Tag Archives: Ben Folds

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Song of the Day #918: ‘Belinda’ – Ben Folds

Best Songs of 2010 – #1

It’s probably not a surprise that my number one song of the year comes from my number one album, Lonely Avenue, the collaboration between Ben Folds and novelist Nick Hornby.

This meeting of the minds of two of my very favorite artists in their respective genres was destined to make me happy, but it wound up surpassing my expectations.

Folds composed his most consistent and enjoyable batch of tunes in years and Hornby delivered a dozen character sketches that dive deeper than the average pop song has a right to.

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Ben Folds & Nick Hornby – Lonely Avenue

In all my years of listening to music, I don’t believe I’ve ever been presented with as tantalizing a collaboration as Lonely Avenue, the new album featuring lyrics by novelist Nick Hornby set to music by Ben Folds.

Collaborations within a single genre are common, but to have my favorite writer combine forces with one of my favorite musicians… talk about an unexpected delight.

Hornby has long been a fan of Folds’ work (I remember reading his essays about Ben Folds Five back in the Whatever and Ever Amen days) and that appreciation turned into a friendship, which led to an email correspondence that evolved into the partnership we now get to hear fully realized.

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Song of the Day #730: ‘Learn to Live With What You Are (Live)’ – Ben Folds

Continuing this week’s live series, here’s a clip of Ben Folds performing one of his EP tracks for a MySpace concert. Ben took requests from the online audience and, as usual, delivered a funny and musically diverse show.

‘Learn to Live With What You Are’ is one of Folds’ earnest songs. He’s even better at these than he is at the smart-ass ones, if you ask me. The message here is as simple as they come, but it’s a powerful one. How many of us spend our time trying to be something we aren’t, or trying to live up to expectations that have been attached to us by others or ourselves?

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Song of the Day #711: ‘Give Judy My Notice’ – Ben Folds

After seeing Ben Folds in concert last year, my sister made a comment that I think sums him up pretty well. She said he’s split down the middle between a very sincere and sensitive soul on the one hand and an obnoxious frat boy on the other.

The former is responsible for such achingly profound songs as ‘Alice Childress,’ ‘Gracie,’ ‘Missing the War,’ and ‘Jesusland’ (among many many others). The latter plays to the drunk idiots with songs such as ‘Bitch Went Nuts,’ ‘Bitches Ain’t Shit,’ and ‘Errant Dog.’ He brings the same level of outstanding musicianship to all of the above, but you have to wonder why he’s reluctant to grow up. Or why he doesn’t trust his audience to grow up with him.

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