Comments on: Best Song Ever?: Magic (Ben Folds Five)

By: Alec Cantor

Alec Cantor — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:32:21 +0000

For some reason I was just googling Ben Folds lyrics to see what people thought of them, and ‘Magic’ was the first one I tried, as it’s my favorite Folds song (even though he didn’t write it, just as Night and Day is one of my favorite Sinatra songs, and Cole Porter wrote that, along with a lot of Sinatra’s most favorite recordings/covers).

Anyway, I’ve always loved the Timpani in this, but I don’t turn my bass up, unlike what you say most people do. I also keep my volume pretty low, compared to most people these days (i.e. I keep my music just loud enough to hear comfortably, if not a teensy weensy bit louder).I always prefer to highlight the softer points of songs, I usually only see percussion as an accompaniment, when it’s in more layered songs, and as such only pay attention to it as a baseline, so I keep my bass at what you could call “classical” levels. After all, Folds is soft-rock/piano-rock, not as heavy on drums as most rock bands, and I think he uses percussion really well (he oughta, eh? Went to University on a percussion scholarship, after all, and did percussion long before he took up piano professionally). I might also be listening to a more recent/tweaked version, as I use a digital-only version of the album, though I doubt it differs too much, if at all.

Anyway, the main point I wanted to make, other than the suggestion that you use a more “classical” EQ setting, is that you should approach the song as a slow, poignant piece intended for, above all other audiences, people who have lost someone to illness. That’s the reason this song resonates so much with me. I was love struck by this song the very first time I’d heard it, simply from the, in my opinion, incredibly catchy theme. After listening to it a few times, I fully registered the lyrics and was immediately awe struck by their simplicity and poignancy.

This is my go-to song for dealing with illness of just about any kind. I absolutely love it, and it’s seriously helped quite a few people I know with their losses, not to mention seriously helped myself when my Grandpa passes (Alzheimer’s, perhaps the most frightening and depressing way to die, and this song is really spot on for describing at least that particular depressing illness).

P.S. I’m not very knowledgeable of music theory or percussion, as I’m just a 17 year old with 6 or so years of Violin and haven’t really picked up my violin in four years (7-13 or so), but I do know words and writing comp, and I know them extremely well, and I have a very finely tuned ear.

By: Bil Knutson

Bil Knutson — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:36:55 +0000

This is a wonderful song. I am not a musician but I’ve always thought the first 21 seconds of the song should have been repeated at the end of the song. Just saw Ben Folds play with the Minnesota Orchestra last night and was surprised “Magic” was not played. However, since learning he didn’t write the song, that may be the reason. It would have been great to hear the timpani in the orchestra hall.

By: Fer

Fer — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 06:19:37 +0000

I love this song; and I actually believe this might be the best song ever. I mean, some might say its just pop love song (though it is a requiem), but it really goes straight to your romantic side with those lyrics; can’t help it.

i love the piano when it says “saw you last night”

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 14:51:49 +0000

Noted that your review of “Songs for Silverman” addressed his self-copying.

Also, the song “Fred Jones, pt. 2″ is quite good.

By: Nate

Nate — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 14:47:02 +0000

I actually haven’t listened to that album in about a year I think. After I posted, I totally forgot about Narcolepsy (which is one of the songs that he hasn’t borrowed from since then, i think). Lullabye is good, but there’s nothing really to set it apart from his other “Faux-Bluesy”-style songs (See: All U Can Eat), other than its sentiment (which is way more in check than that ridiculously sappy “Gracie”). I never really liked “Your Redneck Past” other than the awesome last quarter of the song, and for some reason, I never was one of those people who loved Army either (not that it’s bad or anything). Maybe it’s the whole “no chorus” thing, and that the song’s only real hook is with the horn section. Dunno.

As far as Mess and Don’t Change Your Plans go, I already posted a while back that Jesusland was a way better version of Mess and Ascent of Stan combined, and I think my suggestion of Don’t Change Your Plans was based on a half-remembered vocal bridge of “Ahhhs” that I always thought was perfect. Again, though, it’s been a while for this one.

By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 05:16:16 +0000

Mess – Good song. Not great song. In fact, the first time I listened to the album, this was my favorite song. BUT, this was the first Ben Folds (Five) album I listened to, and I didn’t realize that “60′s-ish, busy textured song” was one of the Ben Folds styles which makes an appearance on every record. “The Ascent of Stan” is a much, much better example of this style. The so-simple-it-must’ve-been-difficult-to-write bass line is commendable, though.
Don’t Change Your Plans – eh, just sort of blah. The trumpet (cornet?) interlude is unnecessary, and much of the non-verse sections of the song reminds me of Muzak. The only good part is when the accompaniment drops out and he comes in with only the piano (1:23)

If I had to pick other songs from this album, it’d be Narcolepsy, Lullabye, Your Redneck Past, and even Army (which very much fits in the ” ‘rocking out’ section of different formulas Ben Folds uses to write songs) — any of these before Mess or Don’t Change Your Plans.

By: nate

nate — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 15:05:58 +0000

I have to say, (and you probably knew I would) that while “Magic” is a good song (and maybe its simplicity is why it warranted the spot in the rotation), I happen to think that both “Mess” and “Don’t Change Your Plans” are much better, way more layered and textured songs from that album that might’ve deserved the mention instead.