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.
Song For the Dumped
Ben Folds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Slow it down some and have some space?
Fuck you too!
Give me my money back, give me my money back, you bitch.
I want my money back.
And don't forget, and don't forget to give me back my black t-shirt.
I wish I hadn't bought you dinner
Give me my money back, give me my money back, you bitch.
I want my money back.
And don't forget, and don't forget to give me back my black t-shirt.
So you wanted to take a break?
Slow it down some and have some space?
Give me my money back, give me my money back you bitch!
I want my money back, I want my money back!
And don't forget...
"Song for the Dumped" by Ben Folds is a sarcastic breakup song that talks about a man who has just been dumped by his girlfriend. The man is outraged, not only because of her decision to break up but because he feels like he has wasted his time and money on her. He demands that she give him his money back and his black t-shirt, which he claims to have left at her place. The song is full of anger, frustration, and a sense of betrayal. It's also full of humor and irony, as the man tries to cope with his heartbreak by lashing out at his ex.
The song captures the raw emotions of a real-life breakup - the anger, the pain, and the sense of injustice. The lyrics are straightforward and honest, which makes the song relatable to anyone who has gone through a similar experience. At the same time, the song is also cathartic, as it allows the singer to express his feelings in a way that is both humorous and satisfying.
Some possible interpretations of the song may include: a commentary on consumer culture and materialism, a critique of toxic masculinity, and a reflection on the nature of relationships and power dynamics. Regardless of how one chooses to interpret it, "Song for the Dumped" is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with audiences worldwide.
Line by Line Meaning
So you wanted to take a break?
Did you desire to take a hiatus from our relationship?
Slow it down some and have some space?
Did you want to reduce our speed and create some distance?
Fuck you too!
You can go to hell as well!
Give me my money back, give me my money back, you bitch.
I demand that you return the money I spent on you, you cruel woman!
I want my money back.
I deserve a refund.
And don't forget, and don't forget to give me back my black t-shirt.
Do not neglect to also return my black tee.
I wish I hadn't bought you dinner
I regret treating you to dinner
Right before you dumped me on your front porch.
Precisely before you ended things on your doorstep.
Give me my money back, give me my money back, you bitch.
I demand that you return the money I spent on you, you cruel woman!
I want my money back.
I deserve a refund.
And don't forget, and don't forget to give me back my black t-shirt.
Do not neglect to also return my black tee.
So you wanted to take a break?
Did you desire to take a hiatus from our relationship?
Slow it down some and have some space?
Did you want to reduce our speed and create some distance?
Give me my money back, give me my money back you bitch!
I demand that you return the money I spent on you, you cruel woman!
I want my money back, I want my money back!
I deserve a refund and will not back down.
And don't forget...
Also, please remember...
Contributed by Jonathan F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@rftulie
Ben has spectacular variety. Pounding stuff that rocks. Ballads. Anthems. Quirky unclassifiable stuff. Storytelling. Love songs. Wiseass songs. Angry breakup songs. What a songwriter, what a musician!!
@kiltedcripple
rftulie there's a newer band called the Mountain Goats that remind me a lot of the kind of diversity and POV you mention here from BF5. May be worth checking out if you're not already familiar.
@MrHappyFaceMP
Not the cookie cutter crap
@mariasol434
Was a great band
@sarahkeogh8086
Oh, you summed that up SO perfectly!
@high-defRJ
And a great pianist. What he can do on piano....he's a monster. I majored in piano performance and got a degree in it so I can say about this: even if he didn't major in piano performance in college, I am in awe of his skills. I'm most in awe of how percussive he can make his fingers on the piano.
@hgelement80
I was at karaoke last night. Got up in front of everyone and said "This song goes out to a very special girl. She's not here tonight, but I'd like to think wherever she is, she knows I'm singing her this song..." This is the song I sang.
@ShadowHeartsVeteran
This song never gets old.
@spannamatronic
I had this on in the car one day with my 4 year old daughter (I know...) and she listened very carefully to the chorus, and said "I think the witch should give him his money back".
@misomaya
That's hilarious.