Chumbawamba - Tubthumping

What this video is

Released 11 August 1997 on EMI Records as the lead single from Tubthumper, Chumbawamba's major-label debut, 'Tubthumping' marked a seismic tension between the band's 15-year anarcho-punk DIY identity and mainstream commercial ambition. The band had previously been rejected by One Little Indian Records for pursuing a more accessible sound, before signing with EMI in the UK and Universal in the US. The song became an…

Why it matters

A landmark in 1990s crossover alternative rock, 'Tubthumping' blended anarcho-punk political roots with pop-rock hooks, dance-pop rhythms, hip-hop-derived beats, and swing-style brass. The video's stripped-back pub realism contrasted sharply with the polished high-concept promos dominating MTV in…

The director

UK-based director and editor with over 15 years of music video experience. Educated at Goldsmiths, University of London. Directing credits include work for Goldie Lookin' Chain (2005) and Faithless, among others. Also credited on the television production…