As of fall 2006, Ben Folds has released five solo LPs. His first album, Fear of Pop: Volume 1, an album of spoken word and instrumental compositions, was recorded and released while Ben Folds Five was still together. Since it was an uncharacteristic release, and officially released under the moniker of 'Fear of Pop', it is widely considered that his first "proper" solo album was Rockin' the Suburbs (2001), on which he played all the instruments by himself. A year later, in 2002, he released Ben Folds Live, a collection of live solo recordings. In late 2003, two solo EPs, Speed Graphic and Sunny 16, were released, with a third entitled Super D released in mid-2004. In 2005, Folds released a second studio album called Songs for Silverman. Most recently Folds has released the album "Supersunnyspeedgraphic, the lp" a compliation of his EPs, a The Bens track called "Bruised," "Still" from the motion picture of 2006 "Over the Hedge" for which Folds wrote all the songs, his cover of the Dr. Dre song "Bitches Ain't Shit", and, with the kind permission of his good friend Neil Hannon, a cover of The Divine Comedy song "Songs of Love". "Supersunnyspeedgraphic, the lp" otherwise includes remastered takes from the three internet EPs from 2002-2004. Ben claims that he wanted to have the CD in hard format so he could "put it past him."
Ben resides in Nashville. He often tours the United States, the United Kingdom, other countries in Europe, Japan, and Australia.
Folds' tours are famous for his solo act as "Ben Folds and a piano", often having the audience become involved by "playing" the accompanying instruments (such as the trumpet and saxophone harmonies in "Army") and singing choir-like backing vocals on "Not the Same". His concerts are charismatic, yet calm - an enjoyable experience for most. And although Folds is constantly putting out new songs, his concerts rarely omit classic fan favorites such as "Philosophy," "One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces," and "Army." Also, a seemingly fan favorite that started in Chicago, IL was "Rock this Bitch," a song where Folds has to come up an impromptu new tune with the words "Rock this Bitch" in it; though the song seems to be phasing out, it still makes appearances on tours, such as the November 2006 tour and the Spring US College tour of 2007 and 2008.
Folds also produced and arranged the William Shatner album, Has Been (2004); he previously worked with Shatner on the songs "In Love" and "Still in Love" for Fear of Pop.
Folds described his former band, Ben Folds Five, as "punk rock for sissies," and his oddball lyrics often contain nuances of depression, melancholy and self-conflict. Folds also provided a number of songs for film soundtracks. Some of these include "Lonely Christmas Eve" for the Jim Carrey film How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (2000), and a rendition of the Beatles' "Golden Slumbers" for the film I Am Sam (2001). He (as The Bens) has also done charity compilations, from singing "Wicked Little Town" (from film and stage show Hedwig and the Angry Inch) on the benefit album "Wig in a Box" (2003) to appearing on No Boundaries, a benefit album for Kosovo refugees, with the song "Leather Jacket." (written by Darren Jessee)
On a planned tour of Australia, Folds teamed up with solo artists Ben Kweller and Ben Lee to travel the country together as The Bens, at the suggestion of a fan on Ben Kweller's official website. The trio also went on to record a four-track EP together, entitled The Bens.
In summer of 2004, Folds co-headlined an American tour with fellow rockers Rufus Wainwright and Guster. His second solo studio album, entitled Songs for Silverman, was released in the U.S. on April 26, 2005, featuring Jared Reynolds on bass, and Lindsay Jamieson on the drums, thus returning to the trio format, which had been so successful earlier, in earnest. This album includes the track "Late," a tribute to the late singer-songwriter Elliott Smith, and also features backing vocals from "Weird Al" Yankovic on "Time." (Folds had played piano for Yankovic's song "Why Does This Always Happen to Me?" and "Weird Al" directed Folds' music video for Rockin' the Suburbs). In January of 2007 Lindsay Jamieson left the band and was replaced by Sam Smith, of The Comfies on drums.
Folds performed with Rufus Wainwright and Ben Lee in the summer of 2005 as part of the "Odd Men Out" tour. In addition, Folds has performed with many other famous musical names, including Weezer. Folds has also shown the complexity behind his authentic sound by performing with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, in March 2005, and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, in November 2005. A DVD recording of Folds playing with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra was released in December, 2005.
Folds was the first artist to do a "Live at Myspace" concert, held on October 24, 2006 in his recording studio in Nashville, the show was an hour long and had requests from the internet submitted via Myspace's Messenger. It also entailed several stunts, including a suicide attempt, and a falling audience member during "Jesusland". The DVD of the broadcast (almost whole) was released in February of 2007.
Folds supports the independent music scene, creating his own record label (Attacked By Plastic) and doing promotional work for independent record stores across the country.
In 2008, September 16 marked the release of Amanda Palmer's solo album which was produced by Folds. Two days following that release, Ben Folds Five had a one-time reunion concert held in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the same place the band was formed. Weeks later, he released his third solo album entitled Way To Normal, released on September 30. Folds also recorded a fake album that was leaked intentionally during the summer to please fans and in an attempt to stop the real album from leaking. The fake tracks were recorded and mixed over a period of only several days. The leak contained 6 fake songs with names similar to the real songs or the album, and three songs from the actual release (except the song Cologne, which was an orchestral version of a song by the same name on the final album).
Since December 2008, Folds has been collaborating with English novelist Nick Hornby, writing the music while Hornby writes the lyrics. This album was originally planned to be recorded over a course of 3 days, the same amount of time in which the fake album was recorded, but Folds has since been recording the album in a more standard format, albeit attempting to retain the live recording format. He has also played several songs from the upcoming album at live shows since mid-2009, and the album is slated to be released on September 27th of 2010.
From December 14 through 21, 2009, Folds was featured as a judge on NBC's a cappella competition The Sing Off alongside Nicole Scherzinger and Shawn Stockman and offered insightful, constructive comments and criticisms to the contestants. On the final show, in a departure from his a cappella purism, showcased his talents and played the roaring, riffing piano background on "Why Can't We Be Friends?" sung by the two finalist groups, Tufts Beelzebubs from Tufts University near Boston and Nota, from San Juan, Puerto Rico. He again returned for the show's second season, and has been confirmed to return for the third season in September 2011 alongside Stockman and new judge Sara Bareilles.
Recently Ben Folds was assumed to be the anonymous pianist playing songs to random ChatRoulette users, named "Merton." Although Ben Folds has admitted to NOT being Merton, he paid tribute to the YouTube star at a concert in Charlotte in "Ode To Merton."
Ben Folds recently released his first album since So There, What Matters Most in June of 2023 after a 12 year hiatus.
Careless Whisper
Ben Folds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As I take your hand and lead you to the dance floor
As the music dies
Something in your eyes
Calls to mind a silver screen
And all its sad goodbyes
I'm never gonna dance again
Though it's easy to pretend
I know you're not a fool
I should've known better than to cheat a friend
And waste a chance that I've been given
So I'm never gonna dance again
The way I danced with you
Time can never heal
The careless whispers of a good friend
To the heart and mind
Ignorance is kind
There's no comfort in the truth
Pain is all you'll find
I'm never gonna dance again
Guilty feet have got no rhythm
Though it's easy to pretend
I know you're not a fool
I should've known better than to cheat a friend
And waste a chance that I've been given
So I'm never gonna dance again
The way I danced with you
Tonight the music seems so loud
I wish that we could lose this crowd
Baby it's better this way
We'd hurt each other with the things we want to say
We could have been so good together
We could have made this last forever
But now who's gonna dance with me
Please stay
I'm never gonna dance again
Guilty feet have got no rhythm
Though it's easy to pretend
I know you're not a fool
I should've known better than to cheat a friend
And waste a chance that I've been given
So I'm never gonna dance again
The way I danced with you
The song "Careless Whisper" by Ben Folds is a cover of the original song by George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, which was released in 1984. The lyrics of the song talk about the regrets of a man who has cheated on his lover and his friend. The first verse talks about the hesitation of the man as he leads his lover to the dance floor. The second verse talks about the guilt and regret the man feels after cheating on his friend, and the pain and hurt it has caused. The chorus repeats the line "I'm never gonna dance again" and talks about how guilt has taken away his ability to dance freely, and how he knows he has lost something special.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of melancholy and sadness, as the man looks back on what could have been. He knows that he has made a mistake and has lost something valuable. The lyrics also touch on the themes of betrayal, friendship, and regret.
Overall, "Careless Whisper" is a powerful song with meaningful lyrics that explore the complex emotions of guilt, regret, and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
I feel so unsure
I am filled with uncertainty and doubt
As I take your hand and lead you to the dance floor
I guide you towards the center of the dance floor
As the music dies
As the music comes to an end
Something in your eyes
I detect a certain emotion in your gaze
Calls to mind a silver screen
It evokes imagery and memories of movies
And all its sad goodbyes
And the inevitable, unhappy endings
I'm never gonna dance again
I vow to never dance again
Guilty feet have got no rhythm
I cannot dance well because of my guilt
Though it's easy to pretend
Even though I can pretend otherwise
I know you're not a fool
I know you are not naive or foolish
I should've known better than to cheat a friend
I should have been aware that betraying a friend is wrong
And waste a chance that I've been given
And squander an opportunity that was presented to me
So I'm never gonna dance again
So I will never dance again
The way I danced with you
The way I danced with you in the past
Time can never heal
The passing of time cannot erase
The careless whispers of a good friend
The thoughtless rumors spread by a close friend
To the heart and mind
To both the emotional and intellectual aspects
Ignorance is kind
Not knowing the truth is better
There's no comfort in the truth
The truth does not bring comfort or relief
Pain is all you'll find
Only suffering awaits when the truth is revealed
Tonight the music seems so loud
The music feels louder to me tonight
I wish that we could lose this crowd
I desire privacy with just you and me
Baby it's better this way
It is best for us to part ways
We'd hurt each other with the things we want to say
We have things to confess that would harm each other
We could have been so good together
We had the potential to be a great couple
We could have made this last forever
We could have had a long-lasting relationship
But now who's gonna dance with me
Now that we are no longer together, who will be my dance partner?
Please stay
I implore you to remain with me
Contributed by Mateo N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@roxaneauer360
This is a perfect example of the difference between being born with it and then honing it, and just honing it. Rufus is a gift from the gods!
Ben Folds is amazing in this and especially because he owns it so beautiful.
And of course his piano playing is better, Rufus is right.
Two true artists having fun!! So great!
❤
@paulvillarreal1588
How have I not had this in my life until now? My thoughts echo a lot of other comments I'm seeing.
I was already a huge fan of both individually, but together this was just magic.
I prefer this over the original, by a landslide.
And the little tag on the end from Ben is so funny.
Perfect youtube find.
@lynnemonkman6316
Rufus can do no wrong. Sets my soul on fire. Legend.
@EllenBeal
I saw "Ben Folds" and "Rufus Wainwright" in the title, and my heart did a flippity.
@philmcflurry
My claim to fame is that I was there for this... and Rufus offered me a cigarette later that night.
@ppeglar
But ddi you also have chocolate milk?
@philmcflurry
@@ppeglar damnit. I should have seen that one coming. I have a lot of regrets. Le sigh.
@claumouz
Lucky you!
@Ankit-ph5dr
@@ppeglar ahahahahaha
@bogi_jb
Oh to be offered a cigarette by Rufus Wainwright!
@michaelseanbradley4894
I was in the crowd for this show 8 years ago and still count this as one of those transcendent musical moments in ones life. It had been threatening to rain all day and earlier in the show, Rufus was playing the Agnus Dei and the skies opened up and down poured. It made my knees weak. One of the best moments from one of the best shows I have ever been lucky enough to be at. (I almost didn't go because of the weather...so glad that I did)
@tk77519
Sometimes you strike gold after gold when strolling through youtube