THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #259 - April 25, 1997
Magical Armchair Digest Friday, April 25 1997 Volume 01 : Number 259
THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Mailing List
Topics in this issue:
The Children Are Singing?
BFF is everywhere!!!
Is it just me, or....
BFF is everywhere!!!
All that and a side order of fries (en Espanol)
Re: The return of BF5
Modern Rock Live
Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #257
MTV "edits"
Don't give me that bullshit, you know who I am....
Reasons to be cheerful, part 3...
"Oh What a Night(mare)..."
Armchair is losing it..
Unsubscribing from this mailing list
tapes
cover song
Ben Folds on the radio, in Detroit
My mistake...
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 00:09:26 -0400 (EDT)
From: Mitch Armbruster <marmbru@email.unc.edu>
Subject: The Children Are Singing?
Hi all! I am quite glad that the children of Armchair
members are listening and enjoying BFF. I was certainly not that cool as
a toddler. But Song for the Dumped? 'F*** you too', 'you bitch'?
are these the lines being memorized? Call me
a puritan, but that seems a little too much for circle time! Just was
wondering....
ALSO, my vote for cover I'd like to see.... London's Burning by the Clash.
With their talents they could do a lot with it.
- - Mitch
P.S. Tom & Mary MP3 now posted at http://www.unc.edu/~marmbru/mp3.html
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 00:18:43 -0400
From: Kieran Cox <krocox@UDel.Edu>
Subject: BFF is everywhere!!!
Just a word on BFF going mainstream. When I bought the new album in March,
it was one of only two CD's in stock carried by a rather large music
retailer (Rainbow Records). Last week when I went in the store, it was on
the little listening booth thingy and in the store speaker system. There
were easily 30 the CD's out on the shelves. They also 6 or 7 copies of the
first album on the shelf - a month before they had none.
I also noticed that the record is at #148 on the Billboard's top 200.
(Up from #171 a week before.) It's not long before BFF is a household
name. Whether BFF going mainstream is good or not is irrelevant because
it's going to happen!
I can see both sides of the "BFF going mainstream" battle, but I think
that BFF is unlike any other band. While other bands music may have
suffered due to increased popularity, I can't see that happening with BFF
and I think it's unfair to the band to suggest so.
Kro
"To me, it's a good idea to carry two sacks of something when you walk
around. That way, if anybody says 'Hey, can you give me a hand?' you can
say, 'Sorry, got these sacks.' "
Jack Handey
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 00:59:42 EDT
From: sandishortcake@juno.com (Sandi Shorter)
Subject: Is it just me, or....
Is it just me or are these issues not going in order? I JUST got issue
#254, but earlier today I got #255 & #257, but no #256 yet. I'm
wondering if this is happening with all the digests or just mine for some
strange reason. If anyone can fill me in on what might be going wrong,
please e-mail me. Thanks.
Sandi
"maybe i'm thinkin' myself in a hole, wondering who i am when i ought to
know" -BF5
check out my website (still under construction):
http://kent.edu/~sshorter
where we discuss strange dreams, the wallflowers, ben folds five, and
things that
piss us off. join us.
sandishortcake@juno.com
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 00:18:43 -0400
From: Kieran Cox <krocox@UDel.Edu>
Subject: BFF is everywhere!!!
Just a word on BFF going mainstream. When I bought the new album in March,
it was one of only two CD's in stock carried by a rather large music
retailer (Rainbow Records). Last week when I went in the store, it was on
the little listening booth thingy and in the store speaker system. There
were easily 30 the CD's out on the shelves. They also 6 or 7 copies of the
first album on the shelf - a month before they had none.
I also noticed that the record is at #148 on the Billboard's top 200.
(Up from #171 a week before.) It's not long before BFF is a household
name. Whether BFF going mainstream is good or not is irrelevant because
it's going to happen!
I can see both sides of the "BFF going mainstream" battle, but I think
that BFF is unlike any other band. While other bands music may have
suffered due to increased popularity, I can't see that happening with BFF
and I think it's unfair to the band to suggest so.
Kro
"To me, it's a good idea to carry two sacks of something when you walk
around. That way, if anybody says 'Hey, can you give me a hand?' you can
say, 'Sorry, got these sacks.' "
Jack Handey
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 03:55:36 -0400 (EDT)
From: Rahoolio@aol.com
Subject: All that and a side order of fries (en Espanol)
Hi--
Just wanted to add a couple of notes on the St. Louis show.
Apparently having a brick heaved through their bus window gave the band an
extra adrenalin rush, because I don't think I've ever seen them play so
furiously! (Now all that's left is for us to endlessly debate what the brick
"meant.")
In addition to a cavalcade of favorites from both albums, the gents
treated us to what was apparently "Emmaline," a b-side I'd never heard until
last night. What a great song; too bad it's not very easy to find! An
infectious instrumental frosted with creamy "oohs" and "aahs" was identified
by Ben as a contribution to a forthcoming lounge-oriented compilation, and
the cover of "She Don't Use Jelly" was mighty impressive. I've always liked
the original by the Flaming Lips, but this version was another matter
entirely!
I arrived kinda late--missing Komeda--so I didn't have much opportunity to
scour the packed house for other Armchair subscribers, but I'm sure y'all had
a great time. Stop in and see me at Euclid Records sometime...and Megan,
hope you made it home OK--that's a hella boring drive at night!
Oh, and anyone who's hankering for another lively, pure-pop band to get
all excited about--you might want to check out the new Papas Fritas CD,
"Helioself." It's like Mott the Hoople, Todd Rundgren (Hi, Melinda!), the
Lovin' Spoonful, the Zombies and the Go-Go's all in one convenient package.
Amen,
R.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 09:14:59 GMT0BST
From: "K.V.SUTTON" <GG9C6SKV@swansea.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: The return of BF5
Hurrah!
Yes, straight off the grapevine,- BFF are set to return to Britain
during June (London 23rd June,- The Astoria agian?).
Just thought I'd let all you Brit fans out there know. Wow, two
visits in a matter of a few months,- they must love us!!
Anyway, I found the ticket details in this week's edition of either
NME or Melody Maker (can't remember which). Oh, and by the way, I've
always found that by ringing the record company,- Caroline referred
me to Epic, you can find out about any other dates in the country,-
cool eh?
Make the effort and ring,- it's well worth it!
In regards to the age question as to why the Ben Folds are FIVE,-
there doesn't actually seem to be any singular reason as I've heard
Ben himself personally say:
a) It sounds aliterarally good
b) There's no good answer for that question
c) They were going to be called Jackson (something or other,- NOT
FIVE) but two people dropped out,
and so on.
Again, I think that it is just Ben allowing us to get the most out
the band by making our own assumptions,- good on you mate, you rebel
from convention!!!!
Anyway, I know I've got mine (tickets),- I'll leave you to go get
yours!!
Best wishes fellow fans,
Kelly.
others dropped out
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 04:56:42 -0400 (EDT)
From: Autumn Patterson <apatte2@gl.umbc.edu>
Subject: Modern Rock Live
I was first turned on to Ben Folds Five by a radio program called Modern
Rock Live. They played Philosophy and Song for the Dumped if I remember
correctly. I remember taping the second song because I loved the
first so much, except they bleeped out the 'bitch' part with an
exceedingly long "you're listening to modern rock live on the global
sattelite network"...and none of this is really important...
WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY POINT:
Does anyone know the date of this broadcast, have a copy of it, or know
where I can write to get a copy? If so, please email me privately,
Thanks! (c=
Also, if any of you fellow bff fans happen to be cruising the undernet one
day, you can find me (most likely alone) in #BenFoldsFive with the nick
summerB. If I'm not there I'll be on #TMBG or more often than not I'm in 2
or more places at once. A brillant feat if I do say so. (c;
Thanks (c=
oOo
oOoOo ...
OOO (^^^)
| \./ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|<> | Goddess of the Lick
<>| | | ~*.*`&`*.*~ |
\\|//|\\\|/// Official Woobie Hunter
~A~u~t~u~m~n~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 09:35:37 +0
From: "S I PICK (BA (Hons) Design)" <AJBA0048@newi.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #257
Hiya,all!
The new digest is pretty cool in the fact it seems like you're
getting more e-mail ;)~ I haven't posted for a while, but I've
noticed everyone going on about why Ben Folds Five is called Ben
Folds Five. I thought that it would have had something to do with a
game of poker, or some other card game when Ben folds five
(cards...?). It's a sorta play on words.. get it? Doh!
I also had to sign off the Jellyfish list, because there was too much
bitchy bickering going on. Thankfully the BFF mailing list is
relatively free from this sorta thing, and I thank everyone for
keeping the level of intelligence here quite high above "moron"
level...
Before I zip off, how about a BFF comic strip/cartoon series? I
wouldn't mind having a crack at a Monkees style strip, or the
characters and I'll probably post them on my Web page in the near
future - though I was influenced by this thanks to the brilliant new
Sony BFF Web Page, where you get to roam around the lads' house and
truck! Shame our computers at College become pretty buggered with all
that FMV stuff (sob :( Cybercafe here I come... :) ).
Here's to more mailing list anarchy...
Ta, ta!!
Steve ;)~
AJBA0048@newi.ac.uk
http://www.ace.mdx.ac.uk/hyperhomes/houses/steven/index.htm
(almost finished new-look Web page!!!)
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 07:52:04 -0400
From: Michael Hirsch <MICHAELH@aw.com>
Subject: MTV "edits"
Can anyone explain why the video for "Battle of...." on MTV has edited out
the word "weed" from the line "To try and see if Paul could score some
weed" ? Is "weed" a bad word in America in 1997?
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 12:56:29 +0100
From: Mark Piper (PWA) <pipermf@ugs1.ph.bham.ac.uk>
Subject: Don't give me that bullshit, you know who I am....
....I'm your nightmare, little man....
Nah, not really, it's only me, back from me Easter break. Can't I leave you lot alone with anything? I go away, and come back to find I'm sending posts to some Majordodo thang. Ah well. At least Frank will have some spare time now (He'll soon be on that slippery slope to drug and alcohol abuse, believe me). Not much to say. Um, so is Kate going to be the new single then? I haven't seen anything about it. It's about time. When's it out?
Oh, and spotted on Teletext this week, on Ceefax p561 (Yes, it's the kiddies music chatback thing. Yes, I have too much time on my hands). Having waded through the usual crap arguments about Boyzone and the Spice Girls, the following nugget was nested.
"Forget dance and indie. The future is piano funk and Ben Folds Five"
Short, sweet, and sadly the contributor remained anonymous. Reveal yourself! Is it another list member who is even sadder than me and actually phones in with comments? Mind you, the younger generation need to be told what's what. Good Work Fella! (or perhaps Fellaess)
That is all.
Mark
Looks, Brains & Everything - www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/5430/bff.html
>8)
- ----- End Included Message -----
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 13:13:26 +0100
From: Mark Piper (PWA) <pipermf@ugs1.ph.bham.ac.uk>
Subject: Reasons to be cheerful, part 3...
*sigh*
Part 1 of a probably on-going series....
Advantages of Majordomo:
- - Higher volume of traffic dealt with more quickly
Disadvantages:
1)
>From: McCall Bennett <mccall@frognet.net>
[very large snip]
> This is not your ordinary chain letter....
[large snip]
Say no more...Anyone posting any more chain crap will be taken outside and shot, personally, by me, and any of you who fancy coming along.
2)
>Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 18:19:49 -0400 (EDT)
>From: Marc <mjt7742@is2.nyu.edu>
>Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #250
>
>please unsubscribe mjt7742@is2.nyu.edu
>
>Thank you.
See? A little politeness on Marc's part, and the damn thing has gone and screwed it up. I vote that Majordomo be changed so that it doesn't do anything unless the commands are preceeded by "please" and followed by "thank-you". All them programmers out there, remember politeness next time!
Apologies for non-BFF content (Although very much pertaining to the list)
Oh, and is someone putting something in the water, because there's a lot of BBFing going on. What is BBF? Ben Ben Folds? Ben Ben Five? Ben Bends Five? Remember, it's one B, two F's >8) This sort of mistake shall hereby be referred to by myself as a "Benny". Benny at your peril.... >8D
Mark
Looks, Brains and Everything - www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/5430/bff.html
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 08:57:24 -0400
From: "Brian R. Kessler" <bkessler@btv.ibm.com>
Subject: "Oh What a Night(mare)..."
> The best song for BFF to cover would be December 1963 (Oh what a night!)
> by The Four Seasons.
Excuse me. I think I hafta go hurl now...
Peace, skiing, & music,
Brian
- --
"Never seem to get far enough / Staying in between the lines..." - Son Volt
- --------
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 13:59:42 -0000
From: "Simon Burrows INF-KB" <sburrows@madge.com>
Subject: Armchair is losing it..
What has happened to the armchair mailing list?
Is it now generated automatically with no editorial control? I ask
because in the last issue I read, I had to scroll through a totally
unfunny list of 'what guys say' 'what girls mean' shite. I can live with
the occasional repeated message, but I don't want to see a free-for-all
developing. Especially if the contributions are as amusing (i.e not at
all) as the one I've mentioned.
Suppose I'd better add some BFF stuff now. I have made two 5 pound* bets
with friends. I have bet them that 'Kate' will go top 10 when released in
the UK. Please don't use this as an opportunity to di-up the 'mainstream'
argument, but do you reckon I'm 10 pounds worse off come May.
*5 Pounds = 8 dollars ( for our American Cousins )
Laters
Ceddy (sburrows@madge.com)
- ---------------------------------------------------------
"I love you (but you're boring)"
t h e b e a u t i f u l s o u t h
- ---------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 09:34:48 +0000
From: "John Wroton" <jcwroton@mindspring.com>
Subject: Unsubscribing from this mailing list
Okay folks, you can't unsubscribe by posting to the main list
address. You have to send a message to
Majordomo@maillist.il.ft.hse.nl with a message in the body of the
email stating - unsubscribe armchair youremailaddress
This information was included in the first message everyone got from
Majordomo (the list server).
Thanks!
John Wroton
UDI Community Development Corporation
P.O.Box 1349
Durham, NC 27702
Phone: (919)544-4597
Fax: (919)544-4609
E-Mail: jcwroton@mindspring.com
Home page: http://www.RTPnet.org/~jwroton
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 07:57:21 -0700
From: Tim Wang <twang@mail1.abac.com>
Subject: tapes
Hey everyone,
I don't know if this is a taboo topic or not, but I was looking for tapes of
BFF.. very specifically of the recent SAn Diego show.. I have plenty of Dave
Matthews and Pearl Jam... in desparate need of BFF... anyone?
thanks,
Tim (twang@mail1.abac.com)
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 09:00:19 -0400 (EDT)
From: Judi Smith <jsmith@bc.seflin.org>
Subject: cover song
what about "monkey" by counting crows?
silly, i know.
just would love to hear ben sing "got ben folds on my radio right now" :)
judi smith would you catch me if i was falling
jsmith@bc.seflin.org kiss me if i was leaving
hold me cause i'm lonely without you?
adam is the only man i ever -- counting crows
wanted to invite home
*just* so he could sit i poured my heart out
on my lap and sing i poured my heart out
--me, only lying a little and it evaporated -- see
-- ben folds five
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 11:12:27 -0400 (EDT)
From: Frank Maynard <maynard@mail.oeonline.com>
Subject: Ben Folds on the radio, in Detroit
I understand that the band will be doing some sort of in-studio appearance
Friday morning (April 25) on the morning show on WHYT-FM (96.3), Detroit.
Set your clock-radios, kids!
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 11:42:50 -0400
From: McCall Bennett <mccall@frognet.net>
Subject: My mistake...
A big phat "Thank you" going out to Lizabeth <elutz@kent.edu> for
actually putting together a Pre-Party for the Clevo. show. I can't wait
to meet other BF5 affecianados. --(I can't spell worth a damn.)
Also, I want to appoligize for accidentally posting that silly "What
they say/What they mean" chain letter kinda' thing. I assure you... it
was not ment to happen. I feel like a fool. Ooooppps.
------------------------------
End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #259
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