These Kids
Encyclopedia
"These Kids" is the first single
from Joel Turner and the Modern Day Poets
' self-titled debut album Joel Turner and the Modern Day Poets
. The song was written in December 2001, with the music composed by Turner and the lyrics written by his older brother Tim (aka "DubLT").
"These Kids" achieved huge success in Australia
, reaching #1 on the national charts and remaining in the top 5 for 13 weeks. The track was nominated for Breakthrough Artist (Single) at the 2005 ARIA Awards, Most Performed Urban Work at the 2006 APRA Awards
, and honoured with an ARIA
No. 1 Chart Award in November 2005. Furthermore, it placed eighth in the 2004 ARIA
End of Year Singles Chart while still in the top 5.
"These Kids" couples a haunting melody with Turner’s vocal percussion, transforming into a heavier rock sound towards its conclusion. Much of the song’s popularity is thought to be due to the reality of its subject matter. It aims to draw attention to the plight of street kids ("Nobody knows the suffering they go through / And you wouldn’t believe ‘em if they told you"), offering a message of hope to young people going through hard times while also criticizing the justice system ("Instead of listening to the kids with the problems, they just tick them off more / Until the kid’s in prison or he’s dead before he’s 24"). Other issues covered in the song include crime, drugs and depression, with further references to the suicide of DubLT’s friend and the 2001 murder of a 14-year-old Brisbane boy stabbed to death by a family friend who had promised to help him buy marijuana.
DubLT is quoted as saying, "I wrote These Kids after one of my mates committed suicide, so it means a lot to me that it connected with so many people" ... "I never wrote that song thinking it would be recorded or that Joel would get famous. But there is a reason I wrote that song and there’s a reason why Joel got famous. It was so I could bring out that song and someone could see the light." In more recent times, the track has also been dedicated to Joel Turner’s troubled childhood neighbour and friend.
Turner travelled to Cairns in far north Queensland
at the age of 15 to record the track with producer David Lynch for M.E.L. Productions. Once there, he laid down the vocals, beat and guitars while DubLT recorded his rap verse on a $20 microphone back in Brisbane
. Turner has said that he originally tried using a real beat for the song, but subsequently chose to replace it with beatboxing
.
When Australian Idol
judge Mark Holden
heard the recording some time later, he decided to release a remixed version as Turner’s first single, which featured the addition of strings and an alternative rap from DubLT. Although the song was edited to four minutes for radio, the full version can be found on the CD single and album, featuring a longer intro, additional choruses and extended electric guitar work. The original M.E.L. mix is also present on the CD single. In addition, a remixed version of the track appears on Turner's second album Out of the Box
, featuring a substitute verse by rapper Pos
of De La Soul
.
The video for the song, shot by director Amiel Courtin-Wilson, was filmed in Melbourne
, although Turner and his group had originally wanted to shoot it in their hometown of Brisbane
. During an interview with Brisbane's Courier Mail
in 2007, Turner recalled shooting the video with a bright light shining in his eyes, which led to his squinting throughout the clip.
Alongside footage of Turner performing the track in a home studio, the video features scenes of a teenage couple sleeping outside a train station and begging on the street to passers-by. At one point, the couple is seen holding up a sign that reads "HOMELESS & HUNGRY…PLEASE HELP". Courtin-Wilson has said that many of the people walking past (none of whom were actors) thought that the young pair were genuinely in need, and numerous donations of money had to be turned away.
"These Kids" was released on 27 September 2004 and took nine weeks to reach its peak #1 position, which occurred ironically after the song had begun to slide down the charts. Its U-turn is thought to have been helped by Turner’s appearance at the 2004 Australian Idol Grand Final, as well as the song’s use in promoting Network Ten
television show Summerland
.
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
from Joel Turner and the Modern Day Poets
Joel Turner (musician)
Joel Turner is an Australian beatboxer, singer, songwriter, instrumentalist and record producer best known for the Australian hit song "These Kids". As a beatboxer, he is recognised for his raw power, deep bass, and trademark sounds such as his "third voice", cowbell, teeth beats and bass guitar...
' self-titled debut album Joel Turner and the Modern Day Poets
Joel Turner and the Modern Day Poets (album)
Joel Turner and the Modern Day Poets is a collaborative studio album from Joel Turner and the Modern Day Poets. It was released on 1 November 2004, peaking at #28 on the ARIA albums chart and #2 on the AIR independent charts, additionally achieving platinum status.The album consists of twelve full...
. The song was written in December 2001, with the music composed by Turner and the lyrics written by his older brother Tim (aka "DubLT").
"These Kids" achieved huge success in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, reaching #1 on the national charts and remaining in the top 5 for 13 weeks. The track was nominated for Breakthrough Artist (Single) at the 2005 ARIA Awards, Most Performed Urban Work at the 2006 APRA Awards
Australasian Performing Right Association
The Australasian Performing Right Association is a copyright collective representing New Zealand and Australian composers, lyricists and music publishers. The association's head offices located in Sydney Australia, and it has branch offices in Auckland, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth...
, and honoured with an ARIA
Australian Recording Industry Association
The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956...
No. 1 Chart Award in November 2005. Furthermore, it placed eighth in the 2004 ARIA
Australian Recording Industry Association
The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956...
End of Year Singles Chart while still in the top 5.
"These Kids" couples a haunting melody with Turner’s vocal percussion, transforming into a heavier rock sound towards its conclusion. Much of the song’s popularity is thought to be due to the reality of its subject matter. It aims to draw attention to the plight of street kids ("Nobody knows the suffering they go through / And you wouldn’t believe ‘em if they told you"), offering a message of hope to young people going through hard times while also criticizing the justice system ("Instead of listening to the kids with the problems, they just tick them off more / Until the kid’s in prison or he’s dead before he’s 24"). Other issues covered in the song include crime, drugs and depression, with further references to the suicide of DubLT’s friend and the 2001 murder of a 14-year-old Brisbane boy stabbed to death by a family friend who had promised to help him buy marijuana.
DubLT is quoted as saying, "I wrote These Kids after one of my mates committed suicide, so it means a lot to me that it connected with so many people" ... "I never wrote that song thinking it would be recorded or that Joel would get famous. But there is a reason I wrote that song and there’s a reason why Joel got famous. It was so I could bring out that song and someone could see the light." In more recent times, the track has also been dedicated to Joel Turner’s troubled childhood neighbour and friend.
Turner travelled to Cairns in far north Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
at the age of 15 to record the track with producer David Lynch for M.E.L. Productions. Once there, he laid down the vocals, beat and guitars while DubLT recorded his rap verse on a $20 microphone back in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
. Turner has said that he originally tried using a real beat for the song, but subsequently chose to replace it with beatboxing
Beatboxing
Beatboxing is a form of vocal percussion primarily involving the art of producing drum beats, rhythm, and musical sounds using one's mouth, lips, tongue, and voice. It may also involve singing, vocal imitation of turntablism, and the simulation of horns, strings, and other musical instruments...
.
When Australian Idol
Australian Idol
Australian Idol is a Logie Award-winning Australian singing competition, which began its first season on July 2003 and ended its run in November 2009. As part of the Idol franchise, Australian Idol originated from the reality program Pop Idol, which was created by British entertainment executive...
judge Mark Holden
Mark Holden
Mark Holden is an Australian singer, television personality and barrister. He was one of a panel of three judges on the television series Australian Idol.-Acting career:...
heard the recording some time later, he decided to release a remixed version as Turner’s first single, which featured the addition of strings and an alternative rap from DubLT. Although the song was edited to four minutes for radio, the full version can be found on the CD single and album, featuring a longer intro, additional choruses and extended electric guitar work. The original M.E.L. mix is also present on the CD single. In addition, a remixed version of the track appears on Turner's second album Out of the Box
Out of the Box (Joel Turner album)
Out of the Box is the second studio album from Joel Turner. It was first planned for release in early 2006 but did not reach stores until October 6, 2007. No reason has been given for the many postponements....
, featuring a substitute verse by rapper Pos
Kelvin Mercer
Kelvin Mercer is a rapper, producer, and one-third of the hip hop trio De La Soul. He is known more famously by his alias Posdnuos, or simply Pos. He was born in the Bronx, New York and grew up in East Massapequa, New York.Mercer and David Jude Jolicoeur were childhood friends...
of De La Soul
De La Soul
De La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres...
.
The video for the song, shot by director Amiel Courtin-Wilson, was filmed in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, although Turner and his group had originally wanted to shoot it in their hometown of Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
. During an interview with Brisbane's Courier Mail
The Courier-Mail
The Courier-Mail is a daily newspaper published in Brisbane, Australia. Owned by News Limited, it is published daily from Monday to Saturday in tabloid format. Its editorial offices are located at Bowen Hills, in Brisbane's inner northern suburbs, and it is printed at Murarrie, in Brisbane's...
in 2007, Turner recalled shooting the video with a bright light shining in his eyes, which led to his squinting throughout the clip.
Alongside footage of Turner performing the track in a home studio, the video features scenes of a teenage couple sleeping outside a train station and begging on the street to passers-by. At one point, the couple is seen holding up a sign that reads "HOMELESS & HUNGRY…PLEASE HELP". Courtin-Wilson has said that many of the people walking past (none of whom were actors) thought that the young pair were genuinely in need, and numerous donations of money had to be turned away.
"These Kids" was released on 27 September 2004 and took nine weeks to reach its peak #1 position, which occurred ironically after the song had begun to slide down the charts. Its U-turn is thought to have been helped by Turner’s appearance at the 2004 Australian Idol Grand Final, as well as the song’s use in promoting Network Ten
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
television show Summerland
Summerland (TV series)
Summerland is an American drama television series created by Stephen Tolkin and Lori Loughlin. It is centered on a clothing designer in her 30s, Ava Gregory , raising her niece and nephews after their parents die in a tragic accident...
.
Charts
| Chart (2004) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart | 1 |
Track listing
- "These Kids" (Radio Edit)
Writers: Joel Turner, Tim Turner
Producers: Joel Turner, Steve Scanlon - "These Kids" (Scanmix)
Writers: Joel Turner, Tim Turner
Producers: Joel Turner, Steve Scanlon - "These Kids" (M.E.L. Mix)
Writers: Joel Turner, Tim Turner
Producers: David Lynch, Mick Evans - "These Kids" (Instrumental)
- "JT Freestyle" (Beatbox track)
- "Beethoven Beats" (Beatbox track)
- "Bass Guitar" (Beatbox track)