Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #83 - May 14, 1996
Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #83
Topics for Today:
The perfect weekend...
BF5: More on Polkas
Re: Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #82
uncle walter
Uncle Walter video
Re: Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #82
Come On...
Ben Folds Five news!
Re: Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #82
(no subject)
I've gotta go :-(
My Up and Coming Ben Folds Five Page
I missed it!!!!
post-punk? anti-industrial? pseudo-grunge?
Re: Uncle Walter video
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Date: Mon, 13 May 1996 11:55:24 -0500
From: Astro Moondoggie <brainstorm@basinlink.com>
Subject: The perfect weekend...
Sunday, at least. I got to see the best supercross race of the year,
then we went and saw Twister (what fx!), and as soon as we alked in the
door, what was playing on MTV? Uncle Walter! We rushed in thinking that
we'd have to rewind the VCR (since we were taping, of course), but got
home just in time to see the whole thing. Then of course we rewound and
watched again. And again.... Is it just us, or do Ben and the guys look
a lot like Kids in the Hall as old ladies? As catholic school girls
they're just frightening :)
Astro
"I see that there is evil, and I know that there is good, but the
in-betweens I've never understood."
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Date: Mon, 13 May 1996 13:18:29 -0400
From: PowerVegan@aol.com
Subject: BF5: More on Polkas
Somebody wrote about how "The Last Polka" isn't really a polka since it
doesn't use traditional polka instruments. To this, Marc/Marge Bouvier
wrote:
>> 2)A polka is a Polish dance song that makes use of the beats 2 & 4 in the
measure. Say "Ump chick" eight times, fast. The song is reminiscent of
polka, at least the first part is.
That's certainly true, and in fact, a lot of polkas are scored as 2/4 time
instead of 4/4. Another characteristic of many polkas is that the bass line
alternates between the 1st and 5th, and BF5's song does the same thing. When
the chord is D, the bass alternates between D/A; on Gm, the bass alternates
between G/D, etc.
For contemporary polka music, check out Brave Combo or Weird Al Yankovic (who
by the way, just released a medley of indie songs called "Alternative
Polka").
"A deranged sandwich is not so food." -- Alice Chilton
-- Michael Bluejay (Austin, TX)
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Date: Mon, 13 May 1996 13:35:59 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Donna L. Hokanson" <hokansod@goldey.gbc.edu>
Subject: Re: Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #82
When was the Uncle Walter video on? I taped 120 minutes last night just
in case. Hope I got it.
Donna
[Just before the end of the first hour. -fjm]
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 13 May 1996 15:10:39 -0400 (EDT)
From: Jenn Halter <jlh4935@email.unc.edu>
Subject: uncle walter
Saw the vid last night and enjoyed it very much. at first my housemates
(unversed in the chapel hill music scene) were annoyed at my insistance
to watch for BFF. BUT- they were enthralled when it came on and had
familiar sights from our very own town of carrboro! I wonder when they
filmed this and where was I that day?:)
I had to explain that other chapel hill bands of 120 fame (superchunk,
Archers) have also done videos in CH and Carborro, like the one SC did at
Chi Phi!
Anyway- I enjoyed the video very much and then this morning i got a card
in the mail from the fan club encouraging people to request it!
I certainly will...
jenn "We are the music and the music is us"--TS Elliot
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 13 May 1996 15:44:19 -0400
From: Hotdoglove@aol.com
Subject: Uncle Walter video
I personally want to say that I thought this video was very funny. I thought
that the band looked very different from how they look in person at a
concert. Robert always seems to look shorter in pictures to me. My little
sister(who declined her invitation to the BFF concert) said that the video
reminded her of the Presidents Of The United States. What do you folks think
of that? I also wanted to know if the band made this video in Atlanta or
not. I know that Ben had a cracked rib on the night of the concert in
Atlanta and they said it was 'cause of the "Uncle Walter" video.
Bye!
Sara
<I love you, you're my friend, but you got no philosophy!>
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 13 May 1996 13:25:13 -0700
From: edahn@sprynet.com
Subject: Re: Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #82
Can anybody accuailly play any of their songs on the piano? My friend plays
piano, and it would be cool if he learned some of the songs, I can play bass,
though I prefer guitar.
Curtis
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Date: Mon, 13 May 1996 16:57:59 -0400
From: AGottl5648@aol.com
Subject: Come On...
That was a great video! I liked...well, just about everything. I have it on
tape, so now I can watch it whenever I feel that jones. On another note, I
was going to say something about not getting any snail-mail from the band,
but I got a postcard about the video today. It's always nice to get mail.
Lastly, I WANT LIVE BEN FOLDS FIVE SHOWS, so e-mail me personally.
ADAM
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 13 May 1996 17:04:50 -0500
From: Caroline Records
Subject: Ben Folds Five news!
Here are some new tour dates, info on the Summer ep, and the next UK single.
Also, here's the viewer request number for MTV - maybe if all the fans
called up, they'd bump it up to Alternative Nation! Maybe.... :)
212-258-8700
It would be great to have the fans calling their radio stations and MTV. We
don't have regional promotions people like major labels or else they'd do
that.
The Summer ep was made for Triple A radio stations. It's got a picture disk
and lyrics printed on the bottom tray card. The catalog number is PSR
BF5PRO2, but it's not for sale.
1. Where's Summer B.? album version (4:06)
2. Where's Summer B.? edit (4:06)
3. Video (4:07)
4. Alice Childress (4:25)
Tour
Thu. 5/30 Charleston, SC Music Farm
Fri. 5/31 Columbia, SC Rockefella's
Sat. 6/01 Jacksonville, FL Milk Bar
Mon. 6/3 Orlando, FL Sapphire Supper Club
Tue. 6/4 W. Palm Beach, FL Carefree Theatre
Wed. 6/5 Gainesville, FL The Covered Dish
Fri. 6/7 Birmingham, AL Five Points South
Sat. 6/8 Memphis, TN Omni New Daisy
Mon. 6/10 Nashville, TN 328 Performance
Thu. 6/12 Pittsburgh, PA Graffiti
The next UK single is "Where's Summer B.?" The b-side on the 7" single is
a live version of "Tom & Mary". The CD-single will also have a live
version of "Emmaline" which has never been heard anywhere ever. Except, of
course, live.
The live version of "Tom & Mary" is what is on the Japanese cd.
Everybody here votes for "Magical Armchair", but,then we would!
[When you call the 212- number for MTV, you get a menu tree that
allows you to register a comment (press 1, then 1) or to request a
specific video (press 1, then 5), but that selection tells you that to
request a video, call 800-DIAL-MTV at 5:30 PM Eastern. I recorded a
comment anyway, and plan to call the 800 number later. -fjm]
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 13 May 1996 16:23:59 -0400 (EDT)
From: fender@grove.ufl.EDU
Subject: Re: Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #82
Hey All,
I'm just slightly worried about this "punk or not punk" issue and
bands being judged by the total # of chords in their songs. As for the
latter, it seems that most people tend to ignore the great importance of
the other elements that make up great songs like great melodies, hooks,
vocal harmonies. We're pretty lucky that this band has a great sense of
all these qualities. As for the next album, I really hope they stick w/
Caleb and keep the quality songwriting and arrangement skills that made
the first so powerful. I'm a little worried that "Bad Idea" may be what
the guys are pushing toward. Sure, it's a rocker, but lyrically...
Cmon. As for the "punk" thing, to me they just sound like great pop with
an edge. Do we really need this outdated label? If you wanna see how
depressing punk is, go rent "The Decline of Western Civilization (#1)."
Sure, it has its charm, but I think it's a little far to make this
categorization... Do we think they're punk or do we want others or
ourselves to think that they're punk to give them more appeal. (It may
be "cooler" to call them a piano-punk band than to have to admit you like
fun pop music.) Now that that's off my chest, I need to get back to
listening to my favorite post-punk-rock-for-sissies-retro-piano-fun-pop
band... I must also shamelessy plug weezer for their fun-pop-with-loud
-guitars and also the Old 97's for putting the bang back in twang. Have
fun everyone!
Bye now!
Steve.
fender@grove.ufl.edu
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 13 May 1996 19:51:39 -0400 (EDT)
From: "d.p.w." <jgore@nrv.net>
Subject: (no subject)
Ok, I'm putting in my vote for the name "Magicial Armchair" That's cool with
me :)
I personally thought that the video for "Uncle Walter" rocked!! That is one
of the most creative videos that I have seen on MTV in a long time. I just
hope MTV starts playing it more. Is there anyway for us to e-mail MTV and
say "Hey, listen dammit...you bess play this GRAND video!!!!!!" :)
jason
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Date: Mon, 13 May 96 11:23:16 EDT
From: reissige@alpha.montclair.edu
Subject: I've gotta go :-(
Hello all!
My name is Beth and I have been on the mailing list for a while now, but
since school ends tomorrow I'm going to take a temporary leave from the
list. I will be back at the end of the summer though cause I love Ben
Folds Five, and it's great to hear news about them. I just wish they would
have a concert in the NY,NJ area. Mabye lollapalooza....
Oh well that's all for now!
-Beth
P.S.-Uncle Walter 4 President!!!!!!!
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 13 May 1996 22:08:20 -0400
From: Ruprecht76@aol.com
Subject: My Up and Coming Ben Folds Five Page
Hey everybody...
I've just finished the beginning touches of my Ben Folds Five Page...
Unfortunately due to some Hacker breaking into the Dragonfire server they had
to change all the Passwords and I will not have access to my account for some
time... when I do get access the page should be at the address
http://www.dragonfire.net/~Ruprecht/bf5.html the page is mediocre at best,
but if you want to see what it should look like in about in a month or so,
take a look at my They Might Be Giants page...
a spooky man named me
"How do you think that I survived the other 25 before you?"
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 14 May 1996 01:02:59 -0400 (EDT)
From: ST942523@PIP.CC.BRANDEIS.EDU
Subject: I missed it!!!!
I can't believe this! I have had finals and all for the past few days, and
the one time i couldn't check my email, i missed the news about the video
premeire! If anyone knows how i can see it, i would be so grateful...since I
am not a big fan of MTV, i do not think i will be able to stand watching
constantly, even for BF5...
also, what CD is "tom and mary" on? this is, i think, the only song that
I do not have on CD that is out there...
last thing...just my $.02 on "the truth about cats and dogs"...i really liked
the movie...it was light and funny, kind of a nice change...yeah, it was
relatively predictable,but the point of the movie was not the suspense...
and while i do not love "bad idea", it was played at the perfect scene!
everyone should see this, even if just for BF5!
later all!
melanie
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Date: Mon, 13 May 1996 23:44:06 -0700
From: "C. H. Mod" <aard@rupp.rupp.com>
Subject: post-punk? anti-industrial? pseudo-grunge?
haven't posted to the list before. hi everyone, from sunny (cough cough)
scottsdale, arizona.
first off, this punk stuff. to me <opinion begins here>, green day,
offspring, et all, are not punk. nor have they ever been punk. these
groups are filling a genre that today is called punk (or more accurately,
punk rock), when groups like dead kennedy s started the "punk" thing, with
political songs like 'holiday in cambodia,' or 'california uber alles.'
punk was not meant to be 'stupid' or 'obnoxious,' as green day seems to
like to act. many early punk acts had something to say and, in my
opinion, u sed loud, rebelling music to make waves (and start things like
the tipper gore censorship affair). this new-school punk rock is
completely meaningless in that political perspective <opinion off. direct
flames to me, not to the list, please>. but then, what difference does it
make? i tell people that bff is "a bassist, a drummer, and a pianist."
that usually scares them off anyways.
wish i had cable and could have seen the uncle walter video. the best
i've done is the little quicktime of underground. yuck.
the only lolla show in arizona is going to be in tucson, 2 hours south of
metro phoenix. anyone else in the phoenix area on the list? think it's
worth the drive? i'm really unsure as to whether or not to go.
anyone seen bff posters? i found one at a local record store, so i asked
the nice man that worked there if it was for sale, and if not, how much he
wanted for it. he smiled and said i could have it free. it's small-ish
as far as posters go. i'd love t o pick up more of these if there is a
source. i'd also kill for a t-shirt if anyone has one or knows where i
could procure one, please email me. in fact, how about any merchandise?
i'm desparate, nobody in arizona has heard of, much less likes bff. i' ve
yet to hear it on the radio here. thank goodness for east coast friends.
sorry about the long post, just wanted to add my two cents to the list.
glad it's here for the rant. =)
--aard
--aard@rupp.com
"boiling, i am burning, i'm losing the hold on the life that i had" - InSoc
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 14 May 1996 08:43:43 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Donna L. Hokanson" <hokansod@goldey.gbc.edu>
Subject: Re: Uncle Walter video
I saw the Uncle Walter Video. It was cool!! I wish they showed more of
Ben playing the piano though. I was showing my mom the video (cause I've
been taping 120 minutes for the last couple weeks) and I was like -- here
they are my favorite band from South by SouthWest. I kept telling her
what a great (wild and crazy) piano player Ben was. But they didn't show
enough of him. I would have liked to see him play it with his foot, the
chair (and his elbow more).
But overall it was cute. Robert looked good.
Donna
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