In 2019, she broke the Australian record for the most weeks at number one on the ARIA Singles Chart by any artist with 16 weeks. By mid-January 2020, "Dance Monkey" had spent its 24th and final week at number one, beating Bing Crosby's all-time Australian record for his version of "White Christmas", which spent 22 weeks at the top in 1943.
"Dance Monkey" was accredited 16× platinum by ARIA for shipments of over 1,120,000 units, by mid-2021. Tones was the most awarded artist at the ARIA Music Awards of 2019, winning four of eight nominations. Tones and I released her debut extended play, The Kids Are Coming, on 30 August 2019, which peaked at number three in Australia, and top 10 in several countries. Her debut album, Welcome to the Madhouse, was released via Bad Batch on 16 July 2021. It debuted at number one on the ARIA Albums Chart. The album's lead single "Fly Away" peaked at number four in Australia and number 11 in the UK.
Toni Watson grew up in Mount Martha on the Mornington Peninsula to the south of Melbourne, in the Australian state of Victoria. Conflicting reports state she was born either in 1993 or in 2000. The artist prefers not to disclose her birth details, "I never denied my age. I never lied about it. I just don't say anything now... Everything is wrong online."
She explained choosing a music career: "One day I was at the park with my family, all my cousins and stuff, in Frankston... We were all just singing a song and my aunty was like 'oh guys, she can actually hold a note.' I think that's the earliest memory of someone actually pointing me out as someone that has an ability to sing. I was probably like 7 years old." The singer-songwriter had learned to play keyboards and drum pads while at secondary school.She started busking in Melbourne, while working in fashion retail at the Universal Store.
In 2009, as Toni Watson, she created a YouTube page and posted a cappella cover versions of songs. She performed local gigs and festivals, including the Let Go festival. Tones was the vocalist for a duo in 2014, and remembered: "I started out singing in small pubs and bars in Mornington, I was singing along to a guitarist until I ended up branching out on my own." She explained her shift to a solo career: "I actually got made redundant from my retail job and with that money I bought an RC300 (loop station) and just started to try to figure it all out." She busked "up and down the east coast with her synthesizers and loop pedal, she has been building a loyal fanbase and captivating crowds with her genre-diverse style."
In September 2017, the singer-songwriter travelled to Byron Bay in the Australian state of New South Wales to try busking there. At an early performance, she met Jackson Walkden-Brown who became her manager about a month later. Her busking success led to a greater commitment to a music career. The artist spent 2018 living between Walkden-Brown's home in the Gold Coast hinterland and in her van in Byron Bay, writing music and busking full-time. Later that year she won the Battle of the Buskers at Buskers by the Creek.
Charlie
Tones And I Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They tell me that I'm crazy, lost my mind
It doesn't really matter what they call me
'Cause people call me crazy all the time
They make me go
They make me go
There's nothin' really ever on his mind
Sometimes I think that he's just out to get me
He can never seem to look me in the eyes
He makes me go
He makes me go
Charlie
I'm thinkin' 'bout you Charlie
Charlie
I'm thinkin' 'bout you Charlie
'Cause Charlie's on my mind
Parties all the time
Charlie's on my mind
'Cause Charlie's on my mind
Parties all the time
Charlie's on my mind
And Charlie doesn't care about the weekend
Charlie parties every single night
I've heard that Charlie's going off the deep end
I think that Charlie lives a double life
He makes me go
He makes me go
Charlie
I'm thinkin' 'bout you Charlie
Charlie
I'm thinkin' 'bout you Charlie
'Cause Charlie's on my mind
Parties all the time
Charlie's on my mind
'Cause Charlie's on my mind
Parties all the time
Charlie's on my mind
Charlie, where you been for a minute?
Out all night are ya, are ya even sleepin'? You know
'Cause Charlie's on my mind
Ooh, Charlie, where you been for a minute?
Out all night are ya, are ya even sleepin'? You know
'Cause Charlie's on my mind
"Charlie" by Tones and I is a song that explores the struggles of mental health and addiction. The singer of the song talks about hearing voices in her head that tell her she is crazy and that she has lost her mind. However, she does not care about what others call her because they label her as crazy all the time. The repetition of the phrase "they make me go" gives the impression that the voices in her head are overpowering her and controlling her actions, leading her to Charlie. The singer then shifts the focus to Charlie, describing him as carefree and reckless - the complete opposite of her current mental state.
The chorus of the song is an ode to Charlie with the singer repeatedly saying, "Charlie, I'm thinking about you Charlie." The line "Charlie's on my mind, parties all the time" shows that Charlie is always on the singer's mind while she struggles with her mental health. The verse about Charlie living a double life suggests that there is more to his carefree and reckless behavior than what meets the eye. The repetition of "He makes me go" implies that Charlie is the only thing that keeps the singer going in her current state.
Overall, "Charlie" is a deep exploration of mental health and addiction that highlights the struggles of those living with it. By juxtaposing the singer's mental state with Charlie's carefree demeanor, Tones and I invites listeners to empathize with those struggling with addiction and mental health.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been hearing voices in my head now
I am experiencing auditory hallucinations
They tell me that I'm crazy, lost my mind
The voices in my head are calling me insane
It doesn't really matter what they call me
The labels put on me by others don't affect me
'Cause people call me crazy all the time
I am used to people calling me crazy frequently
They make me go
The voices in my head control my actions
And Charlie doesn't worry in the mornin'
Charlie is carefree in the morning
There's nothin' really ever on his mind
Charlie seems to have a blank mind
Sometimes I think that he's just out to get me
I am suspicious of Charlie's intentions towards me
He can never seem to look me in the eyes
Charlie avoids making eye contact with me
Charlie
Reference to a person named Charlie
I'm thinkin' 'bout you Charlie
I am preoccupied with thoughts about Charlie
'Cause Charlie's on my mind
Charlie is constantly on my thoughts
Parties all the time
Charlie constantly goes to parties
And Charlie doesn't care about the weekend
Charlie has no regard for the weekend
Charlie parties every single night
Charlie frequently attends parties every night
I've heard that Charlie's going off the deep end
I've heard that Charlie is experiencing a breakdown or engaging in risky behavior
I think that Charlie lives a double life
I suspect that Charlie has a secret or hidden identity
Charlie, where you been for a minute?
Asking Charlie where he has been
Out all night are ya, are ya even sleepin'? You know
I am questioning Charlie's sleep schedule due to his frequent partying
'Cause Charlie's on my mind
Charlie continues to occupy my thoughts
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Toni Watson, Eren Cannata, Sam Homaee
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tonitahwright8487
I love this song my late son's name is Charlie this year will be 10 years without him. I can imagine him playing this song all the time love you Charlie Bear 🐻 11.11.11-29.10.12
@pixiegem
Huh weird my friend died 5 years ago his mum called him Charlie bear ( his last name was literally bears)
@TheRealBlackula
🙏🙏🙏🙏
@dominiquezillmer-stumpe5530
He IS enjoying this Song from heaven. And IS watching Over you .
@BigRedRicketts
💙Your always on charlies mind 💙
@user-gd7sr8yo5k
Reading your comment about your Son who passed made me feel many emotions. My Son Maximillian passed away on Thanksgiving night 4 years ago ,he was 22 years old and my best friend . I miss him everyday ,many times a day . We bonded over Wu Tang and MF DOOM but it's the first CD he asked for that I really cherish . The songs on it were much like this one ,very happy and upbeat.He was 9 and thought it was so cool. It pains me to know he didn't see himself as others did. I wish he knew how cool he was . Sorry for rambling and I hope you are handling your loss better than I have. Can't wait to see him again
@debwarren-clarke6533
I love love love this.... My Lovely Dad Charles (Charlie Boy) passed away last month.... and my youngest Grandson is Charlie too...yep. Charlie's on my mind !! X
@Hari-888
No one parties like Charlie
@petitpigeon4851
Chalie's on my mind!
@charmaineramsden2188
Tones and I is back with a bang...I'm lovin this new TUUUNNNEEEE...❤💙❤