HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

"Toni" is a song by American rock band
Interpol The International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL (abbreviated as ICPO–INTERPOL), commonly known as Interpol ( , ; stylized in allcaps), is an international organization that facilitates worldwide police cooperation and crime cont ...
, released in 2022 as the lead single from their seventh studio album, '' The Other Side of Make-Believe''. First teased in January 2022, the song released with a music video directed by Van Alpert on April 7, 2022. A remix of "Toni" by Jesu was released on June 15, 2023, as the third single from Interpol's ''Interpolations'' remix album. The single's artwork is a black-and-white edit of the first ever photo of the interaction of two supersonic shockwaves in flight, taken by
NASA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the federal government of the United States, US federal government responsible for the United States ...
.


Composition and lyrics

"Toni" is centered around a piano motif written by guitarist Daniel Kessler. Frontman Paul Banks said of the song: In their review for ''The Other Side of Make-Believe'', ''
Pitchfork A pitchfork or hay fork is an agricultural tool used to pitch loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. It has a long handle and usually two to five thin tines designed to efficiently move such materials. The term is also applie ...
'' described "Toni" as "the heretofore-inconceivable “Interpol California song,” swapping ambient synth washes for a plinking piano, slacking the eighth-note grid just the tiniest bit, allowing Banks’ voice to relax into a world-weary but satisfied tone."


Music video

The music video follows frontman Paul Banks in a police car observing a couple fleeing from a gang with weapons, confronting the couple through choreographed dances. Director Van Alpert decided to create it as a "hyper-modern, cinematic dance film", an idea he felt was new for Interpol.


Critical reception

Tom Taylor of ''
Far Out Magazine ''Far Out'' is an independent British online culture platform founded in 2010 and headquartered in London. The site focuses on independent and alternative culture, providing analysis of music, film, travel and the arts alongside exclusive intervi ...
'' gave the song an 8, writing ""Toni" is moonlit and mildly menacing but it builds towards an adrenalised fracas free from any musical malaise. It’s Halloween heist music, and being the only occupants of that unique pigeonhole gets a big thumbs up in itself."


References

{{Interpol 2022 singles Interpol (band) songs 2022 songs Matador Records singles Post-punk songs Songs written by Paul Banks (American musician) Songs written by Sam Fogarino Songs written by Daniel Kessler (guitarist) Songs about California