Kevin Parker reacts to Tame Impala winning Hottest 100 with 'The Less I Know The Better'

'The Less I Know The Better' took out the top spot of triple j's Hottest 100 of the Decade countdown. Sally & Erica chat to Kevin Parker about the origins of the song, Tame Impala memes and the impact of Coronavirus.
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[@samahita-vca]

I still wish Mind Mischief was up there with the rest.

[@amyk9813]

My favourite song ever

[@nfactorial4074]

love/paranoia

[@nfactorial4074]

nrcboxers the entire currents album is fucking incredible. Past life is so underrated

[@spencerpool6879]

agreed

[@jeremiahmoreira507]

Mind Mischief is a fucking BANGER

[@UnrecycleRubdish]

Chillest dude. And his perspective on the coronavirus is on point. Go with the flow, and listen to scientists. Those are literally the best things we can do.

[@allcapsbeats]

I remember when 'Currents' came out and my old man asked me to go out and cut the lawn...I put my earphones in and mowed the lawn while listening to the entirety of that album. It was summer, it was hot...and it was a good time. The lawn was excellently cut that day.

[@olliem4501]

This is gold lmao

[@stopbeinginsecure4786]

That’s awesome 😎

[@olliem4501]

Spencer Sabo see how crazy music is

[@allcapsbeats]

@asava17 haha I wish. I'm British.

[@ignaciogranata6311]

And in any point you didn't want the lawn to end?

[@tmccullough1251]

0:01 the face you make when triple J tells you to record yourself from two different angles and act surprised reacting to an award you already know you won

[@navneetmadine6844]

😂😂

[@sempiternalsavage1359]

I didn’t even think about that I’m gagging 😂😂😂

[@cubancaleb]

He's so incredibly humble and yet honest, he's just such a good artist in all aspects wowww

[@imslicc]

first, he is. he's like the same level as john lennon or thom yorke. second, it's his job, song writing. he probably threw away 30 other not so good songs. the ok computer leaked sessions prove it. artists in that level write many songs, to increase the probability of something good to come out.

[@abdulrazak-ei2ju]

Why is someone filming Kevin, filming Kevin

[@RiceMan]

Makes it seem kinda staged

[@gokickaflip]

It's other Kevin

[@Jjw338]

Kevin being Kevin

[@cindyluu2723]

Currents holds a special place in my heart the whole album is amazing

[@hippiecheezburger5457]

I feel like it’s an emotional experience as an album. The Slow Rush is good, not terrible in anyway but there’s no emotion like the previous 3 records. The Less I Know the Better is emotional, the lyrics are emotional, you feel the song. A song like Is It True is a great groove, it’s melodic but it’s not emotional...

[@TheSilentBD]

hippiecheezburger! Have you listened to posthumous forgiveness?! The second movement of the song is nothing but emotion. Give it another try.

[@Dogs-xq9fe]

Agree the slow rush is the most personal he’s ever written

[@elg4192]

Agreed

[@odvop]

hippiecheezburger dude listen to posthumous forgiveness, you’d be surprised

[@violetdesmond-barrett5874]

I love his genuine humility. What a sweet & lovely human. 💛Genius is often misunderstood.

[@Evantures]

What a homegrown beauty . Still so humble . Well done Kevin

[@bonitarogers8843]

KP is a musical genius! Enough said and I look forward to anything he does in the future.

[@dawnyprestom9108]

can he be any more adorable.

[@anguscross1824]

You can tell he is from the same state as Tim Minchin by the way they both speak. Also what a great bloke.

[@stephenplfcfan]

Im from WA also, just curious how u can tell aha.....?

[@electraheart7745]

The most humble artist of our decade going into the 2020s 🥳 it’s so cool he acknowledged on IG that tik took made this song relevant again

[@100backinblack]

Wow he actually loves Elephant

[@Mahbus]

Everybody loves it

[@nimigeorge8089]

He really does😂

[@adognido]

2ez4nimzi why? Is there anyone who doesn’t?

[@LoLinForU]

veerappan Usually musicians end up hating their most popular songs or get tired of performing them live. So yeah, Kevin loving Elephant its neat.

[@nathanielmathiasmajor2691]

Elephant wasn't his most popular, Feels Like We Only Go Backwards by far is, it still has the most views to this this day out of every other song of his. I like Elephant better nonetheless.

[@Nahmir-nx6wu]

Triple J: ... Kev: Holy shit

[@mattmcglynn305]

Kev talking about postponing shows a few months so we can enjoy it without thinking about covid is so funny, only waited over 1000 days but just saw him for the first time and wow did he live up to all expectations. What a man 🥲

[@iamnotbabyblue]

YES WE WANT THE EARLY DEMO

[@zakramsey3508]

It's been more or less five years and Less I Know' still gets awards and Hottest 100s. Imagine being that good :3

[@V4lairiel]

Thank you Kevin please don’t stop making music!

[@St_Bec]

So awesome to see ❤️ he seems stoked

[@gabrielryan1394]

Bec C he seems like he’s been given the most mildly good news ever. Like he thought he forgot to get milk but it was just at the bottom of the bag

[@domingos6371]

lost in yesterday is the new less i know the better

[@kalefitzgerald]

Awww yeaaah! This is legit my favourite song and has been for like 3 years. Well deserved!

[@magnusharrison2715]

Congrats to one of the greatest musicians of the century

[@hippigirl4246]

Does that one piece of hair in the back bother anyone? No? Just me? Ok.

[@Tom-os4hy]

Don’t hipsters really bother everyone in general ?

[@marcusjonesathletics]

Now it does!

[@lowganb]

He looked like he was gonna fix it a couple times but never did

[@hippigirl4246]

@@lowganb I know i saw that! Got my hopes up a few times lol

[@classicalady1]

Bed head...he just rolled out

[@SolarDragon007]

It's a great song, one that resonates with me more each time I listen to it.

[@1292liam]

Looking 'fisheye' to the camera - WOT ?! GET OUT !! Funniest thing of all time!! ROFL

[@StankPlanks]

Really glad Tame Impala got the number 1 spot. Kevin seems like a such a down to earth guy.

[@lilgimpo]

drinking game: take a shot every time kev says "uhhhm"

[@atrainofthought99]

REALLY? THANK YEW! Holy shit! WOT?

[@apolonioman5479]

Didn’t know Jesus made music

[@gamby16a]

Jesus has been looking to Kevin Parker for some writing tips, from what I've heard 😃

[@rocios.635]

It sounds like truly was made by some celestial creature.

[@jesusluvincognito3630]

He is TMJ = the musical jesus

[@ImDManYouCallJigsaw]

I love Kev and Tame as well as Triple J, and The Less I Know The Better is my most fav song of Tame and am happy it won, but it's Let It Happen as number 1 for me. It's up there with just a few others that can be considered as 'song of the decade'. Let It Happen is on that level.

[@pax4708]

djayrek ramsey i agree and it’s such a good song but i wouldn’t expect it to be number one

[@adamreyes5386]

Congratulations Kevin. You deserve it!

[@bazzledazzle4529]

well deserved Kev ❤️

[@intjugz]

Kevin tame won ______! Kevin: *rubs eye, "oh...shittt"

[@riddlemethis34]

Australia's gift to the world!!!

[@Jordan-gh6mg]

New drinking game! Drink every time Kev touches his hair!🍻

[@akalui007]

Kev's hair wasn't perfect in this vid! He will be devastated.

[@JonatanPein]

I think this award is very symbolic. Let it Happen is his Gran Masterpiece and Lonerism is pretty much top 10 albums of the past decade, and one of the best Psychedelic Rock albums of all time.

[@Kansas2700]

Bruh Let it happen shoulda won, it's his best song to date

[@minksrule2196]

100%

[@coke8045]

Easily

[@hippiecheezburger5457]

I think Let it Happen is one of the greatest most revolutionary pop tracks of the past decade. The Less I know the better I’ve definitely heard like 500 times by now lol

[@santiagomoreta4021]

Yesss, Let It Happen is the best song of this century!

[@harrysher9468]

Dunga dunga tbh

[@lenakingsleigh]

I can't stop smiling at his reaction 🎶🥰 When I saw that, I wasn't shocked since I kinda knew that one of his songs might make it into it. But yeah, congrats dude!!

[@curiouslyunruffled]

C'mon guys, Music to Walk Home By is one of his best songs!!!

[@robinlaker7942]

such a good song!!!!!

[@nathanielmathiasmajor2691]

Such a underrated track, he has quite a few underrated tracks actually.

[@riley8827bn]

Yes

[@curiouslyunruffled]

@@nathanielmathiasmajor2691 There are way too many lol - Expectation, Why Won't They Talk to Me, Keep on Lying, Half Full Glass of Wine, Apocalypse Dreams (Live), Vital Signs, It is Not Meant to Be, I Don't Really Mind, etc. His first two albums are the Holy Grail!

[@insiddious]

It is not meant to be, Lucidity, Expectation, Desire be desire go, Endors Toi and Why won't they talk to me deserve spots in the Top 100. Endors Toi is so hella trippy I've heard nothing like that in the past decade.

[@mattmccune5560]

Congrats King Kevin!!

[@benzaa]

my favourite song was 3 seconds of chet faker

[@selektor2567]

"Can we delete that clip?" lmao

[@jakkelly6754]

what song is that?

[@daledenton3640]

When

[@Ivanisnotreal]

Aries? Drop way too deep!!!

[@benzaa]

Dale Denton before they played riptide there was a few seconds of chet faker

[@chordscapepiano]

Bro why’s he actually effortlessly funny

[@davebrock4463]

That bass line in the less I know the better. 🥰 damn ...

[@Alexialo1]

Love you Kevin ❤️

[@thewatersofdream]

Congratulations Brother

[@muhammadadam048]

Lonerism and Innerspeaker anyone!??

[@CelestialDraconis]

Does that mean we're getting a TLIKTB demo now?!

[@Dontlettheworldrot]

The less i know the bettah

[@just_cade]

He's such a real person.

[@hellofromdownunder]

honestly, Kevin Parker is an Australian treasure.

[@JuliosRodri777]

AMAZING KEV!

[@MrMiner2229]

So proud

[@sgtpepper4691]

Welp, I guess it's the more I know the better.

[@brendahernandezmartinez7751]

Kevin is the best

[@miguelangelperezalvarez5472]

Drinking game! : drink everytime Kevin says the word 'like'.

[@drazumi7391]

I need a documentary on Kevin Parker

[@tristanloon9255]

Damnnn keep up the great work Kev! Love your music! They really helped me in a lot of times.

[@overthinker_overanalyser]

Well deserved 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@pequod4557]

Hi Kevin, you're gonna be a meme

[@Mahbus]

For sure

[@MarWan-hp6lx]

Already his music is

[@Nikkska]

Jamal Alpha heresy

[@TheFos88]

WOT

[@niad.7245]

Oh he already is they’re all over insta 😂

[@farrahschneider]

Ooooooh I'd be down to hear the demo that would be interesting

[@thejournalofsound]

The Waters of Dream -Among the waves of thought , another good psychedelic album , completely unknown . Love the New Gum song out in the world . So much good music out there

[@itspaolahere276]

Kevin is such a great artist. I discovered him like, 5-6 months ago and I loved him from the first time I heard his music. He's so humble and chill. And honestly, look at his angel face, he's so precious I love him so much. Definitely, he's one the greatest artists I've ever seen. And tell me if my English is bad, I'm French soooo it's not perfect...

[@stephenplfcfan]

Nah English is good hes brilliant

[@riddlemethis34]

It's to his genius that TLIKTB is just the tip of the iceberg. I don't think you can ever say that there is one ultimate Tame Impala song because there isn't. Across the four albums he's shown great variety and there's a song for every occasion or human feeling. Based on his interviews I also think he's someone who genuinely so enjoys making music that he doesn't fully realize the genius he is. I think this is a common trait amongst immensely talented people, they see themselves as fairly regular when they're anything but. Its only when society gives them awards or praise does it start to hit

[@JuliosRodri777]

I agree with you :)

[@TheSYPTASTIC]

DUNGA DUNGA DUNGA

[@rachelking5387]

Lol idk why but I feel he's like "ehhhhhhh ok yehh/ cringe" at the end of his answers bc how quiet the interviewers are lol like when he's answering and describing stuff they just stare and smile 😬 hahaha

[@HCorona2012]

Daffodils is pretty awesome too!

[@ianmc5524]

To get his sound Kevin Parker records and mixes on iPhone 7 with apple earpods .. for you gear-heads out there..

[@TACKMONJA]

BS no way

[@ohmypapaya8561]

I love Tame Impala and I’m so happy for Kevin to win but I really didn’t expect it! Least of all this song. But the whole 200 was a mixed bag. Anyway great work Kev!

[@ssslace]

Thank you, guys, holy shit! ✋🙂

[@tmccullough1251]

In KP's interview with Zane Lowe he disagrees with Zane that geography would or should impact his music. But at 5:00 in regards to his mindset when writing the Less I Know the Better, Kevin says "the fact that I was in a new place kind of spurred on a few different melodic ideas". This is the closest thing to a contradiction I've heard him make, but it seems like what he's trying to say is that even though music for him comes from within, where he is in the world can effect his mindset, and therefore the ideas found "within".

[@Pedro-mm8wt]

But in that same interview with Lowe, he also accepts that making the album in LA had an impact and that the environment (beach, people, different studio) played a big part for the mindset and the flow for writing TSR. It seems like he´s saying "fuck it, it depends"

[@tmccullough1251]

manu yeah I could definitely see that

[@GearsGirlsGuitars]

Well deserved 😎

[@ShaKarito2]

Triple j : !!!! YOU'VE WON AUSTRALIA' S SONG OF THE DECADE KPPPPP !!!!!!!!!! kp : 😴 ʷᵒʷ... ᵍᵉᵗ ᵒᵘᵘᵗ.... 🥱🥱🥱

[@brittanykerr951]

Obviously he was told beforehand 😂

[@andmoreagain5323]

was there someone from triplej in the room w him? they had another angle

[@Lonjemoco]

Well earned

[@daanhutting8576]

0:07 WOT

[@stoyboii]

*Dunga dunga intensifies*

[@niad.7245]

Where is that from? see this everywhere lmao

[@dalubuhlemagagula4944]

*wot?*

[@ash4952]

nia d. dunga elephant

[@Brodzzzzz]

SERIOUSLY... THE FUCKING BEST EVER.

[@MixMasterSplinter]

Artist of the decade in america too

[@jasonmason6910]

IN THE AMERICAS*

[@jasonmason6910]

luigi pistelli yes

[@spencerpool6879]

very much want that early demo

[@cavedwellersound]

The way he recorded the drums for this track is interesting

[@nir2594]

This interview feels weird

[@kiplinght]

Kevin Parker is weird

[@ratfinkmusic]

He probably just woke up 👆

[@hippiecheezburger5457]

Cause it’s over like Skype probably

[@napalmdreams9654]

I mean it’s weird asking someone how they feel about something right after telling them. He was probably super thrown off, it would have made more sense to call him after he knew. Also he’s clearly not someone that cares that much about awards

[@TheGobbit]

napalmdreams Yeah, super surprised that he won with the extra camera recording him.

[@electraheart7745]

Please please release the early demo pleaaaaaasssseee

[@humbertosandoval55]

hahahaha I did wanted to hear all these times that he wanted to get technical explaining the drums, setups, etc.

[@woahfarout8793]

Lonerism is the best album. Just sayin.

[@dausthrowaway4349]

different people love different sounds man i still think Currents is amazing

[@squilliumfancyson5228]

Nice opinion yet I really found him through currents which saved my life. It’s all perspective and which music relates to your life the most.

[@CatKatie]

I'm for Innerspeaker.

[@AFrogInTheStars]

Slow Rush all the way

[@amyk9813]

Huge Tame Impala fan here. I'm just gonna say it... No, this is not his best song by a long shot. It's like Radiohead's "Creep". It just became grossly popular and consequently annoying to a lot of people. A Lonerism song in my opinion should've won instead. He's probably tired because he was doing part of his American tour this week as well. Anddd if you're not happy for him, that's fair. Everyone has their own taste, but for someone so unique (listen to Innerspeaker), talented and humble - I believe he is a worthy winner. Then again, I'm biased, Kevin's music genuinely changed my life and I'll be forever grateful I discovered Tame Impala. But yeah, that's all

[@mea4969]

I don’t know any die hard tame fans that this TLIKTB is his best, most people commonly agree on let it happen or NTHHSFHBAWCC

[@Catdogu]

@@mea4969 yea, the people who only know that song and not tame really.

[@amyk9813]

@@mea4969 Definitely, both songs are brilliant and so different. My favourite still stands as Mind Mischief, but it gets close everytime. Even things like Led Zeppelin deserve way more attention (even though a B side) than TLIKTB in my opinion. But again, I'm a huge Tame Impala fan so I'll support his songs any day of the week. Gotta be careful not to start quoting One More Year 🤣

[@NyanCatDERP]

New Person, Same Old Mistakes should have been a contender, that song's a masterpiece.

[@amyk9813]

@@NyanCatDERP oh absolutely, even more of a masterpiece live

[@TheTheQueenOfFluff]

I would’ve love to have seen Yes, I’m Changing get in somewhere.

[@ericmundt380]

Where’s the demoooooo

[@btsjikookie]

YESSSS

[@axelfs2532]

Gahhh, congrats dude, love your style, but plz plz plz give an update on the postponing of your shows :'(

[@kyleplatz3751]

he recorded the drums OUTSIDE? holy shit

[@dausthrowaway4349]

interesting how meh he seems about the memes of his songs.. id really like to see him reacting to all the mashups/tiktoks/etc.

[@lexcpartin]

as it should💁🏻‍♀️

[@navneetmadine6844]

Love you

[@stevepisano5566]

9:07 Let's just head down to the Winchester for a pint and wait for all this to blow over

[@heatherford5443]

What kind of conditioner do you use? Holy shiit

[@ferpatino4450]

Does he have colored eyes? Like blueish?

[@jjj07]

Created a new channel

[@samdixon6433]

Anyone else missed the San Francisco show?? 😭😭

[@edgaravalos5309]

Thankfully I got to see him at the San Diego show

[@Mad7fitty1]

I was able to see Tame in San Diego on 3-9. Truly amazing show, waited a long time to catch him in concert. Thank goodness it wasn't canceled

[@urosmilic3613]

Anyone knows where his shirt/flannel is from?