The Ting Tings may be best known for their iPod commercial song "Shut Up And Let me Go" or it's kung fu meets White Stripes video, but I also loved "That's Not My Name" from their debut disc We Started Nothing. It even landed at number 55 on my top 100 songs of 2008. So I was very excited to see that song released as a US single, with a trippy video.
The sound is thumping bass lines and a cheer along chorus, but the video is crazy after hours fun. Dancing in the dark with glow-in-the-dark-painted people carrying signs with lead singer Katie's not my names, the duo apes the glossy look of late-nineties urban pop videos while retaining an indie shine. Watch:
Showing posts with label The Ting Tings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Ting Tings. Show all posts
Monday, January 26, 2009
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Review: The Ting Tings - "We Started Nothing"
Think classic White Stripes with a chick singer. That raw, riveting bass 'n' drum kick, perfect for quick cuts in iPod commercials. With plenty of beats to spare, The Ting Tings don't really need anything else, right?
With various other alternative bands as influence, We Started Nothing reads like a greatest hits of college rock. Ripping off Nirvana for the guitar riff on the opening of the title track, Spoon for background vocals at the end of "That's Not My Name" and Chic (OK, not an alternative band!) for the beat on the VMA-nominated "Shut Up And Let Me Go" is a great way to keep me entertained, though. They should skip the attempts at slow jams like "Traffic Light" that quickly turn mawkish. But the album does have a couple of few funky-fresh tracks to throw on your next party play list.
With various other alternative bands as influence, We Started Nothing reads like a greatest hits of college rock. Ripping off Nirvana for the guitar riff on the opening of the title track, Spoon for background vocals at the end of "That's Not My Name" and Chic (OK, not an alternative band!) for the beat on the VMA-nominated "Shut Up And Let Me Go" is a great way to keep me entertained, though. They should skip the attempts at slow jams like "Traffic Light" that quickly turn mawkish. But the album does have a couple of few funky-fresh tracks to throw on your next party play list.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Those Are The Videos Of The Year?
It's true, I am an old person trapped in an almost 25-year-old body. I will freely admit this. But please tell me I'm not the only one disappointed in the 2008 Video Of The Year nominees! Check out the noms here.
First off, the Pussycat Dolls had some hot videos off their first disc, I'm not gonna lie. I loved "Buttons" and "Beep." But "When I Grow Up" is the dumbest "song" I've heard in ages, and the video does absolutely nothing for me. They dance on top of cars (just like in "Wait a Minute") and on scaffolding (just like Paula Abdul) and on the sidewalk (just like "Singing In The Rain") The shot of them dancing in front of a lit-up "PUSSYCAT DOLLS" features some decent dancing, but I've seen better in a Danity Kane video. And the Day-Glo outfits? That pink jacket worn by Nicole should be reason enough to bar this video from being seen by people who are not legally blind.
The Jonas Brothers are an unstoppable force, I get it. I heard "Burning Up" played twice at a gay bar this weekend, which makes me think the DJ was a Boy Scout going for his pedophile badge. But the video treatment that's nominated is NOT the one they are playing on MTV. I've seen the JoBros way too many times on the MTV and all they do is play by the pool. But the version on the Nominees page is cut between the poolside pickups and some goofy fake action movie scenes. It's cute, but it should hardly stand next to "Video Of The Year" winners like "Nothing Compares 2 U" or "Work It"
I'm in love with "Forever" by Chris Brown. The video is pretty meh, but I can't hate on the amazing song. Never gonna win, though. And Britney's surprisingly self-aware look at the tabloids that she toys with and engages in a torrid love/hate affair with in "Piece Of Me" would be my pick for "Video Of The Year" if it weren't for the stunning Chic-meets-White Stripes fun of The Ting Tings' "Shut Up And Let Me Go." That song is catchy, quirky, new and worthy of being nominated. The video is cool, too...
So who should have been nominated? First big snub is Leona Lewis, who may not have had a showstopper of a video in "Bleeding Love" but that song is so freaking major, I would have nominated it anyway. And Eryka Badu's "Honey" was one of the coolest things I've seen all year, with the recreation of classic album covers like Let It Be. Duffy got all emotional and real with her second single "Warwick Avenue" which deserves some love. Who can forget Robyn? Any one of her videos are miles ahead of the competition. Mariah Carey got silly with 30 Rock's Kenneth The Page in "Touch My Body"'s nerd-centric fantasy gags. And for giving even gay guy's wood with her lipstick lesbian ways, Katy Perry deserves a nod for "I Kissed A Girl."
First off, the Pussycat Dolls had some hot videos off their first disc, I'm not gonna lie. I loved "Buttons" and "Beep." But "When I Grow Up" is the dumbest "song" I've heard in ages, and the video does absolutely nothing for me. They dance on top of cars (just like in "Wait a Minute") and on scaffolding (just like Paula Abdul) and on the sidewalk (just like "Singing In The Rain") The shot of them dancing in front of a lit-up "PUSSYCAT DOLLS" features some decent dancing, but I've seen better in a Danity Kane video. And the Day-Glo outfits? That pink jacket worn by Nicole should be reason enough to bar this video from being seen by people who are not legally blind.
The Jonas Brothers are an unstoppable force, I get it. I heard "Burning Up" played twice at a gay bar this weekend, which makes me think the DJ was a Boy Scout going for his pedophile badge. But the video treatment that's nominated is NOT the one they are playing on MTV. I've seen the JoBros way too many times on the MTV and all they do is play by the pool. But the version on the Nominees page is cut between the poolside pickups and some goofy fake action movie scenes. It's cute, but it should hardly stand next to "Video Of The Year" winners like "Nothing Compares 2 U" or "Work It"
I'm in love with "Forever" by Chris Brown. The video is pretty meh, but I can't hate on the amazing song. Never gonna win, though. And Britney's surprisingly self-aware look at the tabloids that she toys with and engages in a torrid love/hate affair with in "Piece Of Me" would be my pick for "Video Of The Year" if it weren't for the stunning Chic-meets-White Stripes fun of The Ting Tings' "Shut Up And Let Me Go." That song is catchy, quirky, new and worthy of being nominated. The video is cool, too...
So who should have been nominated? First big snub is Leona Lewis, who may not have had a showstopper of a video in "Bleeding Love" but that song is so freaking major, I would have nominated it anyway. And Eryka Badu's "Honey" was one of the coolest things I've seen all year, with the recreation of classic album covers like Let It Be. Duffy got all emotional and real with her second single "Warwick Avenue" which deserves some love. Who can forget Robyn? Any one of her videos are miles ahead of the competition. Mariah Carey got silly with 30 Rock's Kenneth The Page in "Touch My Body"'s nerd-centric fantasy gags. And for giving even gay guy's wood with her lipstick lesbian ways, Katy Perry deserves a nod for "I Kissed A Girl."
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