Bad Child


"Bad Child" is a song by Australian singer Toni Watson, known professionally as Tones and I. It was released on 12 March 2020 through Bad Batch Records, distributed by Sony Music in Australia and New Zealand and globally by Elektra Records, alongside the song "Can't Be Happy All the Time". The double A-side single marks the first of more releases throughout the year, as announced by Watson.

Background

On 11 March 2020, Watson announced that there would be new music coming the next day. The song's release, along with "Can't Be Happy All the Time", was accompanied by an animated lyric video. The singer revealed that, for the first time, she has written a song "in someone else's shoes; writing from their perspective". She further explained that the song is about "seeing life growing up through someone else's eyes".

Critical reception

According to Debbie Carr of Triple J, the song was a trademark Tones and I song with Watson's "fingerprints all over it" and compared the lyrical context to "Johnny Run Away". On the other hand, Lars Brandle at Billboard thought the track with its "punchy keys and fat bass, all sitting under Tones' powerhouse vocals" was reminiscent of Watson's previous hit "Dance Monkey". Idolator's Mike Wass called the song a "bop" and predicted it to be "all over radio in a couple of months". Based on the song title, he described the song to be "introspective and tinged with sadness".

Track listing

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.

Certifications