I've Got Nothing
"I've Got Nothing" | |
---|---|
Single by Chartjackers | |
Released | 9 November 2009 | (worldwide)
Recorded | 7 October 2009 University of Wales, Newport |
Genre | Pop |
Length | 2:50 |
Label | Swinging Mantis |
Producer(s) | Marc Dowding |
"I've Got Nothing" is a song released by the participants of the
"I've Got Nothing" was a
Background and writing
"I've Got Nothing" was written in ten weeks entirely through crowdsourcing[1][2] as part of a project that was documented on the BBC Two series Chartjackers. Members of the online community were asked to submit various song ideas on the YouTube channel "ChartJackersProject", with the aim that a single could be written, recorded and then released on 9 November 2009.
The lyrics for "I've Got Nothing" were written on the week of 8 September. A video posted to the YouTube channel "ChartJackersProject" invited viewers to submit possible lines as comments.[3] Viewers posted more than 4,000 comments,[4] from which the song's lyrics were selected. The following week, another video was uploaded to "ChartJackersProject" that published the winning lyrics and announced that the song's title was to be "I've Got Nothing"[5]—the song's chorus had been written by YouTube user "blakeisno1". The video also invited viewers to compose a melody for the completed lyrics.[5] Viewers submitted 51 melodies as video responses,[6] with the entry from Jonny Dark, a 19-year-old musician from London, being selected as the winner.[7]
A new YouTube video was uploaded to "ChartJackersProject" on 25 September, offering viewers the opportunity to audition to sing "I've Got Nothing" on the final release.
Recording and release
"I've Got Nothing" was produced and co-written by university student Marc Dowding. Dowding learnt about the opportunity through a video posted to the YouTube channel "ChartJackersProject"[11] and was offered the job after e-mailing his CV to a BBC Switch producer.[12] Chartrand and Nichols travelled to Newport, South Wales on 7 October to record the single at the recording studio of the University of Wales, Newport.[13] On producing the single, Dowding remarked: "It was a great help to be able to use the recording studios at the University."[12]
"I've Got Nothing" was leaked to the internet during October 2009, before being officially released a month later by record label Swinging Mantis.[14] As Swinging Mantis was a small record label, the budget for "I've Got Nothing" was limited, so a physical version of the single was never made available. Instead, the track was made sold exclusively as an iTunes digital download. "I've Got Nothing" was released worldwide through the iTunes Store at midnight on 9 November.[15] Each copy was sold for £0.79 in the United Kingdom[16] and $0.99 in the United States.[17]
Reception
Critical response
"I've Got Nothing" was largely ignored by the
Commercial performance
Expectations for the release of "I've Got Nothing" were high. The main goal of Chartjackers had been for the song to reach number one on the
Music video
The music video for "I've Got Nothing" was edited by YouTube user
Many viewers submitted clips that were literal interpretations of the lyrics. For example, some viewers held up medals and trophies for the lyric "won the greatest prize", others zoomed-in on their own eye during the line "look into my eyes" and others turned off lights for the lyric "the lights are going out". Most of the shots of Chartrand and Nichols are of them singing "I've Got Nothing" in a park with an actor dressed as Pudsey Bear, but the video also features shots of them eating ice cream, swinging around a lamp post and dancing in front of a tree. The video begins with shots of the duo throwing a
Live performances
"I've Got Nothing" was first performed live by Chartrand and Nichols on 4 November 2009 at 93 Feet East in London. Their performance was shown during the ninth episode of Chartjackers.
Track listing
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "I've Got Nothing" | 2:50 |
Charts
Chart (2009) | Peak position |
---|---|
36 | |
UK Indie (OCC)[37] | 1 |
Credits and personnel
- Miranda Chartrand – vocals[10]
- Adam Nichols – vocals[10]
- Jonny Dark – writer (melody)[7]
- Marc Dowding – writer, producer, engineer and mixer[12]
See also
References
- ^ "Chartjackers: Crowdsourcing To Top The UK Charts". Hypebot. 17 November 2009. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
- ^ "Four YouTube legends, one mind-blowing challenge as Chartjackers comes to BBC Switch". London: BBC. 8 September 2009. Archived from the original on 12 September 2009. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
- ^ "Lyrics Week" (Flash video). 8 September 2009. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2010 – via YouTube.
- ^ Nissim, Mayer (18 September 2009). "Hawkes backs BBC 'Chartjackers'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
- ^ a b "Melodies Week" (Flash video). 17 September 2009. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2010 – via YouTube.
- ^ Producers: Jonathan Davenport and Adam King (19 September 2009). "Episode 2". Chartjackers. Series 1. Episode 2. BBC. BBC Two. Archived from the original on 25 September 2013.
- ^ a b c "Auditions – We need a band" (Flash video). 25 September 2009. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2010 – via YouTube.
- ^ Producers: Jonathan Davenport and Adam King (3 October 2009). "Episode 4". Chartjackers. Series 1. Episode 4. BBC. BBC Two. Archived from the original on 25 September 2013.
- ^ "Club comes into focus for new TV show". Rochdale: Rochdale Observer. 7 October 2009. Archived from the original on 12 November 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
- ^ a b c Producers: Jonathan Davenport and Adam King (10 October 2009). "Episode 5". Chartjackers. Series 1. Episode 5. BBC. BBC Two. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013.
- ^ "Producer Search & Band Auditions!" (Flash video). 22 September 2009. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2010 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b c "Chartjackers' hit produced by Creative Newport Student". Newport: University of Wales, Newport. 23 October 2010. Archived from the original on 23 August 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
- .
- ^ "The Official Chart with Reggie Yates, 15/11/2009". London: BBC Radio 1. 15 November 2009. Archived from the original on 21 February 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
- ^ "Chartjackers attack the charts". London: BBC. November 2009. Archived from the original on 10 November 2009. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
- ^ Bowers, Mary (13 November 2009). "YouTube if you want to be a star". The Times. Archived from the original on 19 February 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
- ^ "I've Got Nothing – Single by ChartJackers". iTunes. 9 November 2009. Archived from the original on 29 January 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
- ^ "Subtle hints that Simon Cowell might not always be musically motivated". Popjustice. 16 November 2009. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
- ^ a b Halfacre, Ellie (19 January 2010). "I've Got Nothing". Tower Review. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
- ^ Balls, David (9 November 2009). "Music – Single Reviews". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 21 September 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
- ^ Masterton, James (16 November 2009). "Chart Watch UK". Yahoo! Music. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
- ^ Producers: Jonathan Davenport and Adam King (26 September 2009). "Episode 3". Chartjackers. Series 1. Episode 3. 3:29 minutes in. BBC. BBC Two.
- ^ Producers: Jonathan Davenport and Adam King (26 September 2009). "Episode 3". Chartjackers. Series 1. Episode 3. 1:57 minutes in. BBC. BBC Two.
- ^ "Chartjackers go for number one". London: BBC. September 2009. Archived from the original on 24 November 2009. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
- ^ "Chartjackers, Episode 1". London: BBC Switch. 12 September 2009. Archived from the original on 3 December 2010. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
- ^ Producers: Jonathan Davenport and Adam King (21 November 2009). "Compilation". Chartjackers. Series 1. Episode 11. BBC. BBC Two. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013.
- )
- ^ "Singles Chart For 21 November 2009". Official Charts Company. 16 November 2009. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
- ^ "Singles Chart For 28 November 2009". Official Charts Company. 23 November 2009. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
- ^ a b Producers: Jonathan Davenport and Adam King (24 October 2009). "Episode 7". Chartjackers. Series 1. Episode 7. BBC. BBC Two. Archived from the original on 27 October 2009.
- ^ "Sing-along and Clap-along" (Flash video). 8 October 2009. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2010 – via YouTube.
- ^ ""I've Got Nothing" – ChartJackers Music Video" (Flash video). 8 November 2009. Retrieved 7 November 2010 – via YouTube.
- ^ Producers: Jonathan Davenport and Adam King (7 November 2009). "Episode 9". Chartjackers. Series 1. Episode 9. BBC. BBC Two. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013.
- ^ Nissim, Mayer (3 November 2009). "Chesney Hawkes to play with Chartjackers". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 4 January 2010. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
- ^ "Go Chartjackers! And Tom Deacon. Obvs". London: BBC Switch. November 2009. Archived from the original on 25 September 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
- ^ "Chartjackers: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
- ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company.
External links
- "I've Got Nothing" at Last.fm
- "I've Got Nothing" music video on YouTube