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Underground (Ben Folds Five song)

January 01, 1970

"Underground" is a song from Ben Folds Five's 1995 self-titled debut album.[1] It was written by Ben Folds.[2] The song is about geeks and social outcasts looking for solace in numbers in underground music and art scenes. It peaked at #37 on the UK Singles Chart.[3] The track was #3 for the year of 1996 on Australia's Triple J Hottest 100.[4]

"Underground"
Single by Ben Folds Five
from the album Ben Folds Five
ReleasedAugust 8, 1995 (album)
1996 (single)
RecordedWave Castle, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
February 1995
GenreAlternative rock
Length4:12
LabelPassenger/Caroline
Vital Distribution (single)
Songwriter(s)Benjamin Scott Folds
Producer(s)Caleb Southern
Ben Folds Five singles chronology
"Jackson Cannery"
(1994) 		"Underground"
(1995) 		"Where's Summer B.?"
(UK; 1996)
Music video
"Underground" on YouTube

History edit

Ben Folds has spoken of feeling a social outcast at times and finding it hard to make friends as a child because his family was constantly moving. As he found initial success with the band Majosha and then forming Ben Folds Five with Darren Jessee and Robert Sledge, he began to recognize members of his audiences as similar types of outcasts. He noted that these types of people, who were in search of their own identities, would often find themselves gravitating towards the underground scenes (punk, ska, hardcore, etc.) of independent music. They would latch onto the scenes with particular fervor.

"Underground" is both an ode to and castigation of these type of people, as well as the perceived notions of the underground scene looking in from the outside. As Folds says:

It's just exercising artistic freedom to put some different things together that I think are funny. I think it's funny to make a very happy, cabaret-sounding song about the underground of the indie rock world. I think it's funny to take those people and make them dance around like puppets and sing Bee Gees. That's part of why you write. It's the freedom to do stuff like that. If there's a statement in it at all – and it's not the heaviest song obviously – it's that the underground or indie scene or whatever you wanna call it is just a social club. It's just fun. They're not planning the next revolution. People get so fucking serious about it, but it's just like if you've got all the credit to apply for a country club, they're going to ask you the same questions.[5]

A catchy, raucous romp laced with falsetto, the track became the first international commercial single and first U.S. radio single from the album Ben Folds Five. It introduced the band to the world and remains the most well-known track on the album[6] and one of the most well-known songs of the band's career, second only to "Brick".

The song was among the most popular performed at Ben Folds Five concerts. It featured a degree of audience participation, including coordinated sound effects and retorts to various lines throughout the song. Folds continues to perform the song occasionally during his solo career.

Additional versions edit

Two distinct edited versions of the song exist. A radio edit version appears with the original album cut on a 1995 promotional CD sent to radio programmers in the United States,[7] as well as a CD sent to the United Kingdom for the same purpose.[7] The radio edit version also appears on a second promotional CD for the United Kingdom released in 1996.[7]

The second edited version, a shortened version of the album cut of the song, was released as a commercial CD single in the United Kingdom in April 1996 by Vital Distribution for Passenger/Caroline.[8] This version was released on a 7" vinyl single in the U.K. at the same time.[8] A second 7" vinyl single was released in the U.K. in September 1996.[8]

A live audio version of the song was released in August, 1996, in the United Kingdom by Vital Distribution as part of a 2-disc CD single set.[8] Recorded August 12, 1995, at Ziggy's in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, by John Alagia and Doug Derryberry,[8] this live version appears with the album cut of the song on the second disc of the set. The first disc of the set features the second edited studio version of the song.

The live audio version also appears on the 1998 compilation and rarities album Naked Baby Photos.[9]

A live video version, filmed in New York on June 9, 1997, for the PBS program Sessions at West 54th, appears on the 2001 music concert DVD Ben Folds Five – The Complete Sessions at West 54th.[10]

Music video edit

The music video was directed by David Hale.[11] It depicts the band performing in an Old West saloon as Western fighting and other hijinks occur around them.

Singles edit

U.S. promotional CD single edit

Released in 1995 to radio programmers in the United States to promote the song and the album Ben Folds Five. Features the album cut of the song and a radio edit version that differs from a second edit found on the commercial single releases.

  1. Underground (Radio Edit) – 3:17
  2. Underground (Album Version) – 4:20

UK promotional CD single edit

Released in 1995 to radio programmers in the United Kingdom to promote the song and the album Ben Folds Five. Features the album cut of the song and a radio edit version that differs from a second edit found on the commercial single releases.

  1. Underground (Radio Edit) – 3:17
  2. Underground (Album Version) – 4:20

UK commercial CD single edit

Released in April 1996 in the United Kingdom by Vital Distribution for Passenger/Caroline. Features a second edited version of the song that is shorter than the album cut but longer than the radio edit version.

  1. Underground (Edit #2) – 3:36
  2. Sports & Wine (Album Version) – 2:58
  3. Boxing (Album Version) – 4:42

UK commercial 7" vinyl single edit

Released in April 1996 in the United Kingdom by Vital Distribution for Passenger/Caroline. Features a second edited version of the song that is shorter than the album cut but longer than the radio edit version.

  • Side A: Underground (Edit #2) – 3:36
  • Side B: Sports & Wine (Album Version) – 2:58

Second UK promotional CD single edit

Released in 1996 to radio programmers in the United Kingdom to promote the song and the album Ben Folds Five. Features the radio edit version that differs from the edit found on the commercial single releases. The other tracks on the single were recorded live on August 12, 1995, at Ziggy's in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, by John Alagia and Doug Derryberry. The tracks were mixed by Alagia, Derryberry, and John Altschiller at Bias Recording Studios in Springfield, Virginia, and were mastered by Dave Glasser at Airshow in Springfield. "Satan is My Master" also appears on Naked Baby Photos.

  1. Underground (Radio Edit) – 3:36
  2. Satan is My Master (Live) – 1:31
  3. Video (Live) – 4:10

UK commercial 2-CD single set edit

Released in April 1996 in the United Kingdom by Vital Distribution for Passenger/Caroline. Features a second edited version of the song on the first disc that is shorter than the album cut but longer than the radio edit version. The album cut and a live version of the song appear on the second disc. The other tracks were recorded live on August 12, 1995, at Ziggy's in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, by John Alagia and Doug Derryberry. The tracks were mixed by Alagia, Derryberry, and John Altschiller at Bias Recording Studios in Springfield, Virginia, and were mastered by Dave Glasser at Airshow in Springfield. The live version of "Underground" and "Satan is My Master" both also appear on Naked Baby Photos.
Disc One

  1. Underground (Radio Edit) – 3:36
  2. Satan is My Master (Live) – 1:31
  3. Video (Live) – 4:10

Disc Two

  1. Underground (Album Version) – 4:12
  2. Jackson Cannery (Live) – 4:05
  3. Underground (Live) – 5:14

Personnel edit

Production edit

References edit

  1. ^ Amazon: Ben Folds Five
  2. ^ BMI Repertoire Listing
  3. ^ Official Charts Company – Ben Folds Five – Underground
  4. ^ Triple J Hottest 100, 1996
  5. ^ Schreiber, Ryan (March 1996). "Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only the Piano Player!". Turntable Online; reprinted at MichaelBluejay.com. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
  6. ^ Schreiber, Ryan (December 31, 1999). "Review: Ben Folds Five". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
  7. ^ a b c Promotional Singles – The Unauthorized Discography of Ben Folds Five
  8. ^ a b c d e Singles – The Unauthorized Discography of Ben Folds Five
  9. ^ Amazon: Naked Baby Photos
  10. ^ Amazon: Ben Folds Five – The Complete Sessions at West 54th
  11. ^ mvdbase.com

January 01, 1970
underground, folds, five, song, underground, song, from, folds, five, 1995, self, titled, debut, album, written, folds, song, about, geeks, social, outcasts, looking, solace, numbers, underground, music, scenes, peaked, singles, chart, track, year, 1996, austr. Underground is a song from Ben Folds Five s 1995 self titled debut album 1 It was written by Ben Folds 2 The song is about geeks and social outcasts looking for solace in numbers in underground music and art scenes It peaked at 37 on the UK Singles Chart 3 The track was 3 for the year of 1996 on Australia s Triple J Hottest 100 4 Underground Single by Ben Folds Fivefrom the album Ben Folds FiveReleasedAugust 8 1995 album 1996 single RecordedWave Castle Chapel Hill North CarolinaFebruary 1995GenreAlternative rockLength4 12LabelPassenger CarolineVital Distribution single Songwriter s Benjamin Scott FoldsProducer s Caleb SouthernBen Folds Five singles chronology Jackson Cannery 1994 Underground 1995 Where s Summer B UK 1996 Music video Underground on YouTube Contents 1 History 2 Additional versions 3 Music video 4 Singles 4 1 U S promotional CD single 4 2 UK promotional CD single 4 3 UK commercial CD single 4 4 UK commercial 7 vinyl single 4 5 Second UK promotional CD single 4 6 UK commercial 2 CD single set 5 Personnel 5 1 Production 6 ReferencesHistory editBen Folds has spoken of feeling a social outcast at times and finding it hard to make friends as a child because his family was constantly moving As he found initial success with the band Majosha and then forming Ben Folds Five with Darren Jessee and Robert Sledge he began to recognize members of his audiences as similar types of outcasts He noted that these types of people who were in search of their own identities would often find themselves gravitating towards the underground scenes punk ska hardcore etc of independent music They would latch onto the scenes with particular fervor Underground is both an ode to and castigation of these type of people as well as the perceived notions of the underground scene looking in from the outside As Folds says It s just exercising artistic freedom to put some different things together that I think are funny I think it s funny to make a very happy cabaret sounding song about the underground of the indie rock world I think it s funny to take those people and make them dance around like puppets and sing Bee Gees That s part of why you write It s the freedom to do stuff like that If there s a statement in it at all and it s not the heaviest song obviously it s that the underground or indie scene or whatever you wanna call it is just a social club It s just fun They re not planning the next revolution People get so fucking serious about it but it s just like if you ve got all the credit to apply for a country club they re going to ask you the same questions 5 A catchy raucous romp laced with falsetto the track became the first international commercial single and first U S radio single from the album Ben Folds Five It introduced the band to the world and remains the most well known track on the album 6 and one of the most well known songs of the band s career second only to Brick The song was among the most popular performed at Ben Folds Five concerts It featured a degree of audience participation including coordinated sound effects and retorts to various lines throughout the song Folds continues to perform the song occasionally during his solo career Additional versions editTwo distinct edited versions of the song exist A radio edit version appears with the original album cut on a 1995 promotional CD sent to radio programmers in the United States 7 as well as a CD sent to the United Kingdom for the same purpose 7 The radio edit version also appears on a second promotional CD for the United Kingdom released in 1996 7 The second edited version a shortened version of the album cut of the song was released as a commercial CD single in the United Kingdom in April 1996 by Vital Distribution for Passenger Caroline 8 This version was released on a 7 vinyl single in the U K at the same time 8 A second 7 vinyl single was released in the U K in September 1996 8 A live audio version of the song was released in August 1996 in the United Kingdom by Vital Distribution as part of a 2 disc CD single set 8 Recorded August 12 1995 at Ziggy s in Winston Salem North Carolina by John Alagia and Doug Derryberry 8 this live version appears with the album cut of the song on the second disc of the set The first disc of the set features the second edited studio version of the song The live audio version also appears on the 1998 compilation and rarities album Naked Baby Photos 9 A live video version filmed in New York on June 9 1997 for the PBS program Sessions at West 54th appears on the 2001 music concert DVD Ben Folds Five The Complete Sessions at West 54th 10 Music video editThe music video was directed by David Hale 11 It depicts the band performing in an Old West saloon as Western fighting and other hijinks occur around them Singles editU S promotional CD single edit Released in 1995 to radio programmers in the United States to promote the song and the album Ben Folds Five Features the album cut of the song and a radio edit version that differs from a second edit found on the commercial single releases Underground Radio Edit 3 17 Underground Album Version 4 20 UK promotional CD single edit Released in 1995 to radio programmers in the United Kingdom to promote the song and the album Ben Folds Five Features the album cut of the song and a radio edit version that differs from a second edit found on the commercial single releases Underground Radio Edit 3 17 Underground Album Version 4 20 UK commercial CD single edit Released in April 1996 in the United Kingdom by Vital Distribution for Passenger Caroline Features a second edited version of the song that is shorter than the album cut but longer than the radio edit version Underground Edit 2 3 36 Sports amp Wine Album Version 2 58 Boxing Album Version 4 42 UK commercial 7 vinyl single edit Released in April 1996 in the United Kingdom by Vital Distribution for Passenger Caroline Features a second edited version of the song that is shorter than the album cut but longer than the radio edit version Side A Underground Edit 2 3 36 Side B Sports amp Wine Album Version 2 58 Second UK promotional CD single edit Released in 1996 to radio programmers in the United Kingdom to promote the song and the album Ben Folds Five Features the radio edit version that differs from the edit found on the commercial single releases The other tracks on the single were recorded live on August 12 1995 at Ziggy s in Winston Salem North Carolina by John Alagia and Doug Derryberry The tracks were mixed by Alagia Derryberry and John Altschiller at Bias Recording Studios in Springfield Virginia and were mastered by Dave Glasser at Airshow in Springfield Satan is My Master also appears on Naked Baby Photos Underground Radio Edit 3 36 Satan is My Master Live 1 31 Video Live 4 10 UK commercial 2 CD single set edit Released in April 1996 in the United Kingdom by Vital Distribution for Passenger Caroline Features a second edited version of the song on the first disc that is shorter than the album cut but longer than the radio edit version The album cut and a live version of the song appear on the second disc The other tracks were recorded live on August 12 1995 at Ziggy s in Winston Salem North Carolina by John Alagia and Doug Derryberry The tracks were mixed by Alagia Derryberry and John Altschiller at Bias Recording Studios in Springfield Virginia and were mastered by Dave Glasser at Airshow in Springfield The live version of Underground and Satan is My Master both also appear on Naked Baby Photos Disc One Underground Radio Edit 3 36 Satan is My Master Live 1 31 Video Live 4 10 Disc Two Underground Album Version 4 12 Jackson Cannery Live 4 05 Underground Live 5 14Personnel editBen Folds piano vocals Darren Jessee drums vocals percussion Robert Sledge bass vocals Production edit Producer Caleb Southern Mixing Marc BeckerReferences edit Amazon Ben Folds Five BMI Repertoire Listing Official Charts Company Ben Folds Five Underground Triple J Hottest 100 1996 Schreiber Ryan March 1996 Don t Shoot Me I m Only the Piano Player Turntable Online reprinted at MichaelBluejay com Retrieved January 26 2009 Schreiber Ryan December 31 1999 Review Ben Folds Five Pitchfork Media Retrieved January 26 2009 a b c Promotional Singles The Unauthorized Discography of Ben Folds Five a b c d e Singles The Unauthorized Discography of Ben Folds Five Amazon Naked Baby Photos Amazon Ben Folds Five The Complete Sessions at West 54th mvdbase com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Underground Ben Folds Five song amp oldid 1221651315, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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