The Adults Are Talking by The Strokes Meaning: Power, Youth, and Being Talked Over

What Is “The Adults Are Talking” by The Strokes About?

“The Adults Are Talking” by The Strokes is about being dismissed by people in power — capturing frustration, authority, and the feeling of not being taken seriously. The title itself says a lot. It sounds like something a child might be told when the people in charge do not want to be interrupted: the adults are talking.

The title also gives the song its sharpest frame. It captures the feeling of being talked down to by people who have authority, status, money, age, or control over the conversation. The “adults” may be in charge, but the song questions whether they actually understand what they are doing.

The meaning can be heard in a few different ways. It can apply to politics, media, fame, business, or even personal relationships. That is part of why the song works so well. Julian Casablancas does not spell out one simple message. Instead, he creates a feeling: being stuck in a room where decisions are being made by people who expect everyone else to stay quiet.

There is also a generational frustration running through the song. “The Adults Are Talking” feels like it is pushing back against the idea that younger voices should wait their turn, accept the rules, and let the people in power keep speaking for everyone else.

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Quick Details

Song: The Adults Are Talking
Artist: The Strokes
Album: The New Abnormal
Released: 2020
Album Placement: Track 1
Producer: Rick Rubin
Genre: Indie rock / new wave / post-punk revival
Length: 5:09
Written by: The Strokes, with lyrics by Julian Casablancas

A Song About Being Dismissed

One of the strongest parts of “The Adults Are Talking” is the way it captures dismissal without sounding overly dramatic. The song does not explode right away. It moves with a cool, controlled energy, almost like the band is trying to stay calm while everything underneath is boiling.

That fits the meaning perfectly.

The song feels like someone trying to explain themselves to people who are not really listening. There is frustration, but there is also weariness. It is not just anger. It is the tired feeling of knowing the same people keep controlling the room, controlling the story, and controlling who gets taken seriously.

That is why the title is so sharp. “The adults are talking” sounds like something said to shut someone down. But in the song, it feels like The Strokes are turning that phrase around and asking whether the people in charge are really as wise, mature, or honest as they think they are.

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The Sound of The Strokes Growing Up Without Losing Their Edge

Musically, “The Adults Are Talking” is a great opener for The New Abnormal because it feels both classic and refreshed. The guitars have that clean, interlocking Strokes sound, but the song is smoother and more patient than some of their early material.

Instead of sounding like a band trying to recreate Is This It, it sounds like The Strokes aging into their own style. The rhythm is tight, the guitar lines bounce off each other, and Casablancas moves between cool restraint and emotional release.

That is what makes the song so satisfying. It has the nervous energy of early Strokes, but it also has the confidence of a band that does not need to prove itself in the same way anymore.

The last stretch of the song is especially powerful because it lets the emotion rise without completely breaking the song’s cool exterior. Casablancas’ vocal performance starts to feel more desperate, almost like the calm front is finally cracking.

Where It Fits on The New Abnormal

As the opening track on The New Abnormal, “The Adults Are Talking” sets the tone for the whole album. It tells listeners right away that The Strokes are not just coming back for nostalgia. They are looking backward and forward at the same time.

The album often feels like a band thinking about age, regret, fame, distance, and survival. “The Adults Are Talking” starts that conversation with one of the record’s clearest statements: the world is full of people speaking with authority, but that does not mean they are always saying anything worth trusting.

It is also a smart opener because it eases listeners into the album. It has enough of the classic Strokes sound to feel familiar, but it also points toward the more reflective and strange mood of The New Abnormal.

Explore The New Abnormal further with our full track-by-track album review.

The New Abnormal Album Review #21: Is This The Strokes’ Best Album Yet?

Final Thoughts

“The Adults Are Talking” is one of the best examples of what makes later-era Strokes so interesting. It has the guitar chemistry fans want, but it also has a more mature kind of tension running through it.

The song is catchy, stylish, and easy to replay, but it is not empty. It captures that frustrating feeling of watching the wrong people dominate the conversation while everyone else is expected to stay quiet.

For me, that is why it works so well. “The Adults Are Talking” sounds cool, but it never feels careless. It feels like The Strokes taking their familiar sound and using it to say something sharper about power, age, and who actually gets heard.

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FAQ About “The Adults Are Talking”

What does “The Adults Are Talking” by The Strokes mean?

“The Adults Are Talking” is about being dismissed by people in power. The song uses the idea of “adults” talking as a way to explore authority, control, and the frustration of not being taken seriously.

What album is “The Adults Are Talking” on?

“The Adults Are Talking” is the opening track on The Strokes’ 2020 album The New Abnormal.

Why is it called “The Adults Are Talking”?

The title comes from a phrase often used to dismiss younger voices. In the song, The Strokes flip that idea, questioning whether the people in charge actually deserve to be the ones speaking.

Is “The Adults Are Talking” a political song?

It can be read politically, but it is not only a political song. It also works as a broader statement about power, generational tension, and people being talked over in different areas of life.

Why is “The Adults Are Talking” so popular?

The song combines classic Strokes guitar interplay with a more mature emotional tone. It feels familiar, catchy, and fresh at the same time, which helped make it one of the standout tracks from The New Abnormal.

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