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.
Westside Lobby
Tones And I Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I'm so sick of people telling me I'm kind
And I know they're not really being honest
Because honestly, I'm not that fucking nice
And I'm so sick of people thinking that I'm lovely
A little wholesome, happy girl that did it right
See, you all seem to think at night I go to bed and cry
Take me to the Westside Lobby, far away
Where I can do what I want and I can say what I wanna say
Take me to the Westside Lobby, it's where I wanna go
Where I can do what I want and it's the only place I know
Take me to the Westside Lobby, far away
Where I can do what I want and I can say what I wanna say
Take me to the Westside Lobby, it's where I wanna go
Where I can do what I want and it's the only place I know
And I'm so bored of people starting conversations
The ones that never would have started them before
People saying that they know me, we met once when I was four
Well, I'm sorry, but I don't know you at all (not that fucking nice)
And I'm so over people saying I don't look right
There's no place for you in music's all I hear
But my song went number one in over thirty fucking countries
And I'm sorry if that offends you, my dear (haha)
Take me to the Westside Lobby, far away
Where I can do what I want and I can say what I wanna say
Take me to the Westside Lobby, it's where I wanna go
Where I can do what I want and it's the only place I know
Take me to the Westside Lobby, far away
Where I can do what I want and I can say what I wanna say
Take me to the Westside Lobby, it's where I wanna go
Where I can do what I want and it's the only place I know
You were in a band, but it never really worked out
Even if it did, they'd be calling you a sellout
I wish we were kids so that we could all just pretend we're friends
Take me to the Westside Lobby, far away
Where I can do what I want and I can say what I wanna say
Take me to the Westside Lobby, it's where I wanna go
Where I can do what I want and it's the only place I know
The lyrics of Tones And I's song Westside Lobby express the singer's frustration with the way that people perceive her. She's tired of being told she's special and kind when she knows she's not always nice. She's also fed up with people assuming that she's a wholesome, happy girl who never gets upset. These assumptions are likely due to her success in the music industry, where image and perception can be everything. Tones And I also mentions that people are starting conversations with her that never would have happened before and claiming to know her despite only meeting her once when she was a child. She's also been told that she doesn't look right and that there's no place for her in music, despite the fact that her song has become a hit in many countries.
Despite her success, Tones And I still feels out of place and wants to escape to the Westside Lobby, where she can be herself and say what she wants without judgment. This place represents freedom and acceptance, where she can live without the expectations of others. It's somewhere she knows she can go to be herself, no matter what anyone else thinks.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm so sick of people telling me I'm special
I'm tired of hearing people complimenting me without any basis
And I'm so sick of people telling me I'm kind
I'm frustrated by people attributing certain traits to me that are not necessarily true
And I know they're not really being honest
I have a feeling that people are not being truthful with me
Because honestly, I'm not that fucking nice
In reality, I'm not as kind or nice as people seem to think
And I'm so sick of people thinking that I'm lovely
It's frustrating to have people assume things about my personality and character without knowing me well
A little wholesome, happy girl that did it right
People tend to perceive me as innocent, virtuous, and successful
See, you all seem to think at night I go to bed and cry
It seems like people believe that I'm overly emotional or vulnerable, but that's not true
But honestly, I'm not that fucking nice
In truth, I'm not as pleasant or agreeable as people assume
Take me to the Westside Lobby, far away
I want to escape from these people and the expectations they have of me
Where I can do what I want and I can say what I wanna say
I want to be in a place where I can express myself freely without any judgment or criticism
Take me to the Westside Lobby, it's where I wanna go
In my mind, the Westside Lobby represents a utopian space where I can be myself
Where I can do what I want and it's the only place I know
For me, the Westside Lobby is the only place where I can have this kind of freedom
And I'm so bored of people starting conversations
I'm tired of having meaningless conversations with people who don't really know me
The ones that never would have started them before
Some people are only talking to me now because I'm famous, not because they genuinely care or are interested in me
People saying that they know me, we met once when I was four
I'm annoyed when people claim to know me or have a connection with me based on a brief encounter a long time ago
Well, I'm sorry, but I don't know you at all (not that fucking nice)
The fact is, I don't have any meaningful relationship or connection with you, and I'm not going to pretend to be friendly just to please you
And I'm so over people saying I don't look right
I'm tired of people commenting on my appearance or suggesting that I don't fit a certain standard or stereotype
There's no place for you in music's all I hear
Some people seem to believe that I don't belong in the music industry because of my appearance or unconventional style
But my song went number one in over thirty fucking countries
Despite such criticism, my music has been successful and appreciated by audiences worldwide
And I'm sorry if that offends you, my dear (haha)
I'm not actually sorry if my success or confidence offends someone who doubts me or criticizes me
You were in a band, but it never really worked out
It seems like your musical career didn't succeed as you had hoped
Even if it did, they'd be calling you a sellout
Even if you had success, there would be people who would criticize and belittle you for it
I wish we were kids so that we could all just pretend we're friends
Sometimes, I miss the simplicity and innocence of childhood, where we could easily make friends and not worry about complex social dynamics or expectations
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Toni Watson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@toniwatsonhub149
[Verse]
I'm so sick of people telling me I'm special
I'm so sick of people telling me I'm kind
And I know they're not really being honest
Because honestly I'm not that f*cking nice (not that f*cking nice)
And I'm so sick of people thinking that I'm lovely
A little wholesome happy girl who did it right
See, you all seem to think it like I go to bed and cry
But honestly I'm not that f*cking nice (not that f*cking nice)
[Chorus]
Take me to the Westside Lobby, far away
Where I can do what I want and I can say what I wanna say
Take me to the Westside Lobby, it's where I wanna go
Where I can do what I want and it's the only place I know
Take me to the Westside Lobby, far away
Where I can do what I want and I can say what I wanna say
Take me to the Westside Lobby, it's where I wanna go
Where I can do what I want and it's the only place I know
[Verse]
And I'm so bored of people starting conversations
The ones that never would have started them before
People saying that they know me, we met once when I was four
Well I'm sorry but I don't know you at all (not that f*cking nice)
And I'm so over people saying I don't look right
There's no place for you in music's all I hear
But my song went number one in over 30 f*cking countries
And I'm sorry if that offends you, my dear (haha)
[Chorus]
Take me to the Westside Lobby, far away
Where I can do what I want and I can say what I wanna say
Take me to the Westside Lobby, it's where I wanna go
Where I can do what I want and it's the only place I know
Take me to the Westside Lobby, far away
Where I can do what I want and I can say what I wanna say
Take me to the Westside Lobby, it's where I wanna go
Where I can do what I want and it's the only place I know
[Bridge]
You would get a band but it never really worked out
Even if it did they'd be calling you a solo
I wish we were kids so that we could all just pretend we're friends
[Chorus]
Take me to the Westside Lobby, far away
Where I can do what I want and I can say what I wanna say
Take me to the Westside Lobby, it's where I wanna go
Where I can do what I want and it's the only place I know
@Panda-od9uj
My song 😍😍😍
So many times I've had people assume my personality that im quiet, shy and kind but also part of my personality is I dont take 💩 for long. They always get surprised when I speak up and then assume I'm rude 😂😂😂
I'm only quiet and shy because I'm getting a feel for the room and peoples interactions and I'm not much for small talk plus being kind is just a human decency trait.
" When you assume, you make us both look like A-holes." ~Unknown
@attlorenproskere7523
This song is so underrated
@PScoutmanJ
people hating on Tones and I got this song stuck on repeat, jokes on them!
@naenaedmysteries
You need to clean your ears
@mayroses830
Summer Vibes for sure ☀️
@wendyraymond1751
Absolutely amazing thanku so much love and God bless x
@stephaneboudehen6976
For me you are the Best Star
@erickcastillo5535
🥰😍thank you Tones and I.
I love your songs. From Nicaragua 💖
@phillsflychannel
Im just different n i love Jesus cause of this
@413xxx86
Keep 🤘🏽🤘🏽
@mathiasosei
This song is the best