These Kids

"These Kids"
Single by Joel Turner and the Modern Day Poets
from the album Joel Turner and the Modern Day Poets
Released	27 September 2004
Format	CD single
Recorded	2004
Genre	Rapcore, RnB
Length	3:58
Label	Dream Dealers
Writer(s)	Joel Turner Tim Turner
Producer(s)	Joel Turner Steve Scanlon
Joel Turner and the Modern Day Poets singles chronology
"These Kids" (2004) "Knock U Out" (2005)

"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^[1] and remaining in the top 5 for 13 weeks.^[2] The track was nominated for Breakthrough Artist (Single) at the 2005 ARIA Awards,^[3] Most Performed Urban Work at the 2006 APRA Awards,^[4] and honoured with an ARIA No. 1 Chart Award in November 2005.^[5] Furthermore, it placed eighth in the 2004 ARIA End of Year Singles Chart while still in the top 5.^[6]

Composition

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"^[7] ...

"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."

— Tim Turner^[2]

In more recent times, the track has also been dedicated to Joel Turner’s troubled childhood neighbour and friend.

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"

The song offers 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.^[8]

Production

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.^[2] Turner has said that he originally tried using a real beat for the song, but subsequently chose to replace it with beatboxing.^[9]

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.

Music Video

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.^[10] 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.^[11]

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.^[10]

Release

"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.

Charts

Chart (2004)	Peak position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart	1

Track listing

1. "These Kids" (Radio Edit)
   Writers: Joel Turner, Tim Turner
   Producers: Joel Turner, Steve Scanlon
2. "These Kids" (Scanmix)
   Writers: Joel Turner, Tim Turner
   Producers: Joel Turner, Steve Scanlon
3. "These Kids" (M.E.L. Mix)
   Writers: Joel Turner, Tim Turner
   Producers: David Lynch, Mick Evans
4. "These Kids" (Instrumental)
5. "JT Freestyle" (Beatbox track)
6. "Beethoven Beats" (Beatbox track)
7. "Bass Guitar" (Beatbox track)

References

1. Australian Charts Portal
2. "The beat generation". Archived from the original on 14 March 2005.
3. 2005: 19th Annual ARIA Awards
4. 2006 APRA Nominations
5. .ARIA #1 Chart Awards
6. ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2004. Retrieved on 11 April 2007
7. Australian Music Online Biography
8. Mathewson, Catriona (2004-12-18). "From struggle street to hip parade". The Courier Mail (Brisbane, QLD: News). pp. L04.
9. The Hot Hits Live from LA. Austereo.
10. Courtin-Wilson, Amiel (Director) (2005-10-17). Joel Turner and the Modern Day Poets with the Beatbox Alliance (DVD). Dream Dealers.
11. Mathewson, Catriona (2007-10-04). "Keep on boxing". The Courier Mail (Brisbane, QLD: News). p. 057.

External links

• Diva Auto Review
• "These Kids" Music Video