Meditjin Explained

Meditjin
Cover:Meditjin by Baker Boy.png
Type:single
Artist:Baker Boy featuring JessB
Album:Gela
Released:21 November 2019
Length:2:58
Label:
Producer:Jerome Farah
Chronology:Baker Boy singles
Prev Title:In Control
Prev Year:2019
Next Title:Move
Next Year:2020

"Meditjin" (English: "'''Medicine'''") is a song by Indigenous Australian musician Baker Boy featuring Indigenous New Zealand rapper JessB, released on 21 November 2019 as the second single from his debut album Gela (2021).[1] [2]

"Meditjin" was the recipient of various awards, including Film Clip of the Year and Song of the Year at the 2020 National Indigenous Music Awards and second place in the 2021 Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition, and was used in an advertisement for the 2020 AFL season.

The Gabriel Gasparinatos directed music video was nominated for Best Video at the ARIA Music Awards of 2020.[3] At the APRA Music Awards of 2021, the song was shortlisted for Song of the Year.[4]

Background

In a statement, Baker Boy said "Music is the best meditjin (medicine). It brings everyone together, makes you want to dance, love, laugh, vibe and feel and I wrote 'Meditjin' with just that in mind. It's about making people feel the music and expressing themselves."[5]

Release

"Meditjin" was released for digital download and on streaming services on 21 November 2019.[6]

Music video

The music video was released on 4 December 2019, and was directed by Gabriel Gasparinatos.

Synopsis

The video features Baker Boy rapping in his native language of Yolngu Matha as well as English, alongside six barefoot Dancehall Dancers and two members of the Baker Boy family. Baker Boy said: "The video for "Meditjin" was such an exciting process to work through, the concept blew my mind, so I was just so pumped we managed to pull all the elements together. The small things in this video make me so excited, like having my brother, Adam, and cousin, Tristan in the clip. It wasn't really planned but the timing worked out, so it was like 'why not', they were so excited too!"[7]

Critical reception

Christopher Brown from With Guitars said "'Meditjin' is drenched in positive vibes and brings the raw energy of early singles such as "Marryuna", as well as the sound of the Yidaki (aka Didgeridoo) – an instrument that originated with the Yolngu and Galpu people of North East Arnhem Land."[8]

Chart performance

The song peaked at number 1 on the National Indigenous Music Chart.[9]

Awards and nominations

National Indigenous Music Awards! |-! scope="row" rowspan="2"| 2020| rowspan="2"| "Meditjin"| Film Clip of the Year| rowspan="2" | [10] |-| Song of the Year| [11] |}

Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition! |-! scope="row"| 2020| "Meditjin"| Global Songwriting Competition| | [12] |}

In popular culture

Notes and References

  1. Web site: First Spin: Baker Boy serves up a dose of 'Meditjin' with NZ rapper JessB . . 21 November 2019 . 26 September 2020 . Newstead, Al.
  2. Web site: Listen: Baker Boy and JessB link up for a powerful dose of Meditjin . Red Bull News . 21 November 2019 . 19 March 2021 . Kanoniuk, Lachlan.
  3. ARIA Award previous winners. Web site: Winners by Award – Artisan Awards – Best Video . Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). 12 December 2019 .
  4. Web site: One of these songs will be the Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year!. APRA AMCOS. 3 February 2021. 26 April 2022.
  5. Web site: Baker Boy teams up with JessB for new song "Meditjin" . . 21 November 2019 . 9 August 2020 . Langford, Jackson.
  6. Web site: Meditjin (feat. JessB) – Single by Baker Boy on Apple Music . . 19 March 2021.
  7. Web site: Baker Boy - Meditjin (Official Video) ft. JessB . . 4 December 2019 . 9 August 2020.
  8. Web site: Baker Boy releases new single "Meditjin" feat. JessB – Out Now . With Guitars . 21 November 2019 . 9 August 2020.
  9. Web site: Baker Boys Tops the National Indigenous Music Chart. ALNF. 24 February 2020. 9 August 2020.
  10. Web site: Baker Boy wins Artist of the Year at the National Indigenous Music Awards 2020 . . 8 August 2020 . 19 March 2021 . Rose, Anna.
  11. Web site: Baker Boy wins top prize at National Indigenous Music Awards, Ruby Hunter inducted into Hall of Fame . . 8 August 2020 . 9 August 2020 . Gooley, Cameron.
  12. Thelma Plum's "Better in Blak" wins Vanda & Young Songwriting Comp . . 12 March 2021 . 19 March 2021 . Brandle, Lars.
  13. Web site: Thelma Plum and Baker Boy take out top spots in Vanda & Young songwriting competition. . 12 March 2021 . 19 March 2021 . Eliezer, Christie . "The AFL used "Meditjin" last year in an ad campaign, translating its message to the role of sports." . https://web.archive.org/web/20210311230419/https://themusicnetwork.com/thelma-plum-vanda-young/ . 11 March 2021 . live.