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Ben Folds Five
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Artist · chart history

Ben Folds Five

Band Chapel Hill United States Active 1993–2023

Ben Folds Five formed in 1993 in Chapel Hill, United States and was active until 2023. Ben Folds Five has 205 chart appearances on 93 radio countdowns from 29 stations on RockLists, spanning 1996–2026. The most successful song on radio countdowns is “Brick”, which appears on 65 lists with a best position of #6. The station that charted Ben Folds Five most often is CD101 (Columbus, OH), with 78 appearances. The artist’s biggest year on year-end countdowns was 1998.

205appearances
93countdowns
20songs charted
29stations
0#1 finishes
1996–2026years

Ben Folds Five came together in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in 1993, and anybody counting the members got it wrong: there were only three. Ben Folds sang and pounded the piano, Robert Sledge played bass and Darren Jessee played drums, with both of them singing backup. In an era when rock meant guitars, the three of them made a piano trio sound as rowdy as a punk band.

The self-titled debut in 1995 set the tone with "Underground" and "Uncle Walter". Whatever and Ever Amen, in 1997, is the one that broke through: "Brick", a hushed, sorrowful ballad built around Folds's piano, picked up airplay on mainstream stations far beyond the college circuit, while "Song for the Dumped", "Battle of Who Could Care Less" and "One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces" showed off the other side of the band, bratty and loud and very funny. It's smart-aleck pop with real sadness underneath, and the harmonies are sweeter than any band this cheeky has a right to.

The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner followed in 1999, with "Army" and "Don't Change Your Plans" reaching for lusher, stranger arrangements. Across those first 7 years the band put out three studio records, a collection of B-sides and outtakes and 8 singles, and turned up on a string of soundtracks and compilations, before splitting in October 2000.

They got back together in 2011 and made The Sound of the Life of the Mind, with "Do It Anyway" and "Draw a Crowd", in 2012, then went their separate ways again. In July 2026 they announced a tour to support a 30th anniversary edition of the debut album.

Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.

Songs by Ben Folds Five on radio countdowns

#SongStrengthListsBest#1sPeak year
1 Brick
3,233		 65 #6 – 1998
2 Army
798		 18 #24 – 1999
3 Battle of Who Could Care Less
764		 28 #52 – 1997
4 Underground
698		 14 #3 – 1996
5 Song For The Dumped
548		 23 #38 – 1998
6 One Angry Dwarf And 200 Solemn Faces
478		 15 #12 – 1997
7 Do It Anyway
374		 6 #9 – 2012
8 Uncle Walter
326		 16 #23 – 1996
9 House
192		 3 #36 – 2011
10 The Sound of the Life of the Mind
93		 2 #565 – –
11 Kate
88		 3 #523 – –
12 Away When You Were Here
88		 1 #17 – 2013
13 Don't Change Your Plans
84		 2 #55 – 1999
14 Philosophy
45		 1 #500 – –
15 Magic
35		 2 #78 – 2000
16 Jackson Cannery
33		 1 #607 – –
17 Draw a Crowd
28		 1 #73 – 2012
18 Landed
24		 1 #683 – –
19 Julianne
16		 1 #769 – –
20 Tell Me What I Did
10		 1 #94 – 2011

Albums with charting songs

Where each song was first released, from MusicBrainz.

Year-end chart timeline

Combined year-end countdown points per year. Taller bars mean more songs placing higher across more stations.

96 97 98 99 00 11 12 13

Every countdown appearance

Year#SongCountdown
2026 907 Brick WYEP Greatest Songs of All Time
2025 236 Brick WFPK Top 500 Songs of the '90s
2024 272 Brick WYEP Best Songs of the Past 50 Years
2023 412 Song For The Dumped 105.9 The X July 420 (2023)
2023 557 Brick 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of All Time
2023 65 Brick The Current's 893 Essential Songs of the '90s
2023 150 Underground The Current's 893 Essential Songs of the '90s
2023 775 Uncle Walter The Current's 893 Essential Songs of the '90s
2022 385 Brick 105.9 The X July 420 (2022)
2022 1204 Brick WYEP Countdown to Fall 2022
2022 255 Army The Colorado Sound Top 900 Songs of the '90s
2022 504 Battle of Who Could Care Less The Colorado Sound Top 900 Songs of the '90s
2022 647 Kate The Colorado Sound Top 900 Songs of the '90s
2022 665 Underground The Colorado Sound Top 900 Songs of the '90s
2021 380 Brick 105.9 The X July 420 (2021)
2021 122 Brick 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '90s
2021 178 Battle of Who Could Care Less 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '90s
2021 267 Underground 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '90s
2021 440 Song For The Dumped 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '90s
2021 523 Kate 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '90s
2021 607 Jackson Cannery 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '90s
2021 698 Army 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '90s
2021 769 Julianne 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '90s
2021 801 Magic 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '90s
2020 292 Brick 105.9 The X July 420 (2020)
2019 565 The Sound of the Life of the Mind WYEP Labor Day Weekend Countdown 2019
2019 565 The Sound of the Life of the Mind WYEP Big Spring Countdown 2019
2019 786 Brick WYEP Labor Day Weekend Countdown 2019
2019 786 Brick WYEP Big Spring Countdown 2019
2018 646 Do It Anyway WTMD Listeners' Top 897 Songs, 2003-2018
2018 683 Landed WTMD Listeners' Top 897 Songs, 2003-2018
2016 213 Army WYEP 913 Countdown 2016
2016 500 Philosophy WYEP 913 Countdown 2016
2016 682 Brick WYEP 913 Countdown 2016
2014 892 Brick CD101 Top 2014 Songs of All-Time (2014)
2014 1239 Battle of Who Could Care Less CD101 Top 2014 Songs of All-Time (2014)
2014 1288 One Angry Dwarf And 200 Solemn Faces CD101 Top 2014 Songs of All-Time (2014)
2014 1419 Song For The Dumped CD101 Top 2014 Songs of All-Time (2014)
2014 1452 Army CD101 Top 2014 Songs of All-Time (2014)
2014 1816 Uncle Walter CD101 Top 2014 Songs of All-Time (2014)
2013 17 Away When You Were Here WBER Listener Countdown 2013
2013 858 Brick CD101 Top 2013 Songs of All-Time (December 2013)
2013 1205 Battle of Who Could Care Less CD101 Top 2013 Songs of All-Time (December 2013)
2013 1252 One Angry Dwarf And 200 Solemn Faces CD101 Top 2013 Songs of All-Time (December 2013)
2013 1393 Song For The Dumped CD101 Top 2013 Songs of All-Time (December 2013)
2013 1417 Army CD101 Top 2013 Songs of All-Time (December 2013)
2013 1750 Uncle Walter CD101 Top 2013 Songs of All-Time (December 2013)
2013 34 Brick Triple J Hottest 100 of the Past 20 Years (2013)
2012 9 Do It Anyway WTMD Top 89 Songs of 2012
2012 9 (tie) Do It Anyway WBER Listener Countdown 2012
2012 27 Do It Anyway WXPN Year in Review: Top 200 Songs of 2012
2012 32 Do It Anyway The Current Top 89 Songs of 2012
2012 54 House WBER Listener Countdown 2012
2012 99 Do It Anyway WXPK Top 107 Songs of 2012
2012 73 Draw a Crowd Triple J Hottest 100 of 2012
2012 252 Brick WYEP Top 500 Songs Countdown
2011 36 House WXPN Year in Review: Top 100 Songs of 2011
2011 37 (tie) House WBER Listener Countdown 2011
2011 94 Tell Me What I Did WEQX Top 102.7 of 2011
2011 843 Brick CD101 Top 2012 Songs of All-Time (December 2011)
2011 1205 One Angry Dwarf And 200 Solemn Faces CD101 Top 2012 Songs of All-Time (December 2011)
2011 1209 Battle of Who Could Care Less CD101 Top 2012 Songs of All-Time (December 2011)
2011 1360 Song For The Dumped CD101 Top 2012 Songs of All-Time (December 2011)
2011 1442 Army CD101 Top 2012 Songs of All-Time (December 2011)
2011 1677 Uncle Walter CD101 Top 2012 Songs of All-Time (December 2011)
2010 814 Brick CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010)
2010 1165 One Angry Dwarf And 200 Solemn Faces CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010)
2010 1167 Battle of Who Could Care Less CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010)
2010 1309 Song For The Dumped CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010)
2010 1377 Army CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010)
2010 1608 Uncle Walter CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010)
2009 831 Brick CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009)
2009 1128 One Angry Dwarf And 200 Solemn Faces CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009)
2009 1130 Battle of Who Could Care Less CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009)
2009 1271 Song For The Dumped CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009)
2009 1345 Army CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009)
2009 1576 Uncle Walter CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009)
2009 230 Brick WYEP 913 Essential Songs
2009 380 Army WYEP 913 Essential Songs
2009 754 Kate WYEP 913 Essential Songs
2009 67 Brick Triple J Hottest 100 of All-Time (2009)
2009 267 Brick WXPN 885 Desert Island Songs (2009)
2008 861 Brick CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008)
2008 1108 Battle of Who Could Care Less CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008)
2008 1114 One Angry Dwarf And 200 Solemn Faces CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008)
2008 1254 Song For The Dumped CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008)
2008 1323 Army CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008)
2008 1553 Uncle Walter CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008)
2007 864 Brick CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007)
2007 1017 Battle of Who Could Care Less CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007)
2007 1022 One Angry Dwarf And 200 Solemn Faces CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007)
2007 1188 Song For The Dumped CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007)
2007 1299 Army CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007)
2007 1556 Uncle Walter CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007)
2005 476 Brick CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005)
2005 1634 Battle of Who Could Care Less CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005)
2005 1682 Uncle Walter CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005)
2005 1720 One Angry Dwarf And 200 Solemn Faces CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005)
2005 1851 Song For The Dumped CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005)
2005 352 Army 99X Freedom of Choice 1000 (2005)
2005 765 Brick 99X Freedom of Choice 1000 (2005)
2005 870 Song For The Dumped 99X Freedom of Choice 1000 (2005)
2005 924 Underground 99X Freedom of Choice 1000 (2005)
2005 84 Brick 96.5 The Buzz Top 96 of the 90s
2004 242 Brick The End Original Alternative 500 (May 2004)
2004 477 Brick CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)
2004 1635 Battle of Who Could Care Less CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)
2004 1684 Uncle Walter CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)
2004 1719 One Angry Dwarf And 200 Solemn Faces CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)
2004 1864 Song For The Dumped CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)
2003 356 Underground WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2003)
2003 466 Brick WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2003)
2003 496 Battle of Who Could Care Less WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2003)
2003 477 Brick CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003)
2003 1635 Battle of Who Could Care Less CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003)
2003 1684 Uncle Walter CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003)
2003 1719 One Angry Dwarf And 200 Solemn Faces CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003)
2003 1862 Song For The Dumped CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003)
2002 298 Underground WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2002)
2002 428 Battle of Who Could Care Less WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2002)
2002 488 Brick WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2002)
2002 477 Brick CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002)
2002 1648 Battle of Who Could Care Less CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002)
2002 1699 Uncle Walter CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002)
2002 1736 One Angry Dwarf And 200 Solemn Faces CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002)
2002 1902 Song For The Dumped CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002)
2001 137 Underground WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2001)
2001 343 Battle of Who Could Care Less WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2001)
2001 425 Brick WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2001)
2001 477 Brick CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2001 1656 Battle of Who Could Care Less CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2001 1707 Uncle Walter CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2001 1746 One Angry Dwarf And 200 Solemn Faces CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2001 1917 Song For The Dumped CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2001 1619 Battle of Who Could Care Less WFPK 2001 Greatest Songs of All Time
2001 169 Underground WBRU Modern Rock Top 500 (2001)
2000 78 Magic WBER Listener Countdown 2000
2000 135 Underground WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2000)
2000 343 Battle of Who Could Care Less WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2000)
2000 424 Brick WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2000)
2000 467 Brick CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000)
2000 1656 Battle of Who Could Care Less CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000)
2000 1707 Uncle Walter CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000)
2000 1746 One Angry Dwarf And 200 Solemn Faces CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000)
2000 1918 Song For The Dumped CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000)
2000 2000 Army CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000)
1999 34 Army 91X Top 91 Songs of 1999
1999 58 Don't Change Your Plans 91X Top 91 Songs of 1999
1999 24 Army WBER Listener Countdown 1999
1999 31 Army WEQX Top 102.7 of 1999
1999 55 Don't Change Your Plans WBER Listener Countdown 1999
1999 51 Army Triple J Hottest 100 of 1999
1999 84 Army Radio & Records Top 104 Songs of 1999
1999 105 Brick 91X Fat 500 Songs of All-Time (July 1999)
1999 115 Brick 91X Fat 500 Songs of All-Time (July 1999)
1999 160 Brick Q101 Top 1,011 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999 677 Battle of Who Could Care Less Q101 Top 1,011 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999 864 Underground Q101 Top 1,011 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999 402 Brick WFNX Top 500 Songs of All-Time (June 1999)
1999 423 Brick The End Top 1077 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999 178 Underground WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1999)
1999 418 Brick WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1999)
1999 467 Brick CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999 1656 Battle of Who Could Care Less CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999 1707 Uncle Walter CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999 1746 One Angry Dwarf And 200 Solemn Faces CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999 1922 Song For The Dumped CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999 220 Brick CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999)
1999 998 Battle of Who Could Care Less CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999)
1999 323 Brick WHFS Top 500 Songs of the '90s (December 1999)
1998 85 Brick KROQ Top 106.7 Songs of 1998
1998 59 Brick 91X Top 91 Songs of 1998
1998 37 Brick Live 105 Top 105.3 Songs of 1998
1998 56 Brick Q101 Top 101 Songs of 1998
1998 80 Song For The Dumped Q101 Top 101 Songs of 1998
1998 29 Brick WHFS Top 99.1 Songs of 1998
1998 76 Song For The Dumped WFNX Top 101.7 Songs of 1998
1998 84 Brick The End Top 107 Songs of 1998
1998 38 Song For The Dumped WBER Listener Countdown 1998
1998 44 Brick WEQX Top 102.7 of 1998
1998 49 Brick DC101 Top 101 Songs of 1998
1998 90 Song For The Dumped WEQX Top 102.7 of 1998
1998 12 Brick Triple J Hottest 100 of 1998
1998 40 Song For The Dumped Triple J Hottest 100 of 1998
1998 29 Brick Radio & Records Top 103 Songs of 1998
1998 90 Song For The Dumped Radio & Records Top 103 Songs of 1998
1998 32 Brick Triple J Hottest 100 of All-Time (1998)
1998 52 Underground Triple J Hottest 100 of All-Time (1998)
1997 85 Brick KROQ Top 106.7 Songs of 1997
1997 73 Brick Q101 Top 101 Songs of 1997
1997 92 Battle of Who Could Care Less Q101 Top 101 Songs of 1997
1997 84 Brick WHFS Top 99.1 Songs of 1997
1997 41 Brick The End Top 107 Songs of 1997
1997 96 Battle of Who Could Care Less The End Top 107 Songs of 1997
1997 6 Brick WBER Listener Countdown 1997
1997 52 Battle of Who Could Care Less WBER Listener Countdown 1997
1997 57 Brick WEQX Top 102.7 of 1997
1997 71 Brick KNRK Top 94 Songs of 1997
1997 95 Battle of Who Could Care Less WEQX Top 102.7 of 1997
1997 12 One Angry Dwarf And 200 Solemn Faces Triple J Hottest 100 of 1997
1997 94 Battle of Who Could Care Less Radio & Records Top 97 Songs of 1997
1996 23 Uncle Walter WBER Listener Countdown 1996
1996 3 Underground Triple J Hottest 100 of 1996
1996 495 Underground WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1996)
– 85 Brick CRNC Top 90.1 Songs of the '90s

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