The phrase originally comes from the song "The Kids Are Alright" written by Pete Townshend as part of the
English rock band The Who in 1965. While it is not clear that Pete Townshend or The Who intended for this expression to have any profound meaning within the context of their own song, the phrase has been referenced numerous times across all forms of media, usually with the meaning or connotation that "the young generation are doing okay and are going to be just
fine".
The phrase, as originally coined by The Who, has been referenced in songs by the Offspring,
Fall Out Boy, Bad
Religion, Urge Overkill, Lagwagon, Local H, AWOLNATION, The Parlor
Mob, Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue, Chloe x
Halle, and more. The title of the song was also used as the title of a film and is referenced in the titles of numerous television episodes (e.g. That 70's Show, Supernatural, Ballers, and The Simpsons). It was also used in the Final Fantasy VII novel The Kids Are Alright: A Turks
Side Story, the novel having various references to The Who. It is also frequently used in various political headlines and discussions about issues affecting the younger generations.
Adult 1: "I found out yesterday that my kids have never heard of The Who. They thought the expression 'the kids are alright' was invented by someone named Chloe x Halle."
Adult 2: "I'm dying. The
words you speak are killing me deep in my heart."
Adult 1: "But then they asked if I would buy them a
Led Zeppelin t-shirt."
Adult 2: "Ya know....
maybe the kids are alright."
