still fighting it [song of the week]

Well, I have finally managed to do a song of the week on two consecutive weeks, but I posted nothing else. Oh well, you win some, you lose some. As for the song, we're kickin' it back to 2001 this time, to an old favorite that I forgot was a favorite.

The song of the week is "Still Fighting It" by Ben Folds.


Photo from http://www.myspace.com/benfolds

This choice is prompted by the fact that I saw Ben Folds play here at Purdue on Friday. Friday, February 29th, to be exact. I'm a nerd, but I think it's awesome that I got to see such a good concert on a day that only happens every four years. I'm such a sucker for quirky little things like that. Ben managed to nearly sell out the 6000-seat Elliott Hall of Music here. Anyway, I've always enjoyed Ben's music, but I've never been a die-hard fan. I actually almost didn't go to the show, but one of my roommates ending up having to go to an interview, so I was able to use her ticket. Thank goodness I did! The show was so wonderful, and really caused me to appreciate him even more as a musician. I knew he was good, but his piano skills are far more evident once you've seen him play live. I'd also forgotten just how much I loved some of his songs, such as Landed, Luckiest, Zak and Sara, and especially Still Fighting It. I remember falling in love with that song when I first heard it, but somewhere along the line I forgot it even existed. I'm glad I was reminded, it's such a pretty song, and I love that he wrote it for his son (who is featured in the video). As someone with a mild fear of truly growing up, the chorus has always struck a chord with me. As the real world looms nearer, it had even more meaning that it used to, and I've been listening to this song all week. I also found a new favorite in the song "Not the Same." Ben played this as his last encore song. If you haven't heard it, there's a three-part harmony background part, and he had the audience attempt to sing it. Amazingly enough, it worked out okay. I'm also a sucker for big epic concert endings, and this one qualified as that for sure. The song just has that feeling to begin with, and he ended it by directing about 6000 people to sing in some sort of harmony, finally bringing everyone to this big slightly off-key crescendo. The he cut us off, waved, and walked off the stage. It was amazing. The only thing that could have improved it was if he'd played Brick and Gracie, but even without those, it was still a great show. I hope you like the song if you haven't heard it, and if you have, then I just hope you like the flashback to seven years ago.



Good morning, son.
I am a bird
Wearing a brown polyester shirt
You want a coke?
Maybe some fries?
The roast beef combo's only $9.95
It's okay, you don't have to pay
I've got all the change

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

Good morning, son
In twenty years from now
Maybe we'll both sit down and have a few beers
And I can tell you 'bout today
And how I picked you up and everything changed
It was pain
Sunny days and rain
I knew you'd feel the same things

Everybody knows
It sucks 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
You'll try and try and one day you'll fly
Away from me

Good morning, son
I am a bird
It was pain
Sunny days and rain
I knew you'd feel the same things
Everybody knows
Tt 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
Oh, we're still fighting it, we're still fighting it
And you're so much like me
I'm sorry