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.
You to Thank
Ben Folds Lyrics
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We were standing out on the sidewalk
With our tattoos that looked like rings
In the hot Nevada sun
Kids piled high, our moms and dads shook hands
In a party of Polaroid friends
Rented a pool and hired a band
Cause they danced and drank
While we jumped off the deep end
Oh I've got you to thank
For this
Christmas came around
Yeah and everything was going to crap
And our moms and dads not a clue to be had
Yeah we put on a pretty good act
And they seemed to all need to believe it
So we danced and smiled and paddled hard beneath it
Oh I've got you to thank
For this
You can't say you've never had a doubt
And smoked it down but really wanted out
By the time the buzz was wearing off
We were standing out on the sidewalk
With our tattoos that looked like rings
In the hot Nevada sun
And they won't fade
I've got you to thank
The song "You to Thank" by Ben Folds is an autobiographical piece in which the singer reflects on his past and expresses gratitude towards a specific individual. The song appears to be written with nostalgic fondness for a time in the singer's life where he and a group of friends were gathering outside in the Nevada sun, all with matching tattoos. The lyrics suggest that the group of friends were perhaps in their youth and that their parents had rented a pool and hired a band, suggesting that there was a celebration of some sort taking place. The singer reflects that perhaps their parents knew more than they did, as they danced and drank, while the singer and his friends jumped off the deep end, indicating a sense of recklessness.
The song then transitions to another moment in time, perhaps years later, where the singer and the same individual he is expressing gratitude to - presumably a close friend - are putting on an act for their families during Christmas. The lyrics indicate that things were "going to crap" but they put on a "pretty good act" so that their families wouldn't know. The singer appreciates that the friend helped him keep up appearances and keep their families at bay. The song ends with the same imagery from the beginning, of the group of friends with matching tattoos standing on the Nevada sidewalk, expressing gratitude for the memories and the person that helped him navigate life.
Line by Line Meaning
By the time the buzz was wearing off
As the effects of the drugs wore off,
We were standing out on the sidewalk
We found ourselves on the pavement outside,
With our tattoos that looked like rings
Markings on our skin resembling circles,
In the hot Nevada sun
In the blazing sunshine of Nevada,
Kids piled high, our moms and dads shook hands
We, the children, huddled together and our parents greeted each other,
In a party of Polaroid friends
Celebrating with instant-photo friends,
Rented a pool and hired a band
We paid for a swimming pool and a musical group,
Maybe they knew more then we knew
Perhaps our parents understood more than we did,
Cause they danced and drank
As they danced and drank,
While we jumped off the deep end
As we recklessly dove into deep waters,
Oh I've got you to thank
I am grateful for you,
Christmas came around
When Christmas arrived,
Yeah and everything was going to crap
Everything seemed to be falling apart,
And our moms and dads not a clue to be had
And our parents were clueless,
Yeah we put on a pretty good act
We performed convincingly,
And they seemed to all need to believe it
And they seemed to desperately want to believe our act,
So we danced and smiled and paddled hard beneath it
So we danced and smiled and worked hard to maintain our facade,
You can't say you've never had a doubt
You cannot deny questioning oneself,
And smoked it down but really wanted out
And trying to suppress one's desires while wishing to escape,
And they won't fade
And the tattoos will not disappear,
I've got you to thank
I am grateful to you,
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BEN FOLDS, BENJAMIN SCOTT FOLDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind