THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #1156 - August 4, 1998
Magical Armchair Digest Tuesday, August 4 1998 Volume 01 : Number 1156
THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
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TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:
Attention BFF FANS! Sheet Music is here
Bens favourite bands?
The burger thing
Uncle Walter=Walter Cronkite???
Fluid Ounces
Bentent.
Re: Swingkat34's message...
evaporated
Uncle Walter
who!?
Mark Jurado (sp?)--SHUT UP!!
To those of you who watched Sessions
remain calm
Last call for Total Request
Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1154
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 20:09:36 EDT
From: Bffsledge@aol.com
Subject: Attention BFF FANS! Sheet Music is here
Anyone wanting to play the music, there's some sheet music at
http://home.earthlink.net/~redrum29/
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 01:20:36 +0100
From: Darren Anthony Lee <darren@elgar.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Bens favourite bands?
Anyone know anthing more about who Ben says have influenced or impressed
him? I know that Ben is a big fan of The Divine Comedy and Belle &
Sebastian, from the UK scene, but anyone know of any other bands that
they tip the hat to?
(PLUG PLUG - For more info on the Divine Comedy, visit
www.elgar.demon.co.uk/dc/)
Cheers,
Darren
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 02 Aug 1998 21:09:10 +0000
From: mark & mikell brown <brownmm@ix.netcom.com>
Subject: The burger thing
OK, I wasn't going to post this bit of info because it shows that I know
embarrassingly TOO MUCH about this band but, I feel somehow compelled -
a Sunday afternoon of drinking beers on the back porch may have
something to do with it. Check out the LAUNCH interview. I know a
transcription is available at one of the BFF websites. (We have a cd of
it somewhere as well.) This is where the question was asked re: the
guys' day jobs and the Chapel Hill scene. They mention that CH has lots
of restaurants to work at if you're "not a genius" or something. DARREN
was a bus boy and ROBERT flipped burgers. So, at least according to that
interview, Pop-Up Video (which I didn't catch, BTW) was correct. Of
course, you can't always belive what they say in interviews. Robert did
tell the folks at MUSICIAN that he came from a family of snake
handlers.....
mikell b. (a stickler for the facts - like the guy said, "so sue me")
ALSO - re: other "burger-related" posts of recent weeks, lots of folks
don't eat meat. Actually, I don't. It's a choice. No big deal.
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 21:22:32 EDT
From: LastPolka1@aol.com
Subject: Uncle Walter=Walter Cronkite???
<< Hola!,
Ok for a while now I have been wondering what my favorite
bf5 song is about(uncle walter).then a couple of days ago i saw that
walter cronkites nickname was uncle walter and that got me thinking
is Uncle Walter about Walter Cronkite?It really could be.He has traveled
around
and he probably has great ideas for being president or something so if anyone
has any ideas 0n this feel free to comment
>>
How strange that you thought the same thing. I posted something on the MA
quite a while back about this topic and got quite a few responses telling me
what Ben had said "Uncle Walter" was about. Ok, fine, I know what Ben says
its about. But I think the whole Walter Cronkite thing has got to be at least
a little related. "The Voice of Fifty Years Experience".... he'd been in the
business for 50 years when the song was written as well as the other
similarities you posted above.
I'm happy I am not alone in this thought.
Love Y'all...
Suzanne
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 20:12:40 -0400
From: travisp@mindspring.com
Subject: Fluid Ounces
I think Fluid Ounces is great(I'm wearing their shirt right now). They do a
great live show. Ben is the better piano player, and has a more mature
style, but Fluid Ounces is still a lot of fun. It took me a couple of
listens to really get into it.
-Travis, travisp@mindspring.com
I am curious to hear the opinions of others on the list who have
>heard the disc. I've only listened to it once through so it's a little
early
>to pass judgement on it, but after the first listen I would say it is "OK".
>The singer also plays the piano - and there is quite a bit of piano in all
of
>the songs, AND they would be classified as pop just as BF5 would, but that
is
>about where the similarities end. Perhaps that's all everyone meant. The
>songs, on the other hand, although they do have a bit of playfulness to
them
>as many BF5 songs do, they do not really remind me of anything that would
have
>come off of a BF5 CD. Maybe it was just the prominances of the guitar that
>makes me think that. Any other opinions??? Just curious.
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 21:25:01 EDT
From: PSYCHOPAF@aol.com
Subject: Bentent.
In a message dated 98-08-02 21:19:03 EDT, you write:
<< Okay, Im kind of confused is Bens middle name Folds and his last name Five?
I
didn't know, a friend and I were discussing it and just wondered.
P.S. Is Brick about an abortion >>
Ben's name: Ben Scott Folds.
Brick is about abortion.
Amy :)
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 18:43:54 -0700 (PDT)
From: Lisa Porter <minkimoo@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Swingkat34's message...
Ben Folds is Ben Folds. I don't know his middle name but I am sure
his library card @ school said Surname:Folds, Given Name/s: Ben.
I was told that the three band members thought calling themselves
"Five" was hysterically funny for a crucial few minutes...
Could all the people who are cutting and pasting entire messages (or
unnecessarily large chunks thereof) to their posts go back and read
the list regulations? Write Re: whatever and if we don't know what
you're on about we can go back to the mail and read it ourselves...
Looking forward to Live at the Wireless on the J's tonight!
Ela
_________________________________________________________
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------------------------------
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 21:53:02 -0400 (EDT)
From: RusBF5@webtv.net (Rusty Weiss)
Subject: evaporated
I always thought Evaporated was about Ben putting his heart and soul,
his entire being, into his music or his career. And because of this,
forgetting about the people in his life. "The things I really cared
about." His family, his friends, became less important than his work.
"It's all smiles and business these days."
The climax of the song...."I poured my heart out....I poured my heart
out...It evaporated--see?" is an indication of Ben pouring everything he
had into superficial ventures, and now having nothing left to give to
the people that really matter to him.
I think the "things" that he really cared about, are actually referring
to relationships. I don't believe that the song is about one specific
person or relationship, but several.
Of course, this is just my opinion, and I may be completely off.
Anybody want to help me out with this? I'd like to hear other
interpretations.
Later,
Rusty
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 22:12:30 EDT
From: JOECOOL215@aol.com
Subject: Uncle Walter
The meaning of Uncle Walter.
One of the guys in Bens high school band had a crazy aunt that would trap him
and his chromies and torment them with all of her knowledge and all the stuff
in the song. The title and all the details were later added just to make it
more interesting. This is the explaination I heard given by Ben on a radio
broadcast 3/24/96 WNEW.
*Shit Yeah Its Cool*
Joe
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 22:41:19 EDT
From: Bffsledge@aol.com
Subject: who!?
will the person who imed me sunday night mail me? i got cut off! this is the
only way to reach you!
~allison
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 02 Aug 1998 19:47:18 PDT
From: "Jessica Davis" <jazzgirl13@hotmail.com>
Subject: Mark Jurado (sp?)--SHUT UP!!
I know I don't post much and I don't want to start any arguments but I
think that Mark Jurado ( I don't know if I spelled that right but I
really don't care) just needs to SHUT UP now. I mean, all the poor
person that posted "I love WEAE" was trying to do was express their
appreciation and love for the music of Ben Folds Five and I think that
it was really immature and extremely unecessary for Mr. Jurado to jump
down their throat. It's people like him who make people remove their
names from the armchair every day. At least the person knows good music
when they hear it whether they're 14 or 140 and they have a right ot be
happy about it. Sorry, I just had to get that off of my chest and I
hope some others feel the same way.
*Jess*
______________________________________________________
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------------------------------
Date: Sun, 02 Aug 1998 22:19:47 CDT
From: "Lauren Talbot" <muffyhead98@hotmail.com>
Subject: To those of you who watched Sessions
Did any of you watch Sessions the other night? It rocked! I was so
glad they played missing the war. And they played Underground (with
Intro!!!!!!!) Robert and Darren put a lot of soul into their
parts....almost brought me to tears.....Did any of you see the guys in
the back who were dancing......It took me hours to stop laughing from
that one.
******************************************************************
*Lauren Talbot
*The Website of Who Could Care Less and home
*of Uncle Walter's Ben Folds Five Mailing List
*http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Balcony/2078
*muffyhead98@hotmail.com or bf5freak@geocities.com
*ICQ - #16480620
*******************************************************************
"I see that there is evil and I know that there is good
and the inbetweens I never understood."
~Ben Folds --"Philosophy"
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 23:20:56 EDT
From: Pyser98@aol.com
Subject: remain calm
In a message dated 98-08-02 21:19:03 EDT, you write:
<< Okay, Im kind of confused is Bens middle name Folds and his last name Five?
I
didn't know, a friend and I were discussing it and just wondered.
P.S. Is Brick about an abortion?
>>
calm down everyone! just calm down! dont yell! for the love of god, dont
yell...
no and yes, respectively...
aaron
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 00:50:13 EDT
From: Soccer172@aol.com
Subject: Last call for Total Request
OK, this is my final post about Total Request!!!!!!
What: Requesting of SFTD on MTV's Total Request
Day: Tuesday, August 4th
Time: Between 12:30 and 1:30 EST
Where: Your computer or phone!
Here are your options:
1. 1-800-DIAL-MTV
2. MTV's page on AOL (click on Tubescan, and then Total Request)
3. www.mtv.com/mtv/tubescan_launch.html
(#2 and #3 requires you to actually submit a little entry form -- it's quite
easy)
Oh yeah, THERE IS NO E-MAIL ADDRESS!!!!! (just in case any are still
wondering!)
And....the show airs at 3 pm est and reruns at 9 pm est!!
That's all. I hope it works!!!!
D
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 03 Aug 1998 05:38:43 GMT
From: "taves -" <taves@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1154
I'm feeling responsive today, so here goes
this is long, and I apologise
that guy from Adelaide (I think) What dya mean the sessions show where
bff were on, was on tv the other night? agggh- I thought we weren't
going to see it till October, if they were doing it on schedule coz
we're a year behind in Australia. dang! i was up too!
hopefully adelaide programming is different to Brisbanes....
...........
on the topic of brisbane
there were photos in the arts section of the Sunday Mail, of people at
the bff concert. (just inside the cover) I didn't recognise any of the
people in the pictures, but.... have a look. There's a v.short paragraph
about it as well, by someone who obviously didn't go to the concert.
............
on the same topic:
>From: Christine Ko
>hmmm, when did there get to be so many brisbane people on this list??
>i was on this list last year and there was like no one from brisbane,
>well if they were there they didn't post! anyway now i regret i ever
>left the list cos i didn't get to meet up with the brisbane MAers.
>BOOOO for me.
well I was on the MA last year, but on and off,and i lurked rather than
posting. No doubt it's similar for others.
BOOO for you indeed - we are wonderful people. <g> maybe we'll see you
at livid
............
>From: "Leigh Nelson"
>Subject: Lucky Australians,
>
>Figures. I see this band live nine times in 1998 and I don't get to
>hear Jackson Cannery, Best Imitation of Myself, or Video even one
>time. You Australians have all the luck, I tell you! I still have
>yet to see Video live--I figured for all purposes it had been >retired.
Just like Rob said they wouldn't be playing Jackson Cannery >too much
any more. Yeah right--just for the shows when I'm there, I bet.
oh. my. goodness.
I cannot believe I read that.
this just HAS to be responded to.
people, I feel a flame coming on....
how in your right mind can you say LUCKY AUSTRALIANS??????
YOU have seen bff live nine times (9!!!) nine times!!!
nine times and only in 1998!!!!
bff havent played many more than nine live concerts in Australia EVER.
EVER!!! get that? (I estimate about 11)
and you call us LUCKY?!
(ok so in comparison to new zealand we are, and i'm sure there are other
countries that consider Australia lucky - fair enuf, but that is not my
point)
Brisbane got to hear 'best imitation' only because I specifically asked
ben to play it, when i met him before the show. that WAS luck I will
admit.
Y'know, maybe we got to hear 'cannery' and 'video' because bff didn't
tour Australia for the first album. ?!
generally we non-Americans (I guess I'm assuming you're american,
because that has to be the only country where they'd play more than 9
shows in a year... and no offense, sincerely, to the rest of the lovely
Americans out there) rein in our rampant Jealously, we hardly ever
whinge about all the stuff we miss out on.
but if your going to whinge about... well I'll stop, I'm sure you get my
point
I don't want to start a debate on which country is luckier, and I also
realise that there are probably very few American MAers who've seen nine
(9!!) live bff shows in 98.
so leigh....
count yourself lucky and quit whinging
sorry for the public flame, but some things have to be said for others
to hear
........
on a nicer note
>From: "Maree Fewster"
>Um, I am dumb and I forgot to tape Ben Folds Five on Ground Zero last
>night! Did anyone see it or tape it?!?!?!?!? Or could someone at
>least let me know what they were like on the show?
yeh, I taped it.
it was pretty funny actually. Darren and Ben were in lie-mode and made
up a story of what Brick is REALLY about. (he he he) I can't remember
his words exactly, but Darren says "you see, people don't realise the
sort of feelings you can have for a brick..." and continues from there
for a couple minutes with Ben's help on how difficult it can be to love
a brick
I have a wicked sense of humour so I was amused by it
then they played Brick (how original) with a visual 'throw' by darren to
the song. apart from the video, it went for only 2 minutes or so. and
there was a couple seconds of ben and darren after the ads.
(email me for a copy/transription of it yadda yadda)
also
>From: Lisa Porter
>
>Yes, I watched ground zero- I, too, stayed up through the mountains >of
drivel that show churns out.
you said it, sister.
> I was disappointed that they didn't play more of the interview but
>thems the breaks. Did anyone get the full version on the radio? (I
>am assuming this is where it came from.)
I echo this this question.
sorry about the length everyone, but you could have scrolled down....
taves
(nine times!!! most people dont have as much sex as that in one year!!)
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------------------------------
End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1156
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