SPOTLIGHT = Ben Folds 5 (1 song) & Fort Minor (1 song)
A trio known as “5” & a side project….
#1
Ben Folds 5 formed in 1993 in Chapel Hill NC by Ben Folds, Robert Sledge & Darren Jessee. The trio chose “5” instead of “3” because, according to Folds, it “sounds better”; they achieved mainstream success in alternative, indie & pop music. This song, released 01/01/1998 as the 4th single from their 2nd album ‘Whatever & Ever Amen’, was written by Folds & Jessee; it is arguably their signature tune & best charting hit, peaking at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100, #11 on the Adult Top 40 Tracks, #6 on the Modern Rock Tracks & #17 on the Top 40 Mainstream charts. It also notched in Australia (#13) & England (#26). Folds also had a solo career & produced-arranged William Shatner’s 2nd album, co-writing the majority of the songs with Shatner.
#2
Fort Minor is a side project of Mike Shinoda, best known as part of the band Linkin Park. Released 04/14/2006 as the 4th & final single from the ensemble’s debut album ‘The Rising Tied’, this song peaked that year at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100, #2 on the Pop Songs & #23 on the Adult Pop Songs charts. Elsewhere, the song peaked in the Top 10 in Belgium (#6), Canada (#7), Czech Republic (#2), Finland (#8) & Netherlands (#10).
“Brick” is based on his and his girlfriend’s decision to have an abortion. He says it isn’t meant to be pro-anything, just telling a story. It’s one of my favorite songs because of that. It doesn’t really matter what genre it is, if there’s truth in the lyrics, I’m in.