Zero (Yeah Yeah Yeahs song)

Last updated
"Zero"
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Zero.png
Single by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
from the album It's Blitz!
ReleasedFebruary 24, 2009 (2009-02-24)
Genre
Length4:25
Label
Songwriter(s) Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Producer(s)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs singles chronology
"Down Boy"
(2007)
"Zero"
(2009)
"Heads Will Roll"
(2009)
Music video
"Zero" on YouTube

"Zero" is a song by American indie rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs, released as the lead single from their third studio album, It's Blitz! (2009). The song received critical acclaim from music critics for its production, and was named the best track of 2009 by both NME and Spin magazines.

Contents

The single had moderate commercial success, peaking at numbers four, 18 and 37 on the Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales, Alternative Songs and Hot Rock Songs charts, respectively, as well as number 49 on the UK Singles Chart. A music video for the single, which shows lead singer Karen O walking the streets of San Francisco at night, was released in March 2009.

Background

Singer Karen O said, "We want to shake the unshakable, to stir things up, and that’s a lot of the spirit of ‘Zero’; it's like” ‘Come on man! Come on! Just feel something, escape, whatever, whatever the emotion is just feel it!’" [5]

Critical reception

"Zero" received acclaim from music critics. Paula Carino of AllMusic described the song as "an exhilarating and wide-open expanse of pure electro-pop". [1] Mary Bellamy of Drowned in Sound viewed the track as "the call to arms of a band who desperately want to teleport the refugees of fashion-fizzled pop, the hippest of hipsters and the weirdest outsiders to the dancefloor of their sweaty spaceship", stating it is "perhaps one of the band's finest moments ever committed to tape." [6]

Slant Magazine 's Jonathan Keefe praised "Zero" as "flat-out phenomenal", [7] while Alex Fletcher of Digital Spy called it "a saucy electro romp that makes even GaGa seem a tad coy". [8] Michael Hubbard of musicOMH dubbed the song "an all out visceral onslaught, a keening mix of battered synths, drum machines and Nick Zinner's typically bloodless guitar playing", and referred to it as "a mix of Show Your Bones ' cleaner production with the grubbiness of the Is Is EP". [9] Evan Sawdey of PopMatters opined that "[n]o YYY's song has ever been as disposable, replayable, or just outright fun as 'Zero'". [10]

"Zero" was named the best track of 2009 by both the NME and Spin magazines, [11] [12] while Pitchfork ranked it the sixth best song of the year. [13] In October 2011, the NME placed the song at number 39 on its list of the "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years". [14] Writing in retrospect, Alexis Petridis of The Guardian cited "Zero" as proof of the band's difficulties at achieving commercial success, stating the song "sounded like a mammoth hit right up to the point it stalled at No. 49 in the singles chart." [15]

Music video

The music video for "Zero" was directed by Barney Clay and premiered on March 9, 2009. [16] [17] It was filmed in the San Francisco neighborhoods of Tenderloin, North Beach, and Chinatown. [18] [19] Speaking to Spinner, lead singer Karen O explained the concept of the video: "The visuals had to be well paced with the slow ecstatic build of the song. It made sense that the visuals would take you on a journey and keep you on the move—no sitting still for too long in the city landscape of bright lights, dark alleys and glittering streets. 'Zero''s sentiment is to revel in being you—you're a zero so screw it! It's the underdogs, the rebels, the outsiders that have always captivated me growing up so I decided why not flaunt that side of myself in the video." [17]

The video opens with the band in the dressing room of The Warfield, [19] getting ready for a show, at which point O walks through a curtain that takes her to the streets of San Francisco at night. Clad in a PVC dress and a studded leather jacket, O is seen walking around the streets and dancing atop cars. She soon joins her bandmates again as they perform the song in an alleyway. Towards the end of the video, the band play around with shopping carts in the Transbay Terminal, before playing in a local discount store.

Use in media

"Zero" was used in the television shows 90210 , [20] Ugly Betty , [21] Gossip Girl , [22] and The L.A. Complex . [23] The song was also included in the soundtrack for the 2009 video game Tony Hawk: Ride . [24]

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of It's Blitz! [30]

Charts

Chart (2009)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [31] 88
Australia Dance (ARIA) [32] 10
Scotland (OCC) [33] 6
UK Singles (OCC) [34] 49
US Hot Singles Sales ( Billboard ) [35] 7
US Alternative Airplay ( Billboard ) [36] 18
US Hot Dance Singles Sales ( Billboard ) [37] 4
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) [38] 37

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabelRef.
United StatesFebruary 24, 2009 Digital download
(via pre-order of It's Blitz! on iTunes)
[39] [40]
Modern rock radio [41]
March 17, 2009 CD single [25]
United KingdomApril 7, 2009 7-inch single Polydor [42] [43]
April 12, 2009Digital EP [27]
April 13, 2009CD single [44]
United StatesMay 19, 2009Digital EP – Remixes
  • Dress Up
  • DGC
  • Interscope
[28]
June 9, 2009 12-inch single [29] [45]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yeah Yeah Yeahs</span> American indie rock band

Yeah Yeah Yeahs are an American indie rock band formed in New York City in 2000. The group is composed of vocalist and pianist Karen O, guitarist and keyboardist Nick Zinner, and drummer Brian Chase. They are complemented in live performances by second guitarist David Pajo, who joined as a touring member in 2009 and replaced Imaad Wasif, who had previously held the role. According to a 2004 interview that aired during their appearance on ABC's Live from Central Park SummerStage series, the band's name was taken from modern New York City vernacular.

<i>Fever to Tell</i> 2003 studio album by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Fever to Tell is the debut studio album by American indie rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs, released on April 29, 2003, by Interscope Records. It was produced by David Andrew Sitek and mixed by Alan Moulder. Four singles were issued, the first being "Date with the Night" followed by "Pin", "Maps" and "Y Control".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Speak</span> 1996 single by No Doubt

"Don't Speak" is a song by American rock band No Doubt from their third studio album, Tragic Kingdom (1995). It was released in 1996 as the third single from Tragic Kingdom in the United States by Interscope Records. Lead singer Gwen Stefani and her brother Eric Stefani, former No Doubt member, wrote the song originally as a love song. The song went through several rewrites and new versions. Gwen modified it into a breakup song about her bandmate and ex-boyfriend Tony Kanal, shortly after he ended their seven-year relationship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karen O</span> Korean American musician (born 1978)

Karen Lee Orzolek is a South Korean-born American singer, musician, and songwriter. She is the lead vocalist of the indie rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow (Coldplay song)</span> 2000 single by Coldplay

"Yellow" is a song by the British rock band Coldplay. The band wrote the song and co-produced it with British record producer Ken Nelson for their debut album, Parachutes (2000). The song was released on 26 June 2000 as the second UK single from Parachutes, following "Shiver", and as the lead single in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yeah! (Usher song)</span> 2004 single by Usher

"Yeah!" is a song by American singer Usher featuring American rappers Lil Jon and Ludacris. The song is written by the featured artists alongside Sean Garrett, Patrick "J. Que" Smith, Robert McDowell, and LRoc. The song incorporates crunk and R&B—which Lil Jon coined as crunk&B—in the song's production. The song was released as the lead single from Usher's fourth studio album Confessions (2004) on January 10, 2004, after Usher was told by Arista Records, his label at the time, to record more tracks for the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Sitek</span> American musician and record producer

David Andrew Sitek is an American musician and record producer, known for his work with his band TV on the Radio. He has also worked with bands such as Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Liars, Foals, Celebration, Little Dragon, Wavves, Beady Eye, and Weezer, and produced free jazz-influenced remixes of songs by artists such as Beck and Nine Inch Nails, and has contributed a solo track to the Red Hot Organization Dark Was the Night charity compilation. He is also a photographer and painter.

<i>Show Your Bones</i> 2006 studio album by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Show Your Bones is the second studio album by American indie rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs, released on March 22, 2006 by Interscope Records. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maps (Yeah Yeah Yeahs song)</span> 2003 single by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

"Maps" is a song by American indie rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs from their debut full-length album, Fever to Tell (2003). The song is about the relationship between Liars frontman Angus Andrew and Yeah Yeah Yeahs lead singer Karen O. Released in September 2003, the song reached number nine on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 26 in the United Kingdom. The band performed the song at the 2003 MTV Movie Awards, and the music video received extensive play on MTV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Ting Tings</span> English musical duo

The Ting Tings are an English indie pop duo formed in Salford, Greater Manchester, in 2007. The band consists of Katie White and Jules De Martino.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">La Roux</span> English synth-pop act

La Roux is an English synth-pop act formed in 2008 by singer Elly Jackson and record producer Ben Langmaid. The act's debut album La Roux (2009) was a critical and commercial success, winning a Grammy Award and producing hit singles such as "In for the Kill" and "Bulletproof". Recording of a follow-up album was marred by unsuccessful collaborations, the cancellation of two planned release dates, and reported conflict between the duo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yeah Yeah Yeahs discography</span>

American indie rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs have released five studio albums, one compilation album, four extended plays, 15 singles, two video albums, and 15 music videos. The band formed in New York City in 2000, and consists of lead singer Karen O, drummer Brian Chase, and guitarist Nick Zinner.

<i>Its Blitz!</i> 2009 studio album by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

It's Blitz! is the third studio album by American indie rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs, released on March 6, 2009, by Interscope Records. It was originally set for release on April 13, 2009. However, after being leaked to the Internet on February 22, the release date was pushed forward to March 9 for the digital version and March 31 for the physical version.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magnificent (U2 song)</span> 2009 single by U2

"Magnificent" is a song by U2. It is the second track on the band's 2009 album No Line on the Horizon and was released as the album's second single. The song was originally titled "French Disco", but was renamed later in the recording sessions. It is played before the start of every New York Rangers home game at Madison Square Garden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heads Will Roll (song)</span> 2009 single by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

"Heads Will Roll" is a song by American indie rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs, released as the second single from their third studio album, It's Blitz! (2009). The CD and 7-inch singles were released in the United Kingdom on June 29, 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bad Romance</span> 2009 single by Lady Gaga

"Bad Romance" is a song by American singer Lady Gaga from her third extended play (EP), The Fame Monster (2009)—the reissue of her debut studio album, The Fame (2008). Gaga wrote and produced the song with RedOne. Following an unauthorized demo leak, Gaga premiered the song's final version during the finale of Alexander McQueen's 2010 Paris Fashion Week show in October 2009 and released it as the lead single from The Fame Monster later that month. Musically, it is an electropop and dance-pop song with a spoken bridge. Inspired by German house and techno, the song was developed as an experimental pop record. Lyrically, Gaga drew from the paranoia she experienced while on tour and wrote about her attraction to unhealthy romantic relationships.

<i>$O$</i> 2010 studio album by Die Antwoord

$O$ is the debut studio album by South African rap-rave group Die Antwoord. The album was initially a widely circulated internet-only release, and made available to stream for free on the band's website prior to Interscope Records signing the band. The song "Wat Pomp?" had a music video released on 6 June 2009, followed by "Enter the Ninja", which received an official release on 9 August 2010. "Fish Paste" and "Beat Boy" have also been released as promotional singles. "Enter the Ninja" debuted at #37 in the UK Music Charts on 19 September 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Imagine Dragons</span> American pop rock band

Imagine Dragons are an American pop rock band formed in 2008, based in Las Vegas, Nevada, and currently consisting of lead singer Dan Reynolds, guitarist Wayne Sermon, and bassist Ben McKee. The band first gained exposure with the release of their single "It's Time", followed by their debut album Night Visions (2012), which resulted in the chart-topping singles "Radioactive" and "Demons". Rolling Stone named "Radioactive", which held the record for most weeks charted on the Billboard Hot 100, the "biggest rock hit of the year". MTV called them "the year's biggest breakout band", and Billboard named them their "Breakthrough Band of 2013" and "Biggest Band of 2017", and placed them at the top of their "Year in Rock" rankings for 2013, 2017, and 2018. Imagine Dragons topped the Billboard Year-End "Top Artists – Duo/Group" category in 2018.

<i>Mosquito</i> (Yeah Yeah Yeahs album) 2013 studio album by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Mosquito is the fourth studio album by American indie rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs, released on April 12, 2013, by Interscope Records. The lead single "Sacrilege" was released on February 26, 2013. "Despair" was released as the second single on July 19, 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hold Up (song)</span> 2016 single by Beyoncé

"Hold Up" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Beyoncé for her sixth studio album, Lemonade (2016). The song was serviced to Italian radio on May 27, 2016 as the third single from the album. It was written by Diplo, Ezra Koenig, Beyoncé, Emile Haynie, Josh Tillman, MNEK, and MeLo-X.

References

  1. 1 2 Carino, Paula. "Zero – Yeah Yeah Yeahs". AllMusic . Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  2. Stevens, Darcie (April 3, 2009). "Yeah Yeah Yeahs: It's Blitz! (Interscope)". The Austin Chronicle . Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  3. Lapatine, Scott (April 12, 2009). "Yeah Yeah Yeahs Take "Zero," "Maps" To SNL". Stereogum . Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  4. Stewart, Allison (March 17, 2009). "Quick Spins: Yeah Yeah Yeahs' "It's Blitz!"". The Washington Post . Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  5. "Yeah Yeah Yeahs Interview". Clash . May 8, 2009. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  6. Bellamy, Mary (March 11, 2009). "Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It's Blitz!". Drowned in Sound . Archived from the original on July 16, 2014. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  7. Keefe, Jonathan (March 16, 2009). "Yeah Yeah Yeahs: It's Blitz!". Slant Magazine . Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  8. Fletcher, Alex (March 29, 2009). "Yeah Yeah Yeahs: 'Zero'". Digital Spy . Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  9. Hubbard, Michael (February 18, 2009). "Yeah Yeah Yeahs back with a big Zero". musicOMH . Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  10. Sawdey, Evan (March 22, 2009). "Yeah Yeah Yeahs: It's Blitz!". PopMatters . Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  11. "50 Best Tracks of 2009". NME . December 2, 2009. Archived from the original on December 13, 2009. Retrieved December 13, 2009.
  12. "The 20 Best Songs of 2009". Spin . December 7, 2009. Retrieved December 17, 2009.
  13. "The Top 100 Tracks of 2009". Pitchfork . December 14, 2009. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  14. "150 Best Tracks Of The Past 15 Years | #39 Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Zero". NME. October 6, 2011. Archived from the original on October 15, 2011. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  15. Petridis, Alexis (April 11, 2013). "Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Mosquito – review". The Guardian . Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  16. Knight, David (March 16, 2009). "Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Zero by Barney Clay". Promo News. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  17. 1 2 Robertson, Jessica (March 9, 2009). "Yeah Yeah Yeahs, 'Zero' – Video Premiere". Spinner. Archived from the original on November 20, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  18. Cipriano, Janelle (April 28, 2009). "Yeah Yeah Yeahs Hit the Streets of SF in "Zero" Video". 7x7 . Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  19. 1 2 Port, Ian S. (March 12, 2009). "New YYY: Name That S.F. Bodega". SF Weekly . Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  20. "The Party's Over". 90210. Season 1. Episode 22. May 5, 2009. The CW.
  21. "In the Stars". Ugly Betty. Season 3. Episode 22. May 14, 2009. ABC.
  22. Graff, Gary (May 19, 2009). "Yeah Yeah Yeahs Leave Heads Rolling On The Road". Billboard . Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  23. Allison (January 10, 2012). "The L.A. Complex Music Ep. 1: Give Up". MuchMusic. Archived from the original on March 1, 2014. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  24. Crecente, Brian (October 6, 2009). "Tony Hawk: Ride: The Soundtrack". Kotaku . Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  25. 1 2 "Zero". Amazon (US). Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  26. 1 2 3 "'Zero' physical singles available in the UK for 1 week only!". Interscope Records. April 2, 2009. Archived from the original on April 29, 2009. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  27. 1 2 "Zero – EP by Yeah Yeah Yeahs". iTunes Store (UK). Archived from the original on June 20, 2010. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  28. 1 2 "Zero (Remixes) – EP by Yeah Yeah Yeahs". iTunes Store (US). Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  29. 1 2 "Yeah Yeah Yeahs : Releases : Zero Remixes". Interscope Records. Archived from the original on October 3, 2009. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  30. It's Blitz! (liner notes). Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Interscope Records. 2009. B0012735-02.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  31. "ARIA Top 100 Singles – Week Commencing 6th April 2009" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  32. "ARIA Dance – Week Commencing 13th April 2009" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association (998): 17. April 13, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-04-19. Retrieved February 24, 2014 via Pandora Archive.
  33. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  34. "Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  35. "Yeah Yeah Yeahs Chart History (Hot Singles Sales)". Billboard . Archived from the original on January 31, 2021. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  36. "Yeah Yeah Yeahs Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  37. "Yeah Yeah Yeahs Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard . Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  38. "Yeah Yeah Yeahs Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  39. Yeah Yeah Yeahs (February 24, 2009). "YYYs HEART itunes PRESALE FOR IT'S BLITZ!- GET ZERO NOW!". Facebook . Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  40. "Yeah Yeah Yeahs Offer New Single and Video, Internet Takes Whole Album". The Fader . February 24, 2009. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  41. "Modern Rock – 2009". FMQB . Archived from the original on March 5, 2014. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  42. "Zero / Zero (Animal Collective Remix) [7" Vinyl]". Amazon (UK). Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  43. "Zero / Zero (Erol Alkan Rework) [7" Vinyl]". Amazon (UK). Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  44. "Zero". Amazon (UK). Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  45. "Zero (12 inch Vinyl Single) – Yeah Yeah Yeahs". AllMusic. Retrieved February 24, 2014.