We Started Nothing
{{Short description|2008 studio album by the Ting Tings}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox album
| name = We Started Nothing
| type = studio
| artist = the Ting Tings
| cover = The Ting Tings We Started Nothing album cover.png
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2008|05|16|df=yes}}
| recorded = 2007–2008 in Salford
| studio =
| genre = Art pop{{cite web |last=Gill |first=Andy |title=The Ting Tings: "We don't keep songs for a rainy day" |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/ting-tings-we-don-t-keep-songs-rainy-day-7468418.html |website=The Independent |access-date=30 November 2020 |date=2 March 2012}}
| length = 37:47
| label = Columbia
| producer = Jules De Martino
| next_title = Sounds from Nowheresville
| next_year = 2012
| misc = {{Extra album cover
| header = Alternative cover
| type = studio
| cover = We Started Nothing AUS Cover.jpg
| border =
| alt =
| caption = International cover
}}
{{Singles
| name = We Started Nothing
| type = studio
| single1 = That's Not My Name" / "Great DJ
| single1date = 28 May 2007
| single2 = Fruit Machine
| single2date = 19 November 2007
| single3 = Great DJ
| single3date = 3 March 2008
| single4 = That's Not My Name
| single4date = 12 May 2008
| single5 = Shut Up and Let Me Go
| single5date = 21 July 2008
| single6 = Be the One
| single6date = 13 October 2008
| single7 = We Walk
| single7date = 23 February 2009
}}
}}
{{Album ratings
| MC = 64/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/we-started-nothing/the-ting-tings |title=Reviews for We Started Nothing by The Ting Tings |publisher=Metacritic |accessdate=17 March 2012}}
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |last=Phares |first=Heather |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/we-started-nothing-mw0000786688 |title=We Started Nothing – The Ting Tings |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=16 October 2012}}
| rev2 = The A.V. Club
| rev2score = B−{{cite web |last=Koski |first=Genevieve |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-ting-tings-we-started-nothing-1798204414 |title=The Ting Tings: We Started Nothing |publisher=The A.V. Club |date=16 June 2008 |access-date=24 January 2020}}
| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly
| rev3score = B+{{cite magazine |last=Vozick-Levinson |first=Simon |url=https://ew.com/article/2008/05/30/we-started-nothing/ |title=We Started Nothing |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=30 May 2008 |accessdate=24 January 2020}}
| rev4 = The Guardian
| rev4score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |last=Petridis |first=Alexis |author-link=Alexis Petridis |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/may/16/popandrock.shopping |title=The Ting Tings, We Started Nothing |work=The Guardian |date=16 May 2008 |accessdate=9 June 2008}}
| rev5 = Mojo
| rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |title=The Ting Tings: We Started Nothing |magazine=Mojo |issue=175 |date=June 2008 |page=109 |issn=1351-0193}}
| rev6 = NME
| rev6score = 6/10{{cite web |last=Fullerton |first=Jamie |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/the-ting-tings/9686 |title=The Ting Tings: We Started Nothing |work=NME |date=15 May 2008 |accessdate=17 May 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110804223649/http://www.nme.com/reviews/the-ting-tings/9686 |archivedate=4 August 2011 |url-status=dead}}
| rev7 = Pitchfork
| rev8 = Q
| rev8score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine |title=The Ting Tings: We Started Nothing |magazine=Q |issue=263 |date=June 2008 |page=143 |issn=0955-4955}}
| rev9 = Rolling Stone
| rev9score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Endelman |first=Michael |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/20779563/review/20947145/we_started_nothing |title=We Started Nothing : The Ting Tings |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=12 June 2008 |accessdate=9 June 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090405001325/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/20779563/review/20947145/we_started_nothing |archivedate=5 April 2009}}
| rev10 = The Times
| rev10score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |last=Elan |first=Priya |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/cd_reviews/article3930817.ece |title=The Ting Tings: We Started Nothing |work=The Times |date=17 May 2008 |accessdate=13 June 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616111530/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/cd_reviews/article3930817.ece |archivedate=16 June 2011}}
}}
We Started Nothing is the debut studio album by English indie pop duo the Ting Tings, released on 16 May 2008 by Columbia Records. The US edition has a different cover image in several background colours. The album was also released in the United Kingdom on red vinyl limited to 2,000 copies. The US vinyl version is a standard black vinyl pressing. As of November 2014, We Started Nothing had sold 639,876 copies in the United Kingdom.
Background
According to vocalist and guitarist of the Ting Tings, Katie White:
The way we write changes with each song. "Keep Your Head" started with Jules [De Martino] on the drums, "We Walk" started with me on piano, "Shut Up and Let Me Go" started with Jules on bass, "That's Not My Name" was me ranting about my frustrations with the record industry. "Great DJ" was me playing a D chord on the guitar for hours, because that's all I could play. And then I put my finger on the wrong string, and got what I discovered was an augmented chord. And that was the riff! The lyrics described the life we were living at the time. It was about getting lost in hedonism, about forgetting that you had bailiffs knocking at your door and just surrendering to the joys of the music in a nightclub for several hours—the boys, the girls, the strings, the drums.The Guardian: 1000 Songs Everyone Must Hear – Party Songs, Writing Party Songs, pg. 7
Singles
A double A-side single consisting of "That's Not My Name" and "Great DJ" was released as the first single from the album on 28 May 2007 through the independent label Switchflicker Records. The album's second single, "Fruit Machine", was released as a limited 500-copy run, only available for the fans at the duo's concerts. Four covers were made: one for Salford, one for Berlin, one for London and one for New York. The third single, a reissue of "Great DJ", was released on 3 March 2008. The song didn't chart until the re-release of "That's Not My Name", reaching number 33 on the UK singles chart.
The fourth single released from the album was the re-release of "That's Not My Name". It is so far the duo's most successful on the UK singles chart, reaching the top spot for one week. The single's popularity caused "Great DJ" to finally chart (two months after its release), and also caused "Shut Up and Let Me Go" to chart early (two months before its release). The song became the UK's 22nd best-selling single of 2008, selling 300,000 copies. In the United States, "That's Not My Name" reached number 33 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Shut Up and Let Me Go" served as the fifth single from the album. Due to the popularity of "That's Not My Name", it entered the top 75 two months before its release, based on downloads. The song was officially released on 21 July 2008. It is the duo's second highest-peaking single in the UK, charting at number six, while reaching number 55 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Be the One" was released on 13 October 2008 as the sixth single from the album, peaking at number 28 on the UK chart. The re-release of "Fruit Machine" was originally planned to be released on 9 February 2009 as the album's seventh single, but was cancelled a week before the release. "We Walk" was ultimately released as the seventh and final single on 23 February 2009, reaching number 58 in the UK. It was the band's first single not to have a 7-inch vinyl release, instead coming out on CD and 12-inch vinyl only.
Release
The album's original release featured limited red vinyl{{cite web|url=https://uk.rarevinyl.com/products/the-ting-tings-we-started-nothing-red-vinyl-uk-vinyl-lp-album-record-88697318871-434034?srsltid=AfmBOooDi0rpk1zNalk7ZUEv3pF41eUuDGTw2xRtqadB6a_oH1sxmIjf|title=The Ting Tings We Started Nothing - Red Vinyl UK Vinyl LP|publisher=rarevinyl.com|accessdate=2025-04-18}} and CD/DVD editions.
In 2023 the album was re-released as 15th anniversary pink & purple marbled vinyl edition.{{cite web|url=https://recordstoreday.com/UPC/8719262030800|title=We Started Nothing: 15th Anniversary [Colored Vinyl] [Limited Edition]|publisher=recordstoreday.com|accessdate=2025-04-18}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| all_writing = Jules De Martino and Katie White
| title1 = Great DJ
| length1 = 3:23
| title2 = That's Not My Name
| length2 = 5:11
| title3 = Fruit Machine
| length3 = 2:54
| title4 = Traffic Light
| length4 = 2:59
| title5 = Shut Up and Let Me Go
| length5 = 2:52
| title6 = Keep Your Head
| length6 = 3:23
| title7 = Be the One
| length7 = 2:58
| title8 = We Walk
| length8 = 4:04
| title9 = Impacilla Carpisung
| length9 = 3:41
| title10 = We Started Nothing
| length10 = 6:22
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Digital edition bonus tracks{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/ru/album/we-started-nothing-bonus-version/298045442|title=We Started Nothing (Bonus Version) – The Ting Tings |publisher=music.apple.com |accessdate=6 December 2023}}
| title11 = Be the One
| note11 = acoustic version
| length11 = 3:16
| title12 = Shut Up and Let Me Go
| note12 = acoustic version
| length12 = 2:46
| title13 = Great DJ
| note13 = acoustic version
| length13 = 3:33
| title14 = That's Not My Name
| note14 = acoustic version
| length14 = 4:26
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Japanese edition bonus tracks{{cite web |url=http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/artist_Ting-Tings_000000000388176/item_We-Started-Nothing_2752680 |title=We Started Nothing: Ting Tings |publisher=HMV Japan |accessdate=1 April 2013}}
| title11 = Great DJ
| note11 = acoustic version
| length11 = 3:33
| title12 = Shut Up and Let Me Go
| note12 = acoustic version
| length12 = 2:46
| title13 = Great DJ
| note13 = 7th Heaven Radio Remix
| length13 = 3:31
| title14 = That's Not My Name
| note14 = Soul Seekerz Radio Mix
| length14 = 3:23
| title15 = That's Not My Name
| note15 = Taku Takahashi Mix
| length15 = 5:14
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Deluxe edition bonus DVD
| title1 = Great DJ
| note1 = music video
| length1 = 3:21
| title2 = That's Not My Name
| note2 = music video
| length2 = 3:44
| title3 = Shut Up and Let Me Go
| note3 = music video
| length3 = 2:55
| title4 = Be the One
| note4 = music video
| length4 = 2:53
| title5 = Making of Shut Up and Let Me Go
| length5 = 4:07
| title6 = Making of Be the One
| length6 = 4:30
| title7 = Salford/Berlin/London/New York Documentary
| length7 = 3:01
| title8 = Be the One
| note8 = acoustic version; audio
| length8 = 3:14
| title9 = Shut Up and Let Me Go
| note9 = acoustic version; audio
| length9 = 2:46
| title10 = Great DJ
| note10 = acoustic version; audio
| length10 = 3:34
| title11 = That's Not My Name
| note11 = acoustic version; audio
| length11 = 4:26
}}
Personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of We Started Nothing.{{cite AV media notes |title=We Started Nothing |type=liner notes |others=The Ting Tings |publisher=Columbia Records |year=2008 |id=88697314542}}
- Jules De Martino – production
- Dave Sardy – mixing
- Greg Gordon – mix engineering
- Matt Irwin – band photography
- Denis Kleiman – band photography
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2008–2009)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{album chart|Australia|22|artist=The Ting Tings|album=We Started Nothing|rowheader=true|accessdate=12 January 2009}} |
| {{album chart|Austria|57|artist=The Ting Tings|album=We Started Nothing|rowheader=true|accessdate=12 January 2009}} |
| {{album chart|Flanders|38|artist=The Ting Tings|album=We Started Nothing|rowheader=true|accessdate=8 May 2009}} |
| {{album chart|Wallonia|54|artist=The Ting Tings|album=We Started Nothing|rowheader=true|accessdate=8 May 2009}} |
| {{album chart|Netherlands|20|artist=The Ting Tings|album=We Started Nothing|rowheader=true|accessdate=12 January 2009}} |
| scope="row"| European Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_hIEAAAAMBAJ&q=ting+tings+we+started+nothing&pg=PA67 |title=Hits of the World |magazine=Billboard |volume=120 |issue=23 |date=7 June 2008 |page=67 |issn=0006-2510 |accessdate=27 January 2016 }}
| 5 |
| {{album chart|France|21|artist=The Ting Tings|album=We Started Nothing|rowheader=true|accessdate=12 January 2009}} |
| {{album chart|Germany4|59|id=88691|artist=The Ting Tings|album=We Started Nothing|rowheader=true|accessdate=27 January 2016}} |
| {{album chart|Ireland2|3|artist=The Ting Tings|rowheader=true|accessdate=24 January 2020}} |
| scope="row"| Japanese Albums (Oricon){{cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/454114/products/767080/1/ |script-title=ja:ウィ・スターテッド・ナッシング {{!}} ザ・ティン・ティンズ |trans-title=The Ting Tings {{!}} The Ting Tings |language=Japanese |publisher=Oricon |accessdate=27 January 2016}}
| 50 |
| {{album chart|New Zealand|16|artist=The Ting Tings|album=We Started Nothing|rowheader=true|accessdate=30 August 2019}} |
| {{album chart|Scotland|2|date=20080525|rowheader=true|accessdate=27 January 2016}} |
| {{album chart|Switzerland|28|artist=The Ting Tings|album=We Started Nothing|rowheader=true|accessdate=7 January 2009}} |
| {{album chart|UK2|1|date=20080525|rowheader=true|accessdate=24 January 2020}} |
| {{album chart|Billboard200|78|artist=The Ting Tings|rowheader=true|accessdate=24 January 2020}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardIndependent|8|artist=The Ting Tings|rowheader=true|accessdate=24 January 2020}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardAlternative|21|artist=The Ting Tings|rowheader=true|accessdate=24 January 2020}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardRock|40|artist=The Ting Tings|rowheader=true|accessdate=24 January 2020}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2009)
! scope="col"| Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| French Albums (SNEP){{cite web |url=http://www.snepmusique.com/fr/pag-259376-Classements-Annuels.html?year=2009&type=2 |title=Classement Albums – année 2009 |language=French |publisher=Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique |accessdate=17 March 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921185658/http://www.snepmusique.com/fr/pag-259376-Classements-Annuels.html?year=2009&type=2 |archivedate=21 September 2013}}
| 140 |
| scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC){{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/20090104/37502/ |title=End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2009 |publisher=Official Charts Company |accessdate=27 January 2016}}
| 61 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for We Started Nothing}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|artist=The Ting Tings|title=We Started Nothing|award=Gold|type=album|certyear=2008|accessdate=11 January 2009}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|artist=The Ting Tings|title=We Started Nothing|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2008|certyear=2008|accessdate=22 April 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Ireland|artist=The Ting Tings|title=We Started Nothing|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2008|certyear=2008|accessdate=17 March 2012}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=The Ting Tings|title=We Started Nothing|award=Platinum|number=2|type=album|relyear=2008|certyear=2009|id=8099-236-2|date=3 April 2009|accessdate=27 January 2016|salesamount=639,876|salesref={{cite web |last=Jones |first=Alan |url=https://www.musicweek.com/analysis/read/official-charts-analysis-taylor-swift-tops-albums-with-90-336-sales-of-1989/060028 |title=Official Charts Analysis: Taylor Swift tops albums with 90,336 sales of 1989 |work=Music Week |date=3 November 2014 |accessdate=24 January 2020 |url-access=subscription}}}}
{{Certification Table Bottom}}
Release history
References
{{Reflist}}
{{The Ting Tings}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Columbia Records albums