Acclaimed '90s Singer-Songwriter Makes Bold Political Statement With Surprise Album Release
is celebrating the Fourth of July with a bang!
The acclaimed singer-songwriter dropped a surprise release, Ben Folds Live with the National Symphony Orchestra, recorded at his sold-out concert at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., on Friday, July 4.
🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬
A few months after the concert, Folds publicly resigned from his position as the first-ever artistic advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) following 's decision to take over the Kennedy Center.
Folds spent eight years as the National Symphony Orchestra's artistic advisor, but opted to resign at 1:59 p.m. ET on Feb. 12, 2023—exactly one minute after Trump's regime change at the Kennedy Center took place.
'I had my statement up by 2:01,' Folds said in an interview with , nationally syndicated radio host at WFPK-FM Louisville. 'The takeover was at 2. I wanted no part of what was coming.'
'We weren't using the orchestra as props,' Folds added. 'We were challenging them to bring new music to life, while giving the orchestra a one-size-fits-all role. Our experimentation was a beacon for other orchestras throughout the private sector.'
Ben Folds Live with the National Symphony Orchestra serves as a document of Folds' time at the Kennedy Center working with the National Symphony Orchestra and includes such old favorites as 'Still Fighting It,' reworked with a full orchestral introduction.
'It works because it's not pretending to be something else,' Folds said. 'It's using the orchestra as it should be used. To elevate, not decorate.'
The album includes a guest appearance by Folds' old friend on the duet 'You Don't Know Me,' as well as the song 'Capable of Anything,' with a bridge orchestrated by Jherek Bischoff, which Folds has called a warning shot.
'We're all capable of terrible things,' Folds said. 'But we're also capable of doing better. That's the choice.'
In the wake of what's happened at the Kennedy Center, Folds said Ben Folds Live with the National Symphony Orchestra takes on added weight and importance.'This album suddenly now feels much bigger,' Folds said. 'I knew we were making something special with the NSO. I didn't know it'd be a time capsule of the last moment before it all got torn down.
'I still believe there's more good than not,' he added. 'But you must work for it. You have to say something. Especially now.'
Folds announced the release of the album on Instagram, much to the support of his fans.
'You made the right choice at the right time. Until Trump is gone, the arts aren't safe. Can't wait to hear the new album!' one wrote.
However, some also questioned the move.
'Brother, I wish you well. But, this is a rather cliche move. Could have been a stronger and more effectual [sic] voice had you stayed. Now you're just another artist stomping off.'
Acclaimed '90s Singer-Songwriter Makes Bold Political Statement With Surprise Album Release first appeared on Parade on Jul 4, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Today's Quordle Hints (and Answer) for Thursday, July 10, 2025
If you're looking for the Quordle answer for Thursday, July 10, 2025, read on—I'll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solution. Beware, there are spoilers below for July 10, Quordle #1263! Keep scrolling if you want some hints (and then the answer) to today's Quordle game. (If you play Wordle, Connections, and Strands, check out our hints for those games, too.) How to play Quordle Quordle lives on the Merriam-Webster website. A new puzzle goes live every day. If you've never played, it's a twist on The New York Times' daily Wordle game, in which you have a limited number of attempts to guess a five-letter mystery word. In Quordle, though, you're simultaneously solving four Wordle-style puzzles, and each of your guesses gets applied to the four puzzles simultaneously. Due to the increased difficulty, Quordle grants you nine guesses (12 if you play on 'Chill' mode, or eight if you play on 'Extreme'), rather than Wordle's six. To start, guess a five-letter word. The letters of the word in each of the four quadrants will turn green if they're correct, yellow if you have the right letter in the wrong place, or gray if the letter isn't in that secret word at all. Ready for the hints? Let's go! Can you give me a hint for today's Quordle? Upper left: A religious symbol. Upper right: It spins around and around. Lower left: Hit Ctrl + Z. Lower right: Currency word. Does today's Quordle have any double or repeated letters? Upper left: Yes, a double consonant. Upper right: Yes, a double vowel. Lower left: Yes, a repeated consonant. Lower right: Yes, a repeated vowel. What letters do today's Quordle words start with? Upper left: C Upper right: W Lower left: U Lower right: P What letters do today's Quordle words end with? Upper left: S Upper right: L Lower left: D Lower right: E What is the solution to today's Quordle? Upper left: CROSS Upper right: WHEEL Lower left: UNDID Lower right: PENCE How I solved today's Quordle My starter words, SLATE and MOUND, give me mostly yellows today. I'll try CHIRP to get some more common letters on the board. All right, getting a little closer. Maybe CROSS for the upper left. Yes! Maybe WHEEL for the upper right? Yep. Two in a row. I think the bottom right is probably PENCE. Three down. The bottom left might be UNDID. Wow, a hot streak. The best starter words for Quordle What should you play for that first guess? We can look to Wordle for some general guidelines. The best starters tend to contain common letters, to increase the chances of getting yellow and green squares to guide your guessing. (And if you get all grays when guessing common letters, that's still excellent information to help you rule out possibilities.) There isn't a single 'best' starting word, but The New York Times's Wordle analysis bot has suggested starting with one of these: CRANE TRACE SLANT CRATE CARTE Meanwhile, an MIT analysis found that you'll eliminate the most possibilities in the first round by starting with one of these: SALET REAST TRACE CRATE SLATE Other good picks might be ARISE or ROUND. Words like ADIEU and AUDIO get more vowels in play, but you could argue that it's better to start with an emphasis on consonants, using a starter like RENTS or CLAMP. Choose your strategy, and see how it plays out.
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
LeBron James Never Discussed Viral Moment With Former Lakers Teammate
LeBron James Never Discussed Viral Moment With Former Lakers Teammate originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James and former teammate Lance Stephenson have one of the most notable relationships in modern-day basketball. Advertisement The pair faced off against one another in the postseason for three straight seasons from 2012-14, when James played for the Miami Heat and Stephenson was a member of the Indiana Pacers. Each series was as hard-fought and tough as you can imagine, despite Miami winning all three. Furthermore, during Game 5 of the 2014 Eastern Conference finals, Stephenson decided to increase the pressure by blowing in James' ear as they stood next to each other after an intense game full of smack talk from both sides. The moment would go viral and be remembered as one of the more iconic playoff memories for both players. However, James and Stephenson ultimately became teammates during the 2018-19 season with the Lakers, leading some fans to wonder if they ever discussed the iconic moment. But Stephenson shut down the speculation during an interview with CBS Sports reporter Ashley Nicole Moss. 'It was crazy because no one ever brought it up or talked about it,' Stephenson said. 'We just stuck to winning games and getting to know each other.' Advertisement Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) brings the ball up court© Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Despite never discussing the incident, Stephenson claimed he decided to blow in James' ear to throw him off his game. 'You know LeBron is strong and athletic, so I was trying a lot of things to get him to not focus so we could win the game,' he admitted. Stephenson's antics ended up working in the Pacers' favor that night as they defeated Miami to send the series to Game 6. 'But I was trying to frustrate him and do whatever it takes to win,' he continued. Related: LeBron James' Behavior During Son's Graduation Day is Going Viral This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Bam Adebayo Sends Awkward Message After Duncan Robinson Trade
Bam Adebayo Sends Awkward Message After Duncan Robinson Trade originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo took to Instagram with a bittersweet reaction following the team's trade of sharpshooter Duncan Robinson to the Detroit Pistons, leaving fans both amused and puzzled. Advertisement The trade, finalized on Monday, sent Robinson to the Pistons in exchange for Italian sharpshooter Simone Fontecchio, marking the end of his six-year stint with the Heat. Posted from his official account @bam1of1, the story features a graphic from @miamiheat celebrating Robinson's tenure, showcasing him in action wearing jersey number 55. The image, overlaid with 'THANK YOU DUNCAN,' captures his iconic moments with the Heat, including mid-air shots and passionate celebrations. However, Adebayo's caption, 'Smh I can't yell at him no more lol ,' paired with a crying emoji, adds an awkward yet humorous twist, hinting at their on-court dynamic. Advertisement Miami Heat Power Foward Bam Adebayo responds to the departure of Duncan Robinson to the Detroit As a key contributor to the Heat's 2020 and 2023 NBA Finals runs against the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets, Robinson's departure leaves a void, and Adebayo's post suggests a mix of relief and nostalgia. The 'yell at him' quip likely nods to their competitive practices, where Adebayo, a defensive anchor, might have pushed Robinson, the offensive specialist, to elevate his game. This moment underscores the emotional undercurrents of NBA trades, blending professional respect with personal bonds. As the Heat pivot into a new era, Adebayo's lighthearted farewell hints at the challenges of moving on. Advertisement The Heat's recent acquisition to fill the void left by Robinson's departure, Norman Powell, could potentially become Adebayo's new sparring partner. Related: Duncan Robinson Bids Emotional Farewell to Heat Fans Following Pistons Trade This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
