Madilyn Mei - Tho I'm A Tortoise (Official Music Video) 

Join me on my Side Quest Tour this summer! 👉 www.madilynmei.com/tour-dates Tortoise & Hare HATS! 👉 www.hellomerch.com/collections/madilyn-mei Tour Dates (with support from Sparkbird!): Jul 11 - Phoenix, AZ @ The Rebel Lounge Jul 12 - Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room Jul 13 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Moroccan Lounge Jul 14 - San Francisco, CA @ Cafe Du Nord Jul 16 - Seattle, WA @ Madame Lou's Jul 17 - Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Lounge Jul 19 - Boise, ID @ The Shrine Jul 21 - Denver, CO @ Globe Hall Jul 24 - Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Jul 25 - Chicago, IL @ Beat Kitchen Jul 26 - Ann Arbor, MI @ The Blind Pig Jul 27 - Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups Jul 28 - Toronto, ON @ Hard Luck Bar Jul 30 - Boston, MA @ The Sinclair Jul 31 - New York, NY @ Baby's All Right Aug 1 - Philadelphia, PA @ The Foundry Aug 2 - Washington, DC @ The Atlantis Aug 3 - Richmond, VA @ Richmond Music Hall Aug 6 - Raleigh, NC @ Motorco Music Hall Aug 7 - Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade (Purgatory) Aug 8 - Nashville, TN @ Row One Aug 10 - Austin, TX @ The Ballroom Aug 11 - Dallas, TX @ House Of Blues

Please guys, praise these animators!!! They really made this song come to life!

i may, too, be a tortoise with nothing to prove

This song really rings to me as a metaphor for being neurodivergent particularly in school. I was diagnosed with adhd when I was 8 and got bullied for needing accommodations and doing stuff slower. Throughout school I was always told I “Just need to apply myself” while I was trying my best and barely holding on as it was. There’s a lot of noise online about undiagnosed neurodivergent kids in gifted programs struggling and feeling traumatized by school the same way I did, which shocked me to learn cause I’d always envied the kids with good grades and in the higher classes so much. A lot of the discourse around it feels very centered on people saying they were more messed up from high expectations and lack of help, and then others trying to remind people that it was no better for those whose neurodivergence caused the to fall behind from the beginning. The important thing is that (at the very least in the US) public school is traumatizing for everyone, especially for neurodivergent kids, no matter what different ways our ND traits presented. Between the tortoises in the special ed classes, and the hares betrayed by a system they thought worked for them, we’re both hurt by the structures that pressure us to burn ourselves out. We can take a nap together because we do have nothing to prove. Even for the tortoises expected to lose, we have nothing to prove to them.

I love how the tortoise is portrayed as the younger one and the hare as the older one, apposed to the original story. Thats such as good detail

I’M GONNA RUN AS FAST AS A TORTOISE TO HEAR THIS JAM

Immediately after premiere, my first impression is that this song is about art It feels like two artists fast and slow who both are pitted to compete. They're both expected to make pieces and all of that. But in the end, the artists realize it shouldn't be a competition. Both artists are amazing, regardless of what they are told.

Neurodivergent mood honestly this is for the adhd burnt-out-former-gifted-kids (as much as it is for anyone else) Thx madilyn, existentially affirming as always love

Listened to it twice, once to enjoy it and once to understand it. I think it’s an analogy for how everyone is at a different point in their life, everyone is trying, and everyone will end up dead one day. Why should we care about winning a race with someone at a completely different point in life than we are? We have nothing to prove. Just enjoy your life, make friends even if you have nothing in common, have grace for those behind you, and hang your subpar fingerpaints on the fridge. It doesn’t have to be your best work all the time- you need a nap too.

i watched this with my (20 lb) tortoise:) she doesnt like to sit still, but she finally did to listen and watch this video. we both love it, we’ll be listening to it every night together:3 thank you so much❤️

WHY IS THE PICTURE SO CUTE OH MY GOD STOPPPP

I think it's so cool that the hare is getting some love too in this story, I like that they're equals

Best MUSIC ARTIST OF 2024!

the line “though I’m behind, I need a nap too” hits WAY TOO HARD. I CRIED also, not to drop my entire life story, but I definitely started out as a hare and then later crashed down into a tortoise. not a great development for my little brain that can’t comprehend the concept of me being accepted as I am and without my achievements. and the thought of resting as much as I really need and not as much as other people deem socially acceptable? unbelievable! so this song hit me like a train transporting a thousand trucks. my therapist will be hearing about this 😔 (in short: thank you for making this, I really appreciate it.)

2:11 eepy fox is so cute ♥️♥️

THO IM A HARE I GOT NOTHING TO PROVE🗣️🗣️‼️‼️🔥🔥

absolutely sobbing bc i always held myself to impossible standards to please people who dont even care when really "i have nothing to prove" the animation is so so cute and your songs always hit my heart its magical

I’M SOBBING THE PICTURE IS SO FLIPPING CUTE 😭😭😭😭

WE ALL END UP SIX FEET BELLOW🗣️🗣️🗣️‼️‼️‼️🔥🔥

I woke up crying earlier this night from a bad dream that reaffirmed my insecurities about being too slow. This was nice to hear

why are all your songs so sweetly morbid?? (affectionate)

As a person that’s gone to the point of self harm from overworking myself and having high expectations, this song touches me in a special way. Thank you Madilyn Mei for writing this. ❤

We got Aesop dancing with this one 🔥🔥🗣🗣

dude i absolutely love the MV it's so cute!! the sound production quality is totally next level on this one. shout out to Scrawny dude with the earlier talk of hand holding ("if i reach the end before you, will you lend your hand to hold?"), i totally thought they'd cross the finish line hand-in-hand at the end lol. but i guess what the MV is trying to say is that you don't have to cross the arbitrary finish line... you can take a nap first if you want. :) death is marching, guys. let's have fun until we get there.

AHHH THE ENDING IS SO SWEET!!! I really like this perspective of the story of the tortoise and the hare!!! :D

this has been one of my favourites since I saw the live version a year ago, so happy it got an official release !! the animation is absolutely stunning as well, biggest kudos to the animators that worked on it

WE ARE TAKING A NAP WITH THIS ONE 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

as an art student who started college at 25 and has a constant feeling that I need to prove my worth, this a really sweet breath of fresh air for my heart, thank you for this song that'll play on repeat

WHY ARE ALL THE CHARACTERS SO CUTE 😭😭 Thank you for this absolute banger

This song really matches the vibe of my personal philosophy. "When the world is burning down, make some smores".

19 hours till this masterpiece officially drops

Whenever me and my mom are listening to music my mom is like "is this the tortoise song" "ye" "YES"

Just listening to this song isn’t enough, I need it to constantly be playing from all of my walls

To he honest this reminds me when I was younger about 6 I was in a race with a bunch of other kids and I remember totally not being first but at the end when we were crossing the line. I saw this girl sitting in the middle and crying and I remember going up to her and taking her hand and we both crossed at the same time. We of course got last place ribbons but I felt so amazing that I helped but also sad cause she left with her mom and I never saw her again. I still think about her sometimes and I hope she is OK now ❤❤

This has me tearing up as a whole 24 year old lmao it just makes me think of being physically disabled and always being behind, like literally. Always limping behind the crowd feeling like I had to fight through pain to catch up. Now that I have canes and people who will wait, it’s easier. I wanna get a tortoise tattoo now. I listen to everything you put out and add most of it to my daily mix but I especially like this one, keep it up dude!

OOOOO I AM GONNA EXPLODE (Explodes)

This may actually be one of your best, this song is gorgeous and people from all walks of life can relate to it at some point.

I'M GONNA RUN AS FAST AS A HARE TO HEAR THIS JAM

I LOVE THIS SONG!!!! I have a feeling this is going to be a viral trend like “ok ok ok and la la la” or “soldier, poet, and king”

THIS WAS LOVELY!!! Everything from the visuals to the harmonies to the analogy… Simply beautiful. I listened to this with my mom in the car. Tried to hold back tears the whole time :)

whoever animated this did so good, woah.

i love the little voices in the background and the animation!! :3 tortise x hare real!!!

they are in love

When they just take a nap together 🥺🥺🥺

THE (I THINK) TURTLE IS SO CUTE ON THE THUMBNAIL😭😭😿😿😿😿

Winning the race with this one 🗣️🗣️🔥🔥🔥

THE HARE BLUSHES AT THE END WHEN TORTOISE JOINED HIM EEEEEEEE

WE GOING BACK TO THE NURSERY QUOTES WITH THIS ONE 🗣️🗣️🗣️🔥🔥🔥🔥

THE ANIMATION IS SO CUTE AND SMOOTH, THE MUSIC IS SO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Does anyone else relate to both the tortoise and the hare simultaneously?

The tortoise and the hare was a great visual metaphor for the message of this song, and a really positive re-imagining of that fable, so kudos to everyone involved to for the imagination and the creativity to realize that vision. Gonna add this to my playlist asap, great work 👍

OMG I STAYED UP TO TWELVE FOR THE SONG TO COME OUT WHERE I AM AND ITS SO GOOOOOOOD!

Madilyn has suprised us with this BEAUTY

NEW MADILYN MEI SONG DROPPED ABOUT CUTE ANIMALS AND A LITTLE BIT OF DEATH LETS GOOOO 🎉🎉🎉

This song is so sweet and precious! I love her voice and lyrics

This is really an interesting perspective, because it really makes you ask the question of why would a tortoise try to race a hare in the first place? And what was the message of the story? The reason could be, to not think yourself as lesser due to circumstances and to always have a bit of hope and self confidence because who knows where life may lead? The story of the tortoise and the hare is one of hard work and perseverance being rewarded, and to not let shortcomings stop you from giving it your all. The reason for it being a competition is because the story is also a metaphor for life and how there will always be someone who has some sort of advantage over us and how pride and arrogance leads to failure and is the biggest shortcoming of all. That's the moral of the story, its correct. HOWEVER This song sends out a different yet similar message due to its twist of both the ending, the personality of the hare and the situation. Its no longer a story about overcoming the hardships of life, but rather a story about not letting comparisons stop you from doing your best.Why did the tortoise race the hare when it knows its at a disadvantage and will most likely lose? Its not exactly a smart thing to do is it? Its like someone who has never painted in their lives challenging a professional artist (the buff bunny represents that). If not for pride and arrogance then why would the rabbit present such a challenge to someone who it knows will most likely lose? It carries the same message on hope and perseverance but in the end, it does stand out that the turtle wins by sheer dumb luck. It would have worked hard either way, win or lose but only in the circumstance of it winning would that hard work be acknowledged by those around it. This song gives those plot points emphasis in an absolutely stunning and creative manner. Thinking about it makes you realise that it is, in its core, become a story about maybe just trying your best and not letting constant comparisons with other, maybe better or greater people put you down. To not let the world around you make things a competition when its not. Yes, competition is healthy and important, but that doesnt mean that EVERYTHING is a competition to be won, a situation in which you have to prove yourself or else your nothing. Its OKAY to be nothing sometimes. Its OKAY to not be the perfect or the best. Losing is okay, not being Picasso is okay, thats a part of learning and of growing and sometimes you just do things for the heck of it and for fun, not to prove anything, but just to enjoy yourself. Constant comparison ruins that experience. Its okay to have a need for validation, but not okay to be forced to earn it all of the time for absolutely everything, or for things that you're really not as serious about as others are. That's just not healthy. The rabbit in this version, is not prideful and didnt want to really put the turtle down it was just doing something it liked to do and included the turtle in it cause, why not? and the turtle knows that it has worked hard and has made it to the finish line. Both represent self satisfaction and doesnt need to prove to the world around them what they already know for themselves by actually crossing it. They could if they wanted to, but its really not that important to either of them, and they know that the competition that the other animals have turned their race into, isn't what they were doing and they dont have to necessarily play along. For the turtle it, was never really showing its speed, but rather its perseverance, and by the time it gets near the finish line it has done that. It has proven what it set out to prove. Whether it recieves acknowledgement from the world or not, whether it WANTS to or not, is a different matter altogether. Neither of them cross the finish line because by the time they get there both HAVE nothing to prove. Neither version of the story is about upstaging one another, its about trying your best (even the rabbit runs the whole way before he stops near the finish line), doing what you want to do, and doing it well and just being happy with it. For somethings yeah, you might need the worlds acknowledgment, but not for everthing. Self satisfaction and the brief boost of happiness that we get from it is more than enough for little unimportant victories. Comparing youself for every little thing destroys a persons sense of peace and gives way to things like hate, envy and self loathing.

I love the message of this song! I think I need to take it to heart. I've been trying to live up to other's expectations for me all my life and all I've got to show for it is disappointment, disapproval, burn out, and mental illness. I truly am a tortoise. I'm trying to believe I've got nothing to prove.

THIS IS SO RELATABLE😭I LOVE IT. IM GONNA BE REPLAYING IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN

This is the best song. It made me Cry😭 still crying❤❤

THIS IS A ABSOLUTE MASTERPIECE❤❤❤

I flipping relate to this so much with both the tortoise and the hare. For some reason teachers got very proud of my grades so I'd try to meet their standards and would mentally punish myself if I got anything under 100. I'd feel like trash if I even got something like a 95. And when I'd get something others see as apparently adverge like 85 my teachers would pull me aside and sadly ask me what was wrong cause they knew I was better then that. I'm also a slow learner that likes going at my pace but always feel rushed by others expectations. It's great I'm finally out of school. This song was literally posted the same day I graduated. It means so much to me

I’ve been basically looping this since I first heard it yesterday. Love you Madilyn! ❤❤ Coming from the ‘hare’ currently writing a research paper on the differences between autistic and allistic communication and ways to bridge the gap. 👍

Im late to listening to this song in its full but still. I love this song so much. When it got to the end I audibly whispered, “I love it” and promptly started tearing up. So, great song bossman!!

I can't even articulate how much this song really speaks to me, it's so wholesome despite the subtle melancholy of the lyrics 😭

Immaculate vibes

As someone whose always been seen as the hare, but weirdly felt like the tortise, I really appreciate the Hares perspective, so I approve. (Tbh im more of the crowd, but no one cares about them, I didnt have a side, but i had a place in the race)

we all end up six feet below so why should we care bout all that?!?!?! omg this song is amazing

This song is so amazing thank you so much, your songs have helped me a lot since I found your music this year. I hope you (and anyone else reading this) have an amazing day and night :D

This song reminds me a lot of how I feel when it comes to school, I tend to be behind or understand things slower due to adhd and it gets me made fun of but my best friend understands everything immediately and is even in the gifted program while also having adhd, yet we still close friends.

I AM EATING THE HEART AND SOUL OF THIS SONG OH MY GOD OH MY GOD!!!! I am screaming along, the visuals are so Madilyn, the lyrics are EVERYTHING TO ME- THIS SONG HAS ME BY THE NECK AND IS SHAKING ME UP AND DOWN, I AM LOOPING THE HELL OUT OF THIS

You’ve outdone yourself AGAIN, Madi 🤭🤭🤭 NEW FAVORITE SONG!!!!

THE ART IS AMAZING IM CRYING

Madilyn Mei, thank you so much. What you are doing is wonderful. Your creativity really inspires me to draw. Thank you very much. I wish you great popularity as a musician. Your music is wonderful ❤🐢🐰🌱

IM LOSING MY MIND AHHHHH JUST ONE MORE HOURRR

I LOVE THE SONG AND HOW THE TORTOISE IS I JUST LOVE HIS LITTLE PLUMP SHAPE

This song hasn’t even been here for a whole day and it’s already on my playlist and my second fav song. This just me made of magic bro Edit: 🎉omg my favorite artist hearted my comment!!!🎉

THE END MAKES ME CRY AND GIGGLE EVERY TIME

I love this too much, the song, the animation, everything

The line bronze silver or gold reminds me of something A little song from girl scouts Make new friends but keep the old one is silver and the other gold It just reminded me of that

THAT WAS SO COOL! The animations and the sound kinda felt like a childlike version of AJR…..like if AJR wrote about problems of being a child. I love this ❤

this is actually so relatable

the animation is so smooth omg

As a nurodivergent, I relate to this sm

I LOVE THO I'M A TORTOISE AND THE FACT SHE RELEASED THE OFFICIAL SONG!!!! MAKE A EXTRA CASKET FOR ME BECAUSE IM GOING TO HEAVEN LISTENING TO THIS.

That last line really gets me in the feels

This is the best song in the whole world!!!! I love the creativity of it and it is just so amazing my mind is blown KEEP ON MAKING AWESOME MUSIC LIKE THIS ❤

I'M GONNA SOB. THIS IS SO BEAUTIFUL AND MOVING OH MY LORD. BRAVO BRAVO 😭😭😭❤️

Aww I love this, the animation, the lyrics, the rhythm, it makes me so happy and I’m so excited to listen to this on repeat for the next week :3

Hi Madilyn! I loved the video, especially the visuals. I've been a fan of your music for quite a while and this one especially hits hard.

MASTERPIECE

EEYEYYEYEYE ITS SO GOOD! WE LOVE IT MADILYN ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

I hope that this gets the millions of views it deserves

Live Laugh Love Madilyn Mei🗣️🗣️🗣️💥💥💥💥🔥🔥🔥

this song gets better and better the more I listen to it. I love it

I actually can’t wait 13 hours for thisss

Just 14 hours left

I ve been here since the original tho I'm a tortice and you're music is always sooo amazing

Noooo my school computer will be turned in by the time this masterpiece gets posted. 😭

YOOOO HYPED TO HEAR THIS

I NEED a karaoke for this 🤭 I keep singing this song over and over