Before the world knew her name, Toni Watson was living in a van and busking on the streets of Byron Bay, Australia. "Dance Monkey" was born from her frustration with demanding crowds.
Swept the 2019 ARIA Music Awards, including Best Pop Release. The Sound: Love It or Hate It
"Dance Monkey" by Tones and I isn't just a song; it’s a global phenomenon that rewrote the rulebook for indie pop success. Released in May 2019, the track transformed Australian busker Toni Watson into an international superstar overnight. The Origin: From the Streets to the Studio Tones and I - Dance Monkey
This "marmite" factor (you love it or hate it) made the song incredibly viral on platforms like TikTok.
The song didn't just climb the charts; it dominated them. It holds the record for the most weeks at #1 on the ARIA Singles Chart (24 weeks) and topped the charts in over 30 countries. Before the world knew her name, Toni Watson
"Dance Monkey" proved that a DIY artist could bypass traditional gatekeepers. Its success paved the way for other indie-pop acts to find mainstream success through viral loops and authentic, albeit quirky, storytelling.
She utilizes a nasal placement and heavy glottal stops. The Sound: Love It or Hate It "Dance
One of the most-streamed songs of all time, surpassing 2.9 billion plays. Shazam History: It became the most-Shazamed track ever.
