THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #1108 - July 9, 1998
Magical Armchair Digest Thursday, July 9 1998 Volume 01 : Number 1108
THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
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TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:
Re: BFF Covering BNL
BFF E-Mail Address Shutting Down
My theory to Ben's self-importance.
what is this, the national enquirer?
Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1105
weezer & bff
Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1105
who needs a challenge?
Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1096
i need tix to conan
Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1105
A Cover Song
I'm stupid
Re: covers, Conan
bad idea
more bff stuff!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 8 Jul 1998 03:58:48 EDT
From: LoonyLiz@aol.com
Subject: Re: BFF Covering BNL
Oh my dear, dear Patrick! I enjoyed your post, it was very well written,
that's always good. BUT...Barenaked Ladies' musicianship is nowhere near that
of Ben Folds Five, you say? I REALLY have to disagree. As far as drummers
go, I find Tyler Stewart of BNL to be absolutely spectacular. I like to think
that he and Darren are about equal in the drumming department. I'm not a
drummer myself, and the only drummers I know are my older brother and my
friend Will, but in my opinion Tyler and Darren are both phenomenal in their
own rights. They have different styles, but they're both wonderful drummers.
They can also both rap like nobody's business.
If there were ever to be a Battle of the Bassists, I can't help but think
that Jim Creegan of BNL would kick Rob's ass. Rob is an excellent, excellent
bassist, but if you've ever seen Jim live...WOW! He blows me away. Of course
Jim "specializes" in stand-up and Rob is more of an electric man, so maybe
it's not fair to compare them.
As far as the remaining 3 members of BNL go(Steve Page, Ed Robertson, and
Kevin Hearn) I think all are all excellent musicians, at LEAST as good as the
members Ben Folds Five. Kevin especially stands out...check out his solo
album Mothball Mint, it's wonderful. Obviously nobody holds a candle to Ben's
piano playing abilities, but overall I would say that BNL and BFF are about
equal in the musicianship department. I'm sure that it would be a challenge
for BFF to cover a BNL song, and an equal challenge for BNL to cover a BFF
song.
All for equality,
Liz =o)
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 8 Jul 1998 09:41:12 -0400 (EDT)
From: Frank Maynard <maynard@mail.oeonline.com>
Subject: BFF E-Mail Address Shutting Down
According to management, the band's e-mail address, bffmail@juno.com, will
be shut down effective August 9, 1998. Mail to the band may be sent by
postal channels to:
Ben Folds Five
P. O. Box 1028
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
-fjm
Here is the time we didn't speak, it seemed, for years and years
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 8 Jul 1998 15:00:11 +0100
From: Toby Jenkins <toby@hereford.ac.uk>
Subject: My theory to Ben's self-importance.
Based merely on the mail about Ben being a total arse a couple of
digests ago, this is my theory as to why Ben Robert and Darren are a
little pretencious, whereas Robin Williams is not.
I think that the three of them are still getting to grips with ther
fairly new stardom. They don't really know how to react. I do however
find this a bit strabge, having read an interview with Ben where he
sounded like a down-to-earth type of guy.
This could be totally inaccurate, but it's the way I see the situation.
Luckily I wasn't shocked, though. This kind of thing is bound to happen
once in a while, and maybe Robert and Darren look up to Ben as a sort of
role model or something. I know plenty of people who have become famous
( ish ) and they all became pig-headed for a while. I reckon it'll soon
wear off, and the three of them will remember that they are as human as
the rest of us.
Please send any remarks (whatever they are) and I'll try and reply. That
is - if you want to...
Still love 'em, though.
Toby-boy
<< I like the theory 'bout my little stage >> [Poignant?]
( Ben Folds Five - Best
Imitation Of Myself )
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 08 Jul 1998 08:50:32 PDT
From: "darla pink" <darlapink@hotmail.com>
Subject: what is this, the national enquirer?
dear armcharians,
a few words on "the shocking truth for all ben folds five fans" post. it
seems to me that so much on the armchair these days amounts to little
more than gossip...certainly, people have individual opinions they
should feel free to share. but this call to arms..."here's news that no
fan will be able to stomach" is just silly.
i'm sure there are lots of people who have had disappointing encounters
with ben, darren, and robert. and there are also lots of people (in and
outside of chapel thrill) who have had tremendously positive
experiences. the thing is, every situation is different and i am not
trying to get all agitated because of one guy's experience and
opinion...
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 8 Jul 1998 12:37:36 EDT
From: PSYCHOPAF@aol.com
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1105
In a message dated 98-07-07 21:34:05 EDT, you write:
<< I know this letter is long, but please, please, read all of it. Some of you
may have already had an idea about the current situation of BFF and their
fans. However, nothing could have prepared me for the actual truth of its
extremes.
I had the "pleasure" of talking with a Chapel Hill resident at 3 in the
morning tonight. And naturally I asked him what any other Armchairian would
ask: "Do you know Ben?" His answer and his story about the band would upset
me
to no end and may shock a few others. I apologize for this letter's length,
but I feel it is a MUST READ for all on the 'Chair >>
Dan, c'mon buddy, y'gott'a know Ben and the guys better then this! Ben is not
a jerk. Neither is Robert or Darren. They are three sweet men. This guy is
obviously making something up, 'cos Ben, Robert, and Darren are not like that.
And a bodyguard? They don't have a bodyguard! Puh-leese.
Amy
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 8 Jul 1998 10:10:41 -0700 (PDT)
From: Andrea Tao <atao@checfs2.ucsd.edu>
Subject: weezer & bff
In my humble opinion, the best thing that could happen would be a concert
with weezer and bff as dual headliners. I think rivers cuomo (lead
singer) and ben folds would hit it off right away. plus, they both play
piano.
say it ain't so would sound pretty darn hip with ben at the piano.
andrea
=w= 3764
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 8 Jul 1998 13:28:13 EDT
From: Zyah@aol.com
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1105
JKFett-
I don't know, whomever it was you were talking to sounds pretty bitter about
something; maybe he's just offended his poems weren't used. Maybe I'm biased,
but I'm not believing it.
Lucy-
The Sonic Youth video premiered a while ago actually, I've seen it a lot since
then; but I've never seen it on daytime MTV. You know what though, parts of
it remind me of a shampoo commercial :) That's a good thing..
All this talk about covers--are they planning on doing one soon or is this
just something to talk about?
Another good video is "Home" by Sean Lennon; it was shot on a regular video
camera, actually....oh, about videos. Does anyone have all the BF5 videos
recorded, or at least a good amount of them? For this zine we have a new
thing for video reviews; if someone feels like reviewing a bunch of their
videos, e-mail me. Or any other video(s) for that matter. First come first
serve... :)
Bye,
Lauren
<A HREF="http://www.onelist.com/subscribe.cgi/rocksphere">To Subscribe To
RockSphere Mailing List</A>
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------------------------------
Date: Wed, 08 Jul 1998 12:55:26 -0500
From: Susan Phillips <ariel79@sprintmail.com>
Subject: who needs a challenge?
In response to Patrick J McDonough:
Why does a cover song have to be a challenge? Ben Folds Five would do
wonders with a barenaked ladies tune, not because the song itself would
be particularly difficult, but because they would put thier own
particular flavor to it. If they really wanted a challenge, I would
suggest the Buddy Rich Big Band's version of West Side Story. In reality
though, what fun would that be?
Darren is a great drummer, but that doesn't mean he shouldn't play a
song in which the drumming may be "inferior" to his. That's what's great
about a cover: you make it your own.
Oh, and myself being a drummer, I have to say that he IS a melodic
force in the music, and that what makes him so good.
"You're wearing the shirt of the band you're going to see?"
Scott
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 8 Jul 1998 14:03:10 -0400
From: "Paperscratcher" <coyotearm@email.msn.com>
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1096
EVRYONE LOves TO Bitch!!! Keep On fighting That Battle Of Who Care Less.
WOOOOOHOOOOO!!!!!!!
(cafine)
- -tim
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 8 Jul 1998 14:12:52 -0400 (EDT)
From: David Prager <dsprager@mailbox.syr.edu>
Subject: i need tix to conan
Or, rather, my friends needs tix to conan. One ticket, in fact. She is a
21 year old from Arizona who is coming into the city and would like to be
able to see BFF at Conan with us. Does ANYONE have an extra ticket
floating around? Anyone at all? Let me know... I/we would really
appreciate it...
Dave
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 08 Jul 1998 14:55:22 -0400
From: the musselwhite family <bobafett@ne.infi.net>
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1105
> From: JKFett@aol.com
> Subject: A MUST READ! SAD AND SHOCKING TRUTH FOR BFF FANS!!!
>
hmmm...this sounds like propaganda to me
> Toadyrage: I don;t see them around much anymore because they are on tour or
> know that most Chapel Hill people don't like them anymore.
> JK Fett: They know that most of the people in C.H. don't like them? You think
> they know it's because of they way they treat them? Their first real fans?
doesn't this remind you of a lawyer and a witness trying to turn a jury to their side?i
don't know...but this seems a little hokey to me. personally, i have had nothing but
good experiences with ben and co., the last experience being the most friendly and only
being 2 months ago. who cares what this guy says, maybe he has some personal vendetta
against the boys...as long as their music stays great and ben doesn't start rapping fans
in the head, i don't really care what a neighbor has to say...sorry to rant.
>
>
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 8 Jul 1998 16:52:00 EDT
From: SunfireQT@aol.com
Subject: A Cover Song
Fellow Chairers:
Believe it or not, I actually thought about this one. I noticed that y'all
have been posting songs that you think would be cool for the boys to cover.
Mostly they have been by Billy Joel or Elton John, so no offense but I decided
to think of a song that is by niether one of these gentlemen.
To the person who said that Billy Joel songs shouldn't be covered, I say
it's a free country. Therefore we are all entitled to do what we want and as
long as Mr. Joel is properly credited than anything of his can be covered.
However you are entitled to your opinion and I agree that if a BJ song was
ever remade I probably wouldn't like it.
OK OK. Now for my song. I think it would be cool of BF5 covered (drumroll
please) Black Magic Woman by Santana!
Why do I think this? It's got a Latin type beat that I think the band
could not only play well but master. We also haven't seen much Latin
influenced stuff from the Boys and I think it would be cool. Or if they
decided to do something creative like they did with She Don't Use Jelly, the
melody is simple enough that they wouldn't have to change the song completely
to make it their own.
But that's just my opinion.
The Texas Yankee
AKA
Supreme Bitch
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 8 Jul 1998 17:46:10 EDT
From: Fantine222@aol.com
Subject: I'm stupid
Hello everyone~
Okay, I got several e-mails regarding the ABC concert and I accidently deleted
one yesterday before I read it, so if you e-mailed me yesterday and you are
not PSYCOPAF or LIBERTY98, please e-mail me again! SORRY!!!
cheerio,
cait
------------------------------
Date: 8 Jul 98 17:52:47 EDT
From: Rey Anthony (rey@radiolink.net) <reyanthony@usa.net>
Subject: Re: covers, Conan
The Reverend Clayton Walker <revclay@cyberspace.org> wrote:
<<< Also, I'll be in New York the 16th and have reserve tickets for
Conan
(my dad is friends with someone at the local NBC affiliate...)....I
just
have to hope I can pass for 16 (I'm 15.) I think getting together
would
be cool, though I'm completely unfamilar with the city. Someone else
who's going, email me! >>>
Hey Rev, (and anybody else planning on going who I haven't spoken to),
we're going to meet up at TGIFriday's which is half a block north of 30
Rock, at around 1:30 in the afternoon and then try to get on line early.
Should be a nice sized group at this point. Let me know if you can make
it, and maybe get a fake ID.
Reverend Rey
http://radiolink.net/rey
rey@radiolink.net
____________________________________________________________________
Get free e-mail and a permanent address at http://www.netaddress.com/?N
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 08 Jul 1998 18:38:20 -0400
From: cherry@idirect.ca
Subject: bad idea
I was wondering what the words are to bad idea, I can't understand some
ofthe words.
I've got,
Pull over the car, pull over the car,
I think I see some sweet squirrel _________(rythm maybe?)
Pull over the car,no really, pull over the car,
I think I feel like ______(King Tut again maybe?)
If anyone can fill in the blanks, could you please help.
Just mail my house so as not to fill the armchair with useless chatter.
Have a nice day
Val
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 8 Jul 1998 19:05:24 EDT
From: Vwbugn5890@aol.com
Subject: more bff stuff!
i just recently got back from a two week trip in europe and one of my main
goals while i was there was to get bff imports....the only ones i could find
were brick (one with missing the war and she don't use jelly and the other
with smoke and sftd in japanese) i personally love both of them and i was also
fortunate to come across WAEA on vinyl at virgin records in paris (i got the
singles in london) well that's about it for now.....i thought the other
singles would be easier to find over there
shan
------------------------------
End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1108
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