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.
Such Great Heights
Ben Folds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That the freckles in our eyes
Are mirror images
And when we kiss they're perfectly aligned
And I have to speculate
That God Himself did make
Us into corresponding shapes
And true, it may seem like a stretch
But it's thoughts like this that catch
My troubled head when you're away
When I am missing you to death
When you are out there on the road
For several weeks of shows
And when you scan the radio
I hope this song will guide you home.
They will see us waving from such great heights
"Come down now" they'll say
But everything looks perfect from far away
"Come down now" but we'll stay
I tried my best to leave
This all on your machine
But the persistent beat
It sounded thin upon listening.
And that frankly will not fly
You'll hear the shrillest highs
And lowest lows with the windows down
While this is guiding you home.
They will see us waving from such great heights
"Come down now" they'll say
But everything looks perfect from far away
"Come down now" but we'll stay
They will see us waving from such great heights
"Come down now" they'll say
But everything looks perfect from far away
"Come down now" but we'll stay
They will see us waving from such great heights
"Come down now" they'll say
But everything looks perfect from far away
"Come down now" but we'll stay
The song Such Great Heights by Ben Folds is a love song that describes a deep connection between two people. The lyrics suggest that they are meant to be together, that there is a divine plan that has brought them together. The freckles in their eyes are seen as a sign, a reflection of their mutual love, and when they kiss, the freckles align perfectly, symbolizing their emotional and spiritual connection.
The song goes on to describe how their love persists despite the physical separation caused by being on the road. The singer is missing his lover terribly and is comforted by the thought that they are still connected and that the song will guide her home.
The chorus repeats the image of them waving from great heights, a metaphor for their relationship, which is strong and powerful, but also somewhat isolated from the rest of the world. Despite the potential for criticism, they will stay where they are, continuing to love each other from afar.
Overall, the lyrics of the song are a celebration of the power of love to overcome distance and isolation, suggesting that true connection can transcend time and space.
Line by Line Meaning
I am thinking it's a sign
I feel like it is a sign that something significant is happening.
That the freckles in our eyes
Our eyes are unique in their own way and all of it resembles the puzzling structure of the shapes.
Are mirror images
The freckles in our eyes look as though they are the same and they reflect the image of each other.
And when we kiss they're perfectly aligned
When we kiss, it feels like it was meant to happen because our lips are in perfect symmetry with each other.
And I have to speculate
I can't help but think in wonder about the mystery of our connection.
That God Himself did make
Perhaps a higher power played a significant role in creating this bond.
Us into corresponding shapes
Our bodies have been shaped in a way that fits perfectly, like two puzzle pieces.
Like puzzle pieces from the clay
It's as if we were molded by someone or by nature to fit together perfectly.
And true, it may seem like a stretch
I know this may sound far-fetched and unusual.
But it's thoughts like this that catch
Still, sometimes these abstract thoughts capture your imagination and emotions.
My troubled head when you're away
When you are not here with me, these thoughts consume me and cause anxiety and stress.
When I am missing you to death
I miss you so much that it almost feels like a part of me is dying in your absence.
When you are out there on the road
When you're traveling and touring, miles and miles away from me.
For several weeks of shows
Performing and entertaining audiences, being gone for several weeks.
And when you scan the radio
When you're looking for some entertainment and turn the radio on.
I hope this song will guide you home.
I hope this song will provide you comfort and help you find the way back to me.
They will see us waving from such great heights
People who observe us from afar will see how happy we are together.
"Come down now" they'll say
People may call us down from our euphoric state, warning that it may not be real or sustainable.
But everything looks perfect from far away
Yet from a distance, it appears as though everything is ideal and flawless.
"Come down now" but we'll stay
Regardless of what others say, we will stay together and keep our love alive.
I tried my best to leave
I attempted to convey my feelings through a message.
This all on your machine
Trying to express myself using a machine or device.
But the persistent beat
This song's consistent rhythm and melody.
It sounded thin upon listening.
Upon revisiting this song, I realized that my message didn't come across as strongly as I had hoped.
And that frankly will not fly
This simply won't do, I need to do better and make my feelings clearer.
You'll hear the shrillest highs
The song will hit you at your highest pitch, expressing the intensity and depth of my emotions.
And lowest lows with the windows down
As you listen to this song, you'll also hear my sadness and despair, with the windows down and the breeze blowing in.
While this is guiding you home.
This song will accompany you on your journey back home, reminding you of our love and connection.
Contributed by Riley C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Rivaldo Deniz
How have I only just discovered this despite being a fan of the original. Incredible
regfries
same!
Gemma Edwards
How did this not get in the top 100 😢
mab8485
I voted this as my number 1 and was also shocked when it didn't even make the top 100. It's too old school I suppose...... oh well! Let the kids miss out 😂
rnehrenz
I love that you are adding a bunch of older ones!
SBZ
What a beautifully written song. Great cover too
Michael Bone
This is the GOAT LaV.
Frumpypigskin
Hands down
Ricky
Aaaand of course removed from Apple Music.
Mark Silva
I'll be voting this as #1 in Hottest 100 Like a Version :)