THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR

The Ben Folds Five Digest

Issue #868 - March 8, 1998



Magical Armchair Digest     Sunday, March 8 1998     Volume 01 : Number 868



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TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:

    Smoked a what?
    broadway bff
    Is the rolling stone mag with bff on the front cover still available???
    Godzilla soundtrack song......
    naughty remix of underground??? 
    Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #866
    Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #866
    the cat stevens thing
    Re: ben vs. reptar--- There can be only one
    Re: What's with this
    covers etc. 
    The whole #866.....GEEZ!!!!!
    Covers for BFF
    Re: Godzilla song
    Re: Godzilla Song
    TRADES
    The worst television show in the world.
    Re: Ben vs. reptar
    two angry cents. . .

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Sat, 7 Mar 1998 01:57:52 GMT
From: Jordan Erenrich <erenrich@mail.geocities.com>
Subject: Smoked a what?

I just got a new boot (11/17/96-Amsterdam, NL) and in Summer B. Ben says
something like "I smoked a CHOAD with Caleb."  I just thought this was
interesting. 

First of all, he definetly said "Caleb". But he definetly did not say
"bowl" as in the studio version. What's a "choad"? I think I may have heard
it wrong. Does anyone know what he is saying?

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jordan Erenrich                                   erenrich@geocities.com

A girl phoned me the other day and said .... Come on over, there's
nobody home. I went over.  Nobody was home.
- -- Rodney Dangerfield

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 21:47:34 -0500 (EST)
From: Judi Smith <jsmith@bc.seflin.org>
Subject: broadway bff

i can't help thinking all of bff would make a fantastic broadway musical 
(or they could create a new show that would rock that world). if 
you sing along with steven's, for instance, you HAVE to hold your arms 
out in the old ethel-merman/hello-dolly thing at the end, don't you? so 
many of the songs would fit into and advance a really cool 
plotline....almost every uptempo song could be on broadway (kate? one 
angry dwarf?) and so many of the slower ones could be one of those 
reflective look-at-my-life numbers like "maria" in west side story and 
that one from cats, or evita.... i've been getting pictures in my head 
during the production-number songs of just how they would look. has 
anybody ever asked ben if he/they have ever thought of this? i'd buy 
tickets NOW if they said they were trying for one. what a soundtrack! ;) and 
you thought "rent" was getting attention. :)

judi smith                      she wakes me up in the middle of the night
jsmith@bc.seflin.org            just to tell me everything will be all right
                                       ....i tell myself the same damn thing
would you catch me if was falling?                     everyday
kiss me if i was leaving?                     everything will be all right
hold me cause i'm lonely without you?                --- everclear
           -- counting crows

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 21:59:30 -0500
From: "John Felten" <Sammy7@gte.net>
Subject: Is the rolling stone mag with bff on the front cover still available???

	I can't find it anywhere!  Was it last month's issue or what?  I really
want it!!!!!!  Does anyone know if it is still out there to buy?  I really
need it! Thanx,

- -Daria

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 22:08:13 -0500
From: cambot@juno.com
Subject: Godzilla soundtrack song......

Errrrr........ I thought that post was a bit smothered with sarcasm, if
you don't mind me saying so. I don't believe writing a song for a
soundtrack is selling out. Nearly every major band has, & many smaller
bands have as well. Oh well, I can't change a mind or 2, so I guess
that's the post.


*FOND BUT NOT IN LOVE*
Steve!

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------------------------------

Date: Sat, 07 Mar 1998 14:07:21 -0600
From: Belinda <shadow@ballarat.hotkey.net.au>
Subject: naughty remix of underground??? 

Well anyway Brick got to number 2 in Power Fm's Hot 20 (the ballarat
commercial radio station) But the bad part (is it good anyway?) is that
straight after it they played HANSON! Damn that and you all know why they
started playing it right? Because I damn well rang up and made friends with
the operator! So she said she'll look for Brick (when I never even requested
it, I just mentioned it) and the guy loves it so they played it and now they
are getting close to the same amount of requests as hanson!! Good part about
it is that I told the dj off for calling them THE ben folds five and he made
a note about it on the air. 
Just before on JJJ my mum heard the guy say they played a naughty remix of
Underground???? Never even heard of it, has anyone? Well I missed it cos of
Recovery but I'm going to request it whenever super request is on next, so
if anyone else wants to go ahead and it might be played. (and if it's monday
tell them it's roberts birthday!!)
Anyone here like David Strassman?? He's so damn cool, and I think he looks
remarkably like Mr. Jessee. So I also think he's damn sexy. (meanwhile my
friends are getting sick of me for saying that he's damn sexy.)
Anyway not much else to say, just where the hell would they get the remix of
Underground??

2 days till Robert's Birthday 
			
Julie 'anti-gavin' 

p.s - if you want to contact me and you remember my email addy as
sledgie@mailexcite.com or benfolds311@hotmail.com please either use this one
I'm using now of it is for a trade or something important. But if you just
want to chat and have a new email buddy (who has been on here for quite
sometime so don't worry) use strasswoman@mailcity.com thank you for your
cooperation, and now back 

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 22:28:11 EST
From: BlueJellow <BlueJellow@aol.com>
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #866

In a message dated 98-03-06 21:22:59 EST, you write:

<< I've been listening to Naked Baby Pictures for the past two months and all
 I can say is SHIT YAH IT'S COOL. Later, Carrie  
  >>

THIS IS JUST A JOKE< but maybe if she looked instead of listened she would
notice it was naked baby PHOTOS.
Just a thought
Lucy

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 22:32:22 EST
From: BlueJellow <BlueJellow@aol.com>
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #866

In a message dated 98-03-06 21:22:59 EST, you write:

<<  What song do y'all want to see them do
 and why?  I'm personally rooting for "Say A Little Prayer" because it'd be
 damn funny! >>

I agree. Robert saying how he can't decide what dress to where, and Darren
talking about putting on his makeup. How wonderful!
Lucy

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 7 Mar 1998 03:42:32 +0000
From: Nancy Bennett <n.bennett@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: the cat stevens thing

>if you look closely at the Whatever...
>insert you can see words written in just a slightly different color than the
>background color, revealing that the entire ALBUM was written by Cat Stevens.

Hey Kids~~~

to the person who wrote this....where might this little message be on the
insert thing.....so ya...just wondering....thanks...
"here i stand, sad and free, i can't cry, and i can't see, what i've done,
oh god, what have i done??"  ~you know where this is from~

***later***
~Kristi~

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 23:38:16 EST
From: JGreenb106 <JGreenb106@aol.com>
Subject: Re: ben vs. reptar--- There can be only one

About the "Godzilla" lyrics---- I strongly doubt that the band has "sold out",
so to speak, as is said here.  If I'm correct (and I might not be cause I
didn't see it), on 120 Minutes Robert Sledge himself mentioned that he
appreciates the fans who listen to ALL the albums, ALL the songs, not just
"Brick".  Yeah, the majority of radio listeners out there just know "Brick",
and that sucks.  But I would hardly say that they're "riding this single all
the way to half-assed fame."  In the Naked Baby Photos notes, Ben said that
"bad Idea" " sums up the way we felt about shitting out soundtrack songs".
The shows are different now, but at least the music's still good, and still
fun.

"Thanks to anyone who was there early (before we were so fucking huge)."---
BEN FOLDS

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 06 Mar 1998 20:41:17 PST 
From: "* rachel *" <madforit79@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: What's with this

Fri, 6 Mar 1998 LadZER0 <LadZER0@aol.com>

Is anyone else really pissed at the person that gave the submissions 
address to whoever keeps posting those solicitations and all that crap?

|\  /|
| \/ |att

####yeah...*r*

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 23:01:52 -0600
From: rcc35060@cmsu2.cmsu.edu (rebehka-christine-chrissy-meg-cramer)
Subject: covers etc. 

hello all. i think this is about my third post. so im new.  well i have an
idea or two for funny/worthwhile bff covers.

1. veronica or sulky girl- elvis costello
2. the bitch is back- elton john (i just think it would be freggin
hilarious... and to give a nice shove to the people who say bff and elton
john sound alike)
3. sunshine of your love-cream
4. i cant turn you loose-otis redding (it would defintitely be..different.. :-)
5. bye bye love-everly brothers
6. drive by love-the bobs (i think their interpretation would be fun)
7. stephanie says or pale blue eyes-velvet underground
8. birthday-the beatles
9. drive my car-the beatles
10.  pretty woman-roy orbison (this one would be freggin hilarious too!!!)

i had a dream with bff in it the other night...
i was at a concert of theirs (ive never been) and ben knows me for some odd
reason. in the dream we are like old buddies, ive known him all my life
even though he is about 11 years older than me and grew up in a different
time zone. so he invites me backstage after the show and darren is doing
his spinal tap impression with the catering ('i dont..want...This..') and
we are all laughing. and then robert dissapears for some reason and ben and
darren ask me to join in for the rest of the tour on bass until they can
find him. so i do and im great and its a lot of fun even though i dont play
bass. (violin, piano, percussion, yes, but bass no)  so then after this
tour date near my house about six months later (down the block..in someones
back yard i think) robert comes back and we all go to my house and watch
some cartoon network (a mix of dexters lab, johnny bravo and cartoon
planet) and i make ben a grilled cheese sandwhich.  ben says 'thanks..oh
you used velveeta! yum!' and then i woke up.

any interpretations?

that dream was almost as wierd as the one where a salt wheel with the face
of bill clinton was chasing me around the world.  but i digress.



this is my story both humble and true, take it to pieces and mend it with glue.

everyones favorite chrissy (the silly old bananafish)

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 7 Mar 1998 00:23:33 EST
From: Sarah85520 <Sarah85520@aol.com>
Subject: The whole #866.....GEEZ!!!!!

>I was wondering if any of ya'll knew the meaning behind the song "Brick".  I
>have been racking my brain for months now and I can't figure it out.  PLEASE
>HELP ME!!! If and of ya'll know the meaning, please send me an e-mail.
Thanks
>bunches
  Ok, first off..... Your new, right???? You've been wondering what Brick
means, eh? Fer the past couple months... The same time that Bricks been a
single... If you pick up a magizine lately or watch tv, you'll hear Ben say,
over and over and over and OVER, that it's about his senior year in High
School. The day after Christmas he had to go to his girlfriends house and take
her to a clinic for an abortion.. There you have it. Short and sweet. Hope
your brain doesn't hurt too much.

>......"Brick" came on and the DJ said "a lot of people think this song is
about
>an abortion but the band swears up and down that its just about being
>dumped."  Did the band really say this?  Or is she just making stuff up to
>make herself appear smart because as far as I know it IS about an abortion.
> But you guys are the experts... :)  
   See above.... I've heard him say it soo many times and read it.. IT IS
about abortion. Who knows why that DJ said that. Just don't listen to the
radio.. They never play any good music and all the stuff that they do play is
overplayed just a WEE bit.

  And fer the dude who wrote that song about the Godzilla movie... What the
hells with that??? \/\/ hatever....
 And cheak this out: my mom came home the other day and asked me when Whatever
and Ever Amen came out, and I said, 1 year ago. She was like, oh... I just
heard on my radio, them playing Brick and calling it a new release... Whats
with that?? That bursts my bubble SOOO bad. It pisses me off to see BFF
finally get recoginition and everything, but they're getting OVERPLAYED to the
max and people saying there new.... Get you facts straight, please. It's not
fair to the band at all. 
    "...... I'm sure you don't remember me... WHO THE FUCK  ARE YOU?!?!....."
lUV,
Sarah

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 7 Mar 1998 01:07:25 EST
From: Phisher XC <PhisherXC@aol.com>
Subject: Covers for BFF

I think we should make up a list of songs we would like to hear the band (BFF)
cover, and maybe even mail it to the band...anyone up for it?  Here's a couple
I think the band should cover.
- - "Stray Cat Strut" - Stray Cats
- - "Steppin' Out" - Tony Bennet
- - "Piano Man" - Billy Joel
- - "Bennie & The Jets" - Elton John
- - Inspector Gadget Theme

What do you guys think?

Ryan 

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 7 Mar 1998 01:10:46 EST
From: Phisher XC <PhisherXC@aol.com>
Subject: Re: Godzilla song

I think that was really stupid to say that BFF was putting that song on the
Godzilla soundtrack...please don't fill the armchair with crap like that from
now on.

Ryan

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 7 Mar 1998 01:11:49 EST
From: Phisher XC <PhisherXC@aol.com>
Subject: Re: Godzilla Song

I think that was really stupid to say that BFF was putting that song on the
Godzilla soundtrack...please don't fill the armchair with crap like that from
now on.  Oh and saying Ben is a sell out is going WAY too far!!

Ryan

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 7 Mar 1998 01:21:25 EST
From: Phisher XC <PhisherXC@aol.com>
Subject: TRADES

Well I'd just like to say I'm open for trades...I've traded with four or five
people on the Armchair and many more...all are very satisfied, so you know I
am an honest trader, well I have a large list of tapes, five of which are BFF.
I'm looking for BFF tapes paticulary, but maybe some other stuff too.  Thanks
a bunch...so if you want a list of my tapes e-mail me.

Ryan

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 7 Mar 1998 02:28:00 EST
From: KNULPREK <KNULPREK@aol.com>
Subject: The worst television show in the world.

Well, i was advised that Ben Folds Five was playing on "Friday Night," which
is apparently some late-night NBC show that tries to be 'hip' and reach out to
the 'younger audience' with 'in-music.' 

Ben Folds Five is definitly hip. This show was not. However, i stayed up and
managed to tape the appearance. Obviously, they did Brick. So, if anyone is in
want of yet another televised Brick, then e-mail me and we'll work somethin'
out. See ya!

 -jason.
 <A HREF="http://members.aol.com/knulprek/home.html">The Happy Scrappy Page
</A> 

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 7 Mar 1998 02:56:40 EST
From: Pianogtar <Pianogtar@aol.com>
Subject: Re: Ben vs. reptar

Hey dave-o, this forum is for ben folds five, if you think they are so much of
a sellout then unsubscribe yourself.


GDt

p.s. I have the chorus to the song that ben is going to play on the soundtrack
to godzilla

(Chorus) You're a prick and no one likes you.
Why don't you go to the middle of nowhere.
You're a Prick and no one likes you.

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 7 Mar 1998 03:42:28 
From: "Hannah Kuhlmann" <kuhl0025@tc.umn.edu>
Subject: two angry cents. . .

<<sorry if this is posted twice, my e-mail got screwed up.>>

Hey Shirowfan (and anybody else, what the hell)

Um. . I don't know about you, but I like Ben Folds Five a lot.  I respect 
all three guys a hell of a lot as artists.  I read this mailing list so I 
can trade tapes with other fans and get the latest news on what the band is 
doing.
Usually I tolerate all the annoying crap that goes on, because I know, deep 
down, we're all one big happy family.  Right?  RIGHT?  But wait. Friday I 
stumbled upon that "cute" little Godzilla song parody.  I haven't quoted any 
of it here for reference because I don't think it deserves reposting.  
Acutally, I don't think I've read anything that immature, tasteless or 
generally negative in a loooong time -- especially not on Frank's Armchair. 
 
If all you can say about the memebers of what is supposedly one of your 
favorite bands is that they do drugs, have low artistic standards and smell, 
then for god's sake get a webpage and stop posting.  It pisses people off to 
have to read that kind of thing in a forum intended to support the band.  
Don't get me wrong, song parodies are great, but not when they're 
mean-spirited and crude.  Instead of writing to the armchair, why not just 
pass around the URL to your "I'm trying to be funny, and instead coming off 
as self-indulgent and sophomoric" website?  Then if anyone as bored and 
malicious as you stops by, they can sign your guestbook with lots of insults 
aimed at three talented, inspiring and wonderful guys.
Apart from your mildly impressive knowledge of what goes on in Godzilla and 
your tenuous grasp of the meter and lyrics to the chorus of Brick, nothing 
of what you posted inspired any respect.  And I bet you didn't make too many 
new friends with it either.  So, wouldn't it have been better to simply post 
the Godzilla soundtrack deal news, offer your opinion in a less inflammatory 
way, crack a joke in which the punchline didn't involve Ben Folds selling 
his soul or wearing a hairpiece, and sign your name?  Maybe you've 
forgotten, but Ben, Darren and Robert are real people, not just comic 
material for your personal use.  And unless you're a close personal friend 
of thiers, I doubt that your post would amuse them too much.  Next time, 
think about who you might piss off or hurt before you try to be cute.
That's my $0.02.

Bring it.

- ------------------------------------------
  Hannah Kuhlmann - kuhl0025@tc.umn.edu
  **FLASHY BEN FOLDS FIVE WEBSITE** AT
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Cafe/1094/
"and you think Rockford Files is Cool. . ."
- ------------------------------------------

------------------------------

End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #868
**************************************


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