Single of the Week: Tones and I's "The Kids Are Coming"

By Haydn Hickson

Last month Tones and I became the first female to hit number one on the ARIA charts in four years. While Dance Monkey’s chart success could be contributed to her captivating voice and her catchy melodies, an equally as important element would be the lyrical content. Through animalistic imagery, Tones and I displayed incredible song-writing ability, capturing the raw performative nature of busking and the emotional rollercoaster that goes along with it.

Now, Tones and I has done it again, illustrating the world from her point of view, but this time, subtweeting the entire boomer generation. The Kids are Coming was literally made for everyone in the comment section of news.com.au’s Facebook page.

Opening with blaring horns, it’s clear from the get-go that Tones and I didn’t come to play. Throughout the song, Tones and I whispers her way through a Billie Eilish-esque, thumping baseline, calling out the older generation for their antiquated beliefs and their hypocrisy: “We got to clean up the mess you’ve made, still you don’t want to change”. But in true millennial fashion, Tones and I serves them some pedestrian.tv-esque sass, singing “We don’t just protest for the fun, we’re here to get shit done”.

It’s not clear from the lyrics exactly what she’s protesting, but from the album artwork, we can deduce her passions are pro-queer rights, anti-guns, striving for world peace and pro racial equality. We have no choice but to stan.

Her captivating voice in conjunction with the lyrical content make every single line in this song simply inspiring. It’s crazy to think that Tones and I has already established herself as one of the most exciting new voices in Australian pop, with only 6 songs out. Will she be Australia’s next pop-export? It sure seems that way, hey.