"Nothin' at All" is a song written by pop and

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composer

Mark Mueller Mark Mueller (born July 11, 1957) is an American songwriter. A two-time winner of the ASCAP Pop Award for writing one of the Most Performed Songs of the year, he has had three ''Billboard'' Hot 100 Top Ten singles and one #1 Adult Contemporary ...

that was recorded by

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band

Heart The heart is a muscular organ in most animals. This organ pumps blood through the blood vessels of the circulatory system. The pumped blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the body, while carrying metabolic waste such as carbon dioxide t ...

. It came out as the fourth

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from the group's self-titled 1985 album, the

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release ''

'', and was the fourth song from the album to hit the U.S. Top 10. A

Billboard Hot 100 The ''Billboard'' Hot 100 is the music industry standard record chart in the United States for songs, published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine. Chart rankings are based on sales (physical and digital), radio play, and online streaming ...

hit that specifically peaked at #10, becoming their 9th and last top 10 hit, it received significant attention amongst the musical releases of 1986. The song additionally was a Top 40 hit in the

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, peaking at #38 in 1988 (after reaching #76 in the U.K. Singles Chart two years earlier during its original release). Musically, the track represents an embrace of the new wave and

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styles of radio-friendly rock songs of the early to middle 1980s (akin to contemporary U.S. groups such as

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) with elements such as strident keyboard playing mixed in with an emphasis on

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. This artistic choice was a softening from the heavier sound of earlier releases by Heart that were closer to

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while retaining the same melodramatic balladry driven

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Background and music video

The track functions as a love song that describes a new romantic relationship which falls into place without any interpersonal conflict or even real effort. The song's title phrase is employed twice: both when the narrator describes the new relationship as being like "nothin' at all" (compared to everything else that she's previously experienced) and additionally when she asks the song's subject what he did to make falling in love so easy (him giving the exact response of "nothin' at all"). The

music video A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a m ...

for "Nothin' At All" touches on the lyrical content of the song only abstractly and features a combination of comedic elements such as Ann and Nancy Wilson debating each other on

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choices as well as numerous moments of a large

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stalking different environments in a darkened building plus band members either miming to the track or pretending to play

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. As of December 2022, it has been well-received on

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, with the release featuring over nine million views."Nothin' at All"

Reception

The U.S. publication ''

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'' stated that "Ann Wilson’s ever exhilarating vocal force is dynamic as ever here, aided by sizzling rock guitar musicianship."

Music critic ''The Oxford Companion to Music'' defines music criticism as "the intellectual activity of formulating judgments on the value and degree of excellence of individual works of music, or whole groups or genres". In this sense, it is a branch of mus ...

Joe Viglione of

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praised the track for how it "explodes off the turntable", in his view, and he additionally remarked that it incorporates a "mix which is arguably producer Ron Nevison's finest moment."

Remixes

"Nothin' At All" & "Never" both have alternate mixes (as featured on their music videos), and these mixes had also been pressed onto some early release runs of the "Heart" album, be it on LP, CD or cassette. One may get a copy with both songs in their original mixes; both in their alternate mixes, or only one song in a different mix. Copies with serial No. SL-12410, for example, features the alternate mix for "Never," but the original mix for "Nothin' At All." It appears that the original mix of "Nothin' At All" only appeared on various editions of early LP & cassette runs, and later featured on the "Essentials" Collection. The 45RPM record featured the remix, thus receiving the most airplay on Top-40 radio formats of that day. The two versions of "Nothin' At All" greatly differ from one another, in contrast to the two mixes of "Never" which are more similar. The original mix of "Nothin' At All" features a more subdued lead vocal from Ann Wilson. The guitar solo sounds drastically different from the remix because it was actually performed by Survivor guitarist Frankie Sullivan, a guest on the album. In the remix, a vibrant alternate lead vocal take from Wilson is featured with striking embellishments; Leese's guitar solo is vastly different and has a harmonic solo with Wilson. Drum treatment was mixed with restraint in the original, with heavy reverb as to blend with other instruments; louder, dryer & "cuts-through" on the remix. But while these two versions greatly differ from one another, the underscoring rhythm tracks are exactly the same, most notable in the strong bass line, hence it appears the two final mixes do not derive from different basic track recording sessions. The UK 12" and CD single releases of "Nothin' At All" featured an extended remix clocking in at 5:20.

Charts

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nothin' At All (Heart Song) 1985 songs 1986 singles Capitol Records singles Heart (band) songs Song recordings produced by Ron Nevison Songs written by Mark Mueller

Background and music video

Reception

Remixes

Charts

See also

References