THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR

The Ben Folds Five Digest

Issue #1510 - May 6, 1999



Magical Armchair Digest     Thursday, May 6 1999     Volume 01 : Number 1510



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TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:

    Whitlams
    magic mp3
    ben's dimples
    aussie/US video tapes
    'magic' 
    Re: Seattle shows wanted!!!
    Son your fucking hi
    Mess AND UK Army singles in Australia.
    London Forum gig
    arkansas, chik-fil-a, musicals, and muppets
    Come on out and dance
    Re: imperative pleading
    BFF in Australia? SWEEET!!!!
    BFF Bonus CD
    mullet
    Melody Maker
    Kermit the Frog...now, the Piano Man for the Peanuts???
    ben is a musical genius

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

Date: Wed, 5 May 1999 14:50:36 +1000 (EST)
From: Capucine <c.van.loo@student.canberra.edu.au>
Subject: Whitlams

> ------------------------------
> by the way are there any Whitlams fans here as its the Whitlams mailing list
> that got me into Bff


Me!!!!!!!!! I'm the _hugest_ whitlams fan ever, and their mailing list is
also how I got into BFF. The two of them are my fav. bands EVER.

Cap

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

Date: Wed, 5 May 1999 01:00:20 EDT
From: NedGump@aol.com
Subject: magic mp3

does anybody have an MP3 of Darren's version of "Magic"?  I've been looking 
hard, and havent found squat!

- -ned

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

Date: Wed, 05 May 1999 01:24:19 -0400
From: Jody Clark <U_jclark@umassd.edu>
Subject: ben's dimples

ok, this has nothing to do with ben's dimples.  anyway, here are the couple
of things on my mind:

someone mentioned a hidden track on tuborm.  i don't have one, do any of
you?  

one of my friends who has no money, asked me to make him a tape of all my
ben stuff.  so, i decided to make him a tape of various songs, not all the
stuff, cause then someday he'll go out and buy it all and put food on ben's
table for him.  so, one side is going to be all names songs, and the other
side will be all sleep songs.  while planning the tape, i noticed that
there are a heck of a lot of sleep references in ben songs, not just on
tuborm either.  there are references in oad, fair, brick, missing the war,
evaporated, narcolepsy, army, possession, lullabye, julianne, last polka,
boxing, and cigarette.  there are probably more i haven't even found yet.
weird.  anyhow...

i think that the person who yelled out "i love you ben" or whatever was
quite immature and i was embarassed not only for her, but for myself and
for ben when she yelled that.  i understand, i really do, i have the
biggest crush on rob, but i think that he would think i was quite foolish
if i told him i loved him and he'd probably be scared of me and then i'd
never get in his pants... 

i got the providence phoenix signed by the boys and i gave it to my dad.
he's a big fan, and he was happy.  he said he's going to frame it.  

what's with no bsides or covers at shows this tour?  have there been any at
all?  none at the shows i went to.  

ok so i finally had a chance to watch the spare reels tape.  man, was i NOT
impressed.  the little skits and interviews were great, and the in studio
stuff at the end was good too, but damn the live stuff was horrible.  the
editing was sooo bad, and the sound isn't that impressive, never mind the
pretty much poor video quality.  it looked like it was thrown together in
like a day.  i think it's so lame that the sound is from one live show,
while the video is from like 6 different shows.  it's really annoying that
it changes from show to show.  that's dumb.  and there are many many times
where the music and the visual playing does not line up.  at one point ben
in pounding on the piano with his fists during a part of a song where
chords are clearly heard.  so, the video was a bit of a disappointment.
also, i think it's very strange that there were songs that are not sony's
on there.  has sony bought the rights to all of their songs or something?  

ok, bye kids,
jody

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

Date: Tue, 04 May 1999 23:33:01 PDT
From: "Alice Childress" <jbpastie2@hotmail.com>
Subject: aussie/US video tapes

hi everyone,

i really need to know if aussies
use different video cassettes to
americans. we have VHS in aussie
but i *think* they might be diff
over there. PLEASE let me know,
if you have any idea. (it's very
important stuff).

also, someone asked what chic-fil-a
is. i didn't know either, coz they
don't have it in australia, but
then i went here...
www.chick-fil-a.com
and it all became clear!

from janet


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

Date: Tue, 04 May 1999 23:45:49 PDT
From: "Anna cgp" <acoustic1013@hotmail.com>
Subject: 'magic' 

Does anyone know of any sites where i can listen to the origional 'magic' 
with Darren singing??

thanks,
anna.

take away the green and ben folds is kermit the frog damnit!


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

Date: Tue, 04 May 1999 23:48:06 -0700
From: Kyle Smith <kjs77@ix.netcom.com>
Subject: Re: Seattle shows wanted!!!

I totally agree.  I will personally take care of his kids while he is here.  I
understand the guy not setting any dates for the tour on the west coast but I hope
to God he doesnt forget about us.  I couldnt immagine being deprived of seeing them
play live.  They are some of the most amazing live performers I have ever seen.  It
is nice to see some other people in Seattle that really like the band.  When the
album went on sale I got to the store early so I could get one of the cds with a
video.  I thought that hey, this is a big city, there are only 15 coppies at Tower
and this is the U district, there might be 15 people living around here that like
the band as much as I do I better get there before there are none left.  Neeless to
say my early arival was for not.  There were no other people there, no more
hopeless fans that treat the music like it is a drug, that can't wait another
second to get their fix.  I was the only one.  I felt that I was a lone fan in
seattle, it is nice to know that there are others out there.  I just hope that Ben
doesn't deny us all over here on the west coast the high of seeing him live.

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

Date: Wed, 05 May 1999 00:47:11 -0700
From: Kyle Smith <kjs77@ix.netcom.com>
Subject: Son your fucking hi

I have been thinking a lot today.  I think that we as fans should honor
Ben and the band by raising BF5 up to a cult status.  I am not saying
that we should be like the trekies and have conventions and stuff but I
was thinking.  Every day I walk to school and sometimes I wear my BF5
shirt and I never see any one else wearing any other shirts and I think
there should be a National Ben folds five tea shirt  day and every
person should wear the shirt and they can call us fivers.
that would be cool.
kyle

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

Date: Wed, 5 May 1999 00:53:23 -0700 (PDT)
From: Fermit <mr.teeny@rocketmail.com>
Subject: Mess AND UK Army singles in Australia.

G'day there.

ok my first bit is about Mess. In the bit where Ben sings "so I can't
be tamed..." the echo for tamed sounds to me like they are saying
saved, like when they echo saved in the previous verse, instead of
echoing tamed. So my guess is that the T sound in tamed was too
obtrusive? 

Secondly for those MAers in Brisbane Australia.. at HMV in the city
you can get both UK versions of the Army single. Of course there's
nothing new on them as we get all the B-sides except for Pyser on our
Army single. And then Pyser is the 12th track on TUBORM. Of course if
you want the clean version of Army then it's there with Birds and
Leather Jacket as the B's. oh.. and of course they are twice the price
of their non imported counterpart. $15.95 Aus for the imports and
$8.95 Aus for the other! *shrugs* I can't afford that!

Paul.

A Selfless, Cold and Composed page.
http://www.ozemail.com.au/~pjwatt/scc/

"Remember, words go together, songs last forever, nothing can be too
clever for you..."  -  'Glockenpop' Spiderbait






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

Date: Wed, 05 May 1999 11:06:28 +0100
From: Victoria <hobsons@dircon.co.uk>
Subject: London Forum gig

Hello Armchairers

It is I again..... Victoria!

I'm really excited 'cos the the London gig is nearly a week away!
YAAAAAY!

I haven't got my Babydoll Whatever T  yet!  Still hoping it fits!!!
Should do!  :  )
Hope to get it in time for the gig

Am really getting into the new album, love all the songs for different
reasons...
maybe Jane though is my least favourite, but even that has a nice middle
eight....

Haven't got the video pack yet but have been told it's been despatched,
and imvs have blown me out with the bonus CD import!  I ordered it
months before it was due out as well!

Anyone else going on the 13th?
And did I miss the uk showing of BFF on Letterman on the Paramount
channel?

Later

Victoria

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

Date: Wed, 5 May 1999 06:02:34 EDT
From: Mookie9@aol.com
Subject: arkansas, chik-fil-a, musicals, and muppets

Ive been posting way too much lately, I apologize, but to comment and answer 
a few questions,

YES, arkansas is a redneck state. hello? I should know, being born and 
raised. it has its positive attributes, but there are far too many rednecks. 
then again there are a lot of hicks in oregon too (where I am now).

Chik-fil-a is a fast food restaurant that specializes in (you guessed it) 
chicken. I thought it was all over but maybe its just a southern thing. Never 
support them, I just found out that theyre owned by some 
religious-right-wing-woman-oppressing-etc organizations and they make you 
memorize bible phrases as "motivation" when working there. No offense to any 
christians on the list, but having been raised in the deep south (see above) 
one begins to detest the extremists. hence my relocation to the west coast.

I think I mentioned this a few months ago, but once while driving down the 
east coast (RI to chapel hill, NC in one day) caught in a traffic jam in 
maryland I happened upon a live radio show featuring none other than bf5 and 
ben started playing a song for a musical he had written in jest for a friend, 
and it was really freakin good! so the idea's in his head, how about some 
follow through, skinny boy?!?

also, in reference to the kermit suggestion, a review for TUBORM in Jane 
magazine called the album "a soundtrack for a muppet movie"! So we're not 
alone! (although they slammed the album)

Ok, for real, I will stop posting so much.

 molly

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

Date: Wed, 5 May 1999 02:05:09 EDT
From: LoonyLiz@aol.com
Subject: Come on out and dance

I love BFF.  I really do.  And I love "Magic"  I really do.

However... let's examine the following lyric.

"Sha la la la la la la la (rumblerumbleBOOM)  
Sha la la la la la la la (rumblerumbleBOOM)

Um, HELLO, am I the only one noticing the OBVIOUS similarity to Simon & 
Garfunkle's "The Boxer"?!?  In fact, it's more than a similarity.  "Magic" 
DIRECTLY CALLS TO MIND that particular portion of "The Boxer".  Anybody who 
is at all familiar with Simon & Garfunkle oughta be able to spot this one.  
SO the million dollar question is... Big fat songwriting coincidence, 
Darren's artistic nod to S&G, or what?

And hey.  "Roots...those funny limbs that grow UNDERGROUND and keep you from 
FALLING DOWN."  Ben is happy underground when his "philosophy" AND his roots 
"keep him from falling down." 

clap, clap, clap clap clap, clap clap clap clap... DOGSHOW!!!
Elisabeth =o)
"I... a-like... a-DAWGS!"

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

Date: Wed, 05 May 1999 20:46:46 +0930
From: Ben Williams <ben@tne.net.au>
Subject: Re: imperative pleading

On Mon, 3 May 1999 22:27:09 EDT, Meezer327@aol.com wrote:
> My most beloved  Fivers,
>                   By now you must know or at least have heard rumors that Ben
> is relocating himself to Adelaide Australia.  No offense to the Australian
> members of the Armchair but, Ben simply belongs in America. This may sound
> selfish ,petty, immature even.  I don't want to have to HATE this Frally
> chick, but it's simply personal.
> If you at all interested in becoming part of an Anti-Frally rally please let
> me know privately
>                     ~Melissa

You are kidding, right? tell me you're kidding. please tell me this is a
troll (if so, well done, i am sucked in). if you are serious, this is
probably one of the most offensive things i have read on the MA. forget
all that crap about "real fans" etc, this tops it. let's hate ben's
future wife and mother of his children because he is moving to adelaide.
yeah.

you may notice that i am from australia. so tell me, why exactly does
Ben "simply belong in America"? i must have missed something somewhere.

an anti-Frally rally. i've never heard anything so stupid. no surprises
that this came from an aol account.

>From Ben.
- -- 
Boycott shampoo! Demand the REAL poo!

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

Date: Wed, 05 May 1999 04:32:46 PDT
From: "Stephen Jackson" <distilled_spirit@hotmail.com>
Subject: BFF in Australia? SWEEET!!!!

Thanks to all the people who replied to me. I was quite shocked about how 
many caring people actually wrote to me to tell me the GREAT news that BFF 
are coming to OZ. Anyways, I'm sure that someone who reads this has contact 
with Ben Folds, so It's worth a try. Try to get him to dedicate "Stevens 
last night in Town" to Stephen Jackson, when they are doing there Brisbane 
Show. I'll be damned if I'm not there.
It's worth a try.

P.S Who (or what) is Dr Psyser? It rocks none the less.

BTW, I hope Ben isn't moving to Adelaide, it's a hole.


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

Date: Wed, 05 May 1999 14:21:38 +0100
From: Victoria <hobsons@dircon.co.uk>
Subject: BFF Bonus CD

Hiya 'Chairers

It's time to creep and crawl....

Would any of you lovely Australians on the list be able to pick up a
copy of TUBORM with the bonus CD for me and I'll send you the money to
post it on to me - I'm desperate I have to have it!  Or at least tell me
if I can order it from somewhere, is there a web site?

Thanks anyway

Victoria

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

Date: Wed, 5 May 1999 10:15:53 -0700 (PDT)
From: Rich Jotz <rjotz1@yahoo.com>
Subject: mullet

I was looking in the liner notes at the lyrics and in
"Army" Ben makes reference to growing a mustache and a
"mullet."  Does anyone know what a mullet is?

And to the person who asked about the Chi-Fil-A, it
was a chain fast food restuarant simillar to a KFC
except I believe they had more sandwiches.  Not sureif
they still exist though...

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

Date: Wed, 5 May 1999 15:14:41 +0100
From: "Will Brady" <will@benfoldsfive.freeserve.co.uk>
Subject: Melody Maker

Hey 'chairers,

There's a review of TUBORM in the latest issue of Melody Maker (out today -
5 May). I'll have it transcribed and on my site in a day or two:

http://www.benfoldsfive.freeserve.co.uk

They gave it 4 out of 5, which is good, but compared BFF to Dodgy, which is
bad.

Will.
______________________________________________
Ben Folds Five: The Man From Uncool
http://www.benfoldsfive.freeserve.co.uk
______________________________________________

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

Date: Wed, 5 May 1999 15:34:17 EDT
From: AnchorJ@aol.com
Subject: Kermit the Frog...now, the Piano Man for the Peanuts???

Man oh man, are we full of marketing/expansion ideas for BFF.  The person who 
thinks that Ben should fill in for the guy who played the Peanuts is 
absolutely brillant. Y'all have to admit that there is something about Ben 
that lends him to these Muppets and Cartoon characters so well--a little bit 
of innocence and inner child.

Also---hidden track on TUBORM?  I was listening intently for one and never 
heard it. Is this true???

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

Date: Wed, 5 May 1999 15:47:38 EDT
From: MadisonAPA@aol.com
Subject: ben is a musical genius

Hi all you Ben Folds Five fans! I'm new to this, so deal ok! Well, about 
three weeks ago I went to go see the boys in Brunswick, all I can say is wow! 
They were awesome, even my parents liked them! They opened with "Don't Change 
Your Plans" and they came back out for an encore and played "Lullabye" and 
"SFTD", everyone got their lighters out and it looked really cool, I was 
sitting up in the bleachers so I could see everything, it was great. When 
they played "Underground" it kind of caught me offguard because I was talking 
to my friend and then all of a sudden I heard Darren's deep voice say "I was 
never cool in school..." and I was like huh? Now that's one of my favorite 
songs. And I saw the webcast and it got cut off right before they were going 
to play "Your Redneck Past", I was bummed! Well, that's all for now!
Andie
"Hand me my nose ring, can we be happy?"

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

End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1510
***************************************


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