THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #1096 - July 2, 1998
Magical Armchair Digest Thursday, July 2 1998 Volume 01 : Number 1096
THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
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TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:
BFF Covers...
Air Lyrics--anyone?
Help.
yaaaaa
the last polka
possible covers
Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1075
The Reasons Why We Say The Nasty Things We Do About Bands Like Matchbox 20 And Their Ilk...
Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1094
Re: the ny thing
re: tony who rants :|
Re: Evaporated
Need BFF URL's....
Talking?
Live Tape Trade
Rare (?) BFF song
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 1998 20:34:30 -0400
From: Sean Kiely <seank@CYBERNEX.NET>
Subject: BFF Covers...
I don't know, more than anything I'd love to hear BFF play Rapper's
Delight...
sean
"and you don't stop"
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 1998 21:49:10 EDT
From: RgrManning@aol.com
Subject: Air Lyrics--anyone?
I don't think that anyone has addressed this issue before, and if they have,
well, humour me? Does anyone know where I can get the complete lyrcis to
"Air"? I would be ingratiated to you forever if you would reply to my e-mail
address, RgrManning@aol.com if at all possible. . .thanks ;)
love to you and all you love,
~Lauren
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 1998 21:57:25 -0400 (EDT)
From: RusBF5@webtv.net (Rusty Weiss)
Subject: Help.
What is the name of the Counting Crows song that mentions "Ben Folds on
my radio"? Counting Crows is a hit or miss band with me, so I'm not
that knowledgeable of their music. Of course, a case could be made that
I'm not knowledgeable about much of anything, but I digress.
Cover--
I would like to hear a BF5 version of Fake Plastic Trees, with Ben
taking creative liberties by inserting a piano solo right after the " it
wears him out (x3)...it wears......" when the guitar picks up intensity
in the original. Another good one from that album would be Street
Spirit (Fade Out). Two very emotionally charged songs, combined with
Ben's ability to convey any emotion by letting his piano do the talking,
would simply be amazing.
Later,
Rusty
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 1998 22:56:56 -0400
From: bf5 <bf5@SURRY.NET>
Subject: yaaaaa
<<Air JAPAN CDS $18.99>>
Wow...as in more than one cd? Another double cd possibly?
\ \/ /
~\/\/hitney =o)
"the band would play, i'd sing my heart out for a drunken crowd, it didn't
mean a thing" -BF
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 1998 23:12:08 -0400
From: cherry@idirect.ca
Subject: the last polka
I really don't see how Grover and Rey could interpret that part in The Last
Polka as being 25 people. Maybe it's just me, but I picture the line being
yelled at
for example by me to a boyfrined during a fight. By saying this I would be
implying that I was fine and dandy for the other 25 years of my life before
I met or started dating you. Whoops, that's a bit confusing but I hope
everyone gets what I'm trying to say.
But hey, I'm not trying to diss anyone, no meanness intended, I could be
100% wrongola.
Have a nice day
Val
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 1998 23:11:38 EDT
From: potatoesmynumber1favoritefruit@juno.com (Joe G Micko)
Subject: possible covers
I think some great covers would be:
the old apartment-Barenaked Ladies(and almost any other song by them,
especially if i had a million dollars and the song that is now being
played on the radio and MTV)
closing time-Semisonic
Flagpole Sitta-Harvey danger
- -Chico
"Mental health is overrated"-Barenaked Ladies
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------------------------------
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 1998 00:39:43 EDT
From: KNULPREK@aol.com
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1075
In a message dated 6/30/98 8:15:52 PM Eastern Daylight Time, Nukky18@aol.com
writes:
<< damnit! south florida really sucks. >>
Hey. Wow. You live in Coral Springs too, eh? Anyway, i would really doubt that
bff is playing with Dave Matt when they come down 'round here.. mainly because
they're now in Europe and when i saw them in Atlanta they said that this was
the last U.S. show they're playing until they go back in and release a new
album. So, chances are DMB will have someone else..
-jason.
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/knulprek/home.html">The Happy Scrappy Page
</A>
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 01 Jul 1998 01:14:47 -0400
From: Richard Challen <rchallen@clemson.campus.mci.net>
Subject: The Reasons Why We Say The Nasty Things We Do About Bands Like Matchbox 20 And Their Ilk...
Hello Armchair,
This is really off-topic and that's why I'm apologizing right off the
bat. There's something called "cursor" or "arrow" keys on your computer,
one is pointing down, and I guess you should use it now if you're
feeling squeamish.
To continue:
It's not that bands like Matchbox 20 or Third Eye Blind or Hanson are
*ruining* music per se, nor is it wrong for people to defend them. But
here's why myself, and probably others, feel justified in berating these
bands... and their fans, by association (sorry):
1) They're mediocre,
2) They borrow lots from other, better bands, then,
3) They homogenize it for the masses, with the result being,
4) They sell many more records than other, better bands, hence,
5) They get more exposure which just continues the record-selling cycle,
therefore,
6) They deserve to get slammed at every opportunity.
I mean, there's not much fun in ragging on a deserving band that
hasn't sold SQUAT, is there? (Remember Radish? I rest my case.) When we
pick on Hanson, we're really picking on the whole radio/MTV conspiracy
that says: Rather than give [x] number of bands a medium amount of
exposure, we'd prefer to give [x-50] number of bands a HUGE amount of
exposure, turning them into overpaid rock stars, while the rest of the
bands out there beg for scraps of airplay. Hanson in 1997 is Paula Abdul
in 1992 is M.C. Hammer in 1990 is New Kids On The Block in 1989 is
Backstreet Boys in 1998. The shitty bands change; the principle remains
the same.
Ben Folds Five is amongst the rarest of the rare: They got popular and
actually *deserved* it. (See also: Bob Dylan in '65, Steely Dan in '77,
Prince in '83, Sinead O'Connor in '90, Counting Crows in '94.) For a
long (too long) time, there were in the have-nots of bands, and I guess
that's my problem with defenders of TEB and MB20. Why do you want to
embrace a band that 4 million others have embraced stronger and harder
(and maybe better) before you? Believe it or not, I played Third Eye
Blind for everyone I could find back in March of '97 (no that's not a
typo, it's called an advance copy, in this case it worked), usually
beginning with the statement, "This is the catchiest thing I've heard in
ages." But honestly, interest waned after the 3000th airing of
"Semi-Charmed Life," and by the time "How's It Gonna Be" moved into
heavy MTV rotation, the band didn't need ANYONE's support, least of all
mine. (And DO NOT get me started on how Matchbox 20 may be the most
prepackaged band of the decade... Email me if you REALLY want the gory
details.)
Anyway, my advice to any lovers of overexposed groups who want to get
some cred back: BE ORIGINAL! Find an unknown but deserving band and
champion THEM instead, rather than wasting all that positive energy on
justifying Matchbox's latest chart-topping single. Some of my personal
suggestions: Patty Griffin, Grant Lee Buffalo, Wilco, Jeff Buckley,
emmet swimming, Tom Waits, Rufus Wainwright, Dan Kibler, Whiskeytown,
Ben Harper, Red House Painters. For starters. Feel free to add your own.
In closing: Turn the TV off. Stop watching "Road Rules." Listen.
Search. Think for yourself. Reject mediocrity in art before there's
nothing left. Ben and the boys would want it that way.
Drunkenly righteous,
rICH
Visit The RICH Homepage and check out the brand-new CD,
LIFE/DEATH... 15 songs of romance and retribution...
Available independently from Desperate Man Records.
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Stage/9035
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 1998 01:25:29 EDT
From: Luna1118@aol.com
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1094
This is for Luke:
Do you know just how lucky you are? I heard seven songs, no one in the crowd
CARED, and I was a younger one. Sixteen year old girl, pulled that baby tee of
Ben Folds Five on, does that make me trash? So I don't want a huge shirt, so I
am young. I still absolutely love the music of Ben Folds Five and would have
been overjoyed to be in your shoes. Just trying to help you see the other side
of it. Really, I don't mean to be rude and there's no sarcasm in there.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 1998 01:39:50 EDT
From: Luna1118@aol.com
Subject: Re: the ny thing
I live in central new york, and they play SFTD a lot here. They played BOWCCL
a few times, a couple of times introducing it as SFTD because they're that
clever. The college station which has changed formats is the only reason I
heard the BFF before Brick, and you know I am grateful, baby.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 1998 02:53:44 -0400 (EDT)
From: Tony Flaminio <flaminio@acsu.buffalo.edu>
Subject: re: tony who rants :|
Judy Smith says:
>Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1092
>
>why do you "expect more" from ben folds five fans than to actually enjoy
>music you don't like? i admit to being snobbish about hootie, but i can
>see where there's a place for music like celine dion and hootie. why
>can't people who enjoy "GOOD" music like bff also like "easy-to-get-into"
>music like mb20 and third eye blind? this snobby superior attitude about
>bands YOU (whoever you are) don't like is getting a little old. when you
>get to be my age, you learn a bit more about life and learn not to sound
>like a snot about other people's musical tastes. and if that sentence
>pissed you off, good ;) i meant it to. that's how other people feel when
>they read that YOUR opinion is the only one that matters. i personally
>like both mb20 and 3eb, partly because my daughter likes them too. i
>can't stand hootie. but i admit i enjoy a hanson song or two, just for
>novelty. there's nothing WRONG with that. music is music. it's supposed
>to make you feel good. lighten up, i guess is my point :) like who you
>like, and quit thinking you're better than someone else because they like
>someone you find banal. there are those who feel that way about bff too,
>trust me !
First of all, the OTHER person on this list that thinks third eye blind is
good at least had the tact to e-mail me privately about how great he
thinks third eye blind is...you didn't, so here's some more public
argument to piss everyone on this list off:
People who like ben fold's five can listen to all the "easy-to-get-into"
music they want....it is just my opinion that there's other music to get
into than what you hear on the radio and what MTV plays 6,000 times a day.
(I could write a page or 2 about market opinion research and media
inundation but i'm tired and drunk)
(I had an opinion, it had to do with me not liking third eye blind and
matchbox 20. I had a theory, it had to do with where the hell the crap
that is third eye blind and matcbox 20 came from. can't i have
opinions? can't i have theories? can't i voice those opinions and
theories whenever and wherever i want? CAN'T I EXERSIZE MY FIRST
AMMENDMENT RIGHTS?)
"when you get to be my age, you learn a bit more about life and learn not
to sound like a snot about other people's musical tastes." Yeah i'm only
20, i wouldn't know about these things.....i didn't sound like a snot you
just read me that way (right now i sound snotty...intentionally)....and
what the fuck is "when you get to be my age.....?" whatever bill cosby...
...share with us more of your almighty wisdom....
"My snobby superior attitude about bands i don't like is getting old"
....oh yeah i know.....those ONE posts i made were pretty damn annoying
after a while. You may have me mistaken for someone else that hates
crappy bands....there are a lot of us.....
"but i admit i enjoy a hanson song or two, just for novelty. there's
nothing WRONG with that." Yeah there is.....you fell for it...you took
the bait. You see i don't like hanson because i don't wanna give those
little tools my money...plus they really really suck.
"lighten up, i guess is my point :) like who you like, and quit thinking
you're better than someone else because they like someone you find banal."
i don't think i'm better than someone who listens to music i find banal, i
think i'm better than the people who think i think i'm better than the
people who listen to music that i find banal. because those people are
thinking too much about what other people think about what they think.
"...if that sentence pissed you off, good ;) i meant it to. that's how
other people feel when they read that YOUR opinion is the only one that
matters." I regret saying that my opinion is the only one that matters..
...OH WAIT, I DIDN'T SAY THAT....YOU JUST DECIDED TO PRETEND I DID.
...if this whole post pissed you off, good, i meant it to, that's how
other people feel when they read that YOUR [insert a halfassed
interpretation of what you said here]....
tony.
ps: People who hatecrappybandsandaresickofalternativeradioandMTVandtheir
targetedheardsoftasteless16yearoldpseudo-musicfanschoosingwhatwehavetolisten
toineveryelevatoroneverystationduringeverycommercial unite!
/***********************************************************/
/* */
/* How to escape from a box. */
/* Step 1. DO NOT PANIC. */
/* */
/* http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~flaminio/index.html */
/* */
/***********************************************************/
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 1998 02:57:44 -0400
From: "charles hicks" <hicks@siscom.net>
Subject: Re: Evaporated
<<Does anyone know what evaporated is about?>>
To respond to M. Pratt's question, I think "Evaporated" is an extension of
Brick.......
And now I have a question......
Did anyone see the Cincinnati show at Bogart's, not this year but last
year?
I was there and I could have sworn they improved a song about Cincinnati
and Skyline Chili......am I crazy?
".......when seconds pass slowly and years go flyin by....."
Love Ya'll,
Kristy
hicks@siscom.net
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 1998 03:56:47 EDT
From: HndOfChaos@aol.com
Subject: Need BFF URL's....
Okay, cut to the chase.
I NEED more BFF web sites and other related site URL's. Not want, NEED! :)
I've spent forever on-line looking for stuff on the guys and I'm afraid that
I've seen almost every single page that ever is or was.
Can any of you prove me wrong? Email me, or tons of people shall like to
torture you for wasting bandwidth.
If you don't believe me, look at the links section of my web page (see sig)
and tell me if there's a web site that I haven't listed yet...I'm most
interested in sites that are new and have good content, but if yours is still
one in progress, that's fine with me!
Thanks. Was this on-topic?
~Kathryn
THE STRANGEST THINGS
"Howard, the strangest things have happened lately..."
http://members.xoom.com/HndOfChaos
``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 1998 04:18:21 EDT
From: BenFoldss5@aol.com
Subject: Talking?
Ok, now you've got me worried. I bought my copy of WAEA around last December,
and the only talking I can remember on it is "i hope we got that on tape cuz
that was a really good one/i dunno/i really respect you work/ shut the fuck
up..." after Brick. Not much else comes to mind. Is there more? If so, how
cam i getz mez a copy?
By the way, what is NPB? I hope that isn't a terribly naive and stupid
question. Once again, my plea for BFF merchandise/bootlegs stands - I just
don't know where to start. I dont think there's a poster of the boys this
side of the mississippi. Ah well, thanks for listening...
- -Jonathan
"Kane o kaise you bitch!" (sp?)
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 01 Jul 1998 16:46:20
From: Mike Frencham <frenchmj@ses1.ses.curtin.edu.au>
Subject: Live Tape Trade
Hello,
I'm a live tape trader looking primarily to trade for Ben Folds Five
masters (be them FM, audience or soundboard).
I haven't got any BFF at present but have a decent list here :
http://student.curtin.edu.au/~efrencham/boot.html
Give me a holler if you are interested in a trade ! :)
Thanks - Mike Frencham
frenchmj@dhs.ses.curtin.edu.au
efrencham@curtin.edu.au (use if other is bouncing mail)
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 1998 06:54:44 -0700 (PDT)
From: Andrew Kahl <grover918@yahoo.com>
Subject: Rare (?) BFF song
So I get this magazine called Oxford American, a pretty decent
collection of Southern fiction and stuff, but the magazine's not the
point...
Every year they send subscribers this CD called uhm.. hang on.. the
Southern Sampler. THIS year it features our boys from NC, with a
nifty little diddity called "Tom and Mary".
I don't know if this is news to anyone, or if I should already know
this song or something, but if anybody's interested in trading.. I'll
be glad to make a tape of this CD for ya... it's got 19 southern
rock/blues/bluegrass songs on it.. including "Why Not Smile" by
R.E.M., their first offering without a drummer.
Email me and let me know if you're interested...
hand me my nosering,
Andy
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------------------------------
End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1096
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