Kids

"Kids" by MGMT is a multifaceted song that explores the transition from childhood innocence to the complexities and responsibilities of adulthood. On its surface, it’s a nostalgic look back at the freedom of being a child, a time of uninhibited joy and a lack of concern for consequences, as depicted in the opening verse: "You were a child / Crawling on your knees toward it / Making Mama so proud / But your voice is too loud." This imagery captures the purity and loudness of youthful energy.

However, the song's central message is delivered in the chorus: "Control yourself / Take only what you need from it." This line serves as a piece of parental or worldly advice, a cautionary mantra about moderation, self-discipline, and resisting the excesses of life. It suggests that as we grow, we must learn to navigate the world with intention and care, taking only what is essential to avoid being consumed by greed or destructive impulses. The accompanying phrase, "a family of trees wantin' to be haunted," adds a layer of surreal, poetic imagery. It can be interpreted in various ways: a desire for legacy, a connection to ancestry and family roots, or a critique of environmental neglect, implying nature yearns for a deeper, more spiritual acknowledgment from humanity.

The second verse marks the shift into adolescence and adulthood, where experiences become more ambiguous and unsettling: "The water is warm, but it's sending me shivers." This metaphor captures the anxiety and unforeseen pain that accompany growing up. Memories fade and decisions have real, often painful, consequences ("But I thought, this wouldn't hurt a lot, I guess not"). The song encapsulates the bittersweet feeling of losing the simple clarity of childhood and facing the often harsh realities of the adult world. Ultimately, "Kids" is a poignant and timeless anthem about the universal journey of growing up, balancing nostalgia for the past with the difficult lessons needed for the future.

The narrative begins by painting a picture of early childhood, a time of innocent exploration and uninhibited expression. It depicts a child crawling, earning a mother's pride, yet being told their voice is too loud—an early hint of societal constraints. This phase is characterized by simple joys, like laughing and observing nature by picking insects off plants, all done without any thought to the future or the consequences of one's actions. It's a snapshot of pure, unfiltered existence.

A recurring advisory phrase, a central motif, abruptly interrupts this idyllic scene: “Control yourself, take only what you need from it.” This serves as a core piece of wisdom, a caution against excess and a plea for moderation. It is paired with the enigmatic and poetic image of “a family of trees wantin' to be haunted,” suggesting a natural world that desires connection, memory, and perhaps a deeper, more spiritual existence than what is on the surface.

The song then transitions to a later stage of life, marking the erosion of that childhood innocence. The line, “The water is warm, but it's sending me shivers,” powerfully captures the deceptive nature of new experiences that seem inviting but hold an underlying sense of unease or danger. The birth of a new baby crying for attention symbolizes the cyclical nature of life and the inherent need for connection and validation. As life progresses, memories become indistinct, described as “looking through a fogged mirror.” The clarity of childhood gives way to the ambiguity and complexity of adulthood. Decisions are now made and must be adhered to, and the painful realization dawns that actions and choices can cause unexpected hurt—a stark contrast to the consequence-free existence of a child.

The chorus repeats with increasing intensity and desperation towards the end of the song. The plea to “control yourself” becomes more urgent, layered with echoing vocals and increasingly erratic music. This repetition, separated by growing pauses, emphasizes the difficulty and importance of maintaining self-discipline and perspective in a world that encourages consumption and thoughtlessness. The song concludes on this cautionary note, leaving the listener to reflect on the journey from carefree youth to the complex responsibilities of adulthood, and the timeless advice offered as a guide.

"Kids" was one of the first songs written by MGMT founders Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser. The duo formed the band, originally called "The Management," while they were students at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. The song's origins are rooted in their college experience, a time VanWyngarden described as being "happy-go-lucky" but also tinged with nostalgia for childhood and anxiety about post-college life.

Interestingly, the song began as a form of satire. Goldwasser wrote the iconic synth melody after a party, deliberately trying to create what he considered "the stupidest pop progression I can think of" as a joke. VanWyngarden quickly wrote lyrics, and they performed it for the first time on his 20th birthday. This early version, along with "Time to Pretend," was part of their ironic take on mainstream pop music, which they initially performed at campus parties.

The song went through several iterations before its official release. An early version appeared on their 2004 demo EP, We (Don't) Care. When MGMT signed with Columbia Records, they worked with producer Dave Fridmann (known for his work with The Flaming Lips) for their debut album, Oracular Spectacular. Fridmann played a crucial role in shaping the final version of "Kids." He suggested lowering the key from B-flat major to A major, which made the vocals stronger and more resonant for VanWyngarden. Fridmann's production also added a more polished, heavily saturated, and layered sound, enhancing its childlike yet powerful timbre, a significant change from the rawer demo version. The final studio version was released as the third single from Oracular Spectacular on October 13, 2008.

"Kids" is rich with symbolism and metaphors that elevate it from a simple pop song to a thoughtful commentary on life's progression.

• Childhood vs. Adulthood: The entire song is built on the symbolic contrast between the innocent, consequence-free world of a child and the complex, responsible world of an adult. The first verse's imagery of crawling, laughing, and picking insects represents a state of pure being and discovery.
• "The Water is Warm, but it's Sending Me Shivers": This is a powerful metaphor for the deceptive nature of adult experiences. The warmth represents an invitation or a seemingly pleasant situation, while the shivers signify underlying anxiety, danger, or the negative consequences that aren't immediately apparent. It perfectly captures the bittersweet and often confusing transition into maturity.
• "A Family of Trees Wantin' to be Haunted": This recurring lyrical motif is one of the most debated and poetic metaphors in the song. It evokes multiple interpretations. It could symbolize a yearning for connection to one's roots and ancestry—a family tree that desires the presence (or haunting) of its descendants. Alternatively, it can be seen as an environmental metaphor, where nature (the trees) wishes to be imbued with spirit and meaning, or warns against a future where forests are just empty, haunted places due to human neglect.
• "Fogged Mirror": The line "Memories fade, like looking through a fogged mirror" is a direct and poignant simile for the loss of clarity that comes with time. Childhood memories, once sharp and vivid, become hazy and distorted as one moves further into adulthood.
• The Monsters in the Music Video: The official music video adds another layer of symbolism. It depicts a toddler being terrorized by monsters that his mother cannot see. This can be interpreted as a metaphor for the internal fears and anxieties of childhood that are invisible and often dismissed by the adult world. The video opens with a quote from Nietzsche: "He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster," suggesting a warning about how one confronts and internalizes fear while growing up.

"Kids" creates a complex emotional landscape characterized by a powerful sense of bittersweet nostalgia. The predominant feeling is a wistful longing for the past, specifically the innocence and carefree nature of childhood. This is established from the outset by the buoyant, high-pitched synthesizer riff, which sounds playful and retro, immediately conjuring images of youth and simpler times.

However, this nostalgia is layered with a palpable sense of melancholy and caution. The lyrics introduce a darker, more anxious tone, particularly with the transition into adulthood. The line "The water is warm, but it's sending me shivers" encapsulates this emotional duality, blending apparent comfort with an underlying feeling of dread. The vocals, delivered by Andrew VanWyngarden with a sense of earnestness and slight detachment, contribute to this mixed feeling. The song isn't just a happy celebration of childhood; it's a reflection on its loss and the difficult lessons that replace it.

The emotional intensity builds throughout the track. The repeated chorus of "Control yourself" becomes more desperate and pleading towards the end, with the music growing more erratic and the vocals echoing. This crescendo creates a feeling of urgency and struggle, reflecting the difficulty of maintaining composure and moral clarity in an overwhelming world. The song ultimately leaves the listener in a state of thoughtful introspection, balancing the joy of memory with the weight of experience.

"Kids" became one of the defining anthems of the late 2000s indie scene and had a significant cultural impact that extended far beyond its initial release. The song was a commercial success, peaking at number 91 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US and achieving high chart positions internationally, including number one in Norway. It received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 2010.

Its influence on music was profound, helping to popularize the synth-pop and indietronica genres. The song's blend of catchy, retro synthesizers with introspective lyrics became a template for many artists that followed. NME named it the best single of 2008, and Rolling Stone ranked it among the best songs of the 2000s.

"Kids" became a fixture in popular media, appearing in numerous films like Whip It, TV shows such as The Vampire Diaries and Gossip Girl, and video games like FIFA 09. This widespread use cemented its status as a go-to track for moments of youthful abandon and coming-of-age nostalgia.

The song was also at the center of a notable legal dispute in 2009. The band sued French president Nicolas Sarkozy's UMP party for using the song without permission at a conference. MGMT found the initial compensation offer of €1 insulting and pursued legal action, eventually settling for a larger sum which they donated to charity. This event highlighted the band's principles regarding artistic integrity.

Numerous artists have covered the song, including an acoustic version by The Kooks, further demonstrating its broad appeal. The unofficial fan-made music video created by a USC student also went viral, garnering millions of views and contributing to the song's grassroots popularity before the official video was even released.

The rhyme and rhythm of "Kids" are fundamental to its infectious quality and emotional undertone.

Rhyme Scheme:

The song's verses follow a relatively simple and direct rhyme scheme, which contributes to its childlike, nursery-rhyme feel. The first verse, for example, has an AABB-like structure: "toward it" / "so proud" / "too loud". This straightforward rhyming makes the lyrics easy to follow and remember. The chorus, "Control yourself / Take only what you need from it / A family of trees wantin' / To be haunted," uses a slant rhyme between "it" and "haunted," which adds a subtle lyrical sophistication and prevents the scheme from becoming overly simplistic.

Rhythm and Meter:

The song's rhythm is one of its most defining characteristics. It maintains a steady, danceable tempo throughout, driven by a prominent electronic drum beat and a disco-influenced, octave-jumping synth bassline. This creates a powerful sense of propulsion and makes the track physically engaging. The vocal melody often follows a simple, declarative rhythm that sits squarely on the beat, enhancing its anthemic quality. Andrew VanWyngarden's vocal delivery is mostly syllabic, with each syllable corresponding to a single note, which adds to the clarity and directness of the lyrics. The interplay between the driving, upbeat instrumental rhythm and the more melancholic, cautionary lyrics creates the song's signature bittersweet tension. Toward the end, the structure becomes more erratic, with pauses inserted between the repeated choruses, creating a sense of fragmentation and emotional urgency.

"Kids" employs a distinctive blend of musical and literary techniques that define its catchy yet melancholic character.

Musical Techniques:

• Monophonic Instrumentation: A key feature of the song is that most instrumental tracks are monophonic, meaning they play only one note at a time. This includes the lead synth, the bass, and other melodic elements. This technique, possibly influenced by the limitations of vintage synthesizers, creates a sense of openness and space in the mix, allowing each individual hook to be clear and memorable.
• Iconic Synthesizer Hook: The song is built around an instantly recognizable, childlike synthesizer riff. The sound itself, likely created with a square wave oscillator and high resonance, has a retro, almost 8-bit quality that evokes a feeling of nostalgia.
• Layered Synths and Saturation: Producer Dave Fridmann applied heavy saturation and stereo widening to nearly every track. This gives the song its dense, warm, and slightly overdriven texture, a signature of his production style.
• Octave-Jumping Bassline: The disco-style synth bass, which jumps between octaves, provides a driving, danceable rhythm that contrasts with the more wistful melody and lyrics.
• Harmonic Structure: The song uses a common pop chord progression (vi-IV-I-V in A major: F#m-D-A-E), but by starting on the minor vi chord (F# minor), it immediately establishes a melancholic atmosphere within a major key.

Literary Techniques:

• Direct Address and Imperative Mood: The chorus, "Control yourself / Take only what you need from it," uses a direct, instructional tone. This imperative command makes the song's central message feel like a piece of direct advice or a universal rule being passed down.
• Juxtaposition: The lyrics constantly juxtapose the innocence of childhood ("Making Mama so proud") with the harsh realities of growing up ("I thought this wouldn't hurt a lot, I guess not"). This contrast is central to the song's emotional impact.
• Metaphor and Imagery: The song is filled with vivid imagery and metaphors, such as the "fogged mirror" for fading memories and the enigmatic "family of trees wantin' to be haunted." These elements create a surreal and poetic quality.
• Repetition: The chorus is repeated multiple times, especially towards the end. This repetition, combined with increasingly desperate vocal delivery and pauses, drills the central theme into the listener's mind and builds emotional intensity.

What is the meaning of the song 'Kids' by MGMT?

'Kids' is about the journey from childhood innocence to the complexities of adulthood. It reflects nostalgically on the freedom of being a child while offering the cautionary advice to 'control yourself' and 'take only what you need' as a guide for navigating life's challenges and temptations.

When was MGMT's 'Kids' released?

The studio version of 'Kids' was officially released on October 13, 2008, as the third single from MGMT's debut album, 'Oracular Spectacular'. However, earlier versions of the song existed on EPs as far back as 2004.

What is the story behind the creation of 'Kids'?

The song was written by band members Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser while they were in college. Ben Goldwasser created the synth melody as a joke, trying to make the 'stupidest pop progression' he could think of. It was initially a satirical take on mainstream pop music before being developed with producer Dave Fridmann for their debut album.

What does 'a family of trees wantin' to be haunted' mean in the lyrics?

This poetic line is open to interpretation. Many believe it refers to a connection with ancestry and family roots (a 'family tree' wanting to be remembered by its descendants). Others suggest it's an environmental metaphor about nature desiring a spiritual presence or a warning of a desolate future.

What genre is 'Kids' by MGMT?

'Kids' is primarily classified as synth-pop and indietronica. It also incorporates elements of psychedelic pop, electronic rock, and indie rock, blending a catchy electronic sound with rock sensibilities.

What is the famous synth riff in 'Kids' played on?

While the exact synthesizer used on the final recording isn't publicly known, it's believed their early demos were made with stock synths in the software Reason. The iconic sound is a simple, monophonic melody line designed to be childlike and nostalgic, created with a square wave oscillator and high resonance.

Why did MGMT sue the French president?

MGMT sued French President Nicolas Sarkozy's political party, UMP, in 2009 for using 'Kids' at a party conference without permission. They felt the initial compensation of €1 was insulting and pursued a lawsuit, eventually settling for a sum they donated to earthquake relief in Haiti.

What is the music video for 'Kids' about?

The official music video, directed by Ray Tintori, features a toddler who is tormented by grotesque monsters that his mother cannot see. It's a surreal and frightening depiction of childhood fears and anxieties that are invisible to the adult world, opening with a quote from Nietzsche about fighting monsters.