How You Been-Thundamnetals Critique

Isaac Villalobos

Media Interpretations and criticisms

How You Been-Thundamentals

The title of this song is How You Been by the Thundamentals. The Thundamentals create a very interesting work of music here by merging childhood and adulthood. They accomplish this task through clever lyrics that accompany a story between two friends growing up. The result is a nostalgic piece that takes the listener for a ride back to their youth, and that is what makes this music video special.

The Thundamentals are an Australian hip hop group out of Sydney, Australia. They released this song on Obese Records which is the largest Australian independent hip hop label. The songs major overarching statement is the strength and power of true friendship. We see this unfold through the lyrics, which depict a story of two young friends growing up. They grow up to eventually choose two different life paths, which on some levels drive them apart. However, through this time these two friends still retain their friendship and never forget about each other. The video displays this theme well also through the very colorful and vibrant scenes give a sense of reminiscing on good times. The scenes show friends playing outside or friends posing for pictures and each individual is very different yet the bonds between them remain and it is something that stretches across all people.

There are key lyrics and points in the video that really express how powerful friendships are, early on a common ground is made clear when the song reminisces to old times hanging out and laughing together. This is juxtaposed with the conflict, when they rap about “whatever happened to us” and “its awkward now.” This doesn’t show friendships to be an ideal but having conflicts as well as positive aspects. However, even in the conflict the video keeps a positive tone to it by presenting a story of two friends coming together to skate board and reconnect. This allows the song to address the conflict without taking away from the message.

The song also recognizes that “change is the only constant” among friends and regardless of all the differences and conflicts between these two friends the video does show them together like “old times” which is fitting to the nostalgic feel of the video. It makes you feel like you are witnessing the writer’s memories and then watch them unfold again in the present. A very powerful line in the song is “despite never seeing you you’re still my brother man.” That line really encompasses the whole meaning of this song, it is a statement on through change and conflict some bonds remain through everything. The video fades out complementing the lyrics nicely, by showing various groups of friends taking photos together to display how powerful bonds are among friends.