Does anyone in the world hate Ben Folds?
September 16, 2007 9:44 AM Subscribe
Does anyone in the world hate Ben Folds? And if so, why?
I'm going through a Ben Folds obsession phase right now, and it just occurred to me that I have never met someone who so much as mildly disliked the man. But how can a guy make such good music, with intelligent lyrics, and actually be appreciated for it? It seems... unnatural. There must be someone out there who hates him.
I'm going through a Ben Folds obsession phase right now, and it just occurred to me that I have never met someone who so much as mildly disliked the man. But how can a guy make such good music, with intelligent lyrics, and actually be appreciated for it? It seems... unnatural. There must be someone out there who hates him.
This post was deleted for the following reason: This seems like pretty much "how do you feel about Ben Folds" chatfilter From the FAQ: "Questions that are some version of "What is the deal with X?"or "X sucks, am I right?" tend to not go well on Ask MetaFilter."
I don't hate him, but he does very little for me. And some of his songs, I find obnoxious, or tedious. Couldn't say exactly why, but it's something about vocal style in combination with his lyrics. However, I do think he's an adorable person.
posted by Coatlicue at 9:53 AM on September 16, 2007
posted by Coatlicue at 9:53 AM on September 16, 2007
I do not like Ben Folds. His music just doesn't captivate me. I do not hate him though. He's probably a very nice guy.
posted by chillmost at 9:53 AM on September 16, 2007
posted by chillmost at 9:53 AM on September 16, 2007
He put on quite a good live show in Kansas City a few years back. I don't get a very good emotional response to his songs, and I'm not a huge fan of his voice or musical style. For lack of a better term sitting here in my Sunday morning stupor, I'm going to second loiseau on the "blandness."
In my opinion, John Darnielle (The Mountain Goats) far surpasses Ben Folds for intelligent and emotionally resonant lyrics, delivered with a somewhat rough but pleasing voice and simple but excellent musical backing (usually just guitar).
posted by Derive the Hamiltonian of... at 9:55 AM on September 16, 2007
In my opinion, John Darnielle (The Mountain Goats) far surpasses Ben Folds for intelligent and emotionally resonant lyrics, delivered with a somewhat rough but pleasing voice and simple but excellent musical backing (usually just guitar).
posted by Derive the Hamiltonian of... at 9:55 AM on September 16, 2007
I mildly dislike Ben Folds. I like his piano playing, but I'd appreciate it more if his lyrics... well, let's just say I don't like them as much as I could. I don't want to ruin a good thing for you by nitpicking. If you like it, enjoy.
posted by ctmf at 10:08 AM on September 16, 2007
posted by ctmf at 10:08 AM on September 16, 2007
Are you serious? I think most people I know hate Ben Folds. Then again, I don't travel in Frat Boy circles in which everyone is expected to think the same, act the same and dress the same.
posted by jk252b at 10:10 AM on September 16, 2007
posted by jk252b at 10:10 AM on September 16, 2007
To me his songs always sounded like medium-clever, medium-interesting college rock for people who seek non-mainstream music, but nothing too adventurous. See also: Liz Phair, The Strokes.
posted by deern the headlice at 10:12 AM on September 16, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by deern the headlice at 10:12 AM on September 16, 2007 [1 favorite]
I don't like Ben Folds. I think his covers aren't really worthwhile listening compared to other covers of the same songs, and his original work...well, there are an awful lot of clever musicians out there. I like Jonathan Coulton more for that, for instance, and there are others more informed who can point you to musicians who do Ben Folds better than Ben Folds.
posted by StrikeTheViol at 10:19 AM on September 16, 2007
posted by StrikeTheViol at 10:19 AM on September 16, 2007
My boyfriend hates Ben Folds.
posted by limeonaire at 10:21 AM on September 16, 2007
posted by limeonaire at 10:21 AM on September 16, 2007
Ben Folds = Boring.
posted by brain cloud at 10:24 AM on September 16, 2007
posted by brain cloud at 10:24 AM on September 16, 2007
Amanda Marcotte seems to dislike Ben Folds Five:
"And this guy got up and sang a song that’s not only bad, but always makes me grind my teeth in frustration, it’s so bad—”Brick” by the Ben Folds Five."
posted by andoatnp at 10:30 AM on September 16, 2007
"And this guy got up and sang a song that’s not only bad, but always makes me grind my teeth in frustration, it’s so bad—”Brick” by the Ben Folds Five."
posted by andoatnp at 10:30 AM on September 16, 2007
Ben Folds Five is my favorite band of all time. Ben Folds solo stuff is pretty good, but I'm not into him like I used to be. I haven't met anyone that flat out hates him though. Indifference and apathy are the closest I've seen.
Ben Folds and frat boys? I must be more out of the Ben Folds scene than I thought I was. I will say, though, that I feel like he's calling in his shows these days. While they are good performances, they are also well-rehearsed and highly consistent. The last two or three times I've seen him are all interchangeable.
I still love him. I feel like S/T and Whatever and Ever Amen were written for me.
posted by AaRdVarK at 10:31 AM on September 16, 2007
Ben Folds and frat boys? I must be more out of the Ben Folds scene than I thought I was. I will say, though, that I feel like he's calling in his shows these days. While they are good performances, they are also well-rehearsed and highly consistent. The last two or three times I've seen him are all interchangeable.
I still love him. I feel like S/T and Whatever and Ever Amen were written for me.
posted by AaRdVarK at 10:31 AM on September 16, 2007
You can be assured that anytime you post the question: 'Does my favorite band suck?' on the internet, someone will answer 'yes'.
posted by found missing at 10:31 AM on September 16, 2007 [2 favorites]
posted by found missing at 10:31 AM on September 16, 2007 [2 favorites]
With the exception of his great cover of "Bitches Ain't Shit", which derives it's splendor from the contrast of his utter banality and the hilarious misogyny of the lyrics, I can't think of anything redeeming about Ben Folds.
posted by phrontist at 10:38 AM on September 16, 2007
posted by phrontist at 10:38 AM on September 16, 2007
I love this thread, by the way. You basically ask "Does my favorite band suck?", and we all get to respond "Why yes sir, your favorite band sucks quite a bit".
posted by phrontist at 10:41 AM on September 16, 2007
posted by phrontist at 10:41 AM on September 16, 2007
I'm not quite sure what you hope to achieve by asking this question. I too find Ben Folds a bit bland and uninteresting and I'm pretty sure you can find somebody who dislikes pretty much anything if you look hard enough.
posted by sveskemus at 10:51 AM on September 16, 2007
posted by sveskemus at 10:51 AM on September 16, 2007
I find him dull also, if you're collecting votes, but has he even got any presence outside the US? I know that he plays tiny venues in Ireland, and as a student there in the late nineties I consumed a lot of indie and chart music but never heard of him before coming to the US. So as for "anyone in the world" there's probably a large portion of the western world who've never heard of the guy.
posted by jamesonandwater at 10:53 AM on September 16, 2007
posted by jamesonandwater at 10:53 AM on September 16, 2007
Some people don't want piano in their rock. Some people don't want happy go lucky positive vocals in their rock. I can't say that I hate him, but he certainly doesn't appeal to me mostly for the above reasons.
posted by furtive at 10:55 AM on September 16, 2007
posted by furtive at 10:55 AM on September 16, 2007
Chat chat chat
I don't like him. I wouldn't mind at all never listening to a Folds song again, because they're tedious and uninspired. I also hate the -alike bands that he spawned by other people with no talent.
posted by a robot made out of meat at 10:57 AM on September 16, 2007
I don't like him. I wouldn't mind at all never listening to a Folds song again, because they're tedious and uninspired. I also hate the -alike bands that he spawned by other people with no talent.
posted by a robot made out of meat at 10:57 AM on September 16, 2007
He's not interesting enough for me to hate.
Anyway, everyone's favorite musician is loathed by someone. I worship and adore -- I mean really, truly, deeply adore -- Paul Weller, and I have friends who have otherwise splendid musical tastes, and yet they can't stand the man. I think they're all quite possibly missing an essential part of their brains, but, you know... nobody appeals to everyone. So it goes.
posted by scody at 10:59 AM on September 16, 2007
Anyway, everyone's favorite musician is loathed by someone. I worship and adore -- I mean really, truly, deeply adore -- Paul Weller, and I have friends who have otherwise splendid musical tastes, and yet they can't stand the man. I think they're all quite possibly missing an essential part of their brains, but, you know... nobody appeals to everyone. So it goes.
posted by scody at 10:59 AM on September 16, 2007
Paul Weller? Nothing wrong with digging The Jam.
As for Ben Folds....meh. Extremely, utterly, meh.
I find his music boring, uninspired, and kitschy. Do I hate his music? Well really on the level that I reserve for the likes of Dave Matthews, Toad the Wet Sprocket, and Red Hot Chili Peppers....but I certainly don't like him.
I'll give him that "give me the money back, you bitch" made me sorta smile... once.
posted by kaseijin at 11:04 AM on September 16, 2007
As for Ben Folds....meh. Extremely, utterly, meh.
I find his music boring, uninspired, and kitschy. Do I hate his music? Well really on the level that I reserve for the likes of Dave Matthews, Toad the Wet Sprocket, and Red Hot Chili Peppers....but I certainly don't like him.
I'll give him that "give me the money back, you bitch" made me sorta smile... once.
posted by kaseijin at 11:04 AM on September 16, 2007
In answer to your question: Ben Folds ran over my puppy with his SUV. So, yeah, I hate him.
posted by found missing at 11:09 AM on September 16, 2007
posted by found missing at 11:09 AM on September 16, 2007
Of course there are people who hate Ben Folds. A cursory search for reviews of Rockin' the Suburbs could've told you that. There are a bunch of reasons why this might be so. For one, he's evolved as an artist, so fans of his early albums as part of the Ben Folds Five may dislike his later work and vice-versa. Also, there's the Fear of Pop project, which probably put off a lot of fans as well.
Secondly, many people feel like they know Folds' schtick: hi, I'm a literate college rock guy that plays the piano instead of the guitar and occasionally writes really melodramatic songs about love. I used to like Ben Folds quite a bit and I still can't stand to listen to "The Luckiest," which to me practically epitomizes Folds' later work. "Carrying Cathy" has the same problem, except there's also a dash of "thinks he's more clever than he actually is."
Third: overexposure. You can only listen to "Brick" so many times before you want to hurl one at your radio. That effect probably caused some people to write off the band entirely, especially when the rest of Whatever and Ever Amen didn't exactly sound like it came from the same mold. Tired of "Brick" + wanting something like "Brick" but not finding it = one-hit wonder.
But finally, some people just don't like the music you like. I'm surprised you don't already know this, or maybe you do and you wanted to hear some reasons. The fact that you have never run into anyone who disliked Ben Folds is merely a sign that everyone you know shares your taste in music. I, for one, know plenty of people who don't like him, and furthermore a friend of mine, who IS a Ben Folds fan, always feels the need to defend her love of Ben Folds even when no one calls her on it. This implies to me that people have given her shit for it before. So enjoy your comfortable bubble where no one's enough of an asshole to tell you to your face your favourite band sucks, because there are plenty of Ben Folds haters out there.
posted by chrominance at 11:17 AM on September 16, 2007
Secondly, many people feel like they know Folds' schtick: hi, I'm a literate college rock guy that plays the piano instead of the guitar and occasionally writes really melodramatic songs about love. I used to like Ben Folds quite a bit and I still can't stand to listen to "The Luckiest," which to me practically epitomizes Folds' later work. "Carrying Cathy" has the same problem, except there's also a dash of "thinks he's more clever than he actually is."
Third: overexposure. You can only listen to "Brick" so many times before you want to hurl one at your radio. That effect probably caused some people to write off the band entirely, especially when the rest of Whatever and Ever Amen didn't exactly sound like it came from the same mold. Tired of "Brick" + wanting something like "Brick" but not finding it = one-hit wonder.
But finally, some people just don't like the music you like. I'm surprised you don't already know this, or maybe you do and you wanted to hear some reasons. The fact that you have never run into anyone who disliked Ben Folds is merely a sign that everyone you know shares your taste in music. I, for one, know plenty of people who don't like him, and furthermore a friend of mine, who IS a Ben Folds fan, always feels the need to defend her love of Ben Folds even when no one calls her on it. This implies to me that people have given her shit for it before. So enjoy your comfortable bubble where no one's enough of an asshole to tell you to your face your favourite band sucks, because there are plenty of Ben Folds haters out there.
posted by chrominance at 11:17 AM on September 16, 2007
I don't think I had heard him before you asked this question, so in the interests of science, I went and listened to a song that youtube says is called "Song For The Dumped". I made it exactly 36 seconds before I couldn't listen anymore and now I think I can say that I have, at minimum, a mild disliking for Ben Folds that may turn into outright hate if I have to hear it ever again. Hope that helps.
But it doesn't really matter what we think - if you enjoy it, keep on enjoying it. There is no universally loved artist in any field.
posted by cmonkey at 11:18 AM on September 16, 2007
But it doesn't really matter what we think - if you enjoy it, keep on enjoying it. There is no universally loved artist in any field.
posted by cmonkey at 11:18 AM on September 16, 2007
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posted by loiseau at 9:47 AM on September 16, 2007