Tenacious D's music showcases Black's theatrical vocal delivery and Gass' acoustic guitar playing abilities. Their songs discuss the duo's purported musical and sexual prowess, as well as their friendship and cannabis usage. Their debut self-titled album features absurd and humorous sketches. Music critics have compared the storyteller-style lyrics of their songs to lyrics of rock opera. In addition, they have since recorded two albums, and starred in their own movie, Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny.
Black and Gass, at the time respectively aged 16 and 24, met in Edinburgh, Scotland during the Edinburgh Fringe of 1989. Both were members of the Los Angeles-based theatre troupe, The Actors' Gang which was performing Tim Robbins and Adam Simon's play Carnage. Initially Black and Gass did not get on as Gass felt threatened by Black - as he was the main musician for the Actor's gang - but they eventually worked out their differences, and agreed to form a band. Gass taught Black to play guitar, in exchange for Black's helping him with his acting.
Initially, Black and Kyle covered songs by Bobby McFerrin. Later they chose the name "Tenacious D" - a name derived from a term used by sports commentator Marv Albert about the tenacious defense of the NBA's New York Knicks - decided by the audience of the band's first live show, in 1994 at the now defunct Al's Bar. Other possibilities had included "Pets or Meat", "Balboa’s Biblical Theatre" and "The Axe Lords Featuring Gorgazon’s Mischief", which Gass described as being his personal favorite. In attendance was David Cross who later cast Tenacious D in his sketch comedy television series, Mr. Show.
TV series:
David Cross, with the writer Bob Odenkirk from Mr Show, continued his involvement with Tenacious D by producing three half-hour shows based on the band. The series, entitled Tenacious D, premiered in 1997, immediately following an episode of Mr. Show. While a total of three episodes consisting of two shorts, ten to twelve minutes in length, were produced, only the first was aired that year; the final two episodes did not air until the summer of 2000. The series was canceled after, according to Gass, HBO offered Tenacious D ten episodes, but in doing so, they would have to relinquish their role as executive producers. Gass and Black decided to make a movie instead. Many songs that eventually were included on the band's first album were first featured on the show, though the episodes also contain songs that remain unreleased.
The six shorts were titled "The Search for Inspirado", "Angel in Disguise", "Death of a Dream", "The Greatest Song in the World", "The Fan", and "Road Gig". After the series aired, the band continued to perform. At a show at the Viper Room in Los Angeles, they met Dave Grohl, who remarked that he was impressed with their performance; this led to their cameo in the Foo Fighters' "Learn to Fly" music video. The popularity of Tenacious D further increased as they began to open for high profile acts, including Beck, Pearl Jam, and Foo Fighters.
Lyrics and themes:
The Devil CardSatire and comedy are a major aspect of Tenacious D's lyrical content. Gass said of their approach: "I'd love to do the straight music thing, but that's kind of against our mission, which is to rebel against the serious singer-songwriter mentality." Their songs evoke heavy metal clichés of bands like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. In particular, the song "Dio" pokes fun at the idea of a torch being passed "Now it's time for him to pass the torch" Songs like "Friendship" parody the lack of real friendship in rock groups with the lyric "As long as there's a record deal, we'll always be friends" Other songs cover the topic of sex; "Kielbasa" discusses anal sex, while "Double Team" boasts of the duos sexual prowess. Tenacious D also employs the technique of deliberate backmasking on "Karate", a technique synonymous with bands like Slayer, who recorded a message in Hell Awaits.. The band's imagery also continues the theme of evil. The front cover of Tenacious D features Black and Gass standing naked below the Devil. Black described it as he and Gass being "schooled by Satan". The pose is similar to that shown on the Devil tarot card. The Devil card signifies sexual desire, uncontrolled energy, vice and addiction.
Tenacious D's music has been criticized for its frequent use of profanity. In addition, other critics have described the band as having exhausted the joke of "cock rock".
Influences:
Black has said that the first song he enjoyed was ABBA's "Take a Chance on Me". He attributes influences from Dio, Black Sabbath, Meat Loaf and Bobby McFerrin. Gass describes their influences as being derived from "big dinosaurs of rock" such as Led Zeppelin. In addition, Gass lists his influences as being Tom Waits, Tony Hawk and Tony Robbins. The band claimed that the inspiration for the song "Tribute" came after Black played Metallica's "One" for Gass, describing it as "the best song in the world", leading to a failed attempt to themselves write an even better song.
Gass has described Tenacious D's comic assertion that they are the best band as being "ridiculous because it's a matter of opinion". Black characterizes Tenacious D's comic nature as an antidote to "the masculinity of rock", adding "There's also something funny about the macho-ness of rock. Like the bands that are the fucking hardest rocking are like, 'We'll fucking kick your ass, dude... with our rock.'"
Tenacious D is featured in the highly anticipated video game "Guitar Hero III". `The Metal' is prominently featured in the game's trailer released at E3 2007.
Tenacious D also did backing vocals on the Styx song "Kiss Your Ass Goodbye". It can be found on the album "Cyclorama" from 2003.
They were included in Rock Band 2 with their song "Master Exploder".
In October of 2009 Jack Black starred as roadie Eddie Riggs in the open world video game Brütal Legend by Double Fine Productions on the XBOX 360 and Playstation 3.
KARATE
Tenacious D Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From here to Tienanmen Square!
Oh yeah motherfucker, I'm gonna kick your fucking derriere, yeah yeah.
You broke the rules!
Now I'll pull out all of your pubic hair.
You motherfucker, you motherfucker.
And I died deep inside, and you know the reason why.
I'm gonna kick your ass!
From here to right over there.
Oh yeah motherfucker, I'm gonna kick your fucking derriere, yeah, yeah.
You broke the rules!
Now I'll pull out all your pubic hair.
You motherfucker.
You motherfucker.
Tenacious D's song "Karate" is an aggressive and humorous take on how to deal with betrayal and rule-breakers through karate. The lyrics are sung in a playful and sarcastic way, with the singer stating that with karate, he will kick the listener's ass from "here to Tienanmen Square." He then directly addresses the listener as a "motherfucker" and proceeds to threaten to pull out all their pubic hair.
The second verse introduces the betrayal of the singer's friend, Kyle. The betrayal has caused him emotional pain, and he seeks to take revenge through karate. The lyrics don't go into detail about what exactly Kyle did, but it's enough for the singer to want to kick his ass "from here to right over there."
Overall, the song is a humorous take on dealing with difficult situations and using karate as a means of revenge. The lyrics are written in a way that doesn't take itself too seriously and encourages the listener to join in on the fun.
Line by Line Meaning
With karate I'll kick your ass! From here to Tienanmen Square!
I will use my martial arts skills to defeat and humiliate you, no matter how far I have to travel to do it.
Oh yeah motherfucker, I'm gonna kick your fucking derriere, yeah yeah.
Yes, I am addressing you with a vulgar term, and I intend to inflict great pain upon you.
You broke the rules!
You have violated the standards of our society, and I will not tolerate it.
Now I'll pull out all of your pubic hair.
As punishment, I will cause you intense discomfort by inflicting bodily harm in a sensitive area.
You motherfucker, you motherfucker.
I am repeating the vulgar insult to emphasize my contempt and anger towards you.
Kyle betrayed me then he lied, tried to hide.
Someone I trusted, Kyle, deceived me and then attempted to conceal his wrongdoing.
And I died deep inside, and you know the reason why.
Kyle's betrayal has caused me great emotional pain, and you are aware of the situation that led to it.
I'm gonna kick your ass! From here to right over there.
I will physically and verbally assault you, no matter where you are located.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Kyle Richard Gass, Thomas Jacob Black
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
JackStout
I still get this song stuck in my head every now and then... All thanks to lanipators yu yu Hakusho abridged
Ferrothorn
Same LOL
Steven Made This
Real talk, they just did a commentary on Yuyu abridged and that brought me here
Jorden Strother
@Steven Made This same
Drums of Liberation
Oh yeah mother Naughty word!!
Ferrothorn
@Drums of Liberation another bad word
Whurlpuul
Dude I remember playing a Tony hawk game and being like "is that Jack black" to my friend (back in the day) and them being all like "fuck yeah it is" and then we listened to the D and played videogames. I miss those times.
ZagorTeNayebo
Tight
Mister Hutch
This is canon.
Powerpuff Boy
Let me guess, Pro Skater 3 (PS2 Xbox Gamecube PS1 N64 or GBA)