Something from Nothing (song)

"Something from Nothing"
Single by Foo Fighters
from the album Sonic Highways
Released	October 16, 2014
Format	Digital download
Recorded	Electrical Audio, Chicago
Genre	Alternative rock, hard rock
Length	4:48
Label	RCA
Writer(s)	Foo Fighters (Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett, Pat Smear)
Producer(s)	Butch Vig
Foo Fighters singles chronology
"Bridge Burning" (2012) "Something from Nothing" (2014) "The Feast and the Famine" (2014)

"Something from Nothing" is a song by the 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.

Composition

"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.^[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 an appearance by Rick Nielsen.^[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 1 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]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2014) Peak position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[14] 75 Australia (ARIA)[13] 53 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[15] 42 Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[16] 19 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[17] 63 Canada Rock (Billboard)[18] 1 Finland (Suomen virallinen latauslista)[19] 22 Germany (Official German Charts)[20] 100 Japan (Japan Hot 100)[21] 63 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[22] 57 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[23] 32 Portugal (Portugal Singles Chart)[24] 45 Scotland (Official Charts Company)[25] 56 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[26] 73 UK Rock and Metal (Official Charts Company)[27] 1 US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[28] 1 US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[29] 8 US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[30] 1 US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[31] 28 US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[32] 1 US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[33] 1

Year-end charts Chart (2014) Position US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[34] 95 US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[35] 38 Chart (2015) Position US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[36] 46 US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[37] 5 US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[38] 20 US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[39] 14

External links

• Full Lyrics at LyricsOnDemand.com
• Chords & Lyrics to "Something From Nothing" on YouTab

References

1. Young, Alex (October 12, 2014). "Foo Fighters to premiere new single "Something From Nothing"". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
2. "LISTEN: Foo Fighters Release New Song “Something from Nothing”". Retrieved November 23, 2015.
3. "Foo Fighters debut new song Something From Nothing, sport their Dio side". HitFix. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
4. Kreps, Daniel (October 16, 2014). "Hear Foo Fighters' Fiery New Song 'Something From Nothing'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
5. "Foo Fighters premiere new single "Something From Nothing" — listen". Consequence of Sound. October 16, 2014. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
6. Kristobak, Ryan (October 16, 2014). "Foo Fighters Release 'Something From Nothing,' First Song Off 'Sonic Highways'". The Huffington Post. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
7. Camp, Zoe; Phillips, Amy (October 16, 2014). "Foo Fighters Release "Something From Nothing" From New Album Sonic Highways". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
8. Nelson, Michael (October 16, 2014). "Foo Fighters – "Something From Nothing"". Stereogum. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
9. Grebey, James (October 20, 2014). "Foo Fighters' 'Something From Nothing' Video Is a Hardcore Sing-Along". Spin. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
10. Renshaw, David (October 20, 2014). "Foo Fighters perform in a basement in 'Something From Nothing' video – watch". NME. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
11. Trust, Gary (October 20, 2014). "Chart Highlights: Iggy Azalea, MAGIC! Score New No. 1s, Foo Fighters Return". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
12. Official UK Singles Chart - Foo Fighters - peak positions - singles officialcharts.com. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
13. Ryan, Gavin (2014-10-25). "Ed Sheeran Tops ARIA Singles Chart For Second Week". Noise11. Retrieved 2014-10-28.
14. "Austriancharts.at – Foo Fighters – Something from Nothing" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
15. "Ultratop.be – Foo Fighters – Something from Nothing" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
16. "Ultratop.be – Foo Fighters – Something from Nothing" (in French). Ultratip.
17. "Foo Fighters – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Foo Fighters. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
18. "Foo Fighters – Chart history" Billboard Canada Rock for Foo Fighters. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
19. "Foo Fighters: Something from Nothing" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
20. "Offiziellecharts.de – Foo Fighters – Something from Nothing". GfK Entertainment.
21. "Foo Fighters – Chart history" Japan Hot 100 for Foo Fighters.
22. "Dutchcharts.nl – Foo Fighters – Something from Nothing" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
23. "Charts.org.nz – Foo Fighters – Something from Nothing". Top 40 Singles.
24. Foo Fighters - Something From Nothing charts acharts.us. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
25. Official Scottish Singles Chart Top 100 - 26 October 2014 - 01 November 2014 officialcharts.com. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
26. "Foo Fighters: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company.
27. "Archive Chart: 2014-11-16" UK Rock Chart. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
28. "Foo Fighters – Chart history" Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 for Foo Fighters. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
29. "Foo Fighters – Chart history" Billboard Hot Rock Songs for Foo Fighters. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
30. "Foo Fighters – Chart history" Billboard Rock Airplay for Foo Fighters. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
31. "Foo Fighters – Chart history" Billboard Adult Alternative Songs for Foo Fighters. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
32. "Foo Fighters – Chart history" Billboard Alternative Songs for Foo Fighters. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
33. "Foo Fighters – Chart history" Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs for Foo Fighters. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
34. "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
35. "Rock Airplay Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
36. "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2015". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
37. "Rock Airplay Songs: Year End 2015". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
38. "Alternative Songs: Year End 2015". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
39. "Mainstream Rock Songs: Year End 2015". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2015.