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.
Frowne Song
Ben Folds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is it something within us
Or in the world at large?
Maybe it's both, y'all
Sadness deep inside
Something we can't hide
We yearn for the past but it's not there
And it makes me frown
You look at the news
Always giving me the blues
War, death and chaos
All around me now
And the media's controlled
People do just what they're told
Just want to stand up and yell, "Is anybody out there?"
'Cause it makes me frown
Yeah, it makes me frown
It's hard to find hope
But maybe we can learn to cope
By listening to one another
It's a trust thing
'Cause I know that you have feared
'Cause I know the end is near
But just lend an ear
And we can make it happen
'Cause it makes me frown
Makes everybody frown
Oh, I know it can get hard
When you look out your backyard
See the ozone falling apart before you
And recycling's a bitch
I've got just one wish
(That his children won't grow up in a freakin' trash can)
A piano's all I got
And I know that ain't a lot
Music has the power
To change the future
So what do you think
'Bout my message of hope?
Better get with the program
Before it's too late, y'all
So if you wanna start right now
You better take that fuckin' frown
Better turn it upside down
Just give in to love
Yeah, give in to love
Give it up for love
Amen to love
It's gotta be love
Or it'll make you frown
Ah, it makes us frown
Ah, it makes me frown
'Cause it makes me frown
The song "Frowne Song" by Ben Folds is a commentary on the state of the world and how it affects our emotional state. Folds reflects on the reasons we frown, whether it's due to something inside ourselves or a response to the world around us. The lyrics touch on sadness and the difficulty of hiding it, as well as our tendency to feel nostalgic for a past that no longer exists.
Folds also takes aim at the media and how it perpetuates feelings of sorrow and helplessness by inundating us with news about war, death, and chaos. He questions whether anyone is truly in control, or if we're all just doing what we're told. Despite the bleak picture he paints, Folds believes in the power of listening to each other and finding hope through love. He encourages his listeners to turn their frowns upside down and embrace the idea that love can change the future.
Line by Line Meaning
Why do we frown?
Questioning the root cause of human sadness
Is it something within us
Wondering if the source of sadness is internal
Or in the world at large?
Or if it is external, stemming from the state of the world
Maybe it's both, y'all
Suggesting that both factors may contribute to sadness
Sadness deep inside
Acknowledging that internal factors can contribute to sadness
Something we can't hide
Recognizing that sadness can be difficult to conceal
We yearn for the past but it's not there
Expressing nostalgia for a time that is no longer accessible
And it makes me frown
Admitting personal sadness in the face of this realization
You look at the news
Addressing the impact of media on mood
Always giving me the blues
Acknowledging the negative effects of media on mood
War, death and chaos
Listing some of the tragic events reported in the media
All around me now
Emphasizing the ubiquitous nature of negative news
And the media's controlled
Suggesting that the media is not impartial
People do just what they're told
Implying that individuals may blindly follow media messages
Just want to stand up and yell, "Is anybody out there?"
Expressing a desire to connect with others in the face of difficult news
'Cause it makes me frown
Linking sadness to negative news and a sense of isolation
It's hard to find hope
Acknowledging the difficulty of finding optimism in a dark world
But maybe we can learn to cope
Suggesting that individuals can develop strategies for dealing with melancholy
By listening to one another
Proposing that communication can help alleviate sadness
It's a trust thing
Emphasizing the importance of trust in communication
'Cause I know that you have feared
Indicating that everyone has struggled with sadness
'Cause I know the end is near
Suggesting that there is a sense of impending doom
But just lend an ear
Asking for a listening ear to help cope with sadness
And we can make it happen
Believing that people can come together to create a better future
'Cause it makes me frown
Reiterating the source of sadness in the current state of the world
Makes everybody frown
Implying that the negative state of the world affects everyone
Oh, I know it can get hard
Acknowledging the challenges faced when dealing with depression
When you look out your backyard
Using a personal metaphor to describe the overwhelming nature of negative news
See the ozone falling apart before you
Highlighting the destructive impact of human activity on the environment
And recycling's a bitch
Admitting the difficulty of taking concrete steps toward a better future
I've got just one wish
Expressing a deep desire for a better future
(That his children won't grow up in a freakin' trash can)
Using humor to illustrate a serious point about the need to protect the environment
A piano's all I got
Acknowledging that music is the only tool available to address societal issues
And I know that ain't a lot
Recognizing the limitations of music as a means of societal change
Music has the power
Asserting that music can influence the course of society
To change the future
Believing that music can help create a better world
So what do you think
Asking the listener to consider the power of music for societal change
'Bout my message of hope?
Asking the listener to consider the hopeful nature of his music
Better get with the program
Urging listeners to act on their beliefs
Before it's too late, y'all
Warning that the need to address societal issues is urgent
So if you wanna start right now
Encouraging listeners to take action immediately
You better take that fuckin' frown
Emphasizing the importance of letting go of sadness in favor of action
Better turn it upside down
Encouraging a positive attitude in the face of adversity
Just give in to love
Promoting the idea that love is a powerful force for good
Yeah, give in to love
Reiterating the importance of love
Give it up for love
Encouraging the listener to embrace love as a guiding principle
Amen to love
Expressing a deep respect and reverence for the power of love
It's gotta be love
Asserting that love is the key to a better world
Or it'll make you frown
Implying that a lack of love may contribute to sadness and despair
Ah, it makes us frown
Restating the idea that sadness is a symptom of societal issues
Ah, it makes me frown
Reiterating the personal nature of sadness
'Cause it makes me frown
Concluding with the central idea that sadness is a problem that must be addressed
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BEN FOLDS, BENJAMIN SCOTT FOLDS, SAM SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind