THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #505 - October 2, 1997
Magical Armchair Digest Thursday, October 2 1997 Volume 01 : Number 505
THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
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TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:
A CHALLENGE
Shiny happy songs
Messed up LYrics
Upcoming show in Raliegh
Chevrolet Recliner
being young is soooo unfair!!
BFF Bootleg CD
take it easy, champ
Perth and the BFF gig....
Re: Moshing
oops! re: boston date
re: random thoughts
She Don't Use Jelly
No Rocket Man
Re: Non-BFF
Singles Comp. Tape Trade.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Sep 1997 21:11:47 -0400
From: schander@juno.com (joe s schanderson)
Subject: A CHALLENGE
Hello all,
Well, for those of you who want BF5 to remain unknown, I have proof that
they at least still live in that "neighborhood." While filling in for a
teacher today I decided to take a little poll just for fun.
Out of 81 students, only 17 had ever heard of them. Those that had ALL
said they thought they were REALLY good but the numbers are staggering.
Staggering? Perhaps that's a little too "tabloid."
ANYWAY, I am going to issue a challenge. This challenge is only for those
who want them to get HUGE. I fall into that category.
THE CHALLENGE - At least once a day (not more than three times), call a
radio station or MTV and request BF5.
Try doing it at different times too. Request different
songs even.
I honestly believe that if all the people on the list did this it would
have an effect.
So let's try it. I'm in.
If you are in total disagreement with this, I respectfully agree to
disagree.
Cheers,
joe
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 29 Sep 97 22:11:05 -0500
From: Michael Bluejay <bluejay@pobox.com>
Subject: Shiny happy songs
Petra Starke wrote:
>Perhaps they are sick of the 'happy,
>friendly' image they gave with the first album that has seemed to stick
>to their name like a faded piece of 50's laminex wallcovering, despite a
>lot of the songs being so much more profound than just 'happy'. Their
>new album is filled with a lot more angst (and SWEARING...shock, horror)
>than the self-titled; even Robert said in an aussie interview recently
>that WEAEA is a lot darker and painted in a different tone to the first
>album.
Yeah, but one of the things that GRABBED me about the first album was how
happy it was. I remember thinking specifically the first time I heard
it, "Wow, these guys are really having a GOOD TIME!" In my head I
imagined them recording it on a bright sunny day somewhere near the beach
in California. Last time I had that image in my mind was with Get the
Knack (and it might have actually been true in that case).
- -- Michael Bluejay (Austin, TX)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://pobox.com/bluejay | Home of AUSTIN MUSIC, KING CHEESE,
| BIKING IN AUSTIN, VEGETARIAN pages, & more
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Sep 1997 21:04:33 -0500 (CST)
From: Nate Mathews <nmathews@mork.uni.uiuc.edu>
Subject: Messed up LYrics
I used to think Philosophy said ...at the motor blockin' glass and check
out...........Anyway the recent discussion brought back my confusion
about what motor blocking glass actually does???
-Nate
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cross Country: Finally a practical use for golf courses
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Sep 1997 22:12:21 -0700
From: "Patrick Fulton" <patrfult@yhc.edu>
Subject: Upcoming show in Raliegh
Hi everyone,
Does anybody know how to get tickets for the Raliegh show. I hunted
around for a phone number but can't find one. Any help would greatly
appreciated.
Thanks a lot,
PATRICK
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Sep 1997 22:05:08 -0400
From: schander@juno.com (joe s schanderson)
Subject: Chevrolet Recliner
Have other people noticed the Uncle Walter chair from the video in the
opening sequence of Dateline, NBC. I think they play it for every
episode?
That's all I have to say. For now.
NO! WAIT!
Here goes...SOUNDBOARD BF5 TAPES... Anyone have one or more. If so,
please send me a note and I'll let you know 'bout something I got.
Legally yours,
joe
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Sep 1997 22:19:47 -0400 (EDT)
From: Jessica237@aol.com
Subject: being young is soooo unfair!!
well, i just went from two emotions extremes really fast. first, i got all
excited when i learned that ben folds five was coming to new york on a
saturday night. but then i almost cried when i learned you mustr be 21 or
older to go to this show. it is soopo wrong! i am almost 17, so i obviously
can't get in. anyone have any ideas for me? I NEED HELP! I MUST GO!!
- --jess
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Sep 1997 21:48:04 -2900 (CDT)
From: Richard Fuss <rfuss@eagle.ais.net>
Subject: BFF Bootleg CD
I was at a record show this past weekend and I saw a 2CD BFF bootleg.
Here's the info on it:
Ben Folds Five "Domo! Ben-Chan Desu!" (Gamberetto 08/9)
Live from Akasaka Blitz, Tokyo
May 20, 1997 (disc 1 & disc 2 tracks 1-3)
May 19, 1997 (disc 2 tracks 4-13)
Disc1
=====
1) Intro [3:51]
2) Best Imitation of Myself [3:09]
3) One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces [3:52]
4) Kate [3:34]
5) Selfless, Cold and Composed [5:50]
6) Emaline [3:34]
7) Philosophy [4:55]
8) Brick [5:27]
9) Steven's Last Night In Town [5:34]
10) Smoke [4:59]
11) For All The Pretty People -> Jackson Cannery [5:52]
12) Fair [6:33]
13) Sports & Wine [3:45]
14) Theme from "Dr. Pyser" [3:58]
15) Battle of Who Could Care Less [3:45]
16) Underground [5:06]
Disc 2
======
1) Song for the Dumped (Japanese version) [8:54]
2) Mitchell Lane (w/ September 67) [5:43]
3) 'Cowboy Song' -> Julianne [5:32]
4) Steven's Last Night In Town [6:37]
5) Smoke [4:59]
6) For All The Pretty People -> Jackson Cannery [5:44]
7) Fair [5:29]:
8) Sports & Wine [4:03]
9) Theme from "Dr. Pyser" [3:17]
10) Underground [5:51]
11) Song For The Dumped (Japanese version) [7:33]
12) Mitchell Lane [4:42]
13) Julianne [3:36]
later...
- --Rick
============================================================================
Rick Fuss | Rick's Lo-Fi Homepage
rfuss@ais.net | http://www.cl.ais.net/rfuss/
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Somebody please tell this machine, I'm not a machine"--The Flaming Lips
============================================================================
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Sep 1997 21:00:51 -0600
From: times@bordercity.com (Lloydminster Times)
Subject: take it easy, champ
>people??-- like six times. And guess what, I have been getting the
>newsletter ever since. So maybe if I post this-- UNSUBSCRIBE!!!!!!!--
>they'll take me off the goddamn thing. Sorry to digress from your
I think maybe you should try decaf for a while.
Daniel
Lloydminster
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 01 Oct 1997 09:34:07 +0800
From: Hitech World Cannington <hwcannig@git.com.au>
Subject: Perth and the BFF gig....
Hi,
Firstly.....after a 2 year wait, Ben and the boys really put on a
show.....it was honestly the best concert i have ever been to, totally
outclassing Cake at Metropolis (nightclub) the following night.
Just a quick question though, i heard rumours that they mingled with the
crowd, signing stuff etc after the gig and i want to know if this is
true cos i stupidly left after the encore......
Greg.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Sep 1997 21:24:23 -0600
From: fost0017@badger.snow.edu (The Insatiable Mot)
Subject: Re: Moshing
Well, I'm brand new to the Armchair, but I have been an extremely
devoted fan our our three heroes since two days after the release of the
first album. But, that's another story. Anyway, I was inspired, so here's
my first (of probably many) postings.
On Tue, 30 Sep 1997 at 17:52:47, KNULPREK brilliantly pontificates:
>
>Moshing has to be the dumbest thing that concert-goers have ever created.
>I've yet to be to a Ben Folds show, but i can imagine that there are plenty
>of idiots that don't really know what they're doing that go and mosh. People
>mosh at ska shows. It's insane...and i get to stand at the very side or
>back trying to get a glimpse
>of the band through the circle of nosebleeds that just erupted. It's
>unfortunate people are so stupid.
>
I heartily agree, my friend. I'm also very pleased to find a fellow
ska fan on the list (any other rudeboy/girls out there?). People mosh at
punk shows. That's alright, I guess; it's hard to dance to punk otherwise.
People have absolutely no business being at ska shows unless they know how
to skank. And BFF music is hardly "moshable". I mean, the music is so
sophisticated and intricate, and moshing is so sloppy and stupid looking.
But, again, I have to say that it would be hard to dance to otherwise
(except for "Boxing" and "smoke", which you could clearly waltz to, though
you'd probably get some pretty weird looks for it). So, the question
arises: "how, then, should we dance to BOWCCL and Jackson Cannery?" The
answer is: I don't know. Be creative! Any fan of Ben's music is OBVIOUSLY
extremely intelligent; figure something out. There's gotta be something
better than seeing how many bruises you can get in a night by slamming your
body into other people!
Just pointless rambling...
Hugs and Kisses,
Tim Foster '97
"...and the pursuit of happiness is just a Carpetbagger's con."
-- Cherry Poppin' Daddies
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 01 Oct 1997 00:47:03 +0100
From: Lou Papineau <loup@ids.net>
Subject: oops! re: boston date
i'm sure y'all figured this out, but i gotta note that tix for the 11/4
roxy date in boston go on sale THIS FRI., OCT. 3, *not* nov. 3. i was so
tickled by the news and so anxious to get the date posted on yesterday's
armchair that i skipped a month.
but the rest of the info is correct: the date is Tues., 11/4, 7:30 p.m.,
opening acts are Travis and Verbow, tix through TicketMaster, $12.50,
18-plus.
sorry for the mix-up
also available: thurs., 11/6, nyc, the supper club, 8 p.m., tix on sale
through ticketmaster NOW
lou
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 1 Oct 1997 02:35:35 -0400 (EDT)
From: Pazuzu23@aol.com
Subject: re: random thoughts
In "Underground", the line goes like dis:
"...we'll be decked in all black, slammin' the pit fantastic".
Hee hee! I love that song. I gosh darn mothra frigging love it.
Git down (yeah)!
:) -Scotto
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 01 Oct 1997 02:01:57 -0500
From: Pluvius Dope <Policy@Mobsters.com>
Subject: She Don't Use Jelly
Maybe all of you that have seen the boys in concert have been lucky enough
to hear them sing "She Don't Use Jelly", and maybe the Lounge-A-Palooza
version is different, but it is easily one of the better BFF songs I have
ever heard. It has kind of a Mambo thing happening, which is very cool,
since often the boys are not funky.
Pluvius Dope
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 1 Oct 97 02:07:38 -0500
From: Michael Bluejay <bluejay@pobox.com>
Subject: No Rocket Man
Elizbeth Hacket wrote:
>Speaking of Elton John, does anybody else think a cover of "Rocket Man" by
>the guys would be any good? IMHO, it's the only good song Elton John
>wrote.
Sorry if this is harsh, but I think it would be particularly stupid for
BF5 to cover a song by another piano player. It's just too obvious.
What would be the point? ESPECIALLY if the song is as lacking in energy
as "Rocket Man". Ever notice how the songs the band covers are NOT
traditional piano songs? (Crosstown Traffic, Satan is My Master, She
Don't Use Jelly)
And I disagree that "Rocket Man" is the only good song Elton ever wrote
- -- he has a substantial body of impressive work. Hell, *MY* band ever
covers "Rocket Man", but we're no Ben Folds Five.
Here's what Ben had to say about covers in an interview this summer:
(From Dan goodspeed's interview, 6/97)
BUM: How do you choose what covers to do? On your e-mail discussion list,
fans have suggested everything from Queen's "Fat Bottomed Girls" to the
theme from Mr. Roger's Neighborhood. I know you've played a variety of
covers.
BF: Not really, the only covers we've really consciously really done have
been: "Video Killed The Radio Star," which we were asked to do for a
record, which never came out; "She Don't Use Jelly" by the Flaming Lips,
which was our choice, but we were asked to do it for a compilation of
lounge songs; then a Built To Spill cover, called "Twin Falls". The rest
of the those things are spur of the moment, we may do them like for an
entire tour, we might do them some night as things kind of start to
evolve and happen. I mean that's the way those happen, but for the most
part I don't think its a good idea for us to play songs that already are
us anyway. That's not really interesting for us to play a Queen song, or
something like that; I'd rather hear the Queen record. But I would be
interested in seeing what we'd do with a Queensryche song.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 1 Oct 1997 08:43:31 -0400 (EDT)
From: Brad654@aol.com
Subject: Re: Non-BFF
In a message dated 97-10-01 00:13:48 EDT, you write:
> Gotta send MAJOR kudos to Chuck Folds for such speed with the sending
> of his music.
>
> I HIGHLY recommend it. As high as the clouds. I was very impressed.
>
> Have a nice rest of the digest. . .
No doubt! Chuck sent me a couple of discs as well, and the Bus Stop disc is
bad ass.
Brad
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 1 Oct 1997 08:56:09 -0400 (EDT)
From: MeandMrRay@aol.com
Subject: Singles Comp. Tape Trade.
Hey Folks,
This is my second attempt at posting this, If it shows up twice, I
apoligize. Ive seen lots of people posting, and saying they cant find all the
singles. Well I thought since I have most of them, I'd put them on a tape,
and offer it for trade. What would I like to trade for? Glad you asked... I'd
like to trade them for live tapes, other songs that I dont have, or anything
else BF5 related. Heres a run down on the tape (not in final order):
1. Bad Idea (demo vers.) 2. For all the Pretty People
3. Satan is my Master 4. Video (Live)
5. Tom & Mary 6. Emaline
7. Jackson Cannery 8. Underground (Live)
9. Mitchell Lane 10. All Shook Up
11. Song For The Dumped (In Japanese)
12. Hava Nagila 13. For Those of Ya'll who Wear Fannie
Packs
14. Champagne Supernova 15. Philosophy (from Modern Rock Live)
16. Alice Childress (Live from "Rare on Air, Vol. 3")
17. She Dont Use Jelly (From "Lounge-a-Palooza", I guess it's not out yet?, I
got it)
I know, I'm missing a couple....But 17 songs is'nt bad. I may also put the
dialog from the "Video Profile" promo video between songs....its very funny.
I allways tape on High Quality Blanks, and have really good tape decks...So
this tape will be as almost as good as having all the singles (wont It?). So
If you'd like to trade, please email me at: MeandMrRay@Aol.Com I'm sure
we can work something out.
Rock on!
Greg.
------------------------------
End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #505
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