Ben Folds Five, Brick | 1 Hit WONDERful

In the 12^th edition of 1 Hit WONDERful (2026), we highlight “Brick” by the alternative trio,  Ben Folds Five.

 

It only takes ONE hit to solidify a musical legacy 💯! On 1 Hit WONDERful, we highlight songs that were the SOLE hit by a given musician.  It is possible that the artists appearing on this list earned a minor hit or two, BUT for the most part, that ONE hit earned them recognition. So, in the 12^th edition of 1 Hit WONDERful (2026), we dive into “Brick”, the one-hit wonder by Ben Folds Five.

Uh-oh… This sounds emotionally draining, Ben Folds Five. The trio, comprised of Ben Folds (b. 1966), Darren Jessee (b. 1971), and Robert Sledge (b. 1968), earned one hit during their career: “Brick”. “Brick” is the third track from the collective’s 1997 album, Whatever And Ever Amen.  It charted on four charts: Billboard Adult Pop Airplay, Alternative Airplay, Pop Airplay, and Radio Songs charts.  It didn’t reach the Billboard Hot 100, but its success undoubtedly helped Whatever And Ever Amen earn platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. Folds and Jessee composed “Brick.” Folds and Caleb Southern produced it.

“Brick” begins exceptionally with Folds’ rhythmic piano lines, a slice of heaven.  His keyboard skills mark one of the brightest spots of the record. His riffs, chords, and ostinatos slay! Beyond slaying while tickling the ivories, Folds’s vocal performance is poised, smooth, and radiant, specifically during the verses. After setting the tone with keys and vocals, the bass (Robert Sledge, who uses the bow, at times) and drums (Darren Jessee) enter the mix.  They up the ante in the sophisticated arrangement, enhancing the color. The melodies that Ben brings to life are lovely, while the theme, lyrics, and narrative are striking and heavy. What makes it heavy and emotional is the fact that the song is about having an abortion.  They do this in secret after Christmas (“Her mom and dad went down to Charlotte / They’re not home to find us out”), and the boyfriend is nervous (“I pace around the parking lot /… And sell some gifts that I got”).  In the pre-chorus, the perspective switches: “Can’t you see / It’s not me you’re dying for? / Now she’s feeling more alone / Than she has before.” During the chorus, Folds digs in more, showcasing the power and ripeness of his upper register.  Per Ben:

“She’s a brick, and I’m drowning slowly

Off the coast, and I’m headed nowhere

She’s a brick, and I’m drowning slowly.”

What more can you say but, damn! On the bridge, Ben’s parents encourage him and his soon-to-be ex-girlfriend to tell her parents about what happened.  In the fourth and final verse, they’re both in an emotional place due to this monumental life event. “Brick” is a meaningful and memorable gem from Ben Folds Five. They’d never strike gold again, but this one song is incredibly impactful and never grows old.  Abortion is rarely covered in music, but “Brick” does so meaningfully without ever explicitly mentioning it.

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Ben Folds Five » Whatever And Ever Amen » SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT » 1997

Ben Folds Five, Brick: 1 Hit WONDERful No. 12 (2026) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT; Alexa Popovich, cottonbro studio, ds rexy, Thomas Ronveaux from Pexels; Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Gordon Johnson from Pixabay]

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