Wonderboy
Encyclopedia
"Wonderboy" is the second single from Tenacious D
's self-titled debut album
. It was released December 24, 2002. The song peaked at #36 in the UK and #44 in Australia; the video, directed by Spike Jonze
, was also well-received.
.") are frequently referenced on ESPN's SportsCenter
, most often by Scott Van Pelt
, when a basketball player gets big air on a dunk.
Strings were played by Andrew Gross, a classmate of Jack Black, who penned the orchestral score for Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny. He also played strings on several songs on this album.
Jack Black's friend Buckethead
covered the song occasionally when playing live.
The guitar intro is similar to It's a Boy by The Who
from Tommy
The song makes reference to the Three Dog Night
song An Old Fashioned Love Song
.
) as he forms an alliance with his lute
-wielding arch-rival Young Nasty Man (KG
) and forms the band Tenacious D
. Wonderboy's powers are not revealed in the song but according to the lyrics we know that Young Nasty Man has powers that are "comparable" to Wonderboy's. Young Nasty Man has a variety of seemingly telekinetic powers, such as flight via levitation, "mind bullets" via telekinesis (with an apparent range of at least 200 yards and enough force to "kill a yak
"), and "the power to move you". The song also mentions Wonderboy's castle made of clouds, the use of swords, and an attempt to destroy a hydra
(The Mucky Muck Man), which is not seen in the video, but is mentioned in the song.
In the video, Wonderboy and Young Nasty Man are portrayed as Medieval/Mythological skill-and-strength heroes, climbing a snowy mountain. At the end of the video they fight a monster (which is off-screen but its flaming breath can be seen) and Wonderboy perishes, having been run through by his own sword. The fates of Young Nasty Man and the monster (presumably the fire-breathing hydra mentioned in the lyrics) remain unknown.
The video was directed by Spike Jonze
under the alias of Marcus Von Bueler. The producer was Vincent Landay and K.K. Barrett was the stunt director. The production company was Satellite Films. The music video was first aired during the week beginning October 29, 2001.
In 2002, Cooper Stone won an award from the MVPA (Music Video Production Association
) for the "Best Direction of a Music Video" for his work on "Wonderboy".
Australia and New Zealand CD single (Epic Records #673286.2)
UK CD single (Epic Records #673351 2)
Promotional CD (Epic Records #XPCD2756)
Tenacious D
Tenacious D is an American rock band that was formed in Los Angeles, California in 1994. Composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Jack Black and lead guitarist and vocalist Kyle Gass, the band has released two albums – Tenacious D and The Pick of Destiny...
's self-titled debut album
Tenacious D (album)
Tenacious D is the first studio album by American comedy rock band Tenacious D, released on September 25, 2001 by Epic Records. The album's polished production was a departure from the band's acoustic origins, due in part to the production of the Dust Brothers."Tribute" was the first single...
. It was released December 24, 2002. The song peaked at #36 in the UK and #44 in Australia; the video, directed by Spike Jonze
Spike Jonze
Spike Jonze is an American director, producer and actor, whose work includes music videos, commercials, film and television...
, was also well-received.
Structure
The lyrics of the song (particularly the line "That's levitation, HolmesHomie
Homie or homey is a slang term in urban culture whose origins etymologists generally trace to African American language from the late 19th century. This was a time when many African Americans were migrating to cities in larger numbers, and "homeboy" meant a male friend from back home. It was...
.") are frequently referenced on ESPN's SportsCenter
SportsCenter
SportsCenter is a daily sports news television show, and the flagship program of American cable network ESPN since the network launched on September 7, 1979. Originally broadcast only daily, SportsCenter is now shown up to twelve times a day, replaying the day's scores and highlights from major...
, most often by Scott Van Pelt
Scott Van Pelt
Scott Van Pelt is an American sportscaster. He is an anchor for the 11 p.m. edition of SportsCenter on ESPN, the host of The Scott Van Pelt Show on ESPN Radio and has also covered various golf events for the network.-Early life:...
, when a basketball player gets big air on a dunk.
Strings were played by Andrew Gross, a classmate of Jack Black, who penned the orchestral score for Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny. He also played strings on several songs on this album.
Jack Black's friend Buckethead
Buckethead
Brian Carroll , better known by his stage name Buckethead, is a guitarist and multi instrumentalist who has worked within several genres of music. He has released 34 studio albums, four special releases and one EP. He has performed on over 50 more albums by other artists...
covered the song occasionally when playing live.
The guitar intro is similar to It's a Boy by The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
from Tommy
Tommy
Tommy is a given name that is usually the English diminutive of Thomas. The name also could refer to:- People with the given name Tommy :* Tommy Alcedo , Venezuelan road cyclist* Tommy G...
The song makes reference to the Three Dog Night
Three Dog Night
Three Dog Night is an American rock band best known for their music from 1968 to 1975. During that time the band charted 21 Billboard top 40 hits in America, three of which reached Number One...
song An Old Fashioned Love Song
An Old Fashioned Love Song
"An Old Fashioned Love Song" is a 1971 song by the American pop-rock band Three Dog Night. Chuck Negron performed the lead vocal on this track. Taken as the lead single from their 1971 album, Harmony, the song peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in December 1971, becoming the...
.
Music video
The lyrics of the song tell the tale of the superhero Wonderboy (BlackJack Black
Jack Black , is an American actor and musician, notably of Tenacious D.Jack Black may also refer to:* Jack Black , late 19th - early 20th Century author and hobo* Jack Black , drummer for 1970s UK punk band The Boys...
) as he forms an alliance with his lute
Lute
Lute can refer generally to any plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back, or more specifically to an instrument from the family of European lutes....
-wielding arch-rival Young Nasty Man (KG
Kyle Gass
Kyle Richard Gass , also known as KG or Kage, is an American rock musician, singer-songwriter and actor. He is a member of the bands Tenacious D and Trainwreck. In Tenacious D , Gass plays lead guitar and sings backup vocals, and also plays the role of Black's comic foil in most of their comedy...
) and forms the band Tenacious D
Tenacious D
Tenacious D is an American rock band that was formed in Los Angeles, California in 1994. Composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Jack Black and lead guitarist and vocalist Kyle Gass, the band has released two albums – Tenacious D and The Pick of Destiny...
. Wonderboy's powers are not revealed in the song but according to the lyrics we know that Young Nasty Man has powers that are "comparable" to Wonderboy's. Young Nasty Man has a variety of seemingly telekinetic powers, such as flight via levitation, "mind bullets" via telekinesis (with an apparent range of at least 200 yards and enough force to "kill a yak
Yak
The yak, Bos grunniens or Bos mutus, is a long-haired bovine found throughout the Himalayan region of south Central Asia, the Tibetan Plateau and as far north as Mongolia and Russia. In addition to a large domestic population, there is a small, vulnerable wild yak population...
"), and "the power to move you". The song also mentions Wonderboy's castle made of clouds, the use of swords, and an attempt to destroy a hydra
Lernaean Hydra
In Greek mythology, the Lernaean Hydra was an ancient nameless serpent-like chthonic water beast, with reptilian traits, that possessed many heads — the poets mention more heads than the vase-painters could paint, and for each head cut off it grew two more — and poisonous breath so virulent even...
(The Mucky Muck Man), which is not seen in the video, but is mentioned in the song.
In the video, Wonderboy and Young Nasty Man are portrayed as Medieval/Mythological skill-and-strength heroes, climbing a snowy mountain. At the end of the video they fight a monster (which is off-screen but its flaming breath can be seen) and Wonderboy perishes, having been run through by his own sword. The fates of Young Nasty Man and the monster (presumably the fire-breathing hydra mentioned in the lyrics) remain unknown.
The video was directed by Spike Jonze
Spike Jonze
Spike Jonze is an American director, producer and actor, whose work includes music videos, commercials, film and television...
under the alias of Marcus Von Bueler. The producer was Vincent Landay and K.K. Barrett was the stunt director. The production company was Satellite Films. The music video was first aired during the week beginning October 29, 2001.
In 2002, Cooper Stone won an award from the MVPA (Music Video Production Association
Music Video Production Association
The Music Video Production Association is a music industry trade organization, based in Los Angeles, that is made up of producers, directors, and other professionals involved in the creation of music videos....
) for the "Best Direction of a Music Video" for his work on "Wonderboy".
Track listings
US CD single (Epic Records #673351 5)- "Wonderboy" – 4:07
- "Cosmic Shame (live)" - 4:28 Recorded at the Cox ArenaCox ArenaOfficially Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl, located on the San Diego State University campus in San Diego, California, is the home of the San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball and women's basketball teams. Viejas Arena opened its doors to the campus and community in July of 1997 and seats 12,414 for...
in San DiegoSan Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
on November 20, 2001. - "Kyle Quit the Band (demo)" - 2:10
- "Wonderboy (Video)" - 4:07
Australia and New Zealand CD single (Epic Records #673286.2)
- "Wonderboy" – 4:07
- "Tribute (Channel V Performance)" - 4.34
- "TributeTribute (song)"Tribute" is a tribute to "The Greatest Song in the World" and is the first single of Tenacious D's self-titled debut album. It was released July 16, 2002....
" (Video) – 4:08
UK CD single (Epic Records #673351 2)
- "Wonderboy" – 4:07
- "Jesus Ranch (demo)" - 2:14
- "TributeTribute (song)"Tribute" is a tribute to "The Greatest Song in the World" and is the first single of Tenacious D's self-titled debut album. It was released July 16, 2002....
" (Video) – 4:08
Promotional CD (Epic Records #XPCD2756)
- "Wonderboy" – 4:07
Chart performance
| Chart (2002) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
24 |
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
48 |
Personnel
- Jack BlackJack BlackJack Black , is an American actor and musician, notably of Tenacious D.Jack Black may also refer to:* Jack Black , late 19th - early 20th Century author and hobo* Jack Black , drummer for 1970s UK punk band The Boys...
(vocals/acoustic guitar) - Kyle GassKyle GassKyle Richard Gass , also known as KG or Kage, is an American rock musician, singer-songwriter and actor. He is a member of the bands Tenacious D and Trainwreck. In Tenacious D , Gass plays lead guitar and sings backup vocals, and also plays the role of Black's comic foil in most of their comedy...
(backing vocals/acoustic guitar) - Page McConnellPage McConnellPage Samuel McConnell is an American multi-instrumentalist most noted for his work as a songwriter and keyboardist with the American rock band Phish....
(keys) - Dave GrohlDave GrohlDavid Eric "Dave" Grohl is an American rock musician, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter who is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter for Foo Fighters; the former drummer for Nirvana and Scream; and the current drummer for Them Crooked Vultures...
(drums) - Alfredo OrtizAlfredo OrtizAlfredo Ortiz is an American drummer, was the former drummer for New York group Morningwood and Los Angeles rockers Red Exiles. Previously Ortiz has toured with the Beastie Boys as a drummer and percussionist, and appeared in their film, Awesome; I Fuckin' Shot That! In previous years, he has lent...
(additional drums) - Andrew Gross (strings)
- Dust BrothersDust BrothersThe Dust Brothers are the Los Angeles, California based, Grammy Award winning producers, E.Z. Mike and King Gizmo , famous for their sample-based music in the 1980s and 1990s, and specifically for their work on the albums Paul's Boutique by the Beastie Boys, Odelay by Beck, and the soundtrack to...
(production) - Ken AndrewsKen AndrewsKen Andrews is an American musician and producer, based out of Los Angeles, California.Andrews was born in Seattle, Washington, and attended film school in Los Angeles before his band Failure received a record deal from Slash Records.He was the co-founder, lead vocalist, guitarist, and...
(mixer)