Ben Folds is alive and reasonably well at NPR

[Magicscreen2]

NPR Tiny Desk Concerts to the rescue

This is a little sloppy, but still fun.

 

[Vagina_Dentata]

One of the few reasons to bother with NPR.

 

[Magicscreen2]

Or, one of the many.

There is a really broad catalog of artists featured through this program if anyone is interested. Great stuff and up close, so you really get a nice opportunity to see some of your favorites do their thing.

 

[Vagina_Dentata]

It's too HD to run from their site. I have to catch them on youtube.

 

[RoryN]

I've heard he's an ass. True? I don't know.

I do remember hating Battle of Who Could Care Less when it came out; now, I like it.

 

[Magicscreen2]

It's too HD to run from their site. I have to catch them on youtube.

It's so worth the trouble, Toothy. I'm glad you have that option.

I've heard he's an ass. True? I don't know.

I do remember hating Battle of Who Could Care Less when it came out; now, I like it.

I think anyone can be an ass at times. It's symptomatic of the human condition.

Wonder what changed your mind about that music. Just familiarity?

 

[about_average]

NPR Tiny Desk Concerts to the rescue

This is a little sloppy, but still fun.

I was actually streaming All Songs 24/7 when I saw this thread.
But yeah, I've been listening to Tiny Desk a few years. Not regularly, but off and on.

 

[RoryN]

Wonder what changed your mind about that music. Just familiarity?

The premise was so-so, but the execution was very clever.

Once I was able to envision a bubblehead, twirling her hair during the "doo, doo..." parts, I got it.

 

[Magicscreen2]

The premise was so-so, but the execution was very clever.

Once I was able to envision a bubblehead, twirling her hair during the "doo, doo..." parts, I got it.

You got me thinking about that song again, so I listened to it. It's different from what I remember, but I still really like it.

And the contrast of young, sharp Ben with the older, seemingly out-of-practice and out-of-tune Ben was pretty marked. He didn't seem very well prepped for the TDC.

 

[bluebell]

Magicscreen.
Ben Folds.

 

[bluebell]

Ben is just not a polished guy, it's not his thing. Being real is his thing. That means you make mistakes, you use real person language, you fuck up, you admit it, laugh at it and move on. Sometimes that means you're an asshole. I have a feeling he's not super comfortable with the idea of face-to-face fandom and that avoidance probably lands him in the jerk camp more often than not. Real person asshole is different from ego-inflated asshole, in my opinion (which means nothing, of course).

I don't think he takes himself very seriously but he knows he's talented and that's a necessary component when you become a performer. He's also not content with making the same song or record over and over in the same way; he's willing to grow and change as an artist and as a person, and that is unusual, it's what makes his music interesting.

 

[Not Normal]

That was a fun little rollick. Ben is one of my top five artists, he usually has something interesting to say, both musically and lyrically. This was a little sloppy, but he totally owns it.

He's one of the few artists I can think of that follows a new path out of personal interest and hasn't lost me alone the way like other artists. I think that stems from the where and why he'll pursue something. I think a lot of artist will follow something so they are perceived as "looking ahead" or "with the times," but I se Ben doing it in a purer manor. The latest record with yMusic being a perfect example. He heard what they do and found it genuinely interesting, and wanted to explore what a collaboration with them would produce.

There are only a small handful of songs in his entire catalog that I avoid, and I think that says something as well.

 

[Magicscreen2]

Magicscreen.
Ben Folds.

Hey, Bluey!
Hey, NN!

It's nice to see you guys here. I'm glad, but not surprised, to hear you appreciate Ben. I agree with you that he leaves it out there. And I respect that.

I wonder if Over The Rhine will ever do a Tiny Desk Concert?!

You kids.

 

[Not Normal]

I'm kinda surprised Over the Rhine hasn't. They seem like such little NPR darlings.

 

[Magicscreen2]

That seemed a little snarky, NN

Have you not yet discovered appreciation for the magic of OTR?

 

[bluebell]

Hey, Bluey!
Hey, NN!

It's nice to see you guys here. I'm glad, but not surprised, to hear you appreciate Ben. I agree with you that he leaves it out there. And I respect that.

I wonder if Over The Rhine will ever do a Tiny Desk Concert?!

You kids.

We are a united front for Ben Folds!

I'm kinda surprised Over the Rhine hasn't. They seem like such little NPR darlings.

I think they're still a little too far out of mainstream for it but it would be right in their wheelhouse.

That seemed a little snarky, NN

Have you not yet discovered appreciation for the magic of OTR?

It wasn't, but he's not a fan.
They are too mellow for him but he's listened to them and kindly attended a concert with me so I feel satisfied that he's given them sufficient chance to know they are not his thing.

 

[Magicscreen2]

It wasn't, but he's not a fan.
They are too mellow for him but he's listened to them and kindly attended a concert with me so I feel satisfied that he's given them sufficient chance to know they are not his thing.

I should have known NN wasn't being snarky.

Apologies all around.

 

[bluebell]

I should have known NN wasn't being snarky.

Apologies all around.

Oh dear man, NN is a lifelong smart-ass! No apologies needed!
Your Snark-o-meter wasn't too far off. It mighta been itchin' him...or maybe I'm just too doe-eyed for my own damned Pollyanna good. Haha.
When in doubt, he's probably snarking!

 

[Not Normal]

That seemed a little snarky, NN

Have you not yet discovered appreciation for the magic of OTR?

To quote my good buddy Lou, "I don't share their vision."

I should have known NN wasn't being snarky.

Apologies all around.

No worries, brother. it was a little snarky (to both OTR and NPR), I ain't gonna lie.

 

[Magicscreen2]

Oh dear man, NN is a lifelong smart-ass! No apologies needed!
Your Snark-o-meter wasn't too far off. It mighta been itchin' him...or maybe I'm just too doe-eyed for my own damned Pollyanna good. Haha.
When in doubt, he's probably snarking!

To quote my good buddy Lou, "I don't share their vision."


No worries, brother. it was a little snarky (to both OTR and NPR), I ain't gonna lie.

This is all for fun. But Ben's the real deal!

 

[Not Normal]

Ben is ridiculously talented and committed to his craft.

There's a famous story about him throwing his drums in a lake at University of Miami after a failed jury.

 

[Magicscreen2]

I never knew Ben was a drummer.
He's always been straight keys to me.

The more you know....

 

[Not Normal]

I never knew Ben was a drummer.
He's always been straight keys to me.

The more you know....

He plays everything but the bowed strings on Rockin' the Suburbs, and John McCrea sings one backing vocal.

 

[Magicscreen2]

He plays everything but the bowed strings on Rockin' the Suburbs, and John McCrea sings one backing vocal.

Wow. Even more impressive than you'd think possible.

 

[Hard_Rom]

Round about way to NPR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkpT948yTGw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOm...mjmmA7UB8-nUoUNFEYSCVS4zMnScRr_CKSY8bHPYLcf8w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zm1...x7n_yGGQ2PnsU1AShuJ_jinpx3uRCmHHVXGOXHfDe4afw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPn9rgccqqw