Ben Folds
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Benjamin Scott "Ben" Folds (born September 12, 1966) is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. From 1995 to 2000, Folds was the frontman and pianist of the alternative rock band Ben Folds Five. After the group temporarily disbanded, Folds performed as a solo artist and has toured all over the world. The group reunited in 2011. He has also collaborated with musicians such as William Shatner, Regina Spektor and "Weird Al" Yankovic and undertaken experimental songwriting projects with authors such as Nick Hornby and Neil Gaiman. In addition to contributing music to the soundtracks of the animated films Over the Hedge, and Hoodwinked!, Folds produced Amanda Palmer's first solo album and was a judge on the NBC a cappella singing contest The Sing-Off from 2009 to 2013.
Early life and career
Folds was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He became interested in piano at age nine. His father, a carpenter, brought one home through a barter trade with a customer who was unable to pay. During this time, Folds listened to songs by Elton John and Billy Joel on AM radio, and learned them by ear. During his years at Richard J. Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem, Folds played in several bands as the pianist, bassist, or drummer.
Ben Folds Five
Ben Folds Five are an American alternative rock trio formed in 1993 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The group's members are Ben Folds (lead vocals, piano, keyboards, melodica, principal songwriting), Robert Sledge (bass, contrabass, synthesizer, backing vocals), and Darren Jessee (drums, percussion, backing vocals, songwriter). The group achieved mainstream success in the alternative, indie and pop music scenes. Their single "Brick" from the 1997 album Whatever and Ever Amen gained airplay on many mainstream radio stations. During their seven years together, the band released three proper studio records, one retrospective album of B-sides and outtakes, and eight singles. They also contributed to a number of soundtracks and compilations. Ben Folds Five disbanded in October 2000. They reunited in 2011 and released their fourth album The Sound of the Life of the Mind in 2012.
History
1993 - 2000
Ben Folds Five was formed in 1993 in Chapel Hill by Ben Folds. They were, in fact, a trio in spite of their name, and the primary motivation behind the name, apart from the band's well-known use of humor, was simple preference, according to Ben: "I think it sounds better than Ben Folds Three." Folds once described their music as "punk rock for sissies," a reaction to the angst prevalent in '90s rock.
Tiny Dancer
"Tiny Dancer" is a 1971 song by Elton John with lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It appears on John's fourth album, Madman Across the Water, and was released as a single in 1972. In the U.S. it was certified Gold on 19 May 2005, and Platinum on 19 August 2011 by the Recording Industry Association of America. It has sold 115,501 copies in the UK, despite never being released as a proper single.
Background and writing
The words of the song were written by Bernie Taupin to capture the spirit of California in 1970 encapsulated by the many beautiful women he met there. A common misconception is that the song was written for Maxine Feibelman, Taupin's first wife. Rather, it was simply dedicated to her on the album Madman Across the Water.
History
The song features a piano-based melody during verses and an arrangement that at the start features pedal steel guitar and light percussion but, transitioning subtly halfway through one of the choruses, by the end is driven by Paul Buckmaster's dynamic strings, along with a barely heard backing choir.
Tiny Dancer (Hold Me Closer)
"Tiny Dancer (Hold Me Closer)" is a song by Ironik, from his debut album No Point in Wasting Tears, released on 11 May 2009. The song heavily samples British singer Elton John's 1972 single "Tiny Dancer". This is the first single by Ironik to be released without a maxi single.
Music video
The video features both Ironik and Chipmunk while Elton John is played on TV screens in the background. The video is completely black and white. It begins with Ironik and Chipmunk walking down a hotel corridor in suits on the way to their room. They knock on their room and are let in by a woman dressed in bondage and stockings. The video unfolds with Ironik and Chipmunk dancing with the females and flirting.
Formats track listing
CD single
(27 April 2009)
Digital download
(27 April 2009)
Podcasts:
Ben Folds
ALBUMS
- Fifty-Five Vault released: 2011
- The Best Imitation of Myself: A Retrospective released: 2011
- Lonely Avenue released: 2010
- Ben Folds File: Complete Best of Ben Folds Five & Ben Folds released: 2009
- Triple J Live at the Wireless released: 2009
- The Sound of Last Night... This Morning (live) released: 2009
- Ben Folds Presents: University A Cappella! released: 2009
- Way to Normal released: 2009
- I Made It Up on Stage released: 2008
- Supersunnyspeedgraphic, the LP released: 2006
- Songs for Silverman released: 2005
- Live in Perth released: 2005
- Songs for Goldfish released: 2005
- 2005-02-10: Norman, OK, USA released: 2005
- 2004-04-08: Tulsa, OK, USA released: 2004
- 2004-07-10: Wallingford, CT, USA released: 2004
- 2004-06-29: Vienna, VA, USA released: 2004
- 2004-04-05: Foellinger Auditorium, Urbana, IL, USA released: 2004
- 2003-07-29: Concord, CA, USA released: 2003
- 2003-01-11: Providence, RI, USA released: 2003
- 2002-10-20: John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA released: 2002
- 2002-10-16: Warner Theatre, Washington, DC, USA released: 2002
- 2002-10-17: Geneseo, NY, USA released: 2002
- Ben Folds Live released: 2002
- 2001-07-20: Gothic Theatre, Denver, CO, USA released: 2001
- Rockin' the Suburbs released: 2001
- 2007-12-19: Exit/In, Nashville, TN, USA released:
- 2007-06-19: Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, Bonner Springs, KS, USA released:
- 2004-07-10: Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford, CT, USA released:
- 2006-06-16: Which Stage, Bonnaroo, Manchester, TN, USA released:
- 2005-11-02: Electric Factory, Philadelphia, PA, USA released:
- 2005-08-24: Mountain Winery, Saratoga, CA, USA released:
- 2001-12-09: Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY, USA released:
- 2001-09-22: La Zona Rosa, Austin, TX, USA released:
Fifty-Five Vault
Released 2011- Adelaide (live, 2011: Adelaide, Australia)
- Air
- All Shook Up
- Ascent of Stan (live, 2002: New York, NY, USA)
- Birds
- Bitch Went Nutz (live, 2008: Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
- Bizarre Christmas Incident
- Brick (live acoustic, 2003)
- Champagne Supernova (live, 1996)
- Cologne (piano orchestra version 2008)
- Dr. Yang (live, 2008: Belgium)
- Evaporated (demo 1992)
- Family of Me
- For All the Pretty People
- Free Coffee (live, 2008: Germany)
- Girl
- Golden Slumbers (live, 2001: New York, NY, USA)
- Hava Nagila (live, 1997)
- Heist
- Hiro's Song (shaker version) (live, 2011: Melbourne, Australia)
- Honey Don't (alternate take 2000)
- Hospital Song (live, 1999: Philadelphia, PA, USA)
- House (original mix 2011)
- I Knew That 'cha Could (demo 2000)
- In Between Days (live, 2005)
The Best Imitation of Myself: A Retrospective
Released 2011- Unrelated
- Best Imitation of Myself
- Rocky
- Boxing
- Julianne
- Evaporated
- Alice Childress
- Barrytown
- Amelia Bright
- Tell Me What I Did
- Rock Star
- Losing Lisa
- Break Up at Food Court (demo - 2000)
- Hiro's Song
- Wandering
- The Secret Life of Morgan Davis
- Such Great Heights
- Bitches Ain't Shit
- Time
- Sleazy
- Because the Origami
- Stumblin' Home Winter Blues
The Sound of Last Night... This Morning (live)
Released 2009- Free Coffee (live at Providence, RI 9/25/08)
- Errant Dog (live at Boston, MA 9/26/08)
- Lovesick Diagnostician (live at Terminal 5, NY, NY 9/30/08)
- Dr. Yang (live at Terminal 5, NY, NY 10/1/08)
- Kylie From Connecticut (live at Detroit, MI 10/9/08)
- Free Coffee Town (live From Detroit, MI 10/9/08)
- Lovesick Diagnostician (live from Detroit, MI 10/9/08)
- Bitch Went Nutz (live from Detroit, MI 10/9/08)
- Frowne Song (Feeble Anthem)
- Cologne (live at St. Paul, MN 10/17/08)
- Way to Normal (live from Dallas, TX 10/23/08)
- Brainwascht (live from Dallas, TX 10/23/08)
- Effington (live from Dallas, TX 10/23/08)
- Annie Waits (live from Dallas, TX 10/23/08)
- You to Thank (live from Dallas, TX 10/23/08)
- One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces (live from the Warehouse, Houston, TX)
2005-02-10: Norman, OK, USA
Released 2005- Intro
- In Between Days
- Gone
- Hiro's Song
- Losing Lisa
- Landed
- You to Thank
- Anne Waits
- All U Can Eat
- Still Fighting It
- There's Always Someone Cooler Than You
- Where's Summer B?
- Bitches Ain't Shit
- Carrying Cathy
- Zak and Sara
- Brick
- Emaline
- Army
- Philosophy
- Short Bus Benny
- One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces
- "Stairway to Heaven"
- Not the Same
- Missing the War
- Rockin' the Suburbs
2004-04-05: Foellinger Auditorium, Urbana, IL, USA
Released 2004- There's Always Someone Cooler Than You
- Zak and Sara
- Silver Street
- One Down
- All U Can Eat
- The Last Polka / Hardee's
- Rent-A-Cop
- Late
- Best Imitation of Myself
- Rock This Bitch
- Careless Whisper
- Philosophy
- I Used to Be a Sentimental Guy / Learn to Live With What You Are
- Kate
- The Luckiest
- Army
- One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces
- Heavy Metal: The Ultimate Sacrifice
- Champagne Supernova
- Rockin' the Suburbs
- Song for the Dumped
- Hava Nagila / Eddie Walker
- Not the Same
2002-10-20: John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
Released 2002- (Intro)
- One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces
- Zak and Sara
- Annie Waits
- Silver Street
- Careless Whisper
- Philosophy / Sweet Home Johns Hopkins
- Kate
- Lullaby
- Don't Change Your Plans
- Where's Summer B?
- Fred Jones, Part 2
- Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head
- Army
- Selfless, Cold, and Composed
- Rockin' the Suburbs
- (Intro)
- Steven's Last Night in Town
- Underground
- Not the Same
- The Luckiest
- Emaline
- Jane
- Short Bus Benny
- Song for the Dumped (Minor)
2002-10-16: Warner Theatre, Washington, DC, USA
Released 2002- Boxing
- Zak and Sara
- Careless Whisper
- Annie Waits
- Silver Street
- Mess
- Philosophy
- Battle of Who Could Care Less
- Jackson Cannery
- Narcolepsy
- Mr. Rogers Theme
- Uncle Walter / Pirate Song
- Rock This Bitch
- Army
- Fred Jones, Part 2
- Last Polka
- Kate
- The Ascent of Stan
- Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head
- Evaporated
- Not the Same
- Short Bus Benny / One Angry Dwarf
- Song for the Dumped
2002-10-17: Geneseo, NY, USA
Released 2002- Intro
- Short Bus Benny/One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces
- Zak and Sara
- Careless Whisper
- Annie Waits
- Silver Street
- Mess
- Philosophy
- Kate
- Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head
- Narcolepsy
- Jackson Cannery
- Rockin' the Suburbs
- Interlude
- Army
- Boxing
- Race for the Prize
- Fair
- Not the Same
- Evaporated
- Underground
- Song for the Dumped
2004-07-10: Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford, CT, USA
- [introduction]
- Ascent of Stan
- Gone
- All U Can Eat
- Late
- Gracie
- Careless Whisper (feat. Rufus Wainwright)
- Zak and Sara
- Narcolepsy
- Carrying Cathy
- Army
- Kate
- Rock This Bitch
- Steven's Last Night in Town (feat. Brian Rosenworcel)
- Kiss the Sky (feat. Guster)
- Fair (feat. Guster)
- [encore break] / Short Bus Benny
- One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces
2001-12-09: Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY, USA
- Boxing
- Hava Nagila
- Bizarre Christmas Incident
- Best Imitation of Myself
- One Down
- Secret Life of Morgan Davis
- Alice Childress
- Mess
- Fred Jones, Part 2
- Philosophy
- Eddie Walker
- Golden Slumbers
- Selfless, Cold and Composed
- Ascent of Stan
- Zak and Sara
- Emaline
- Brick
- One Angry Dwarf
- The Luckiest
- Army
- Kate
- Don't Change Your Plans
- Evaporated
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sunny 16 - EP
by: Ben FoldsI know that you're in there
I can see you
You're saying you're ok
I don't believe you
And now that the gig is off
The spell is broken
The fat lady sung
The president has spoken
These days that you were waiting for
Will come and go
Like any day
Just another day
There's never gonna be a moment of truth for you
While the world is watching
All you need is the thing you forgotten
And that's to learn to live with what you are
So freak out if you wanna
And I'll still be here
Don't call me for years and when you do
Yeah, I'll still be here
I'm not saying the effort is a waste of time - but I
Just love you for the things you couldn't change
Though you've tried
These hours of confusion they will soon expire
Like everything
Does
There's never gonna be a moment of truth for you
While the world is watching
All you need is the thing you've forgotten
And that's to learn to live with what you are
Sometimes
Everything you've ever wanted
Floats above
He's sticking out his tongue and laughing
While everything
Anyone can ever need
Is down below
Waiting for you
To know this
There's never gonna be a moment of truth for you
While the world is watching
All you need is the thing you've forgotten
And that's to learn to live with what you are
You got to learn to live with what you
You got to learn to live with what you
Are