Rockin' the Suburbs (song)
Encyclopedia
"Rockin' the Suburbs" is a song by Ben Folds
on the album of the same name
. It is Ben Folds' biggest solo hit so far, gaining radio and MTV
airplay (though "Landed" and "Bitches Ain't Shit" achieved higher chart positions on the Billboard Hot 100
in the U.S., this was mostly due to their popularity on the iTunes Music Store rather than radio airplay).
The song parodies Korn and Rage Against the Machine
. Folds stated of the song "I am taking the piss of the whole scene, especially the followers."
The song's simplistic guitar part (played by Folds) separates the song from much of his work with Ben Folds Five
, who famously shunned guitars in their music (using them only on a single studio recording, "Emaline").
The lyrics for a portion of this song are often changed during live performances. In the refrain of the song, "I'm rockin' the suburbs, just like ______ did", Ben inserts the name of a musical artist. In the album version, the order for the names is: Michael Jackson
, Quiet Riot
, and Jon Bon Jovi
. For live performances Ben has inserted other names, such as Bryan Adams
. On the Songs for Goldfish
version, he mentions William Shatner
(for whom he produced an album, Has Been
) and Henry Rollins
(whom he worked with on Shatner's song "I Can't Get Behind That").
When performing the song live, especially on television, Folds has been known to change some of the lyrics around for comic effect. Most famously, while on Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn inserting "girl we couldn't get much higher," a reference to The Doors
song "Light My Fire
," where a profanity was supposed to be uttered.
Japanese EP:
, who also plays the role of a producer who fixes Folds' "shitty track," directly riffing on one of the song's lyrics.
The video, which closely reflects the joke-heavy style of Yankovic's own videos, features Folds playing multiple members of an angry rock band in a suburban den and in front of a white background.
After the song's bridge, Folds is shown outside in a suburban neighborhood wearing a backwards red Yankees cap, the trademark of Limp Bizkit
's Fred Durst
. During this part of the video, Folds does suburban things such as jumping in pools and flipping burgers.
Near the end of the video, Folds can be seen playing a keytar
. On occasion, he also plays the keytar for live performances. The make and model he uses is a red Roland AX-1
.
At the end of the video, the "band" (all Ben again) plays in front of a black background with holes punched in it, a style that matches the live-action parts of the Korn
video for "Freak on a Leash
." A subliminal message reading "Korn Sucks" briefly appears.
, with film co-star William Shatner
providing vocals during part of the song. Shatner does the voice for Ozzie the Opossum, who encourages his daughter (voice by Avril Lavigne
) to play dead in threatening situations.
While the new version features none of the swearing and parodies of the original, Folds makes some very pointed barbs at the concept of suburbia in the song, including jabs at homeowner associations and driving long distances to work.
Ben Folds
Benjamin Scott "Ben" Folds is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and television personality. From 1995-2000, Folds was the frontman and pianist of the alternative rock band Ben Folds Five. Since the group disbanded, Folds has performed as a solo artist and has toured all over the world...
on the album of the same name
Rockin' the Suburbs
Rockin’ the Suburbs is an alternative rock album by singer/songwriter Ben Folds, released on September 11, 2001 . His first solo album after leaving his band Ben Folds Five , Rockin’ the Suburbs is also Folds' most popular LP to date, and includes the...
. It is Ben Folds' biggest solo hit so far, gaining radio and MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
airplay (though "Landed" and "Bitches Ain't Shit" achieved higher chart positions on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in the U.S., this was mostly due to their popularity on the iTunes Music Store rather than radio airplay).
Music and lyrics
Folds stated of the inspiration for this song:"I used to do this big rant at the end of some gigs with Ben Folds Five. The band broke into this big heavy metalHeavy metal musicHeavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
thing and I started as a joke to scream in a heavy metal falsetto. I found myself saying things like: Feel my pain, I am white, feel my pain. I was going to write this song about KornKornKorn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The current band line up includes four members: Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and Ray Luzier. The band was formed as an expansion of L.A.P.D.The band released their first demo album,...
. I don’t know, it wasn’t as funny when I directed it at somebody. So I thought I would write it not directed to anybody. I mean, I would be happy to tell the guys from Korn that I wrote a song about them, but I think, when people listen to it, it is a better song when it is not directed to anybody."
The song parodies Korn and Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group's line-up consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk...
. Folds stated of the song "I am taking the piss of the whole scene, especially the followers."
The song's simplistic guitar part (played by Folds) separates the song from much of his work with Ben Folds Five
Ben Folds Five
Ben Folds Five is an alternative rock trio formed in 1993 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The group comprises Ben Folds , Robert Sledge , and Darren Jessee . The group achieved mainstream success in the alternative, indie and pop music scenes...
, who famously shunned guitars in their music (using them only on a single studio recording, "Emaline").
The lyrics for a portion of this song are often changed during live performances. In the refrain of the song, "I'm rockin' the suburbs, just like ______ did", Ben inserts the name of a musical artist. In the album version, the order for the names is: Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
, Quiet Riot
Quiet Riot
Quiet Riot is an American Heavy Metal band. They are best known for their hit singles "Metal Health" and "Cum On Feel the Noize". They were founded in 1973 by guitarist Randy Rhoads and bassist Kelly Garni, under the original name Mach 1, before changing the name to Little Women and finally Quiet...
, and Jon Bon Jovi
Jon Bon Jovi
Jon Bon Jovi is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as the founder, occasional rhythm guitarist, and lead singer of rock band Bon Jovi, which was named after him...
. For live performances Ben has inserted other names, such as Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams, is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, bassist, producer, actor and photographer. Adams has won dozens of awards and nominations, including 20 Juno Awards among 56 nominations. He has also received 15 Grammy Award nominations including a win for Best Song Written...
. On the Songs for Goldfish
Songs for Goldfish
Songs for Goldfish is a Ben Folds album of live and unreleased tracks packaged with Songs for Silverman and released through Ben Folds' website...
version, he mentions William Shatner
William Shatner
William Alan Shatner is a Canadian actor, musician, recording artist, and author. He gained worldwide fame and became a cultural icon for his portrayal of James T...
(for whom he produced an album, Has Been
Has Been
Has Been is William Shatner's second musical album after 1968's The Transformed Man.The album was produced and arranged by Ben Folds and most of the songs are co-written by Folds and Shatner, with Folds creating arrangements for Shatner's prose-poems, and feature guest appearances from Joe Jackson...
) and Henry Rollins
Henry Rollins
Henry Rollins is an American singer-songwriter, spoken word artist, writer, comedian, publisher, actor, and radio DJ....
(whom he worked with on Shatner's song "I Can't Get Behind That").
When performing the song live, especially on television, Folds has been known to change some of the lyrics around for comic effect. Most famously, while on Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn inserting "girl we couldn't get much higher," a reference to The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
song "Light My Fire
Light My Fire
"Light My Fire" is a song by The Doors which was recorded in August 1966 and released the first week of January 1967 on the Doors' debut album. Released as a single in April, it spent three weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and one week on the Cash Box Top 100, nearly a year after...
," where a profanity was supposed to be uttered.
Single track listing
- "Rockin' the Suburbs" [Radio Edit]
- "Girl"
- "Make Me Mommy"
- "Rockin' the Suburbs" [Video]
Japanese EP:
- "Rockin' the Suburbs" [Radio Edit]
- "One Down"
- "Girl"
- "Make Me Mommy"
- "The Secret Life of Morgan Davis"
Music video
The music video for "Rockin' the Suburbs" was directed by friend "Weird Al" Yankovic"Weird Al" Yankovic
Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, accordionist, actor, comedian, writer, satirist, and parodist. Yankovic is known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts...
, who also plays the role of a producer who fixes Folds' "shitty track," directly riffing on one of the song's lyrics.
The video, which closely reflects the joke-heavy style of Yankovic's own videos, features Folds playing multiple members of an angry rock band in a suburban den and in front of a white background.
After the song's bridge, Folds is shown outside in a suburban neighborhood wearing a backwards red Yankees cap, the trademark of Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit is an American rock band from Jacksonville, Florida. Formed in 1995, the group's lineup consists of Fred Durst , Wes Borland , Sam Rivers , John Otto and DJ Lethal . The band achieved mainstream success with their second studio album Significant Other, released in 1999...
's Fred Durst
Fred Durst
William Frederick "Fred" Durst is an American musician, director, producer and actor, well known as the frontman of the band Limp Bizkit.-Early life:...
. During this part of the video, Folds does suburban things such as jumping in pools and flipping burgers.
Near the end of the video, Folds can be seen playing a keytar
Keytar
A keytar is a relatively lightweight keyboard that is supported by a strap around the neck and shoulders, similar to the way a guitar is supported by a strap. Keytars allow players a greater range of movement compared to conventional keyboards, which are placed on stands...
. On occasion, he also plays the keytar for live performances. The make and model he uses is a red Roland AX-1
Roland AX-1
The Roland AX-1 is a keytar ,produced by Roland, that does not produce its own sounds but controls other devices via MIDI....
.
At the end of the video, the "band" (all Ben again) plays in front of a black background with holes punched in it, a style that matches the live-action parts of the Korn
Korn
Korn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The current band line up includes four members: Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and Ray Luzier. The band was formed as an expansion of L.A.P.D.The band released their first demo album,...
video for "Freak on a Leash
Freak on a Leash
"Freak on a Leash" is a song by the American nu metal band Korn, featured on the group's 1998 studio album Follow the Leader. Prior to the album's release, Korn had an instrumental section of the song, described as a "noisy guitar break." The section was taken out of the song after their fans...
." A subliminal message reading "Korn Sucks" briefly appears.
Over The Hedge remake
In 2006, Folds rewrote this song for the animated movie Over the HedgeOver the Hedge (film)
Over the Hedge is a 2006 computer animated family action comedy film based on the characters from United Media comic strip of the same name. Directed by Tim Johnson and Karey Kirkpatrick, and produced by Bonnie Arnold, it was released in the United States on May 19, 2006.The film was produced by...
, with film co-star William Shatner
William Shatner
William Alan Shatner is a Canadian actor, musician, recording artist, and author. He gained worldwide fame and became a cultural icon for his portrayal of James T...
providing vocals during part of the song. Shatner does the voice for Ozzie the Opossum, who encourages his daughter (voice by Avril Lavigne
Avril Lavigne
Avril Ramona Lavigne is a Canadian singer-songwriter. She was born in Belleville, Ontario, but spent most of her youth in the small town of Napanee. By the age of 15, she had appeared on stage with Shania Twain; by 16, she had signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records worth more...
) to play dead in threatening situations.
While the new version features none of the swearing and parodies of the original, Folds makes some very pointed barbs at the concept of suburbia in the song, including jabs at homeowner associations and driving long distances to work.