Named after a Chinese friend whose name sounds like the Mandarin pronunciat… Read Full Bio ↴Named after a Chinese friend whose name sounds like the Mandarin pronunciation of "bandstand," the Ting Tings -- a scrappy, dance-oriented duo consisting of singer/guitarist Katie White and drummer Jules De Martino -- formed in the Salford district of Manchester, England in 2006. Prior to forming the group, the pair worked together in 2001 when White was in the all-female punk-pop group TKO and De Martino wrote some songs for them. Later the pair reunited, and with another friend formed the trio Eskimo Kiss, which signed to Mercury Records but disbanded, in part due to changing personnel at the label. De Martino and White regrouped, working on their own music and others' at Salford's music commune The Islington Mill. Quickly signed to the local indie label Switchflicker Records, the Ting Tings released their debut single, "That's Not My Name," in the spring of 2007. Following the limited-edition, tour-only single "Fruit Machine," the Ting Tings signed to major-label Columbia later that year. The flipside of the Switchflicker single, "Great DJ," was released as the duo's debut Columbia single in March 2008, followed by the reissue of "That's Not My Name" with a new exclusive B-side remix.

"That's Not My Name" rose to the top of the U.K. charts in May 2008, the same month that the duo's debut album, We Started Nothing, appeared. The Ting Tings spent the rest of 2008 and a large part of 2009 touring in support of the album, which eventually sold over two million copies worldwide, won the 2009 Ivor Novello Award for Best Album, and earned the group a Best New Artist Grammy nomination that December. Early in 2010, De Martino and White moved to Berlin to work on songs for their second album. Inspired by the city's atmosphere and the cold weather, they went in a darker, more electronic direction with their new songs. In August 2010, the Ting Tings offered a taste of their new material, premiering the single "Hands" -- which was mixed by Calvin Harris -- on BBC Radio 1 and officially releasing it that October. After extensive touring and over eight months recording in Germany and Spain, in March 2012 the Ting Tings offered their sophomore album, Sounds from Nowheresville, a collection of songs inspired by the exuberant freedom of the Beastie Boys' classic Paul's Boutique. Two years later, third album Super Critical surfaced. Its October release date was preceded by the April release of first single "Wrong Club."

That's Not My Name
The Ting Tings Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Four letter word just to get me along
It's a difficulty and I'm biting on my tongue
And I, I keep stalling, keeping me together
People around gotta find something to say now
Holding back, everyday the same
Don't wanna be a loner
Listen to me, oh no
I never say anything at all

But with nothing to consider they forget my name ('ame, 'ame, 'ame)

They call me, "Hell"
They call me, "Stacey"
They call me, "Her"
They call me, "Jane"
That's not my name
That's not my name
That's not my name
That's not my name
They call me, "Quiet girl"
But I'm a riot Mary, Jo, Lisa
Always the same
That's not my name
That's not my name
That's not my name
That's not my name

I miss the catch if they throw me the ball
I'm the last chick standing up against the wall
Keep up, falling, these heels they keep me boring
Getting glammed up and sitting on the fence now
So alone all the time at night
Lock myself away
Listen to me, I'm not
Although I'm dressed up, out and all
With everything considered they forget my name ('ame, 'ame, 'ame)

They call me, "Hell" (this song was in my head)
They call me, "Stacey" (now it's in my mind)
They call me, "Her" (call it, reach it, get some words and get some timing)
They call me "Jane"
That's not my name (and though I realize I cannot emphasize)
That's not my name (I'll stick around but just don't promise, nothing binding)
That's not my name
That's not my name
They call me, "Quiet girl" (and baby, can't you see, that you're so desperately)
But I'm a riot
Mary, Jo, Lisa (a standing joker like a vocal one-liner)
Always the same
That's not my name (instead of sing-a-long)
That's not my name (this song is monotone)
That's not my name (I've gotta get some soul)
That's not my name (I gotta get some feeling)

Are you calling me, darling?
Are you calling me bird?

They call me, "Hell" (are you calling me darling?)
They call me, "Stacey"
They call me, "Her"
They call me, "Jane"
That's not my name
That's not my name
That's not my name
That's not my name
They call me, "Quiet girl" (are you calling me bird?)
But I'm a riot
Mary, Jo, Lisa
Always the same
That's not my name
That's not my name
That's not my name
That's not my name

They call me, "Hell" (this song was in my head)
They call me, "Stacey" (now it's in my mind)
They call me, "Her" (call it, reach it, get some words and get some timing)
They call me, "Jane"
That's not my name (and though I realize)
That's not my name (I cannot emphasize)
That's not my name (I'll stick around but just don't promise, nothing binding)
That's not my name (so alone all the time and I lock myself away)
They call me, "Quiet girl" (and baby, can't you see, that you're so desperately)
But I'm a riot
Mary, Jo, Lisa (a standing joker like a vocal one-liner)
Always the same
That's not my name (instead of sing-a-long)
That's not my name (this song is monotone)
That's not my name (I've gotta get some soul)
That's not my name (I gotta get some feeling)

They call me, "Hell" (this song was in my head)
They call me, "Stacey" (now it's in my mind)
They call me, "Her" (call it, reach it, get some words and get some timing)
They call me, "Jane"
That's not my name (and though I realize)
That's not my name (I cannot emphasize)
That's not my name (I'll stick around but just don't promise, nothing binding)
That's not my name (so alone all the time and I lock myself away)
They call me, "Quiet girl" (and baby, can't you see, that you're so desperately)
But I'm a riot
Mary, Jo, Lisa (a standing joker like a vocal one-liner)
Always the same
That's not my name (instead of sing-a-long)
That's not my name (this song is monotone)
That's not my name (I've gotta get some soul)
That's not my name (I gotta get some feeling)

They call me, "Hell" (this song was in my head)
They call me, "Stacey" (now it's in my mind)
They call me, "Her" (call it, reach it, get some words and get some timing)
They call me, "Jane"
That's not my name (and though I realize)
That's not my name (I cannot emphasize)
That's not my name (I'll stick around but just don't promise, nothing binding)
That's not my name (so alone all the time and I lock myself away)
They call me, "Quiet girl" (and baby, can't you see, that you're so desperately)
But I'm a riot
Mary, Jo, Lisa
Always the same (though I'm dressed up)
That's not my name (out and all, with everything considered)
That's not my name (they forget my name)
That's not my name (I've gotta get some soul)
That's not my name (I gotta get some feeling)

This song was in my head
Now it's in my mind
Call it, reach it, get some words and get some timing
And though I realize
I cannot emphasize
I'll stick around but just don't promise, nothing binding
And baby, can't you see
That you're so desperately
A standing joker like a vocal one-liner
Instead of sing-a-long

This song is monotone
I've gotta get some soul, I gotta get some feeling

Overall Meaning

The Ting Tings's song 'That's Not My Name' is an upbeat, pop-rock anthem that speaks to the frustration of being overlooked and misunderstood. The song's lyrics describe a situation where the singer is constantly misidentified and underestimated by those around her. She is called by different names like "Hell," "Stacey," "Her," and "Jane," but none of these are her actual name. Despite being dressed up and put together, she feels isolated and unheard, so she locks herself away. The chorus of the song, with its repeated refrain of "That's not my name," is a defiant declaration that the singer refuses to be defined by others' perceptions.

Throughout the song, the lyrics convey a sense of conflicting emotions, with the singer feeling both frustrated and empowered at the same time. On one hand, she is exasperated with the way people treat her, but on the other hand, she uses that frustration as a source of strength, vowing to break free from the mold that others have tried to force her into. The repetition of the title phrase is a key part of the song's message, emphasizing the idea that identity is something that must be claimed for oneself, rather than being assigned by others.

Line by Line Meaning

Four letter word just to get me along
I am using a simple word to get myself through tough times

It's a difficulty and I'm biting on my tongue
This is a tough situation and I have to hold myself back from saying things I might regret

And I, I keep stalling, keeping me together
I am feeling lost but I am still holding on and trying to keep myself intact

People around gotta find something to say now
Others are always trying to label me and put me in a box

Holding back, everyday the same
Every day feels like a struggle and I am always holding myself back

Don't wanna be a loner
I don't want to be alone but I feel like I am

Listen to me, oh no
I am trying to make others understand but they won't listen

I never say anything at all
I am always holding back and not expressing myself

But with nothing to consider they forget my name ('ame, 'ame, 'ame)
People don't even remember my name because they don't take the time to get to know me

They call me, "Hell"
People label me as something negative, like "Hell"

They call me, "Stacey"
People give me a generic name like "Stacey" instead of my real name

They call me, "Her"
People refer to me as 'her' instead of my name

They call me, "Jane"
People give me a generic name like "Jane" instead of my real name

That's not my name
I am my own person and I deserve to be recognized by my real name

They call me, "Quiet girl"
People are labeling me as quiet when they don't really know me

But I'm a riot Mary, Jo, Lisa
I am actually a fun and exciting person, not just a quiet girl

Always the same
People keep trying to label me and put me in a box

I miss the catch if they throw me the ball
I am feeling left out and ignored

I'm the last chick standing up against the wall
I am feeling isolated and left behind

Keep up, falling, these heels they keep me boring
Trying to keep up with the expectations of others is weighing me down

Getting glammed up and sitting on the fence now
I am trying to fit in but it's not making me happy

So alone all the time at night
I am feeling isolated and lonely, even when surrounded by people

Lock myself away
I am withdrawing from the world because I feel like no one is listening to me

Although I'm dressed up, out and all
Even though I am trying to fit in and look the part, it's not enough

With everything considered they forget my name ('ame, 'ame, 'ame)
People are not recognizing me for who I am, they are just seeing me as a generic 'Stacey' or 'Jane'

Are you calling me, darling?
Are you actually acknowledging me as a person?

Are you calling me bird?
Are you just using a generic label for me, like 'bird'?

I'll stick around but just don't promise, nothing binding
I am willing to keep trying, but only if you actually listen to me and try to understand me as a person

And baby, can't you see, that you're so desperately
I am trying to get through to you so you can understand me

A standing joker like a vocal one-liner
I am funny and interesting, but people only see the surface level of me and don't try to understand me

Instead of sing-a-long
This is not a simple song to sing along to, it has true meaning behind it

This song is monotone
This isn't just a catchy tune, it has a deeper meaning

I've gotta get some soul
I need to be recognized and understood for who I truly am

I gotta get some feeling
I am feeling frustrated and need to be taken seriously

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Katie White, Jules De Martino

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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