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Monday Coffee Break: I Got Nuthin'

Posted at 8:12 AM on September 13, 2010 by Steve Seel (64 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break

You know how it goes: often, Monday comes and you spend half the day just trying to get back into the swing of being at work. That's how Jacquie and I are feeling this morning on The Morning Show. The synapses don't all fire at once. So when trying to think of today's topic for the 9:30 Coffee Break, we thought "I got nuthin'." Then, since Jacquie is a genius, her next thought was, "why don't we do a Coffee Break about nothing?" Kind of like Seinfeld.

So today's topic: songs with "nothing" in the title.

Songs played:

Spoon, "Got Nuffin"
Elliott Smith, "Ballad of Big Nothing"
Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66, "Mas Que Nada"
Mason Jennings, "Nothing"
The Smiths, "William It Was Really Nothing"
Heiruspecs, "Something For Nothing"

Comments (64)

Spoon - Got Nuffin

Posted by Allyson | September 13, 2010 8:33 AM

John Cage - 4'33"

Posted by derek | September 13, 2010 8:46 AM

"Nothing on my Mind"

Too Much Joy

Posted by armin | September 13, 2010 8:46 AM

Nothing Else Matters -- Metallica

Money for Nothing -- Dire Straits

I [Who Have Nothing] -- Ben E King

Nothing but Heartaches -- the Supremes

Nothing from Nothing [leaves, you know, nothing] -- Billy Preston

Posted by lou | September 13, 2010 8:46 AM

Nothing Compares 2 U - Prince or Sinead O'Connor

Posted by DMM | September 13, 2010 8:47 AM

Heaven - Talking Heads

Posted by kyle macleod | September 13, 2010 8:47 AM

Ballad of big nothing - elliott smith
empty shell - cat power
the created void - underoath

Posted by Christian | September 13, 2010 8:48 AM

Second on Dire Straights Money for Nothing.

Posted by DMM | September 13, 2010 8:51 AM

Peter Bjorn & John ~ Nothing to Worry About

Pavement ~ Nothing Ever Happens

Mason Jennings ~ Nothing

Posted by Jessie | September 13, 2010 8:51 AM

Violent Femmes - I Am Nothing
Aimee Mann - Nothing is Good Enough

Posted by David Berglund | September 13, 2010 8:51 AM

Spoon - Got Nuffin
The Beatles - Nowhere Man
Pinback - From Nothing To Nowhere
The Shins – Nothing At All

Posted by Choate | September 13, 2010 8:52 AM

Nothing but sunshine - atmosphere

Posted by james | September 13, 2010 8:53 AM

Deerhunter - Nothing Ever Happens to Me

Posted by Victor | September 13, 2010 8:55 AM

They Might Be Giants - Nothing's Gonna Change My Clothes.

Not only does it have the word "nothing' in the title, it's also pretty much about nothing.

Posted by Brandon | September 13, 2010 8:55 AM

Nothing - Edie Brickell & New Bohemians

Posted by DMM | September 13, 2010 8:55 AM

Money For Nothing - Dire Straights
Nothing Compares to you - Sinead O'Connor
Got Nuffin -Spoon

And the best one:

Nothing From Nothing - Billy Preston

"Nothing from nothing leaves nothing" You just have to play that.

Posted by Patrick | September 13, 2010 8:55 AM

Tom Petty --It Ain't Nothing to Me

Posted by Neal | September 13, 2010 8:56 AM

air-the owls

Posted by becks | September 13, 2010 8:56 AM

Plenty of Nothin' by Bobby Darin.
Nothing Ever Happens by Del Amitri.

Posted by Steve-O | September 13, 2010 8:56 AM

"Nothing" - Mighty Lemon Drops (Ricochet)
"Nothing Ever Happens" - Del Amitri (Waking Hours)
"Nothing Lasts" - Matthew Sweet (Girlfriend)
"Nothing Man" - Bruce Springsteen (The Rising)
"King Nothing" - Metallica (Load)

Posted by (JL) | September 13, 2010 8:57 AM

Something for Nothing - Heiruspecs
Nothing in My Way - Keane
(Nothing But) Flowers - Talking Heads
Nothing is Alone - Toad the Wet Sprocket

Posted by Nick | September 13, 2010 8:58 AM

Across the Universe - The Beatles (please not the Fiona Apple version)

Posted by Amanda | September 13, 2010 8:59 AM

Nothing - Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians
Across the Universe - Trip Shakespeare (or The Beatles) - "Nothing's gonna change my world..."

Posted by Ira | September 13, 2010 9:01 AM

Dawes- when my time comes
stare into the abyss but its starin right back

Posted by Nate | September 13, 2010 9:01 AM

Almost forgot...
"Less Than Zero" - Elvis Costello (My Aim Is True)
"Zero" - The Donnas (Get Skintight)

Posted by (JL) | September 13, 2010 9:01 AM

If you're willing to bend the rules a bit, "Wie Glauben" from The Big Lebowski soundtrack was the theme for the nihilists in the movie. It repeats the lyric "We believe in nothing" in German.

Posted by mulad | September 13, 2010 9:02 AM

Something for Nothing - Heiruspecs
Nothing Man - Bruce Springsteen
Nothing but Sunshine - Atmosphere

Posted by Tyler | September 13, 2010 9:03 AM

Ben Folds Five - Your Most Valuable Possession:
A rambling voice mail that really is about nothing. Not particularly musical, but pretty funny.

Simon & Garfunkle - 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy):
The quintessential song about nothing:
- - - - - - - - -
I've got no deeds to do,
No promises to keep.
I'm dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep.
Let the morning time drop all its petals on me.
Life, I love you,
All is groovy.
- - - - - - - - -

Posted by Eric E | September 13, 2010 9:07 AM

Nothing Song - Alice In Chains
Nothing To Say - The Kinks
Nothing Is Easy - Jethro Tull

Zilch - The Monkees

Posted by Gripweed | September 13, 2010 9:07 AM

Oh My God, Whatever, Etc- Ryan Adams

Posted by Kari | September 13, 2010 9:08 AM

Nothin' - Reel Big Fish
Nothing - Pat Donahue
Nothing Gold Can Stay - New Found Glory

Posted by Shane | September 13, 2010 9:08 AM

I double dog dare you to play 4:33. You could even perform it live as a duet.

Posted by Eryc | September 13, 2010 9:08 AM

Wilco - nothing'severgonnastandinmyway (Again)
... yes it is all one word.

Posted by Alex | September 13, 2010 9:10 AM

"Nothing Compares to You"-Prince
"(Nothing but) Flowers"-Talking Heads
"Nothing to Worry About"-Peter Bjorn & John
"Nothing"- Mason Jennings
"Got Nuffin"-Spoon

Posted by Rachel Ahrndt | September 13, 2010 9:11 AM

Wilco - MIsunderstood

ends with "thank you all for nothing at all"

live versions have more shouting of this than the original from A.M.

Posted by Blake | September 13, 2010 9:11 AM

Nothingman by Pearl Jam

Posted by Breanne | September 13, 2010 9:11 AM

Talking Heads - Road to Nowhere

Posted by Adam | September 13, 2010 9:12 AM

Dawes - When My Time Comes for the lyric:

"Oh you can judge all the world on the sparkle that you think it lacks./
Yes you can stare into the abyss, but it's staring right back."

Posted by Sean | September 13, 2010 9:12 AM

Got Nuffin - Spoon
Best Thing That Never Happened - Paul Westerberg

Posted by ken | September 13, 2010 9:14 AM

Got Nothing - Under The Influence of Giants
Mas Que Nada - Sergio Mendes

Posted by Chris | September 13, 2010 9:14 AM

Ok so it would be long and "nothing" isn't in the title but - Bohemian Rhapsody. "Nothing really matters to me"

Posted by Beth | September 13, 2010 9:14 AM

Nothing-Mason Jennings

Posted by NICK | September 13, 2010 9:15 AM

Big Nothing--The Roches (haven't heard that in forever)

Posted by Susan | September 13, 2010 9:20 AM

Nowhere Nothin' Fu*kup - Built to spill

Posted by Matthew | September 13, 2010 9:20 AM

Oingo Boingo "Nothing bad ever happens to me"

Posted by ann | September 13, 2010 9:20 AM

I Got Nothing - The Bangles
I've Got Plenty of Nothing - Frank Sinantra
Louder than Bombs William, It was Really Nothing- The Smiths

Posted by ken | September 13, 2010 9:21 AM

"Empty Box" - Morphine

Posted by andy | September 13, 2010 9:23 AM

Longview. Green Day.

Posted by Ryan | September 13, 2010 9:23 AM

The Ting Tings - "We started Nothing"

Posted by Justin Gall | September 13, 2010 9:25 AM

Wilco song where he repeats, "I'd like to thank you all for nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing at all." Is the song called Misunderstood???

First song on the album where you can see just a guitar.
Thanks!

Posted by Christian Gould | September 13, 2010 9:25 AM

Never Ending Story-Klaus-Doldinger: The "Nothing"

Posted by Nate | September 13, 2010 9:26 AM

SONG:
Ted, Just Admit It…
FROM:
Nothing's Shocking
- Jane's Addiction

Ted, Just Admit It…

camera got them images
camera got them all
nothing's shocking...
showed me everybody
naked and disfigured
nothing's shocking...
and then he came
now sister's
not a virgin anymore
her sex is violent...

Posted by Jenny | September 13, 2010 9:27 AM

As a metaphor for "Nothing" --

White Blank Page - Mumford and Sons

Posted by DMM | September 13, 2010 9:27 AM

Nikka Costa - Nothing

Posted by Kristi | September 13, 2010 9:28 AM

Money for Nothing - Dire Straits
Nothing Left to Borror - The Jayhawks

Posted by karen | September 13, 2010 9:28 AM

Everything means nothing to me- Elliott Smith
Nothing Better- The Postal Service

Posted by Macey Page | September 13, 2010 9:28 AM

"Ballad of big nothing" Elliott Smith
"Nothing Better" The Postal Service
"Nothing on you" B.o.B.
"Money for nothing" Dire Straits
"The Nothing Song" Sigur Ros

Posted by Katia Piza | September 13, 2010 9:28 AM

Nothing Song - Alice in Chains

Posted by Steve | September 13, 2010 9:30 AM

nothing compares to you.
sinead o'connor

Posted by elaine | September 13, 2010 9:31 AM

Everything means nothing to me- Elliott Smith

Posted by Macey | September 13, 2010 9:31 AM

Luna - Moon Palace

Posted by Rebecca | September 13, 2010 9:35 AM

Ethan Hawke - I'm Nuthin' Lyrics - Reality Bites Soundtrack
nothingman - pearl jam

Posted by sla | September 13, 2010 9:35 AM

Man, the 80s kids are slacking here. Can't believe I'm the first to nominate: