THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #192 - March 4, 1997
THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #192
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Topics for Today:
Here's a BF5 midi file
I'm praying...
Lyrics and Fortune!
BFF: The Video
Tour Date in Phoenix??
BF5 tourdates in Japan (not posting to the list)
My Big Ben Weekend
What an album !!!!!!!!
Bff - lyrics
eXtra on NBC
BFF Sunday Times Review
Just curious... re: Pee-Shy...
ben folds five tour dates
Daisies in my footsteps....
==============================================================================
Date: Sat, 1 Mar 1997 14:59:27 -0500 (EST)
From: NakedVegan@aol.com
Subject: Here's a BF5 midi file
About a year ago I recorded a MIDI version of "Best Imititaion of
Myself". (I know, I know, so why has it taken me so long to share it
with you? The short answer is that I suck, okay?)
Anyway, I'm hoping that those folks with BF5 web pages may want to have
this file automatically play on their web pages when people visit.
Netscape 3.0 comes with a MIDI plugin, and for Netscape 2.0 you can
download a MIDI plugin and drop it into the Netscape Plugins folder.
After putting the midi file in the same directory as your web page, the
one line of code you need to add to your page is:
<EMBED SRC="imitation.mid" WIDTH=100 HEIGHT=64 autostart=true
loop=true>
Here's the catch: Although the MIDI file plays perfectly with my midi
sequencing software (Master Tracks Pro 6) using the built-in QuickTime
Musical Instruments on my Power Mac 7200 (the same sound source as my web
browser, Netscape 3.0), I can't get the MIDI file to play correctly after
I upload it to a web server and load it through Netscape. I just hear a
couple of random notes and that's all. I'm hoping any of you web or midi
gurus can tell me what's wrong. The midi file is in standard midi format
(not MasterTracks format). The midi file also plays fine using
MoviePlayer. It just doesn't play okay when I put it on the server and
load it through Netscape. However, OTHER midi files that I acquire
through web surfing play fine through Netscape. I can't figure it out.
The file is at http://members.aol.com/nakedvegan/imitation.mid
I have another file that plays almost okay, except the drums don't play.
That file is at:
http://members.aol.com/nakedvegan/punk.mid
Those of you who want the MIDI file for other purposes (other than web
pages), please wait until I get this web stuff hammered out and then I'll
post it.
Thanks,
Michael Bluejay (Austin, TX)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
King Cheese * Austin Music * Bicycling * KOOP Radio 91.7
All available on -----> ** http://members.aol.com/bestpages **
==============================================================================
Date: Sat, 1 Mar 1997 16:18:24 -0500
From: Me <saltman@wesleyan.edu>
Subject: I'm praying...
So here at good old Wesleyan University we have this day long event/concert
called Spring Fling, after the last day of classes. Here's a quote from the
Argus, our newspaper:
"The event, which will be held on Foss Hill May 1, may also host
such bands as Guster, comprised of 2 harmonizing guitar players and a
percussionist, and the Ben Folds Five, a bluesy folk rock group"
Oh my God. Setting aside for a moment the slightly bizarre description of
"the [?] Ben Folds Five" as a "bluesy folk rock group" (they should have
said punk rock for sissies, of course), that would be so fantastic. It
somehow seems unlikely, though. Nothing in my life could ever work out that
perfectly ;-)
Sarah
==============================================================================
Date: Sun, 2 Mar 1997 17:20:13 +0000 (GMT)
From: Stephen Levin <slevin@spuddy.mew.co.uk>
Subject: Lyrics and Fortune!
For those y'all that wear BFF T-Shirts:
Call this the cause of a cultural barrier or something but the line of
BoWCCL:
'I've got this great idea, why don't we pitch it to the Franklin f****n'
Mint'
Means absolutely nothing to me!!! Can someone shed some light on it
please?
Also, can anyone help decipher all the lyrics of the whole 'great idea'
bit? Mark Pipers 'version' quoted: 'Five year', but I'm sure Ben says
'Five litre'.. anyway, that's all a bit sad isn't it!!!!
Anyway, it was absolutely hilarious hearing 'For those y'all..' for the
first time.. it seemed to me like a piss-take-cross-over of both gangsta
rap AND Rage Against The Machine type bands.. can anyone shed any
light on what actually happened at the recording of this track, judging by
the dialogue at the end of the track, it sounds like an interesting little
anecdote!!
_
(.
._) t e v e
... Hey D. Hey D. You gonna let me in D.?
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 1997 01:59:44 -0500 (EST)
From: Boba Fett <bobafett@ekx.infi.net>
Subject: BFF: The Video
hi all...
i just saw the new video on mtv...finally, mtv plays something that
is fresh and exciting! I was very happy, considering the amount of time
that i have spent waiting and listening to others talk about the new song.
The video was well done and interesting...i had my finger on the record
button on my vcr. I noticed, to the chagrin of people who don't notice how
people look, their new haircuts and such...I must say that robert sledge is
kinda cute these days. sorry to ramble...anyways...its great!
Jessica B. Musselwhite (PLEASE mail me at school, I need communication with
normal humans!!!)
1 University Drive, CPO 595, Campbellsville, Kentucky 42718
bobafett@ekx.infi.net OR jmussel@campbellsvil.edu
"Why am I the witness? And when I capture it on film, will it mean that its
the end ...and I'm alone?" - Mark (from Jonathan Larson's "Rent")
"The kindest truths are often spoke, but never heard." -Ben Folds Five,
"Last Polka"
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 97 08:59:34 UT
From: Bruce Herrier <BHerrier@msn.com>
Subject: Tour Date in Phoenix??
Is there anybody else on the Armchair living in Arizona? I'm trying to track
down information on the now-uncertain April 9 date opening for Counting Crows
- first listed as Mesa Ampitheatre, then as Union Hall, and now there is no
listing at all. Did they cancel?
Also, some random pot-shots:
-Like most people on the list, BoWCCL doesn't grab me the same way that
"Underground" did, but that might be asking too much. We can only hope that
the unwashed masses out there are grabbed by BoWCCL - I think it's still a
really strong track.
-Anybody else stay up/tape "120 minutes" on a tip from a fellow Armchairite
only to curse at the screen after watching 117 minutes of crap (I exclude only
the Odds "Someone Who's Cool".)?
Bruce Herrier
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 03 Mar 1997 18:54:43 +0900
From: Chiori <chiori-t@ppp.fastnet.or.jp>
Subject: BF5 tourdates in Japan (not posting to the list)
Hi Frank,
I'm Chiori from Tokyo.
You might have already known about the tour dates in Japan,
but I just feel like to let you know when and where they'll
play so that you can update the page!
Dates:May 17, 18, 19, and 20
Venue:all of the dates at Akasaka Blitz
Tickets will be out on March 15, and I believe they'll be
sold out very soon! To tell the truth, 'Whatever and ever Amen'
has become really popular here in a month after released.
I saw them play last spring which was brilliant, and also in
this January at HMV when they came here for the promotion.
It will be the third time when I see them in May which I'm
expecting very much!
Hope this info helps you a bit.
from 'I wanna be Kate!', a fanatic of BF5...
ps Thanks for the Magical Armchair.
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 1997 06:48:10 -0500 (EST)
From: Rebecca.Cole@Mail.Trincoll.Edu, Rebecca Cole <rcole@Mail.Trincoll.Edu>
Subject: My Big Ben Weekend
Oh, what a weekend I had here in Glasgow. Cast yourself back to 3 pm on
Saturday, March 1, 1997. Sitting and waiting for a friend in the
International Arrivals area of the Glasgow International Airport, what
should to my wondering eyes appear but Ben Folds Five. First came Darren,
wheeling his bass drum, then some roadie-types, then Robert wiht his
bass, and finally Ben, who went over and kissed some woman (I really hope
it was his wife!). Loser that I am, I just sat and stared, saying
"ohmigod, it's Ben Folds Five. omigodomigod omigod." I suck. Turns out
that they were actually on my friend's flight from Amsterdam, but she was
asleep and didn't see them. Oh dear.
So then last night I went to the gig in Glasgow, got there really early,
stood RIGHT at the front, and loved every second of it. My first BF5
show. They played 8 songs from the first album ("Julianne" was the
coolest, beginning unrecognizably with a Samba-esque riff on the piano)
and mabe 7 or 8 new ones. Thanks to all of you Armchairites and your
comments on the new songs, I was able to get excited when they said "this
one is called 'Steven's Last Night In Town'," et cetera. The only
disappointment of the show for me was that they did no covers. The crowd
was screaming for "Champagne Supernova" and the band commented on how
they had done an Orbital cover but no one wanted to hear that. Then they
stared blankly at the crowd and Robert said "We have a help line you can
call." So no covers for me. Robert did have a bra on his head during the
encore, however, so that almost made up for it. But I'll be in London on
Friday and they're playing there then, so I'm going to attempt to procure
tickets. Happy girl!
And now I'm going downtown to buy the new album. What a wonderful world.
Rebecca
"F**k this f**kin' feedback, it's f**kin' up this song and it's making me
angry..." -Ben Folds
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 1997 14:32:30 GMT
From: Andy Hewitt <mbcx6adh@mh2.mcc.ac.uk>
Subject: What an album !!!!!!!!
Unbelievable .
The new album is soooooooooo good and groovy and fab and other such
words . From the bouncy opening of "1 Angry Dwarf..." and then
throught the excellent "Fair" past "Song for the dumped" (already a
classic) to the little gem that is "Kate" and on to the brilliant
version of "Steven's last night in town" and the superb single
"Battle..." this album has what it takes .
I've only heard these songs a few time and so I'm not too certain on
the slower songs , but then that's always my way and within a week
they might be my favourite songs ever ...
Ben and co. - KEEP UP THE AMAZING WORK
"Happy , happy . Joy , joy"
That's me that is ...
Andy
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 1997 16:12:35 GMT
From: Nia <and196@soton.ac.uk>
Subject: Bff - lyrics
Dear all,
Hope nobody already posted this but thought I'd let
all you deprived yanks know that the lyrics to the songs are
on the inlay of the new album (which I went out & bought
this morning & is brilliant of course) so in answer to the Q
about Battle Of it goes: .....FINE PEWTER PORTRAITS of
general apathy & major boredom.....
Well only 4 days now til THE gig & I can't wait! If
theres anyone here who's going to any of the other UK dates,
what did you think? (as by the time this gets to you they'll
surely be over!?!)
Bye for now, Nia.
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 1997 11:35:31 -0500 (EST)
From: Red Leader <mjt7742@is2.nyu.edu>
Subject: eXtra on NBC
At 11:20 am, March 3rd, someone on the eXtra news staff at NBC New York
decided to put some zest into one of their profiles. When interviewing
the guy who miskicked the million dollar shot in the probowl last year
(not the guy who won this year), they played snippets of about three or
four Ben Folds songs. These included Boxing (for an endearing part about
his new child), Where's Summer B?, and Sports & Wine. Those are the ones
I caught for sure. I don't know what makes Ben a popular clip choice?
How about more radio airplay instead...
Marc
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 1997 17:41:26 +0000
From: Marsh <winkie@easynet.co.uk>
Subject: BFF Sunday Times Review
hi all,
this is from yesterday's Sunday Times:
"When post-modernism came to Carolina, strange things were always
likely to happen, but nobdoy could have foreseen anything quite like
Ben Folds Five. The fact that they are three is neither here nor
there. The passing resemblance that Ben Folds, the frontman, bears
to Chevy Chase is more telling. That, as one music paper noted,
they have the gall to "sound like Billy Joel and Supertramp and
*still* rock" clinches it: this is an unusual group. The Joel
comparisons stem from the Five's use of piano instead of guitar.
Folds also sounds like he's shouting his wordy lyrics from the window
of a passing car, just as Joel did. And very funny they often are,
too. Nevertheless, this album is going to be a matter of taste. The
more abandoned, up-tempo tunes (such as the vibrant single, Battle of
Who Could Care Less), where the complex arrangements and tight vocal
harmonies twinkle, are the most immediate - but the rest grow on you.
On first isten, Whatever and Ever Amen might soulnd to the
uninitiated like a novelty record, but it is much more than that."
reviewed by Andrew Smith.
___
"When things start to feel right, you can count on me to start to doubt it"
Dog's Eye View "Everything Falls Apart"
winkie@easynet.co.uk
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 03 Mar 1997 20:10:03 -0500
From: "Brian R. Kessler" <bkessler@btv.ibm.com>
Subject: Just curious... re: Pee-Shy...
Andrea Merrifield wrote:
> hey there
> i was just wondering if anyone on the list was into pee-shy??if not
> , check out they're album "who let all the monkeys out?" it's really
> great....
> sorry about the non-bff
> content
Didn't Luna's Dean Wareham produce that album?
And any Barenaked people out there should force themselves to suffer thru
Beverly Hills OU812 on 3/26. BNL is gonna have three songs on the show:
"Life, In a Nutshell", "Brian Wilson", and "Old Apartment".
Peace, skiing, & music,
Brian
--
"Never seem to get far enough / Staying in between the lines..." - Son Volt
--------
Brian R. Kessler
Phone: 802-769-4617
e-mail: IBM Internal - BKESSLER at BTV Internet - bkessler@vnet.ibm.com
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 03 Mar 97 21:50:14 -0800
From: Brian Goolsby <goolsba4@wfu.edu>
Subject: ben folds five tour dates
Ben Folds Five will appear at Ziggy's in Winston-Salem, NC on March 27,
1997.
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 4 Mar 1997 12:25:01 GMT
From: Mark Piper <pipermf@ugs1.ph.bham.ac.uk>
Subject: Daisies in my footsteps....
So, finally, I get my grubby paws on the new CD. First impression: Good,
but not that good. Second impression: Bloody fantastic!
Anyone expecting another Jackson Cannery will be a bit
disappointed, at least until you realise that this is a far fuller and
more mature record than the first. I'm still not so fond of the production
on songs like One Angry Dwarf or Song For The Dumped.
I think it was Vox that called SFTD "puerile and clumsy", which I was a
bit incensed by, but you begin to realise that in the context of this
record, it is, and it never fits in easily. Most, if not all, of the songs
are far mellower, more introspective than the first record. Again, on
first listen, the addition of strings, horns and other assorted
instruments (accordians and Caleb Southern on Hammond included) seems
strange, but you soon realise it is needed, and adds much to the texture
of the record. "Brick" is intensly emotional, "Cigarette" is extremely
sad, but you can't help feel that there's a twist in it somewhere. Missing
The War and Evaporated are pretty unchanged from the demo versions, and
all the better for it. An extra verse has been added
to Missing The War, and is somewhat misplaced. Kate is just dappy really,
but a great song. Harmonies cannot be faulted, Darren and Robert
on song as ever.
And, my tip for best listening: Try it with headphones, it sounds
great.
And some other little observations:
Selfless, Cold and Composed sounds very much like "The Fountainhead" by
the Bluetones
R.E.M. link #1: The lyric in Fair "He shouted out his last word, as he
stumbled through the yard" -> R.E.M.'s 'Stumble' - "We'll stumble through
the yard..."
R.E.M. link #2: The sound of chirping crickets before and during Cigarette
is very reminiscent of the beginning of R.E.M.'s "You Are The Everything".
There was another R.E.M. link too, but I forget, and chances are they're
just coincidence, but Ben is a fan of R.E.M., right? I'm sure he's said
that before. (That phrase could be an R.E.M. link, but this is a bit
tedious now...)
Nice to see Frank get a mention on the sleeve. Can we take that as an
honourable mention for the list, Frank? Shame they never printed your
email address too....
And what does Ben have against Nashville : "Nashville should pay a quarter
and call someone who cares..." >8)
Anyway, enough already, check out my web page cos things are being added
all the time. By the time you read this, I should have all the lyrics for
the new album up there. And some nice pictures.
Looks, Brains and Everything - www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/5430/bff.html
Mark
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Maybe he wasn't mad, though we felt really strange for a moment