(Single from album, "Tenacious D")
Phahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
Ok, glad to get that out of my system - this is one of, if not the, best comedy song ever. Jack Black is just a 'don' on vocals, and Kyle Gass is equally talented on guitar. So without a further 'fligoo-gigoo', here we go...
The opening acoustic meander, a symbol of both comedy genius and hysterical gut-wrenching laughter-to-come, is now one of the most famous intros of all time. Its followed quickly by Jack Black announcing this to be 'the greatest and best song in the world' before an ill-timed pause finishes with the stylishly inserted 'tribute', spoken with beautiful conviction. In the video, its just funny as hell, especially as Jack Black tries to time it...
The story is brilliant - and spoken. A hitchhiking Jack and Kyle are hitchhiking as a shiny demon shines before them, and threatens to 'eat their souls' unless they play 'the greatest song in the world', which, confusingly, isn't this song, as is later explained by Black in a frenzied and excited flurriy of speech during the song's bridge. The beast is stunned after a bigger, electric sounding chorus, and with a 'whip-crack' of his 'whoopy tail' (arguably, the funniest moment of the whole side-splitting 4 minutes), he leaves the strange pair just as they continue their cover of the 'best song in the world'. Littered with hilarious, often cliched, lines, the lyrics continue to please well after the end of the story. Upon announcing their presence as not in fact angels, but 'MEN!', the bridge begins - bombastic loud and funny to the end. And then the infamous 'fligoo-gigoo' poorly executed beat-boxing section, which is even funnier.
This song is great, and I absolutely love it - after I heard it for the first time, courtesy of a friend, I decided I had to own it, and bought it there and then. I cannot go a week without this track and, especially if you're feeling down, Tenacious D are brilliant. In fairness to anyone questioning my rating, the stars in this instance are more in celebration of the comedy in combination with the music, rather than just the latter.
The video is an added bonus. It makes Jack Black's voice of the devil even funnier, and the fact that its recorded in one of those X-factor style recording booths is even funnier. Its not essential, but makes the song better as a package, and, ultimately, seeing the passion on Jack Black's face - well, there's nothing else like it...
Love it, love, love it, love it, love it! Who knows, maybe soon I'll review the pair's 'song for the ladies'...so 'fellas - listen closely'...
★★★★★
Versions of “Tribute”
Album/Single Version – 4:08