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.
Dreaming
Tones And I Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are you at peace about it
Or should we try to work things out?
'Cause the Lord knows they say you're better off without me
And I've been slowly dyin'
Since the angels brought you down
Is this just a fantasy?
Could you still be the one for me? Oh
Am I just dreamin'?
Dreamin'
Am I just dreamin'?
Dreamin'
Ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh
And you know they all say that the truth will set you free
But I'm not ready for it
I don't really wanna see
'Cause when the road gets rough, I'll always have you near
I don't wanna walk alone now
I don't wanna live without you here
Is this just a fantasy?
A fucked up game of make-believe?
Could you still be the one for me? Oh
Am I just dreamin'? (Am I just still dreamin' now?)
Dreamin' (baby, am I just still dreamin'? I'm just dreamin')
Am I just dreamin'? (Ooh, am I just dreamin'?)
Dreamin' (oh, am I just still dreamin'? I'm just)
Ooh-ooh (say there's something now)
Ooh-ooh (I'm just)
Ooh-ooh (you can come around)
Ooh-ooh (say there's something now)
Do you really wanna leave me?
Do you really wanna go?
And one day you might come runnin' back
But I guess I'll never know
When the free rides all are over
And there's no more pot of gold
Do you really wanna leave me?
Do you really wanna go?
Ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh
(Am I just dreamin'?)
Ooh-ooh (say there's something now)
Ooh-ooh (say there's something now)
Whoa, whoa
Oh-oh, oh-oh
Whoa, oh
Silence
These lyrics from Tones And I's song "Dreaming" depict a sense of uncertainty and longing in a relationship that seems to be slipping away. The singer questions whether they are slowly drifting apart from their loved one and wonders if they should make an effort to repair their connection. The mention of angels bringing the loved one down suggests a divine intervention or a significant change that has impacted their relationship.
The lyrics delve into the idea of questioning reality and wondering if what they are experiencing is just a fantasy or a distorted game of make-believe. Despite the doubts and struggles, the singer still holds onto the hope that their loved one could be the one for them, expressing a deep sense of yearning and confusion.
The theme of reluctance to face the truth is also present in the lyrics, as the singer admits they are not ready to confront reality and would rather hold onto the comfort of having their loved one by their side during tough times. The imagery of not wanting to walk alone and not wanting to live without their partner showcases a fear of losing that connection and dependency on their presence.
The song concludes with a plea for clarity, as the singer questions if their partner truly wants to leave and expresses uncertainty about the future. The mention of free rides ending and the pot of gold running out symbolize the idea of facing the consequences of decisions and the reality of a relationship's potential end. The repetition of the word "dreaming" throughout the song emphasizes the sense of uncertainty and confusion in the singer's mind, accompanied by a sense of resignation in the final, poignant "silence."
Line by Line Meaning
Am I slowly driftin' away from you, my dear?
Are we growing apart, my love?
Are you at peace about it
Are you content with the distance between us?
Or should we try to work things out?
Should we make an effort to mend our relationship?
'Cause the Lord knows they say you're better off without me
Perhaps it's true that you would be happier without me
And I've been slowly dyin'
I've been struggling without you
Since the angels brought you down
Since you came into my life
Is this just a fantasy?
Could this all be a figment of my imagination?
A fucked up game of make-believe?
A twisted game of pretending?
Could you still be the one for me? Oh
Is there still a chance for us?
Am I just dreamin'?
Am I lost in a dream?
Ooh-ooh
Exclamation of confusion or realization
And you know they all say that the truth will set you free
It's believed that honesty brings liberation
But I'm not ready for it
I'm not prepared to face it
I don't really wanna see
I would rather not know
'Cause when the road gets rough, I'll always have you near
Your presence gives me strength in tough times
I don't wanna walk alone now
I fear being without you
I don't wanna live without you here
The thought of being without you is unbearable
Do you really wanna leave me?
Are you truly considering moving on?
Do you really wanna go?
Are you seriously thinking of leaving?
And one day you might come runnin' back
There's a chance you may return someday
But I guess I'll never know
But I may never find out for sure
When the free rides all are over
When all the easy times have passed
And there's no more pot of gold
And the rewards are no longer abundant
Ooh-ooh
Exclamation expressive of emotion or thought
Whoa, whoa
Expression of surprise or realization
Oh-oh, oh-oh
Vocalization of a feeling or realization
Whoa, oh
An exclamation showing astonishment
Silence
A call for quiet reflection
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Toni Watson, Sam Nelson Harris
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@callyg101
Tones and I, I'd just like to say thank you for all of your music, during a really difficult time in my life a few years ago, when some of your more "psychedelic" and "darker" music came out of the woodwork, that music literally kept me holding on to hope that someday things will get better for me.
I was hoping for more music from you that reflected that same spirit, and honesty, and this is definitely one of those songs. My favorites of yours have always been "Bad Child," "Fly Away," "Welcome To The Madhouse," "Cloudy Day," "Just A Mess," etc.
The lyrics of these songs are just so raw and emotionally painful, but, truly honest, and they hit home for me, and always have.
I really relate to those hits on a very personal and deep level, and those lyrics truly resonate with me.
I am so glad that you let your true colors fly in the music industry, you are extremely talented and have a very unique way of connecting with your fellow listeners with your lyrics.
I'll always be a fan! Thank you for helping me get through some of my darkest days. And on my happier ones, I absolutely adore the song "Dance Monkey." Keep doing all that you do and continue being your true self! <3
This song is beautiful! I hope to hear much more of your music in the future!
@jameslarsen1728
OMG, I love watching her grow as a musical artist 😍 so different from her older music but still has her soul infused in the song
@tonesandi
Thanks, I appreciate that ❤️
@karmaftw3730
I've never seen an artist reply! I love her and her music. Amazing unique voice!❤
@RD-tw7sx
❌⭕️❌⭕️❤⭕️❌⭕️❌⭕️❤❌⭕️❌⭕️❌♥️
@unomeecj
From the moment I heard her voice I was hooked. She's got soul she's got rhythm. She's beautiful every song's catchy and I find Myself lost in song and dance...NOW DREAM.❤❤❤
@henrythebanana8189
@@tonesandihello :)
@lukeprobert630
Just amazing songs all time this should be bigger views
@aimeefidis9018
"am i just dreaming " ❤😭 oh my the vocals for that im in love
@tonesandi
Thank you 🌻🌻
@bread5358
@@tonesandi delete dance monkey i beg