Meditjin

"Meditjin"
Single by Baker Boy featuring JessB
from the album Gela
Released21 November 2019
Length2:58
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jerome Farah
Baker Boy singles chronology
"In Control"
(2019) 		"Meditjin"
(2019) 		"Move"
(2020)
Music video
"Meditjin" on YouTube

"Meditjin" (English: "Medicine"[1]) 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).[2][3]

"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.[4] At the APRA Music Awards of 2021, the song was shortlisted for Song of the Year.[5]

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."[1]

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

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2020 "Meditjin" Film Clip of the Year Won [10]
Song of the Year [11]

Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2020 "Meditjin" Global Songwriting Competition 2 [12]

References

  1. ^ a b Langford, Jackson (21 November 2019). "Baker Boy teams up with JessB for new song "Meditjin"". Music Feeds. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  2. ^ Newstead, Al (21 November 2019). "First Spin: Baker Boy serves up a dose of 'Meditjin' with NZ rapper JessB". Triple J. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  3. ^ Kanoniuk, Lachlan (21 November 2019). "Listen: Baker Boy and JessB link up for a powerful dose of Meditjin". Red Bull News. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  4. ^ ARIA Award previous winners. "Winners by Award – Artisan Awards – Best Video". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  5. ^ "One of these songs will be the Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year!". APRA AMCOS. 3 February 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  6. ^ "Meditjin (feat. JessB) – Single by Baker Boy on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  7. ^ "Baker Boy - Meditjin (Official Video) ft. JessB". 4 December 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2020 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ "Baker Boy releases new single "Meditjin" feat. JessB – Out Now". With Guitars. 21 November 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  9. ^ "Baker Boys Tops the National Indigenous Music Chart". ALNF. 24 February 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  10. ^ Rose, Anna (8 August 2020). "Baker Boy wins Artist of the Year at the National Indigenous Music Awards 2020". NME Australia. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  11. ^ Gooley, Cameron (8 August 2020). "Baker Boy wins top prize at National Indigenous Music Awards, Ruby Hunter inducted into Hall of Fame". ABC News. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  12. ^ Brandle, Lars (12 March 2021). "Thelma Plum's "Better in Blak" wins Vanda & Young Songwriting Comp". Billboard. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  13. ^ Eliezer, Christie (12 March 2021). "Thelma Plum and Baker Boy take out top spots in Vanda & Young songwriting competition". The Music Network. Archived from the original on 11 March 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2021. The AFL used "Meditjin" last year in an ad campaign, translating its message to the role of sports.
External videos
video icon Two weeks to the 2020 Toyota AFL Premiership Season!, Australian Football League (via Facebook)