Wonderboy

Infobox Single
Name = Wonderboy


Caption = Australia and New Zealand CD Cover
Artist = Tenacious D
from Album = Tenacious D
Released =
November 11 2002
(US and UK)
November 25 2002
(Australia and New Zealand)
Format = CD
Recorded = The Boat in Silver Lake, Los Angeles
Genre = Comedy Rock
Length = 04:06
Label = Sony Music International
Writer = Jack Black, Kyle Gass
Producer = Dust Brothers
Last single = "Tribute"
(2002)
This single = "Wonderboy"
(2002)
Next single = "POD"
(2006)
Misc = Extra tracklisting
Album = Tenacious D
Type = studio
prev_track = "Tribute"
prev_no = 3
this_track = "Wonderboy"
track_no = 4
next_track = "Hard Fucking"
next_no = 5Extra album cover
Upper caption = Alternate covers
Background = khaki


Lower caption = UK CD coverExtra album cover
Background = khaki


Lower caption = US CD coverAudiosample
Background=#E6E8FA
Upper caption = Audio sample
Audio file = Wonderboy (Tenacious D song sample).ogg

:"For the song by The Kinks, see Wonderboy (The Kinks song)."

"Wonderboy" is the second single from Tenacious D's self-titled debut album. It was released December 24, 2003. The song peaked at #36 in the UK and #44 in Australia; the video, directed by Spike Jonze, was also well-received.

The lyrics of the song (particularly the line "That's levitation, Holmes.") are frequently referenced on ESPN's Sportscenter, most often by Scott Van Pelt, when a basketball player gets big air on a dunk. [cite news | first=Mark | last=Mulvanny | coauthors= | title=A site for those who worship SportsCenter | date=2003-12-03 | publisher= | url =http://www.usatoday.com/sports/2003-12-02-sportscenter-altar_x.htm | work =USA Today | pages = | accessdate = 2008-03-23 | language = ]

Strings were played by Andrew Gross, a classmate of Jack Black, who penned the orchestral score for "".cite news | author=Starpulse News Blog | title='Jack Black Has High School Friend Pen Score To 'Tenacious D In The Pick Of Destiny' | work=Starpulse News Blog | url=http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2006/10/12/jack_black_has_high_school_friend_pen_sc= | date=2006-12-10 | accessdate=2006-12-22] He also played strings on several songs on this album.

Music Video

The lyrics of the song tell the tale of the superhero Wonderboy (Black) 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. cite web|url=http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/Tenacious-D/Wonderboy.html|title=Tenacious D - "Wonderboy" Lyrics|accessdate=May 14|accessyear=2007]

In the video, Wonderboy and Young Nasty Man are portrayed as Ice-Age/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. [ [http://www.mvdbase.com/tech.php?last=Jonze&first=Spike mvdbase.com - Spike Jonze Videography ] ] 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.cite web|url=http://mvdbase.com/video.php?id=27600|title=Tenacious D - "Wonderboy"|accessdate=January 23|accessyear=2007]

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".cite web|url=http://mvpa.com/mvpa_awards_winners/mvpa_awards_2002.htm|title=mvpa - music video award winners 2002|accessdate=January 24|accessyear=2007]

Track listings

;US CD single (Epic Records #673351 5)
# "Wonderboy" – 4:07
# "Cosmic Shame (live)" - 4:28 "Recorded at the Cox Arena in San Diego 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
# "Tribute" (Video) – 4:08

;UK CD single (Epic Records #673351 2)
# "Wonderboy" – 4:07
# "Jesus Ranch (demo)" - 2:14
# "Tribute" (Video) – 4:08

;Promotional CD (Epic Records #XPCD2756)
# "Wonderboy" – 4:07

Chart performance

Credits

* Jack Black (vocals/acoustic guitar)
* Kyle Gass (backing vocals/acoustic guitar)
* Page McConnell (keys)
* Dave Grohl (drums)
* Alfredo Ortiz (additional drums)
* Andrew Gross (strings)
* Dust Brothers (production)
* Ken Andrews (mixer)

References