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.
I Made It
Tones And I Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But my head told me "no"
My parents sat me down and they tried to explain
That I had some time to grow
But I stayed up all night until I got it right
And in the morning, I screamed, "Hey, look, I made it"
When I was young, I tried to build a paper plane
But my head told me "no"
But I knew I was special
And when I didn't believe
I'd remember the moments when my family's waiting for me
And if I had a dollar
From the ones that didn't believe
I could sail away and live my life at sea
'Cause I made it
Yeah, damn, I made it
Oh, oh, I made it
'Cause I made it
Yeah, yeah, 'cause I made it
Yeah, damn, I made it
Oh, oh, I made it
Mm, 'cause I made it
Sometimes I think about why we do what we do
And the world tells us "no"
These walls were made to break and I am breaking through
At times it's hard to show
And even though I'm scared, I know that I'm aware
That I'm exactly where I'm meant to be
So when I think about why I do what I do
It's everything to me
And I knew I was special
And when I didn't believe
I'd remember the moments when my family's waiting for me
And if I had a dollar
From the ones that didn't believe
I could sail away and live my life at sea
Oh, oh, 'cause I made it
Yeah, damn, I made it
Oh, oh, I made it
'Cause I made it
Yeah, yeah, 'cause I made it
Yeah, damn, I made it
Oh, oh, I made it
Mm, 'cause I made it
We made it, we made it, we made it
We made it out, we made it out, we made it out
We made it, we made it, we made it
We made it out, we made it out, we made it out
'Cause we made it
Yeah, damn, we made it
Oh, oh, we made it
'Cause we made it
Yeah, yeah, 'cause we made it
Yeah, damn, we made it
Oh, oh, we made it
'Cause we made it
The lyrics to Tones and I's song "I Made It" speak to the singer's journey towards success despite doubts and discouragement from others. The first verse references a childhood memory of trying to build a paper plane and being told by her head (presumably self-doubt) that she couldn't do it. Her parents tried to encourage her that she had time to grow, but she remained persistent and eventually succeeded in building the paper plane. The chorus reflects her pride in her perseverance and self-belief: "I made it, Yeah, damn, I made it, Oh, oh, I made it."
In the second verse, Tones and I reflects on the challenges of facing rejection from the world and trying to break through the walls that are put in place to keep people from succeeding. Despite the difficulties, she knows that she is exactly where she is meant to be and feels fulfilled in doing what she loves. The chorus repeats and doubles down on the message of self-belief and perseverance, emphasizing that "we made it."
Overall, the song is an anthem to those who have been told that they can't succeed and have felt discouraged or doubted. Tones and I encourages listeners to push through those feelings and keep going until they achieve their goals, no matter how impossible they may seem.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was young, I tried to build a paper plane
As a child, I attempted to make a paper airplane
But my head told me "no"
I doubted myself and my ability to succeed
My parents sat me down and they tried to explain
My parents tried to offer me guidance and advice
That I had some time to grow
They reassured me that I had time to improve
But I stayed up all night until I got it right
I persevered and worked tirelessly until I succeeded
And in the morning, I screamed, "Hey, look, I made it"
I was elated and proud of my accomplishment when I succeeded
But I knew I was special
Despite my doubts, I recognized my own worth and potential
And when I didn't believe
During times of uncertainty or self-doubt
I'd remember the moments when my family's waiting for me
I draw strength and motivation from the support of my loved ones
And if I had a dollar
If I had a monetary reward
From the ones that didn't believe
From those who doubted my ability to succeed
I could sail away and live my life at sea
I could leave and pursue my dreams on my own terms
'Cause we made it
We have succeeded
These walls were made to break and I am breaking through
I am breaking through obstacles and barriers
At times it's hard to show
Even though I may face difficulties, I don't give up
And even though I'm scared, I know that I'm aware
Despite being afraid, I am conscious of my actions and their consequences
That I'm exactly where I'm meant to be
I am confident and content with my current situation
Sometimes I think about why we do what we do
I reflect on my purpose and motivations
And the world tells us "no"
We are often met with rejection or setbacks
When I think about why I do what I do
Reflecting on my purpose motivates me to continue pursuing my goals
It's everything to me
My goals and dreams are extremely important to me
We made it, we made it, we made it
We succeeded regardless of any obstacles
We made it out, we made it out, we made it out
We overcame adversity
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Toni Watson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TonesAndIVideos
@Tones And I's "I made it" was featured on Netflix movie "True Spirit" ✨️
@adelaidedupont9017
Watched True spirit last night. Hadn't clicked it was a Tones and I song until the second chorus with the classic orchestration which I've heard in other Tones and I songs - especially from the first album.
@timthompson5821
Amazing song ❤️👌
@BOOTA1984
I'm 46 years old and I just stumbled upon you the other day. My wife and I have been listening to your music non-stop. Thank you so much for being such a shining star and an inspiration. 💫👍
@ellamcleod6452
I love true spirit I watched it this morning and my friend told me about it so I watched it is awesome
@marisfrancisco3593
congratulations you have a super beautiful voice you are a star. from now on I'm your fans .... I heard it on nexflee in the movie
@shurriepennington6256
This song and movie made me realize that I can overcome and face my fears. To everyone who is suffering from mental illness or addiction... We made it through another day. Keep fighting the good fight!!
@januszsowa805
VERY GOOD S
@frascla
I’ve started listening to this song while I was in the hospital, and now that I’m finally home, I can say that I made it 😊 great song and great voice. Thank you!
@bogdanbotizan3478
the movie is even better