Great interview! Always been a fan of FZ I believe he had another interview with Barbara Walters and her inquiry about naming his children and if he thought it would be difficult for them, Frank responded that it was not their first name that will cause them problems.

They broke the mold when they made Frank.

Had a pic of moon unit in my locker in middle school, the start of my love for progressive rock music and valley girls😂

She has her father’s personality and sense of humor.

We need Frank's wisdom today now more than ever. Man was a genius.

14 she acts 24..amazing