Rock This Bitch
Encyclopedia
"Rock This Bitch" is a series of improv
isational songs that have been performed live by the pianist Ben Folds
.
on 3 October 2001 when a fan shouted "Rock This Bitch!" at Folds, who then proceeded to improvise a song; "I'll tell you what I'm gonna do, I'm gonna rock this bitch". This song became well-known amongst fans after "Rock This Bitch" was released on the 2002 live album Ben Folds Live
and fans began to request it at every show.
Over the years, a large number of different versions of this song have been performed covering a whole array of musical styles. The joke eventually wore out on Folds, and he temporarily retired the song after performing it with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra
in Perth
, as seen on the Ben Folds and WASO live DVD (December 2005). Because of the nature of the performance, Folds had to shout out the chord changes during the song, leaving the orchestra members somewhat confused, although several musicians provided improvised solos.
's song "Piano Man
."
In his performance with the Sydney Symphony in the Sydney Opera House
on September 7, 2006, Folds compared the recently-deceased Steve Irwin
to nature photographer Ansel Adams
, and agreed to play Rock This Bitch in tribute to him.
Rock This Bitch has made occasional appearances during shows since, sometimes without prompting.
on February 6, 2007, Ben played a version which included the story of astronaut Lisa Nowak
, who drove 900 miles in diapers to kidnap her rival for the affections of fellow astronaut William Oefelein
. Subsequent versions have referenced current events of the time, including the death of Anna Nicole Smith
. The story of Lisa Nowak was later referenced in the song "Cologne" on Folds' 2008 album Way to Normal.
One of his most distinctive versions of the song was played at the Rochester Institute of Technology
, a college with a high percentage of students who are deaf or hard of hearing. As there is a sign language
interpreter at nearly every event, Ben asked the interpreter on hand to repeatedly swear in sign language. It led to an all-silent rendition of the song, with the band miming out playing their instruments while the audience imitated the interpreter.
The song was again supposedly retired at Bonnaroo in 2008. However, on the bonus CD 'I Made It Up On Stage' that accompanied the super-deluxe version of the 2008 release 'Way to Normal
', several references to the song are included, with one of the improvised songs entitled 'Rockit Digitally' which consists of a single-note electronic version of the song.
In May, 2009, at a show in Seattle, WA, Folds improvised a song about his hometown after a fan shouted "Yeah, Chapel Hill!". Throughout the song, fans continued to request "Rock This Bitch", until he finally completely shifted the style of the song and went on to sing about all the places in the world he had "rocked this bitch".
On October 31, 2009, playing with the Minnesota Orchestra
, Folds initially declined to play the song when it was requested because he and the Orchestra had "worked very hard" but proceeded to play the song at the end of the show as Orchestra members were leaving the stage. It included many references to Halloween and the costumes of people in the crowd.
On February 13, 2010 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, fans shouted "Rock this bitch!" towards the end of the show and Folds went on to explain to the orchestra the basics of Rock this Bitch. The Orchestra played for about 30 seconds before union rules required them to stop playing and leave the stage. Folds' song initially began talking about union rules and then switched over to a story about him and a friend climbing Mount Washington when they were bored.
On July 20, 2011, at the House of Blues
in Anaheim
, California
, Folds improvised a song directed at an "apologetic heckler" at the back of the room, which segued into a version of "Rock This Bitch" that told a story of how William Shatner
once took a limousine all the way down to Anaheim for dinner with Folds because he "liked the heirloom tomatoes," and how they then went to Disneyland, where all the attractions were closed, which "did not mean a fucking thing" to Shatner, who then used his fame to convince Disneyland to open all the rides for himself and Folds to enjoy.
Improvisational theatre
Improvisational theatre takes many forms. It is best known as improv or impro, which is often comedic, and sometimes poignant or dramatic. In this popular, often topical art form improvisational actors/improvisers use improvisational acting techniques to perform spontaneously...
isational songs that have been performed live by the pianist Ben Folds
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...
.
History
The song originated from a show at the Vic Theatre, ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
on 3 October 2001 when a fan shouted "Rock This Bitch!" at Folds, who then proceeded to improvise a song; "I'll tell you what I'm gonna do, I'm gonna rock this bitch". This song became well-known amongst fans after "Rock This Bitch" was released on the 2002 live album Ben Folds Live
Ben Folds Live
Ben Folds Live is a live album by Ben Folds, released in 2002 .This album marked the first official release of the classic Ben Folds live routine, "Rock This Bitch", which he went on to perform at least 60 more times since, including on the releases Songs for Goldfish and on the Live in Perth DVD...
and fans began to request it at every show.
Over the years, a large number of different versions of this song have been performed covering a whole array of musical styles. The joke eventually wore out on Folds, and he temporarily retired the song after performing it with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra
West Australian Symphony Orchestra
The West Australian Symphony Orchestra , often known as the "Orchestra of the West", is the premier professional orchestra of the state of Western Australia.-History:...
in Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, as seen on the Ben Folds and WASO live DVD (December 2005). Because of the nature of the performance, Folds had to shout out the chord changes during the song, leaving the orchestra members somewhat confused, although several musicians provided improvised solos.
Semi-retirement
In early 2006, Folds stated that he was tired of playing Rock This Bitch, and ignored requests for some time. At a concert in Milwaukee on March 12, 2006 he declined to "rock this bitch" and instead played a humorously vulgar improvisation of Billy JoelBilly Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
's song "Piano Man
Piano Man (song)
"Piano Man" was Billy Joel's first major hit and his signature song. "Piano Man" was released as a single in November 1st, 1973 and has been on several albums...
."
In his performance with the Sydney Symphony in the Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
on September 7, 2006, Folds compared the recently-deceased Steve Irwin
Steve Irwin
Stephen Robert "Steve" Irwin , nicknamed "The Crocodile Hunter", was an Australian television personality, wildlife expert, and conservationist. Irwin achieved worldwide fame from the television series The Crocodile Hunter, an internationally broadcast wildlife documentary series which he co-hosted...
to nature photographer Ansel Adams
Ansel Adams
Ansel Easton Adams was an American photographer and environmentalist, best known for his black-and-white photographs of the American West, especially in Yosemite National Park....
, and agreed to play Rock This Bitch in tribute to him.
Rock This Bitch has made occasional appearances during shows since, sometimes without prompting.
Notable versions
At a show in CologneCologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
on February 6, 2007, Ben played a version which included the story of astronaut Lisa Nowak
Lisa Nowak
Lisa Marie Nowak is a former American naval flight officer and NASA astronaut. Born in Washington, D.C., she was selected by NASA in 1996 and qualified as a mission specialist in robotics...
, who drove 900 miles in diapers to kidnap her rival for the affections of fellow astronaut William Oefelein
William Oefelein
William Anthony "Bill" Oefelein is an American businessman and a former test pilot instructor, naval officer and NASA astronaut who, on his only spaceflight, piloted the STS-116 Space Shuttle mission....
. Subsequent versions have referenced current events of the time, including the death of Anna Nicole Smith
Anna Nicole Smith
In 1992 Smith was chosen by Hugh Hefner to appear on the cover of the March issue of Playboy, where she was listed as Vickie Smith, wearing a low-cut evening gown. The centerfold was photographed by Stephen Wayda. Smith said she planned to be "the next Marilyn Monroe". Becoming one of Playboys...
. The story of Lisa Nowak was later referenced in the song "Cologne" on Folds' 2008 album Way to Normal.
One of his most distinctive versions of the song was played at the Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology
The Rochester Institute of Technology is a private university, located within the town of Henrietta in metropolitan Rochester, New York, United States...
, a college with a high percentage of students who are deaf or hard of hearing. As there is a sign language
Sign language
A sign language is a language which, instead of acoustically conveyed sound patterns, uses visually transmitted sign patterns to convey meaning—simultaneously combining hand shapes, orientation and movement of the hands, arms or body, and facial expressions to fluidly express a speaker's...
interpreter at nearly every event, Ben asked the interpreter on hand to repeatedly swear in sign language. It led to an all-silent rendition of the song, with the band miming out playing their instruments while the audience imitated the interpreter.
The song was again supposedly retired at Bonnaroo in 2008. However, on the bonus CD 'I Made It Up On Stage' that accompanied the super-deluxe version of the 2008 release 'Way to Normal
Way to Normal
Way to Normal is a 2008 studio album by Ben Folds. It was released on 30 September 2008 in the United States and on 29 September 2008 in the United Kingdom...
', several references to the song are included, with one of the improvised songs entitled 'Rockit Digitally' which consists of a single-note electronic version of the song.
In May, 2009, at a show in Seattle, WA, Folds improvised a song about his hometown after a fan shouted "Yeah, Chapel Hill!". Throughout the song, fans continued to request "Rock This Bitch", until he finally completely shifted the style of the song and went on to sing about all the places in the world he had "rocked this bitch".
On October 31, 2009, playing with the Minnesota Orchestra
Minnesota Orchestra
The Minnesota Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.Emil Oberhoffer founded the orchestra as the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1903, and it gave its first performance on November 5 of that year. In 1968 the orchestra changed to its name to the Minnesota Orchestra...
, Folds initially declined to play the song when it was requested because he and the Orchestra had "worked very hard" but proceeded to play the song at the end of the show as Orchestra members were leaving the stage. It included many references to Halloween and the costumes of people in the crowd.
On February 13, 2010 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, fans shouted "Rock this bitch!" towards the end of the show and Folds went on to explain to the orchestra the basics of Rock this Bitch. The Orchestra played for about 30 seconds before union rules required them to stop playing and leave the stage. Folds' song initially began talking about union rules and then switched over to a story about him and a friend climbing Mount Washington when they were bored.
On July 20, 2011, at the House of Blues
House of Blues
House of Blues is a chain of 13 live music concert halls and restaurants in major markets throughout the United States. House of Blues first location was in Cambridge's Harvard Square. It was opened in 1992 by Isaac Tigrett, co-founder of Hard Rock Cafe, and Dan Aykroyd, star of The Blues Brothers...
in Anaheim
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Folds improvised a song directed at an "apologetic heckler" at the back of the room, which segued into a version of "Rock This Bitch" that told a story of how 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...
once took a limousine all the way down to Anaheim for dinner with Folds because he "liked the heirloom tomatoes," and how they then went to Disneyland, where all the attractions were closed, which "did not mean a fucking thing" to Shatner, who then used his fame to convince Disneyland to open all the rides for himself and Folds to enjoy.