Battle of Who Could Care Less

Album: Whatever and Ever Amen (1997)
Charted: 26
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Written by Ben Folds to be the lead single off Whatever And Ever Amen, this piano-driven tune was based on the lacklustre slacker lifestyle the band encountered at the time in their North Carolina home base. Bassist Robert Sledge told Sodajerker On Songwriting podcast, "With 'The Battle Of Who Could Care Less,' that was about the attitude in Chapel Hill, like it's a competition who can be cooler and more indifferent. That was definitely a shared frustration between the band because like for me, I'm always striving to play really well and expand myself, but that's just not cool, at all."
  • The song achieved Ben Folds Five's joint highest UK chart position of #26 (along with "Brick"). It was helped by a comedic video directed by Norwood Cheek.
  • The Whatever and Ever Amen album title came from a line in this song.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Oliver Leiber

Oliver LeiberSongwriter Interviews

Oliver Leiber talks about writing and producing hits for Paula Abdul, and explains his complicated relationship with his father, the songwriter Jerry Leiber.

Harry Shearer

Harry ShearerSongwriter Interviews

Harry is Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap, Mark Shubb in The Folksmen, and Mr. Burns on The Simpsons.

Don Dokken

Don DokkenSongwriter Interviews

Dokken frontman Don Dokken explains what broke up the band at the height of their success in the late '80s, and talks about the botched surgery that paralyzed his right arm.

Gene Simmons of Kiss

Gene Simmons of KissSongwriter Interviews

The Kiss rocker covers a lot of ground in this interview, including why there are no Kiss collaborations, and why the Rock Hall has "become a sham."

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.