Lemme tell y’all what it’s like, bein’ male middle class and white.

Ben Folds is my musical father. I do honestly think that if my actual father made music, he would be a musician similar to Ben Folds. He struggles with similar issues. Pride, things we choose to worry about, fatherhood, and leaving a legacy. I have such a personal connection to Ben Folds, he has been a musical constant in my life. I can always turn on one of his songs and instantly feel better. Which is funny, because most of his songs are very cynical.

I think I love Ben Folds so much because of the way I encountered him. When I was kid, my dad would drive us to school, church, and pretty much everywhere. I remember riding in his blue Honda Accord everywhere. And when he drove us, he played all his favorite songs. Stuff like Prince, Tears for Fears, and of course Ben Folds. He talked about how he found these songs when he was growing up. He would tell me about what they meant to him, how they help to guide him in his life. My father taught me the power of music. That it can make someone’s life better, that music can be a part of someone’s personality.

Ben Folds is where I hear the voice of my father. And his debut as a solo artist is an album that means so much to me. Rockin’ the Suburbs is the story of a complicated man analyzing the world around him. The subjects range from romantic issues to fatherhood. Ben Folds often writes in stories to illustrate his message. His voice is beautiful; he uses the piano like it is one of his limbs.

Rockin’ the Suburbs is human. It addresses the world like normal people would. It is honest. Ben Folds does not hide his emotion, you can hear his desperation on songs like “Still Fighting It.” You can feel the love in “The Luckiest.” In some songs, it is hard to say how he feels. But Ben Folds never fails to make me feel something.

Every song is so well composed. Folds excels in song writing, a professional at combining poetry with storytelling. He comes up with characters like Annie, Zak, and Sara to be pieces in his critiques. He gives listeners just enough details in each song, knowing he only has so much time. But the writing is well done. You do not need to decipher a Ben Folds song. You shouldn’t need to when he is trying to tell you how he feels, how he has been through all this crap. Yet, Ben Folds is still here to bring you his freaking awesome music.

Side note: the piano is a sexy instrument. Anyone who can sing well and play the piano is instantly attractive. Just look at Ben Folds. He’s probably your crush now too.

Songs to Highlight:

“Zak and Sara” is a fantastic song about relationships. The writing is great in this song, and the piano riff is even better. “Sara spelled without an ‘h’ was getting bored / On a Peavey amp in 1984 / While Zak without a ‘c’ tried out some new guitars /Playing Sara-with-no-h’s favourite song.” It seems to be about insanity and how the couple copes with the realities of mental health. It has no grand message. It is just reality.

“Still Fighting It” is the song my dad gave to me. He told me that when he thinks about me, he is reminded of this song. He knows that he is flawed and that I will face issues like his own. But I know my dad will always be there for me. Ben Folds also wrote this song for his son. He was freaking terrified. And sometimes the only way musicians know how cope is to write a song. “Everybody knows / It hurts to grow up / And everybody does / It’s so weird to be back here / Let me tell you what / The years go on and / We’re still fighting it, we’re still fighting it / And you’re so much like me / I’m sorry”

“Not the Same” is a poignant song for me. As someone who has grown up in the Church, I can see a lot of the hypocrisy this song talks about. It is about one of Ben Folds’ friends who has an acid trip and then becomes a Christian. He is passionate and has good intentions, but still struggles with being a good person. The song is a bit mocking. But it is beautiful. No matter what I believe, I could never say I do not like this song.

“Rockin’ the Suburbs” is a bit of a guilty pleasure. As a white person from a middle-class family, this song is making fun of me. I cannot help but enjoy the irreverence and satire in this song. I do not have much to say about this song because it is awesome. Not much else to say. I dare you to listen to it and not smile.

Rockin’ the Suburbs is an Album I Freaking Love because of the writing and the sound. Ben Folds inserts stories into any song he can. They are delightful. It is an album I actively share with others, because I want everyone to catch a glimpse of why I like it. The day I got this album on vinyl was one of the best in my life so far.

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