THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #218 - April 5, 1997
THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #218
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Topics for Today:
Re: THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #215
Re: BFF and Kind of Blue
I tried to Email Ben Folds Five
Disturbing Revelation
Re: bffmail@aol.com
Dirty deeds...
"Mr Folds, it's Steven on Line 2"
(no subject)
Ben in Frits Spits' Top 5
How we Know Each Other/Ziggy's
Another song inspiration...
Another thumbs up..and a thought...
Re:One fine day...
BFF will be rocking Kansas soon
The New Album
Re: BFF Hitting it Big
#BFF
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Date: Thu, 3 Apr 1997 20:48:11 -0500 (EST)
From: Ted Beck <tedbeck@mindspring.com>
Subject: Re: THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #215
> Date: Tue, 1 Apr 1997 13:40:51 +1000
> From: "Driver, Emma" <Emma.Driver@Butterworths.com.au>
> Subject: BF5: 'Brick' and conjecturing
>
> Does it really matter who wrote which bit of 'Brick' and exactly who
> it's about? I mean, you could go crazy wondering if 'Brick' is about the
> same (ex) girlfriend of Darren Jessee as 'Song For the Dumped', as
> incongruous as it might be ... 'Brick' is a beautiful song, but would be
> no less beautiful if it was pure fiction. I agree that the lives of BF5
Not to defeat your purpose entirely, but I've read that the song was an
account -- fictional, as many of the songs are -- of a young couple's
journey to an abortion clinic. After hearing that, and listening to the
song, it makes since; "It's not me your dying for" becomes all that more
heart-wrenching if you accept that interpretation. Regardless, the song's
value is not to be missed in over analyzations...
Ted Beck
tedbeck@mindspring.com
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Date: Thu, 3 Apr 1997 20:50:09 -0500 (EST)
From: David Aron Reaboi <dreaboi@gwis2.circ.gwu.edu>
Subject: Re: BFF and Kind of Blue
great albums... but i think Ben's little bit at the opening of
"selfless.." is from "take five" by pauld desmond/dave brubeck
(btw, they've just remastered "TIME OUT," the album it's from. i suggest
picking it up; anyone who likes BFF should love it.)
Dave
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Date: Thu, 03 Apr 1997 22:58:29 -0500
From: Paul <frump@li.net>
Subject: I tried to Email Ben Folds Five
can you tell me why the email address bffmail@aol.com is disconnected?
It's the address listed in the liner notes of the new album... is there
another address, or are they getting too big for that sort of thing?
frump
==============================================================================
Date: Thu, 3 Apr 1997 23:26:15 -0500 (EST)
From: "yellosno@tiac.net" <mail@tiac.net>
Subject: Disturbing Revelation
I have come upon somethat that rather disturbs me, in a recent issue of
Entertainment Weekly they say Ben Folds is the "king of geek rock". And I
thought, "cool".
I then realized my second favorite band Weezer's basic slogan is "Rock for
Geeks". I thought to myself "odd coincidence".
However things started getting strange when I realized my third favorite band
The Violent Femmes are, in fact, geeks. ( you can tell in their
anti-everything-pertaining-to-high-school lyrics) The songs "blister in the
sun", "gone daddy gone", "american music", "kiss off", and "add it up" were
definitely not written by the football captain in school.
As strange as it may seem it appears all my favorite bands are somewhat....
*gulp*
geeks?
maybe it's becuz i feel more "connected" with them,
maybe it's coincidence,
maybe it has to do with Hale-Bopp...
discuss.
don't eat yellosno@tiac.net
:D
p.s. does anyone else think that the most powerful part of the first cd is
during "the last polka" when ben belts out "but baby i was doing fine how
do you think that i survived the other 25 before you?" oh well. this post
is too long.
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Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 15:05:34 +1000
From: Alex <belawan@parramatta.starway.net.au>
Subject: Re: bffmail@aol.com
Hi...
> I just tried writing mail to the band at the address they provide
> in the insert for "Whatever and Ever Amen" and it was returned
> undeliverable. ..does anyone have a mailing address that DOES work?
> unless someone else wants to answer my question :) I need BFF stickers
> and don't know where to find them...does anyone here know?
this email is in response to the above post from tanku in Magical #215
i too tried to email the address on the inside of "whatever and ever..amen"
and i too had my message returned...is there another email address?...did i
read the address incorrectly?(i had bffmail@aol.com)....whos responsible for
the handwriting in those album covers!!!!!...if anyone does know the right
address...please let us know...and whats this about STICKERS?!...can i have
a sticker too?...where do you get stickers?...i wanna sticker!!!...
take care
Alex
** did you never have, never
have a chance to breathe,
came so unexpectedly **
"Shock So Crude" - Lustre4
==============================================================================
Date: Fri, 04 Apr 1997 01:57:46 -0600
From: Jory Fox <jorymonkey@mail.utexas.edu>
Subject: Dirty deeds...
Hi, i posted a message a while back saying how i was trying to get some more
free imports for you guys but had no luck, well i found out why. The record
store where i got my free imports took the remaining singles and is selling
them for $10 a piece. This is totally crazy and unfair to you guys. I just
thought i would let you know.
==============================================================================
Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 03:26:00 -0800
From: Nathan Gunn <qreeus@uclink4.berkeley.edu>
Subject: "Mr Folds, it's Steven on Line 2"
So after all this conversation about the telephone in Steven's Last Night
(don't you people have LIVES?? ;) I finally went back to listen to it.
The reason I never really "noticed it" is because it's in the same key and
pitch as ben's last note before it. If it is indeed a phone, it's an
ingenious use of one...I always thought it was a violin or something
though. Doesn't Klezmer music use a viola or violin? oh well.
Swingfully,
Nathan
"In a black and white world, murder adds a little color."
--Barry Adamson
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Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 13:50:23 +0000
From: dl <dl@cates.demon.co.uk>
To: maynard@oeonline.com
Subject: (no subject)
Giuliano wrote...
>SO...although I'm willing to mark it as an accident...deep down I like to
>pretend that after 2 weeks and 7 days (the Rocky Horror in me always wants
>to yell out "AND SEVEN NIGHTS") Steven is calling, once again saying "It's
>my last night in town, friends, won't you throw me a party?".
not sure if it's been noted but on the original demo of Steven's Last Night
there IS a telephone call from Steven in the middle section of the song. I
guess it was from an ansaphone as it's just Steven checking on things.
Maybe this was also planned for the released version but cut out later, who
knows?
luv
dl
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Date: Fri, 04 Apr 1997 17:04:37 -0800
From: gillet <gillet@pi.net>
Subject: Ben in Frits Spits' Top 5
hello,
i just wanted to mention that Battle Of Who Could Care Less is
number 1 in Frits Spits' personal top 5 this week. And in case
you're wondering who Frits Spits is, he used to be (years ago)
be the most influential DJ on the national pop-radio here in the
Netherlands. Now he's doing the lunchhour-shift on the national
Golden-Oldies/Easy Listening station..... so i'm not quite sure
if this is the sort of exposure Ben Folds Five needs. Anyway,
every wednesday morning he has his personal Top 5 on the break-
fast show on national television. And BOWCCL, after being in his
top 5 for a couple of weeks, finally reached number 1....
groeten
Joris Gillet
E-Mail gillet@pi.net
*NEW* My Homepage http://home.pi.net/~gillet/joris.html
==============================================================================
Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 11:23:23 -0500 (EST)
From: THE YANKEE <mcdonpj3@wfu.edu>
Subject: How we Know Each Other/Ziggy's
> Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 20:52:42 -0500 (EST)
> From: Yoda90210@aol.com
> Subject: P to the S.
> 2) HOW THE HELL DO YOU PEOPLE ALL KNOW EACHOTHER?...LOL. I've been on the
> list for a few months, I think, now, and i still don't get it.
Basically, we all went to high school with Ben. If you didn't, get off
the list!!! NOW!!! ;)
I was 11 when Ben was in high school, so one of us was quite
smart or one of us was quite dumb...but seriously,
I was at the Ziggy's show, and it was great. In response to the guy who
was complaining about singing along, I know where he's coming from- I'd
rather hear Ben sing his songs than me, or the guy next to me. However,
I know I did get carried away during the encore, so I kinda broke my own
rules about trying to listen and not sing along.
However, in defense of the exuberant crowd, the sound guy had the
vocals down too low. There were points in lots of the songs (I was near
the back) when the leads weren't cutting through too well. They had it
good during Jackson Cannery (Ben played a lot with the vocal line, and it
was easy to hear), but it could have been better the rest of the night.
****SHOW REVIEW BEGINS HERE*****
(Highlights- In order as best i remember)
Missing the War-
"Weird Opener" was my first reaction, but it worked
really well, and it was pretty captivating. THe live performance has
made it one of my new favorites, and just hearing the fullness of BFF
sound wash over me live was fabulous.
Some jam song?-I was confused about what came next-anyone catch the name?
Philosophy-Easily one of the strongest songs in their repertoire. The piano
sound had a bit too much chorus on it, but the solo at the end was too
killer for it to notice. I was jumping. I was happy.
Fair-Slowly growing on me, but it was the disco-beat style middle that
really got me here-very nice vocal work.
Jackson Cannery-Ben's Amazing. He just started shooting the moon on this. He
was singing the "big brother got the keys.." line off a high B each time.
Stephen's Last night-Ben's "Ham" Song. Some great mock "rock jock" poses.
Sounded great, but I missed the clarinet from the album.
Kate-This will be a showstopper for some time to come-Robert and
Darren's vocals were great on this one.
Also particularly exciting-Song for the Dumped, The ABSOLUTELY INSANE Piano
Solo on Uncle Walter and Video And,
UNDERGROOUND:
D: "I was never cool in school, I'm sure you don't remember...(slight
pause)..Ben."
R: "And now..."
B "And I'd love to mix..."
D: "Hand me my COCK ring!"
(can we be happy)
R: "We can beat the s**t out of the Cardigans in a fistfight"
(can we be happy)
B:"I'll take the girl"
We-Can-Be...
Sorry for all this text.
Patrick
==============================================================================
Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 10:53:34 -0600 (CST)
From: Nick Cook <ncook@umr.edu>
Subject: Another song inspiration...
I know that some of you have been mentioning the meaning behind "Brick",
and that got me to thinking. Couldn't "One Angry Dwarf..." be about
Danny Devito and the 200 solemn faces be the entire audience at one of
his movies? The only problem with that hypothesis is that Danny Devito
still is 47 inches high....
Nich Cook
ncook@umr.edu
I hope when I die, people say of me, "Man, that guy sure owed me a lot of
money"--Jack Handey
==============================================================================
Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 09:03:48 -0800
From: Lawrence and Carla Sweet <lynx@connectnet.com>
Subject: Another thumbs up..and a thought...
Hi everybody. I've lurked here forever. I saw BFF at the Brick by
Brick in San Diego some time ago and loved 'em. [Missed the Casbah show].
I thought the first album was great. I like this one even better, ballads
and all. We're all onto something real special....
About the "Brick"-abortion link:
How do you interpret that "as weeks went by", the girlfriend is
"not fine" to the point that both parties confess the truth?
Not all songs deserve (or merit) dissection, but this one is a bit
more thought provoking than many...and the melody, though simple, is
heartfelt and beautifully bittersweet to me.
Curiously, Larry
==============================================================================
Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 16:23:42 -0500 (EST)
From: Jennifer Delamar <47km67nb@abaco.coastalnet.com>
Subject: Re:One fine day...
One fine day I will make it to a Ben Folds Five concert. I swear I will. I
am dying to know I am not all that far from their hometown, I am a big fan,
and still have not seen them live.
Boo hoo,
Karaoke Queen
==============================================================================
Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 16:49:21 -0500 (EST)
From: Ranvac@aol.com
Subject: BFF will be rocking Kansas soon
Hey all! yes, this is my first post so have no fear if you don't recognize
my name...you will soon (not to sound threatening or anything). I, as a true
BFF fan, brought the CD the first day it came out. And, as a true fan, I
must say I love it. However, it does get a little slow after Steven and,
curse me if you will, there are too many ballads. BUT I love Brick, Dwarf,
Steven, Fair, Song for the Dumped. BoWCCL. And Smoke and Selfless are growing
on me.
Song for the Dumped is most definentaly not a song just for guys. It's one
of my favorite new tracks. My friend (the only other BFF fan i know) and I
often break out singing it in the middle of the hall at school (we've gotten
quite a few odd looks, mostly from guys).
got my tickets for the Lawrence show today. YAHOO!!! finally a good concert
reaches Kansas. it's about time. I will be posting my review soon have no
fear. And if any of you are going to be in Lawrence feel free to say hey.
anna :)
==============================================================================
Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 16:12:14 -0600 (CST)
From: Nate Mathews <nmathews@mork.uni.uiuc.edu>
Subject: The New Album
This is just my humble opinion, but I like the slow songs on the album
much better than the more upbeat ones. They plumb a new musical depth
that was only touched on their first album on "Boxing"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cross Country: Finally a practical use for golf courses
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 22:05:54 -0500 (EST)
From: JoanneQ@aol.com
Subject: Re: BFF Hitting it Big
My wife and I were trying to decide whether we want BFF to hit it big or
not. It is kind of cool to see them getting their due, but at the same time
it's depressing that we may become just part of a huge new audience who
didn't know them when they were just getting started. The Philadelphia
Inquirer just ran a story on the front page of the 3/30 Entertainment
section, where they gave the new album 4 stars. I guess they're not our
secret anymore....
We have our tickets to the 4/30 TLA show in Phila-can't wait to see them
again (saw them over a year ago at the Khyber Pass). Bye for now.
==============================================================================
Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 08:04:49 +0200
From: rsnead@awod.com
Subject: #BFF
For anyone who cares, I'd like to start a BFF chat. I tried before but I
only had a few responses. I need input people.
Oh and Baitboy email me the info you told me about.
Bryan Snead
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And she shattered her last china plate and spun off in the car