THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #402 - July 20, 1997
Magical Armchair Digest Sunday, July 20 1997 Volume 01 : Number 402
THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
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TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:
addendum
Magical Armchair Digest V1 #400 -Reply
Magical Armchair Digest V1 #401 -Reply
Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #400
HORDE in Irvine...Argh!
Revision/BFF lyrics
Schools, lost address...what?
Neil Young's fine words of approval
Re: Kate Singles
Videos
Tori Amos vs. Ben Folds
Ben Folds vs. Tori Amos
When is the Sessions on 54th Street
Gen-X Commentary
Ben Vs. Tori....
What Ben Folds Thinks of Tori Amos
KATE! single(s)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 1997 20:05:49 -0400 (EDT)
From: Eggasaurus@aol.com
Subject: addendum
damn typo!
that's "advantage".
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 1997 21:22:38 -0400
From: Michael Hirsch <MICHAELH@awl.com>
Subject: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #400 -Reply
This is an automated response.
I will be out of the office until Monday, July 21, at which
time I will respond to your e-mail to me. If this is urgent,
please contact Deborah Collins (debbieco@aw.com).
- -Michael Hirsch
District Sales Manager
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(800) 260-6170 x2539
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 1997 21:24:36 -0400
From: Michael Hirsch <MICHAELH@awl.com>
Subject: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #401 -Reply
This is an automated response.
I will be out of the office until Monday, July 21, at which
time I will respond to your e-mail to me. If this is urgent,
please contact Deborah Collins (debbieco@aw.com).
- -Michael Hirsch
District Sales Manager
Addison Wesley Longman
(800) 260-6170 x2539
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 1997 22:15:37 -0400
From: John Wroton <jcwroton@mindspring.com>
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #400
In a recent Armchair, someone wrote,
> Speaking of having been under 21 once upon a time...every time I hear
> Summer
> B., I think back to the time I spent in school in Chapel Hill and one
> specific summer evening at the Hard Back Cafe. (Ironically, I think
> Summer
> might actually have arrived at the end of that summer. Even more
> ironic,
> someone introduced us once at the corner of Rosemary and Cameron.
> These
> were the days before Ben Folds Five, so I'm guessing it's a
> coincidence.)
Just wanted to let everyone know that Ben is either remembering
incorrectly or is just trying to hide the true location when he sings "
down by the Rosemary and Cameron" because those two streets are parallel
and don't intersect. To whoever wrote the above, you must also be
remembering incorrectly. The streets that intersect are Rosemary and
Columbia. Maybe Ben thought Cameron fit better than Columbia - I don't
know!!
Anyway, I live about 1/4 mile from Cameron, so I'm confident in what I
am saying.
Hope I didn't burst anyone's bubble! :-)
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 1997 23:32:07 -0400 (EDT)
From: GenLand18@aol.com
Subject: HORDE in Irvine...Argh!
<<well, first off, we must be fans of the most social band in the world. i
spotted both Darren and Robert wandering around several times, and then,
around nine, they were at the HORDE music booth signing autographs, so bring
something you want signed!! i think there were posters, too, but they were
all gone when i got there. i
think there were stickers, also, 'cause i saw one on a sign as i was leaving,
and pealed it off.>>
Well, all I have to add to this: ARGH!!! DAMN IT! Figures that while I was
being bored by Primus (Les Claypool tried his best... but their set was
uninspiring) Ben and crew would be signing autographs! Crap.
But anyway, the entire H.O.R.D.E. experience was nice and pleasant. The
Second Stage completely stole the limelight from the Main Stage... I only
wished their sets could have been extended. I was impressed with Sky Cries
Mary. Ben Folds Five and Morphine played amazing sets... but too damn short.
I noticed someone wearing a "I was never cool in school.." shirt during BFF,
which was pretty rad. My ears were completely numb after standing too close
to the speakers. And luckily I spotted the guy handing out the Ben Folds
Five stickers, and I asked the guy for a few. =) I should've asked for
more!
Anyway, I think BFF play the exact same songs for H.O.R.D.E., because I
noticed someone from the Armchair writing down the exact same setlist (which
was, in case there are curious souls: "One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn
Faces," "Fair," "Smoke," "Kate," "Theme from Dr. Pyser," "Philosophy.").
Oh yeah, you actually had to pay for the Squirrel Nut Zippers stickers, which
were $2 a pop. But I grabbed a few SNZ postcards and matchbooks from a booth
to add to my little collection. And yes, SNZ were completely awesome. But
it was hard to connect with them with me being all the way up in the lawn
section (I shouldn't complain, really. It wasn't like I paid for my
tickets).
Okay, I made a huge blunder by watching Primus instead of hanging around the
booths for Ben. What a painful thing to live with! =)
**Leslie**
P.S. This has probably been discussed before, but the Lounge- A- Palooza
compilation is due Oct. 7 on Hollywood Records. It's going to feature BFF's
cover of "She Don't Use Jelly."
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 1997 21:37:37 -0600 (MDT)
From: Jen Blum <junebug@realresource.com>
Subject: Revision/BFF lyrics
Hey all,
For any confused souls, I obviously mean "Beck" instead of "Back" when I was
commenting on good bands missing from the SLC HORDE show. (Goshdarnit, I
wanted my first post to the armchair to be free from confusion... now I
might have two posts in one issue! Yippee!)
To add BFF content:
I rarely read the lyrics that come with CDs until it is too late and I've
already made up my own words to songs. One of my most recent examples...a
few months ago, I finally looked at the booklet for Whatever, and discovered
that, hmmm, I'd been singing the WRONG WORDS to Battle for quite some time.
Uh oh. Now I know those folks that think I'm talking to myself in the car
(and not singing just a bit off key) could probably "care less", too, but
I've actually tried to correct myself. The problem is that I kind of like
the new lyric I came up with (apologies to the band)--I've been singing "why
don't we _break_ into the Franklin f**in Mint and find pewter portraits"
etc. The image of someone breaking into that abstraction known as the
Franklin Mint was quite amusing to me. I think I might have been intrigued
by their "Wildlife animal stamp/envelope" selection when I was six, but
never quite progressed to the Civil War chess set.
Maybe I need a hearing aid or something...or maybe I need to cut back on
loud shows. Has anyone else made other amusing substitutions? Let me
know--it'd be funny to add to my website-to-be.
Jen B.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 19 Jul 1997 01:56:25 -0400
From: liz <lizrob@mindspring.com>
Subject: Schools, lost address...what?
Hi,
A little while ago someone on the armchair asked if Ben had gone to school
at UNC-Chapel Hill or Duke. I responded privately, that he was not
affiliated with either and she seemed offended. Now I've lost the address of
this person so I'm quickly responding to a message she sent to me. To set
the record straight, Ben went to UNC-Greensboro. One more thing, I live in
Chapel Hill just as she does and my remark was not intended to offend this
little town.
Elizabeth
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 19 Jul 1997 02:34:40 -0400
From: liz <lizrob@mindspring.com>
Subject: Neil Young's fine words of approval
I have been told that while Neil Young was being interviewed on KROC a few
days ago the interviewer asked him (and I'm paraphrasing), "What attraction
would you suggest people see on the HORDE tour?" He answered, "Well, Ben
Folds Five, they've got a piano and a string section...they've got
everything..."
Sounds good to me!
Elizabeth
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 19 Jul 1997 08:50:28 -0400 (EDT)
From: Richard Trott <trott@nbcs.rutgers.edu>
Subject: Re: Kate Singles
> Date: Fri, 18 Jul 1997 11:37:54 -0500
> From: punkerboy@webtv.net (JOHN SCHOLTES, Jr.)
> Subject: Kate Singles
>
> Does anyone know what songs are on the Kate single with the yellow
> J-card and pics of some girl on it?
If you mean the one with the brownish-yellow J-card (I don't know of
any other one with a yellow J-card) the songs are:
Kate
Mitchell Lane
All Shook Up
Kate is right of the WaEA album.
Mitchell Lane is a little bit interesting. Piano played through a chorus
effect, I think. Mellow. Floating chords. Pleasant chorus.
All Shook Up (which is the Elvis tune) is an absolute riot the first 50 or
so times you hear it. (On a recent road trip, some friends and I
programmed the CD player to play it over and over again. After the 12th
consecutive time, someone finally insisted we listen to something else.)
It's about two minutes long and is not terribly respectful of the
original. ;-)
Richard Trott
trott@nbcs.rutgers.edu
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 19 Jul 1997 10:24:21 -0400
From: "Fred or Sarah" <fantonan@bcn.net>
Subject: Videos
I was reading someone's response to the newsletter saying that they had a
couple new videos ready for MTV and how that person was worried about being
overplayed, as MTV typically does. I got to thinking and discovered that I
don't think BFF have to worry about being overplayed...perhaps underplayed
is more like it. For like the last six weeks, or however long I've been
home from school, I have watched 120 Minutes religiously and I also stay up
at night to catch the freebie hour of M2 almost every night..and rather
than being rewarded with a glimpse of the boys, I get sore eyes and tired.
The only video I've ever seen is Uncle Walter, I think once, perhaps twice.
I feel cheated! Anyways...well..I guess that's it..thank you for your time
and have a lovely day or night, depending on when you read this.
Sarah :)
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 19 Jul 1997 11:03:51 -0400 (EDT)
From: Anne008@aol.com
Subject: Tori Amos vs. Ben Folds
Really, folks, I'll have to say that I don't believe in comparing musicians,
even if it spawns a wonderful debate. Tori Amos and Ben Folds are completely
different. They have different subject matter, different voice ranges, and
they are of different sexes, respectively. I don't think it's right to judge
the better of anyone, let alone two very separate, independent people.
Basically, the only thing they have in common is the piano. And anyway, this
newsletter isn't about Tori Amos, it's about Ben Folds Five.
I don't mean to offend anyone, and I'm only 14 anyway so don't be too hard on
me in response to this.
~Anne
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 19 Jul 1997 11:51:53 -0400 (EDT)
From: TheDanOne@aol.com
Subject: Ben Folds vs. Tori Amos
Hello friends.
Somebody posed the question of who is a better piano player, Ben Folds
or Tori Amos. I'm not sure who is more talented, but I would bet money that
Tori Amos couldn't play most of bff's stuff. Ben Folds played the drums as a
kid, and when he switched over to piano, he brought a percussive element to
the instrument. This is very unique, to my knowledge. Secondly Ben Folds is
left-handed, and his power comes from the left side of the piano. These are
just some theories, so feel free to prove me wrong.
I know there are alot of people on this list from Minneapolis. For those
that listened to Revolution Radio, I've started an email discussion group
similar to this for those that want to talk about former Rev DJs, radio
diversity, or just good music. To join go to
http://members.aol.com/TheDanOne/revolution.htm.
Dan Haugen
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 19 Jul 1997 12:48:33 -0400 (EDT)
From: Michael Silver <silver1@freenet.tlh.fl.us>
Subject: When is the Sessions on 54th Street
When is the Sessions on 54th Street going to be broadcast?
If anyone knows, please e-mail me and post in maillist.
Forever grateful,
Thanx!
_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_
Michael Silver
silver1@freenet.tlh.fl.us
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Alley/5096
http://www.freenet.tlh.fl.us/~silver1 (Mirror sight)
http://www.afn.org/~afn43495
_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 19 Jul 1997 13:05:55 -0400 (EDT)
From: LindaNikon@aol.com
Subject: Gen-X Commentary
In a message dated 97-07-18 02:46:40 EDT, you write:
<< From: Smarshal1@aol.com
Subject: Pogoing and Gen-X
When you guys are talking about pogoing and identifying yourself as
Gen-Xers,
that kinda ticks me off. By saying this you are classifying yourselves into
one group. Nobody says look at those 40 year olds, Gen-Olders. You get my
drift. The only person you are is you. So just be who you are. thanx for
listenin to my non-BFF content. >>
Interestingly, trying to declassify yourself from any group is a typical
Gen-X response.
Please don't hurt me.
Personally, i don't see a problem with it. If I encounter other people who
have dealt with the same shit I have, I feel a sense of something bigger. I
have no problem keeping my own individuality, while admitting that I watched
Zoom, Schoolhouse Rock, and know that sometimes "gnu" is pronounced,
"Ga-New".
And I will NOT abandon my Duran Duran records.
Linda
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 19 Jul 1997 10:31:05 -0700 (PDT)
From: Max Ryan Wall <wallmr@whitman.edu>
Subject: Ben Vs. Tori....
I wasn't even going to start writing in until the fall, but all the Tori
bashing has prompted me to. I listen to Tori for the vocals and arranging.
She is more of a vocalist and arranger than a piano player. Ben is much
more of a piano player than an arranger. I would love to see them go on
tour together, but, alas, that will never happen. I first found BFF, oddly
enough, when I was doing an all Tori show on my campus radio station.
There was a promo copy of Whatever and Ever Amen in our Core rotation,
and, being required to play 3 Core songs, I threw it in and let it play
from 1 Angry to Brick. Since then I've been hooked and can't seem to take
the 1st and 2nd albums out of my stereo (except for the new Radiohead
album and the Odds who you should listen to ->they're Canadian so it must
be good... [:>) ). Anyway, this post is now rather lengthy (sorry) but
don't try to compare ANY two musicians. I know that my songs and my bands
songs are TOTALLY different from each other. So let's give Tori some
credit for bringin the piano back into mainstream, OK? Thanks my fine
feathered friends!
Love and Kisses,
Max
"Who would steal 30 bag lunches?""I'll tell you who! It was that damn
sasquatch!" -Billy Madison
http://www.whitman.edu/~wallmr
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 19 Jul 1997 14:33:27 +0000
From: sstolten@hughes.net
Subject: What Ben Folds Thinks of Tori Amos
Hi!
I was reading some Ben Folds Five interviews online today and I came
accross this Pitchfork Online interview in which Ben Folds is asked what
he thinks of Tori Amos. I thought the people concerned with who's the
better piano player might be interested in reading this. Below is the
Tori Amos segment and you can read the whole interview at:
http://www.live-wire.com/interviews/ben-folds-five/
Pitchfork: What do you think of
Tori Amos?
Ben: Oh, I love Tori Amos. A lot of
people just hate her, or they
absolutely love her and I really
like Tori Amos a lot. One of my
favorite records I have in my
collection right now is this
bootleg Tori Amos record, "After
the Rain." It's a great record.
...........
Pitchfork: I just picked up her new
album, too.
Ben: Is it good?
Pitchfork: Well, I didn't really like
the last one very much, especially
in comparison to "Little
Earthquakes," which is, in my
opinion, the best album ever
recorded.
Ben: Yeah, I think that even if you
don't like her, her music is what
she does. Plus, she's like one of
the greatest piano players you've
heard playing pop music and she's
such a good singer, too, that based
on that, she should be huge.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 19 Jul 1997 19:29:04 -0400
From: david beck <drbeck@ibm.net>
Subject: KATE! single(s)
responding to the person who inquired about the kate single...there are
actually two different singles...the orangish red one has kate, mitchell
lane and all shook up on it, i have that one, and i recommend it!
i think the other one is blue or green? it has kate, bad idea, and for
all the pretty people(this one sounds okay, but most everyone already
has bad idea...)...so i recommend the red yellow one...
anyone in columbus area going to horde? if you wanna hook up at the show
and discuss bff related topics...(talk about a "you know youre obsessed
when...!) e mail me!
officer friendly
------------------------------
End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #402
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