The Ting Tings Delight in Surprising TikTok Fame of ‘That’s Not My Name’

variety.com:

Mike Wass Time moves differently on TikTok. For every new hit uncovered on the video-sharing app, an old one is resurrected.

The latest track of a certain vintage to get new life is “That’s Not My Name.” The Ting Tings’ 2008 calling card has been embraced by an ever-expanding gaggle of celebrities — including Alicia Silverstone, the Rock, Christina Aguilera, Drew Barrymore, Jessica Chastain and Shakira, among many others — as part of a trend that compiles an actor’s different roles (or a pop star’s eras).

The song’s resurgence came as a complete surprise, however, to the duo’s Katie White and Jules De Martino.“We’re [not good] at social media,” White laughs over Zoom from Ibiza, where the Brits are now based. “I learned it was happening from my family.” The trend has opened the group’s eyes to the power of TikTok as a platform. “I didn’t think TikTok was really for us,” White says, “but now we will probably use it for our next album.”De Martino looks at their current virality as an invite to use the app. “We’re thrilled,” he says. “It’s amazing to see people interact with our song.”While the TikTok trend came out of left field, the Ting Tings always knew they had an indefatigable hit in their discography. “Early in our career, someone said, ‘You’ve written one of those songs that’s just going to keep on going,’” De Martino remembers. “And they were right, it just keeps coming around.” In addition to soundtracking celebrity social content, “That’s Not My Name” has been synched in multiple films and advertising campaigns around the world.

In addition to being the hit that won’t quit, “That’s Not My Name” has quite an origin story. White and de Martino wrote the song after losing a record deal as part of another band. “I.