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.
Señorita
Tenacious D Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell me baby, what's your name
Oh Conchita, won't you have a seat-a
Tell me baby, who's to blame?
I'll fuckin' kill the man who has done you wrong
My body's shakin' out of control
Drinkin' at the fuckin' bar
Tap his shoulder, muscles like a boulder
Tell him that's he's gone too far
He laughs and tells me to fuckin' fuck myself
Now my blood is boilin' over my soul
Hey!
[JB] I'm sorry, I didn't hear that
Did you just tell me to fuckin' fuck myself?
[Larry] Yeah
[JB] Well I'm telling you to step outside
[Larry] Oh really?
[JB] Yeah, we got some things to talk about
A little lady named Conchita
[Larry] Hey!
[JB] Yeah, you harmed her
[Larry] What? Who said? Who are you?
[JB] Yeah, fuck you you piece of shit
When my fist connects at Larry, falls down to the ground
I see he's cut me with a bottle
My pistol rises, cause it's time to double down
Larry runs, I chase him out full-throttle
Dónde estás mi horse? ¡Allí!
Dígame, ¿donde estas Larry? ¿Alli?
¿En las montañas? ¿Donde, en el cañon?
Muy bien, ¿Coldwater Cañon?
Andale, hey, ha, ha
[Larry]
Ah, te llamo mi Conchita
Yo tengo hambre para tu boca
Mira mi cara
Soy el fuego para tu beso
Mi amor
Watchin' Larry in his sanctuary thinkin' that he got away
With Conchita, oh my mamacita, kissing him upon the face
I fuckin' rue the day that I fought for you
Now my mind is spinnin' out of control
Ah I'm sorry mamacita
Oh my little señorita
I ¿? señorita
The song Señorita by Tenacious D tells a story of a man who meets a woman named Conchita at a bar and is attracted to her but finds out that someone has done her wrong. He vows to revenge whoever it is and when he finds out that it's Larry, he confronts him. In exchange, Larry tells him to "fuck himself" which angers the singer even more. He fights Larry and pursues him out of town. In the end, he realizes that Conchita has left him and is with Larry now.
The song could be interpreted as a cautionary tale of how sometimes we fight for someone we love only to lose them in the end. It could also represent the idea of toxic masculinity as the singer's anger is fueled by his need for revenge and he resorts to violence to solve his problems.
Line by Line Meaning
Señorita, tasty mamacita
The singer admires and compliments a woman named Señorita.
Tell me baby, what's your name
The singer asks Señorita for her name.
Oh Conchita, won't you have a seat-a
The singer addresses a woman named Conchita and invites her to sit down.
Tell me baby, who's to blame?
The artist asks Conchita who is responsible for something.
I'll fuckin' kill the man who has done you wrong
The artist expresses a desire to harm someone who has wronged Conchita.
My body's shakin' out of control
The singer feels intense emotions and physical sensations due to their anger and desire for revenge.
His name is Larry, oh he's really scary
The singer identifies the person who has wronged Conchita as Larry and describes him as frightening.
Drinkin' at the fuckin' bar
The artist states that Larry is at a bar and is likely drinking alcohol.
Tap his shoulder, muscles like a boulder
The artist physically touches Larry's shoulder and describes his muscles as large and solid.
Tell him that's he's gone too far
The artist confronts Larry and tells him that he has done something wrong.
He laughs and tells me to fuckin' fuck myself
Larry responds disrespectfully and aggressively to the singer's confrontation.
Now my blood is boilin' over my soul
The artist feels even more angry and frustrated due to Larry's response.
I'm sorry, I didn't hear that
The singer pretends not to have heard Larry's insult.
Did you just tell me to fuckin' fuck myself?
The singer asks Larry to confirm what he said earlier.
Yeah
Larry confirms that he insulted the singer.
Well I'm telling you to step outside
The artist challenges Larry to a physical fight outside of the bar.
Yeah, we got some things to talk about
The artist implies that the fight is related to Larry's treatment of Conchita.
A little lady named Conchita
The singer refers to Conchita again and reminds Larry that their conflict is related to her.
Yeah, you harmed her
The singer accuses Larry of harming Conchita.
What? Who said? Who are you?
Larry denies the accusation and questions the artist's authority to confront him.
Yeah, fuck you you piece of shit
The artist insults Larry in response to his denial.
When my fist connects at Larry, falls down to the ground
The artist punches Larry and he falls to the ground.
I see he's cut me with a bottle
Larry fights back and injures the singer with a broken bottle.
My pistol rises, cause it's time to double down
The artist pulls out a gun in response to Larry's attack and escalates the conflict.
Larry runs, I chase him out full-throttle
Larry flees and the singer pursues him with the weapon drawn.
Dónde estás mi horse? ¡Allí!
The singer makes a reference to finding their horse and locates it nearby in Spanish.
Dígame, ¿donde estas Larry? ¿Alli?
The singer asks where Larry is in Spanish and implies that they are still pursuing him.
¿En las montañas? ¿Donde, en el cañon?
The artist questions where Larry might be located in the mountains or canyons.
Muy bien, ¿Coldwater Cañon?
The artist suggests that they are pursuing Larry in Coldwater Canyon.
Andale, hey, ha, ha
The singer encourages their horse to move faster and shouts excitedly.
Ah, te llamo mi Conchita
Larry addresses Conchita and refers to her as his.
Yo tengo hambre para tu boca
Larry expresses a desire to kiss Conchita.
Mira mi cara
Larry invites Conchita to look at his face.
Soy el fuego para tu beso
Larry claims to be the kind of person who can ignite passion in a kiss.
Mi amor
Larry says 'my love' to Conchita.
Watchin' Larry in his sanctuary thinkin' that he got away
The artist observes Larry in a place where he feels safe and thinks he has escaped.
With Conchita, oh my mamacita, kissing him upon the face
The singer imagines a scenario where Conchita is betraying him by kissing Larry.
I fuckin' rue the day that I fought for you
The singer regrets getting involved in the conflict over Conchita.
Now my mind is spinnin' out of control
The singer feels overwhelmed and disoriented due to their emotions.
Ah I'm sorry mamacita
The artist apologizes to Señorita once again.
Oh my little señorita
The artist expresses affection towards Señorita once again.
I ¿? señorita
The final line is difficult to interpret due to a missing word or phrase.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: THOMAS JACK BLACK, KYLE RICHARD GASS, JOHN W KIMBROUGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind