Tim Minchin and Matildas Perform "When I Grow Up" on Conan

[@pfmgf]

The look of sheer surprise and pride on the kids faces when Conan started naming and acknowledging them. We forget to appreciate kids way too often.

[@mgrowbee]

Conan has always been a class act.

[@seandelfin]

i think mainstream media in general gets forgotten allot when we are all clamoring to invent awards out of thin air and hand them out to the exact right ppl as fast as possible

[@traumtanzerin5892]

when he starts smiling when the kids start singing... aww

[@jimwarmington3933]

+Traum Tänzerin Me too

[@alebyron]

+Traum Tänzerin *heart melting*

[@_ramar]

He probably just did that because he was afraid they'd get crippling stage fright and ruin the performance xd

[@SweetAsCookiePie]

But he always looks so proud and happy when he sings with Matildas

[@erinhassey204]

The_R0bot dude these kids are broadway performers

[@lyncohn4120]

I love the little smile Tim gives when the girls sing their first line - you can tell this is absolutely a passion project for him. So hoping Matilda tours Australia again so I can take my 11 year old before she's all grown up.

[@bettye3811]

I just went to see a senior high school production with my son who is nearly 8. The singing wasn't perfect, but he loved it anyway and so did I.

[@GG-ud8id]

@@bettye3811 heaven forbid a high school performance wasnt perfect.

[@MarksMindBox]

I think part of him is also just a dad enjoying the sound of children singing.

[@LouisaKellyHarper]

I love the way he smiled when the girls sang the first line behind the curtains.

[@thewatchedlists7148]

Happy to see others noticed this too, +ItsKellyLouise

[@decemberferret]

first thing i noticed haha, loved it

[@vigwig]

One of the great talents of our age.

[@xooperz]

vigwig But so very much too underrated...

[@katiejones8328]

+xooperz so true. Yet he's a genius!

[@shacharhar-shuv7261]

true. Matilda was brilliant on so many levels.

[@jugglinbob]

I love Tim smiling as the Matildas start to sing, and also that he modulates his voice to match. Kids larynx's are changing all the time - which makes it difficult to hit a "pure" note - here they are slightly sharp at the start and then slightly flat half way through (notably 5.00) - but even though Tim is the star - he's meeting their pitch. It takes a minute, but by 6.00 its there

[@twistysnacks]

I'm a huge Tim Minchin fan - even met him once and cried after 😂 - but he isn't the star here. The girls are. 😁

[@rowenhusky]

I actually heard the kids on pitch and Tim a bit flat ;)

[@tampazeke4587]

That first line, "when I grow up I'll be tall enough to reach the branches that you have reach to climb the trees you get to climb when you're grown up" is PROFOUND! Minchin is a musical, lyrical, comical genius! So much talent wrapped up in one man.

[@glenmale1748]

Probably the best lyricist of the 21st century. Check his other work.

[@Naomi0o_o0]

@@glenmale1748 His talents span far beyond my imagination. Would it kill him to share a little talent with me?? Would it?? 😂

[@jackwhitbread4583]

@@Naomi0o_o0 the strange thing is if you ask Tim he will say he is a hack musically, comedically and as an actor. He's much more extroverted than his on stage persona might suggest but still incredibly humble.

[@Naomi0o_o0]

@@jackwhitbread4583 Oh really? I wish I was that much of a hack 🤣

[@jackwhitbread4583]

@@Naomi0o_o0 same, not even Tim himself can convince me he is not one of the greatest composer's of the 21st century. I don't even think Dark Side can be called a song, it's art and a complete masterpiece as are many of his songs.

[@MooseyFate100]

You can tell he's making up harmonies and shit near the end. He's amazing.

[@ladyjane9980]

Tim's lyrics completely capture what goes through a child's mind when thinking things so big, that are much less important as an adult. Quite the lesson for many of us, and very fond memories.

[@soocool78]

at the same time pretty heavy "when I grow up, I will be strong enough to carry all the heavy things i have to haul around..."

[@trogdorthe8th]

This interview is rough when you realize that only two years later, the animated musical movie that he dedicated four years of his life towards would be cancelled by new execs at Universal due to "reassessment" at the company. Hans Zimmer was even working on the score with him, and names like Hugh Jackman, Margo Robbie and other huge names from Australia were on the project as well.

[@lillywerk4642]

What’s movie would it have been?

[@HollowRick]

​@@lillywerk4642Shrek 😂

[@dldave1978]

@@lillywerk4642Larrikins

[@MorganHyde-ie5ru]

😢

[@julesbr]

@@lillywerk4642 it was called LARRIKINS

[@eiebsrebla]

Kinda heartbreaking to hear him excitedly talk about the animated project he was working on, knowing it was eventually cancelled:/

[@HelgeKrausler]

Ben is right, it is important to learn looking forward. Creativity is an intrinsic pleasure.

[@LovemedoXD]

Groundhog day the musical was great :) at least!

[@Anne--Marie]

It made me dislike Spielberg.

[@nina.harr1ngt0n]

Wait what was it and why did it get canceled?

[@Anne--Marie]

@@nina.harr1ngt0n Larrikins was cancelled when Comcast bought DreamWorks.

[@PlutoniumBoss]

Conan hasn't read much Dahl if he thinks Tim's dark leanings are anything but an asset to Matilda.

[@DonovanBaarda]

My Uncle Oswald! Just trying to describe what that book is about gets you in trouble.

[@RijuChatterjee]

[@laurabourne7512]

I was obsessed with Matilda as a little girl and I now have a 5yr old daughter who loves it too, but I must admit that rereading it with her has shocked me at just HOW dark it is. No wonder I was such an odd child, I was weaned on Dahl from a very young age!

[@qwertyTRiG]

@@laurabourne7512 Have you ever read Dahl's short stories for adults? Some of them are creepy!

[@ef1876]

Dahl’s books were dark. Everyone goes on about Coraline but The Witches fuckin traumatised me as a kid and Charlie and the Chocolate factory was basically saw for children

[@BennoWitter]

I try to imagine some conservative people who saw the Musical, liked it and type Tim Minchin's name into KZbin. You might see heads exploding.

[@bjpe8228]

by no means conservative but i was like 10 when i got super into this musical, and i was definitely shook

[@ManlyStump]

I've got a very religious distant cousin who once shared a video Tim's university speech and said he was fantastic. I thought to myself "there's no way you're a fan of his music!"

[@antimatterexplodes4014]

This is now my favorite headcanon. Thank you

[@Anne--Marie]

Love the idea!

[@shanedriscoll6039]

Tim Minchin is a genius, an absolute genius. You know, when he was a kid he wrote to Roald Dahl to ask him if he had sold the performing rights for the story to anyone. There was a special on TV about Tim and I will never forget him talking about Matilda and being a kid..... He described how he cannot walk past a playground without getting on the swing...... It's that mindset that created this production. For many years, Les Miserables was by far my favourite stage musical. Matilda is now the show i'd see again and again and again. I saw it for the first time with my daughter a few years ago in Melbourne. My eyes had tears in them the whole show, it's just that beautiful......... I can't wait to see more productions that Tim gets involved is.

[@archieplaydon4356]

This song requires two boots

[@candebosch9529]

LOL

[@NotAMinifig]

at least this book is a real good book :-)

[@jaycooper5677]

Kinky ones?

[@matthewrandell5055]

🤣 I was going to ask if it's the same boot he put on for Good Book

[@Rambit]

I feel like Tim's rich natural Aussie accent really adds dynamics to his vocal harmonies that you wouldn't otherwise hear unless a singer was really trying to project

[@allyoursphotography1]

Seen tim a couple of times live, I have never seen him look happier than playing here.

[@KateLate____]

Phil Hibberd I've never seen him without eye makeup. It's strange seeing him do something that's not comedy. To such a comparatively conservative audience to his usual.

[@Anne--Marie]

Envy is oozing out of my every pore.

[@cameronfoxmedrano]

I do not approve of Tim wearing shoes.

[@Lonelyenglishgirl]

or his lack of eye liner

[@timomastosalo]

Now shoo

[@jagratabhattacharjee4991]

@@Lonelyenglishgirl That's what irritated me the most

[@zacsummers8755]

this song required two boots

[@NoActuallyGo-KCUF-Yourself]

He doesn't either, but it was necessary for the piece.

[@hannahosullivan5450]

"Why are my feet so warm?"

[@rjones6801]

Saw the girl on the right on tour at the Kennedy Center in DC. I'd literally been a father for just over a month at the time, and it really put things in perspective seeing a kid that young being the center of a huge performance. It gave me a newfound appreciation for child actors and singers. The pressure alone has to be overwhelming.

[@justinsmith3470]

You should hear the 4 original Broadway Matildas, they blow these girls out of the water.

[@emmycarter13]

+Justin Smith you should hear the British Matilda's

[@ber2704]

the girl on the right is Mia Sinclair Jenness :)

[@bookwormd8627]

@@justinsmith3470 yea! The four originals on Broadway was the best Matilda’s for me. And especially because were the original, all that pressure and they managed to be absolutely outstanding! After all these years and they’re still the best for me

[@MorrowProduction]

To a person who has dealt with lots of depression and pain and just generally suffered through life.... This song is like a knife in the heart...As kids we think everything is so black and white, everything is good or bad. You have a vigor for life and you wake up loving, happy, and enjoying the simple things in front of you every day....But the older you get the more you realize everything is more grey than black or white, and the good and bad are not as easily defined. Happiness becomes harder and harder to feel or attain. And all the while... the parents who had children, know all of this, know the struggle, know the journey.... but we can't warn them of whats ahead.... because they are so innocent and have everything we wish we still had... and there's no way we are going to ruin that by warning them about what the future holds.... The heartbreaks you will go through, the pain, struggle, and wars you endure just to stay alive. Even warning them of what the future holds gives no hostage to fortune, for they are experiences you have to live yourself to fully understand. Its so paradoxically painful....I can't listen to this song without feeling completely overwhelmed emotionally because of the dualities it raises in my mind....

[@NotoriousHighBP]

same.

[@dicarpio2177]

That’s a superb description. It’s such a wonderful happy song that reminds you how fleeting that childhood innocence is

[@MorrowProduction]

@@NotoriousHighBP If you need anyone to talk to let me know, some of the best bonds and strengths we can find in this world is knowing we are not alone in our struggles.

[@MorrowProduction]

​@@dicarpio2177 I know the song originally was written as a happy children's song for a play but it has many more meanings based on who is consuming the media. It definitely does remind me of a wonderful and happy childhood when things where less complex and dark, but it also makes me think of that pure innocence that we lose as the world throws us into paradoxes and conundrums that have no real right answers as we grow up. I don't think Tim intentionally laced this reflective ideal within the song on purpose, I think it's just a by-product of jaded adults like myself remembering what pure joy and happiness was as a child, and how easy it was to attain at one point. It's really a bitter sweet feeling.

[@dicarpio2177]

@@MorrowProduction knowing what Tim Minchin is like I think he definitely wrote it with a nod to grown ups who all know that all these ideals you have as a child about how great it is to be grown up actually turn out to be wrong, and you have far more freedom as a child!

[@Mijochda]

It's so weird listening to Tim Minchen sing a song that doesn't have an hilarious if borderline offensive twist to somewhere. Kinda spent the whole song in anticipation of it, and had to remind myself, wait, it's from the musical. Still absolutely loved it though :D

[@boskee]

Well, it's not offensive, true, but the twist of this song is that when they finally grow up, they won't do any of the things they think grown ups do.

[@Ghargr18]

Possibly I just know dirty minded people, but I didn’t expect ‘I’ll play with things that mum pretends that mums don’t think are fun’ in a kids show

[@chelseaboyd7245]

dhhfhdsgfkfkhgdhgfkhgfkgfkf i never noticed that and i am incredibly dirty minded. Thanks for pointing that one out.

[@sallysmiles3214]

Not too late! Go climb those trees 🥰

[@swarm9582]

I don't know why I didn't think Tim Minchin wouldn't be good at making kids songs but holy shit was I wrong. That song was great. I really enjoy how it flips back and forth between the when i grow up -> ill be able to deal with grown up things because ill be grown up. It's telling kids that they will have the insight to deal with issues that are currently out of their control. To not be overwhelmed by the issues that seem scary because one day they will know what to do.

[@theWebWizrd]

That is a really sweet interpretation of the song. My own interpretation is a lot sadder, and I think that is the true genius of this song - I feel like your interpretation is how children are supposed to hear the song. Meanwhile, the sad truth is that "being a grown up" isn't some magical thing that changes you. As an adult you face many obstacles and problems, you still lack bravery, you still only do as well as you can and you got to hope for the best. This song perfectly encapsulates how children think adults know everything and have control of their lives, and adults know it to be an illusion. I think my interpretation is especially backed by how a verse is sung by ms honey, who obviously is already a grown up, showing how she like most adults really feels still like a child inside and still waits for the magical time when she will "grow up".

[@pgideonjones]

@@theWebWizrd isn't it just brilliant. Hidden in the upbeat jaunty tune is one of the saddest threads, this song often almost reduces me to tears: I think it has a lot of ways of viewing it. One thing I find powerful is that the hopeful ambitions of the children (eating what they want, watching tv endlessly, staying up late) are all things that the adults in the background of the play are doing: lazily sitting around, watching TV and eating what they want staying up late. The juxtoposition of the realities of adulthood vs how the children hope for it hits me like a ton of bricks every time. I also think it challenges every adult listening to hold up a mirror and see if they became the adult their childhood self hoped for - we all remember that feeling of wishing we could stay up late, well now we can: is it as fun as we thought it would be? Why not? When did we stop wanting to climb trees, as if not being tall enough is the only thing that gets in the way of it. All of this wrapped up inside this seemingly simple playful song. I just love it.

[@guillaumepaquet5116]

you may sound intelligent but you'll never sound quite as brilliant as a small british girl

[@dontwatchmestuff]

He's australian

[@guidoferri8683]

He's not a girl

[@TheAwesomeGamingWaffle]

hes australian

[@rozamunduszek4787]

Dude. Tim is Australian and the girls here are all American (Mia is from New York, Mabel from Georgia and Gaby from New Jersey). Literally no one there is British

[@kanesanders6669]

Rozamunduszek For someone who knows the names of the girls, you don't seem to know that they are playing English school girls and definitely speak and sing in British accents because the book and the musical are set in Britain.

[@adsvx]

This man is such a freaking genuis.

[@pinnataisabella]

brilant performance and i really want to cry without any reason!

[@alfredomarquez1916]

Yeah not sure why but the song really got to me.

[@dob1997]

+pinnate samee. maybe i just felt kinda sad because i spend all my time worrying and i could just watch cartoons like id wanted to

[@jonimaricruz1692]

I’m 74 and this is my song. Thank you, Mabel, Gabby, and Mia and thank you, Tim, and the boys in the band. Lovely.

[@FarmWeigh]

Tim is an absolute genius. My daughter and I saw Matilda a few years ago in Melbourne. One of the best days of my life.

[@NinaReviewsThings]

I just saw him as Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar! He was AMAAAAZING!!!

[@opheliaismyname9180]

I did too, we won tickets. I was a primary age kid at the time and I didn't know who he was. I damn well do now

[@liamowen1784]

as a uni student im feeling personally attacked cause this is basically what i do

[@KnightOfAwesometon]

I love how he keeps saying "Wear" instead of "use". You can just tell he gets tons of people going "Why don't you wear shoes on stage??" and he's used to defending himself.

[@robinlabouche2230]

Tim Minchin is brilliant !!!!!!!

[@lewissmith5759]

looks weird without eyeliner

[@saturn3186]

he looks weird with shoes :D

[@oxymoron283]

You mean guyliner

[@zoedujour]

Still a musical god.

[@timomastosalo]

Yeah, it's so unnatural, and more importantly, he doesn't sound the same without the eyeliner...

[@nomdeplume2213]

Dahl is dark as well so its the perfect match. I absolutely love Tim, hes a genius. Love how he smiled when the kids sang. Hes fucking amazing.... Have i missed the DreamWorks musical? !? Has that come out?

[@willmulligan9311]

Nom De Plume Unfortunately, it was cancelled.

[@rhaianexavier]

Netflix is cominggg

[@sallysmiles3214]

Is it really coming to Netflix??

[@nikolajbjersing4179]

Yes, it is already there!

[@sallysmiles3214]

@@nikolajbjersing4179 oh unfortunately that is not the film he worked on. he wrote a musical to star hugh jackman and margot robbie. netflix was able to use sort of an idea of what he worked on, but what they made isn't what Tim had wanted nor truly created

[@deltanovember1672]

Tim is literally off the charts genius level. “Come Home” is my favourite song of his.

[@leavesofdecember]

those three girls are incredible !! I don't think I've ever heard such musicality come out of tiny people. Sure there are those precocious singers who blow us away every time, but they sing solo and so you only need keep track of one rhythm but these there were in perfect sink with each other, on their own, with Tim and the piano AND with keeping the song intact while Tim was going bananas on the piano. Just incredibly beautiful !

[@lucyinwonderland7947]

This song always makes me cry for some reason. I can't be the only one right?

[@LQOTW]

Tim Minchin is an authentic Australian National Treasure.

[@stub6378]

That little smile when they start singing.❤

[@tantryl]

I love the play on Tim as the voice who *wants* to believe this is what grown ups do and the kids who (in the fiction of the song) actually believe it's what grown ups do,

[@RLeaguer_Saint]

Tears in my eyes every time I watch this. The insight into childhood and adulthood is so beautifully piercing. Thank you Tim.

[@queebloxd]

He's like the final evolution of my primary school music teacher

[@qutalive]

Just imagine what an event his comeback to comedy will be. I can't wait!

[@danielmarin4493]

What a lovely song....my eyes watered ....I don´t know why.

[@kcinstic3012]

it's okay Daniel.

[@jessicay2471]

Every time I watch it, same thing..

[@joellewhite912]

It's because we believe that as kids - and then adulthood hits us and we all want to hide back under the bed when the monsters come

[@johne8876]

Tim and the child actors have the same hair.

[@timomastosalo]

... style

[@cristinitao]

They’re the Matildas

[@LQOTW]

@@cristinitao Yes, and with Tim hair. OR Tim has Matilda hair...OR Tim is Matilda...OR...

[@itsmxdivatoyou]

Seeing Tim smile when the Matildas sing is so cute 😊

[@sfoster.23]

Dare I say that this musical is Tim’s greatest achievement?? Yes!

[@bryanjames2494]

he is too amazing and funny.. his smile when the kids sing is amazing. he is the best thing online to listen to.

[@dustytheloneranger]

You can hear the confusion, concern and tension when he mentions Groundhog Day is getting the Broadway treatment, lol :)

[@Nalianna]

... And i will go to bed late every night.... Now I'm an actual adult, I want to sleep.

[@Evija3000]

+Nalianna That's the point of the song. We want to grow up to do certain things, but when we grow up we don't want to do them anymore.

[@ber2704]

"I will eat sweets everyday"

[@maxjones503]

I'm a 'kid', I want sleep. But my parents don't care that much when I go to sleep.

[@kevinvanveen3260]

Speak for yourself.

[@deesalmon9632]

Hahahahah...let them dream, don't tell them that after you work 10hrs you'll be in bed before 10. You lose your sweet tooth, and cartoons don't interest you as much as Jason Mamoa😁😁😁😁

[@jetlorider]

the little girl in the middle's face......the panic!!

[@atlantpaladin6938]

i panic when i hear your fantastic voice

[@atlantpaladin6938]

her)

[@jetlorider]

Atlant Paladin NO!

[@mrcattoismycat]

Her name is called Matilda ;)

[@bobgreenwood6932]

What a brilliantly talented man. All of his singing, composing, songwriting and playing musical instruments is just a joy to listen to. In my opinion a totally underrated artist for his ingredible talent. All the best for your future endeavors.

[@kristinestout1170]

"This will all make sense when I'm older!"-Olaf Love you, Tim!

[@maryfitzpatrick3252]

Love every phase of Tim.

[@charlotterose6669]

Tim Minchin is a genius and a fucking legend, also anyone who has seen the musical, who else found it impressive, that he could write passages of cursing without actually swearing?

[@martyncrocker4364]

Saw Matilda last night in Dubai. It’s amazing how the story, the play and the songs have transcended mere musical and have become almost timeless. Just absolutely fantastic.

[@matildathemusical5022]

LOVE his hair!!!

[@jennd4590]

I hope the future world always remembers the work of Tim Minchin as we remember Johan Sebastien Bach and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. He deserves all the accolades we can give him for being the gift of OUR time.

[@LouisaKellyHarper]

I commented 5months ago...and here I am again because ughh this man melts my heart ❤

[@CassySida]

I saw the musical when it came when it came to Australia this year and I can't believe i never knew Tim did the music

[@tijay8507]

He did it all!

[@cababness]

Those girls look like they are having a great time! Great song. As children we have all said ' when I grow up', and this song shows the thoughts of a child, but it all changes as we grow up.

[@silverysnowfox]

Watched Matilda when I went to London in 2015. It was splendid!

[@tijay8507]

That is due to the West End cast being the best due to the accents

[@rondalee2451]

Love that they all have Tim's hair do! lol! Incredible talent - all of 'em!

[@drfill9210]

That was unbelievably awesome! You could see he was having fun- and he has a way of arranging songs in a way that completely takes you off guard... I wish I could jam with this man

[@ZeroIsMany]

It feels weird to here a man like Tim singing about when he's going to grow up. Hell would freeze over and thaw to freeze over again before that happens.

[@nedbella]

Tim Minchin is a very talented, clever and funny man.

[@SteveJones313]

3:46 if anyone wants to skip to the song.

[@2727guitarbro]

What a hero

[@trashleigh87]

Hahahaha

[@fishfingersndcustard]

Doing holy work mdude

[@bells.verissimo]

the girls are so adorable and they look so happy to be there

[@caketheboxer7457]

I'm not entirely sure why, but this made me feel really emotional.

[@rmbecca]

I remember when he played this at the end of his 'Back' show when I saw him Edinburgh last year - what an amazing night.

[@15mice31]

For such young kids their accent is so amazing. As a brit I enjoy finding the bits not polished (such as an over pronounced r) and bits they nailed (saying 'I'. I've never seen people doing an English accent do it as well as them).

[@tijay8507]

Their accent is bloody awful .. that American twang combined with being out of tune is making my ears bleed ...

[@Evija3000]

Such a lovely ironic song.

[@SuspiciousUser-ef4zh]

I remember seeing this on the tv one night for the first time and now coming back to KZbin and watching it again!

[@twistysnacks]

The look of sheer joy on his face when he hits the bridge *chef's kiss*

[@tomhecht6068]

Tim is a genius. Awesome talent.

[@tombpunk]

This song always make me tear up

[@juliearnold5412]

just watching again in some time brings my Welsh upbringing to my head love it thanks Jay

[@sallysmiles3214]

I am so sad that this dreamworks film was canceled after years of hard work. I can’t believe we will never get to see any of it 😢

[@lye_solution]

I sang this song at Young Voices in 2015. I still know all of the words, and I'm in tears.

[@alittlebithailey5994]

I got to take my 5 year old niece to see this musical. And after I asked her what her favourite part was, and in this awestruck voice she went “Aaaaaaaall if it Auntie”

[@fabman132]

Tim Minchin's face gives me bill bailey vibes. Love his work and love the musical.

[@melissanoyb]

Oh my god that made me so happy!🌈

[@glenmale1748]

That brass section is awesome!

[@janeyannachicken9053]

Eh... The book Mathilda is pretty dark. It's right up Tim's alley.

[@jordandavenport5784]

It really is such n amazing and well written song. So much nuance

[@Dero88]

aaaah.. the good old day of shaking hands...

[@djlobb]

Tim Minchin, what a national treasure!

[@cbr51]

Fabulous! Just saw the show last night with my husband! We loved it!

[@heatherspence3848]

I hope you have other songs to sing, your voice is lovely!

[@TheSmack2007]

I love Tim. So hilariously talented. :)

[@darrennoble1474]

Such a great dude. Gotta love Tim

[@gteck10]

Gold. 🥇

[@bisexualantigone]

His jumps at the very end! What a lovely song and performance

[@niveshproag8660]

SHOES!

[@NoActuallyGo-KCUF-Yourself]

Such a beautiful person.

[@yaksmowing]

Great performance love an Aussie making it in Hollywood

[@VernaSelander]

He is a special talent!!!!

[@addisonhoward]

I saw the middle Matilda at the Fox Theater in April. She was really good.

[@countrygirlbeth1]

I love Tim Minchin. He’s my fave Judas from JCS

[@garychap8384]

y'know... as an adult, that song describes my life almost exactly : )

[@lesliehendricks1558]

Matilda is so much fun