Something from Nothing (song)

Last updated

"Something from Nothing"
Something from nothing.png
Single by Foo Fighters
from the album Sonic Highways
ReleasedOctober 16, 2014 (2014-10-16)
Recorded Electrical Audio, Chicago
Genre
Length4:48
Label RCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Butch Vig
Foo Fighters singles chronology
"Bridge Burning"
(2012)
"Something from Nothing"
(2014)
"The Feast and the Famine"
(2014)
Music video
"Something from Nothing" on YouTube

"Something from Nothing" is a song by American rock band Foo Fighters from their eighth studio album Sonic Highways . It was released as the album's lead single on October 16, 2014. [1] Recorded at Steve Albini's Electrical Audio studio, the song was influenced by the Chicago music scene.

Contents

Composition

"Something from Nothing" was inspired by the history of Chicago, Illinois, and was recorded in the city at Electrical Audio. One Summer Night in the Windy City.jpg
"Something from Nothing" was inspired by the history of Chicago, Illinois, and was recorded in the city at Electrical Audio.

"Something from Nothing" has been regarded as an alternative rock [2] and hard rock [3] song. According to Daniel Kreps of the Rolling Stone magazine, the lyrics of the song "Here lies a city on fire... it started with a spark, and burned into the dark" seem to be inspired by the Great Chicago Fire (1871). [4]

"Something from Nothing" is "a ferocious, at times even hypnotic, rocker with hints of funk, psychedelia, and Dave Grohl's signature monster growl." [5] It features soaring guitar that is reminiscent of Chicago-based alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins; and at one point, borrows heavily from the riff of Dio's heavy metal song "Holy Diver". [4] The song starts with muffled guitar, and subsequently builds up to "non-stop ferocious rock 'n' roll" in its fourth minute, [6] and "an ear-shattering outro lined with scorching guitar riffs." [5]

Recording

"Something from Nothing" was recorded at Albini's Electrical Audio studio in Chicago. [4] [7] The song features guitarist Rick Nielsen of the rock band Cheap Trick as Chicago City's "guest of honor." [8]

Music video

The music video aired at the end of the Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways "Chicago" episode. It shows the band performing at Electrical Audio while 2D animated lyrics appear in the background throughout the video. The video also features appearances by Rick Nielsen and Rami Jaffee. [9] [10]

Commercial performance

"Something from Nothing" debuted at number five on the Billboard Rock Airplay chart, as well as at number 12 and number 16 on Billboard's Alternative Songs and Mainstream Rock charts respectively. [11] It soon rose to number one on all three charts. "Something from Nothing" is also the twenty-fifth Foo Fighters' single to make the top 75 on the UK Singles Chart, [12] and the twenty-seventh Foo Fighters' single to make the top 100 on the Australian Singles Chart. [13]

Personnel

Personnel adapted from Sonic Highways liner notes [14]

Foo Fighters

Additional Performers

Production

Charts

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References

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