Phone in a Pool

"Phone in a Pool"
Single by Ben Folds and yMusic
from the album So There
Released	2015
Recorded	2014
Genre	Rock
Length	4:04
Label	New West Records
Songwriter(s)	Ben Folds
Ben Folds singles chronology
"From Above" (2010) "Phone in a Pool" (2015) "Mister Peepers" (2018)

"Phone in a Pool" was the first single from Ben Folds' 2015 album So There.[1][2][3] It reached number 28 on the Billboard Triple-A (adult album alternative) chart in 2015. He debuted the song at Bonnaroo in June 2015.[4]

The song is about how Folds was frustrated with his phone - and the expectations others had of their access to him - so much so that he threw it into the pool at the Sunset Marquis in West Hollywood. To his surprise, Kesha was there and tried to help him by fishing it out, but to no avail - the phone didn't survive the swim. Kesha developed bronchitis the next day.[5][6][7]

"Phone in a Pool" was featured in Folds' appearance on NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts on February 16, 2016.[8][9]

Chart history

Chart (2015)	Peak position
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[10]	28

References

1. Waters, Brian (2015-08-18). "Ben Folds debuts "Phone in a Pool"". Lightning 100. Retrieved 2025-01-21.
2. "Ben Folds shares new single with yMusic, "Phone in a Pool" -- listen". Consequence. 2015-07-16. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
3. Passey, Brian (2015-09-21). "Ben Folds composes a concerto; proves his genius". The Spectrum. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
4. Rettig, James (2015-07-16). "Ben Folds – "Phone In A Pool"". Stereogum. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
5. Bacher, Danielle (2015-09-10). "Ben Folds Talks New Orchestral LP: 'I Want to Piss in Your Yard With This Record'". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-01-21.
6. Tady, Scott (2024-06-13). "People & paper everywhere as Ben Folds entertains arts festival crowd". The Beaver County Times. Archived from the original on 2024-06-13. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
7. Grant, Sarah (2016-05-24). "Ben Folds on Kesha: 'She's the Real Deal'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
8. Boilen, Bob (2016-02-16). "Ben Folds: Tiny Desk Concert". NPR. Retrieved 2025-01-21.
9. Jung, E. Alex; York, a features writer at New; Vulture (2016-02-16). "Ben Folds Does a Tiny Desk Concert and Forgets His Lyrics, Like the Cute Curmudgeon He Is". Vulture. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
10. "Ben Folds Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-01-22.