The Ting Tings – ‘Hands’
In the YouTube comments under the official video for this song, a commenter called Kelly (and then a lot of numbers) has reacted to the good news that the Ting Tings are releasing a new song with the following comment: “I know what I could do with two hands…”
It’s not clear if this is meant as a threat or an offer of a passionate embrace with either Katie or Jules (or both, you never know), but whatever action is being suggested, it’s an extreme one, coming from the kind of strong emotional reaction that this band often seems to provoke in a lot of people.
Their previous singles – ‘That’s Not My Name’, ‘Great DJ’, the one about shutting up, the one about walking, the other one – were brilliantly bratty, attention-grabbing, day-glo sorts of things. The kind of songs which irritate as many people as they enthrall, which is entirely the way all good pop music should work.
But the thing about brilliant brats is they have an annoying tendency to grow up.
(Here’s the video. It’s handy.)
So this is where we now find ourselves. A more sophisticated, electro-disco sound and a glassy vocal; a song which does not feature playground cat-calls or squeaky rapping; a song which doesn’t go anywhere that La Roux hasn’t gone already.
It’s not exactly the big comeback that those of us on the “HURRAY!” side of the fence were hoping for, it’s fair to say. Not that it isn’t good to have them back. Katie’s got a strange way with words, and this hasn’t abandoned her here. All that stuff about having a piano, and clapping your (presumably very sore) hands if you’re working too hard. Well you don’t get that stuff with anyone else, do you?
On the other hand, it’s probably quite tiring being the lightning rod for the eye-rolling “TUT!” brigade all the time. No wonder they decided to go and hole up in Berlin. No wonder they decided to write a song about needing to take stock and sort your head out. And no wonder some of their spiky edges have been smoothed off a bit.
So, let’s just say this one is for the people who DON’T know what they could do with two hands, in relation to the Ting Tings. Apart from the clapping/working thing, obv.
Download: Out now
www.thetingtings.com
BBC Music page
(Fraser McAlpine)
The Fly says: “This is rubbish.”
Pinpoint Music says: “I haven’t heard it yet, but I’m gonna bet that the lead singer shouts the chorus repeatedly.”
Shattered Vinyl says: “A simple hook, hot synth and an instantly addictive beat, it sticks to your brain.”
View full post on BBC – Chart blog
