Video games offer a form of escapism into a fantasy world where you can overcome challenges. Whether it be leveling up or killing that one boss, the enjoyment can be immense.
But sometimes we have to step away and focus on other things in life. It’s okay and doesn’t make you any less of a gamer.
Jack Black
Born Thomas Jacob Black, August 28, 1969, in Santa Monica, California, he started his acting career at the age of 11 when he appeared in a commercial for the Activision video game Pitfall! His mother was Jewish but Black grew up practicing Buddhism. Black is an actor, comedian, musician and producer. He is best known for his roles in High Fidelity, Shallow Hal, School of Rock, Nacho Libre, Tropic Thunder, The Holiday and Bernie. He is also the cofounder of Tenacious D, a two-man comedy rock band with Kyle Gass.
The duo’s musical collaborations have produced many critically acclaimed albums and won them multiple Grammy Awards. Black has been a prolific voice artist as well, providing the voices for several video games and animated movies. He was the voice of Bowser in the Super Mario Bros. Movie, and he voiced Eddie Riggs in the popular video game Brutal Legend.
More recently, Black starred in the big budget adventure film Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017), alongside Dwayne Johnson and Cate Blanchett. He has also starred in the family friendly films Goosebumps (2015) and The House with a Clock in Its Walls (2018). Black’s acerbic wit and high energy delivery have made him one of the most popular character actors of recent years. He has also toured as a stand-up comic.
Kyle Gass
In a career that spans decades, Kyle Gass has shaped and defined a genre. He has written a mountain of music and performed hundreds upon hundreds of shows, both solo and with his band Tenacious D. He has co-invented a musical style, and his perfect timing and uncanny ability to deliver exactly the right line has left an indelible mark on the world. He has even made a few movies—Fear of a Punk Planet, Shallow Hal and Cake Boy being some of them.
After graduating from Las Lomas High School, he attended UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television. That’s where he met future bandmate Jack Black. They would later join the Actors’ Gang, an experimental theater group founded by Tim Robbins.
In addition to being a member of Tenacious D, Gass also created the rock band Trainwreck and the Kyle Gass Band. In addition, he has played bit parts in numerous movies including Fear of a Punk Planet and Cake Boy.
When he’s not working on his next game-themed song, Gass assembles an otherworldly team of badass dudes to play the Kyle Gass Company—an acoustic spinoff of the D that features guitarist and vocalist Mike Bray, drummer John Konesky and bassist “Uncle Jazz.” Together they bring a unique brand of rock and roll to the masses.
Animated Music Video
If you want to see a music video that really grabs your attention and makes a lasting impression then look no further than an animated one. Animated music videos are becoming more and more popular as musicians realize the impact they can have on their audience using this medium. The use of animation in a music video can help the viewer focus more on the lyrics rather than just on the visuals and can make for a more immersive experience.
Animated music videos can be done with a variety of different styles, but one of the most popular is stop motion animation. This style uses small models to create the scenes and then films each frame of the video individually. This can be a very time-consuming and expensive method of creating a music video, but the results are worth it.
Another type of animated music video is computer generated animation. This is often used when a band wants to create a more high-tech and impressive clip. Some examples of this include the clips for MGMT’s Time to Pretend and Queens of the Stone Age’s Go With the Flow.
Lastly, there is the rotoscope animation style. This uses a technique similar to that of old-fashioned cartoons and is very effective at creating a vintage feel. This style was used by the likes of R.E.M and Paula Abdul for their music videos. It is also the type of style that was used in the classic silent film A Trip to the Moon by Georges Melies.
Tenacious D
Jack Black and his band Tenacious D have a new music video, and it’s all about video games. It’s called “Video Games” and it features the band members in a whole bunch of different video game worlds, including Mario, Sonic, Minecraft, and more. It also contains the world’s most subtle Rickroll, which is a must watch for any fan of the band.
The song was written by the band’s co-founder and lead vocalist, Jack Black, along with guitarist Kyle Gass. It premiered on March 26, 2020 and features the band playing through a series of classic video games in an animated music video conceived by animator Adam Paloian and director Chris O’Neill.
Tenacious D is a comedy rock band formed in 1994 in Los Angeles, California, consisting of the duo of Black and Gass as well as their backing band, which consists of drummer JR Reed, bassist John Konesky, and lead guitarist Brooks Wackerman. They are known for their fusion of vulgar absurdist comedy with rock music and have garnered a large following.
The band rose to fame in 2000 with roles in High Fidelity and a few other films, but it was their live performances that really made them stand out. Their popularity grew quickly, and they started opening for larger rock acts. They released their first album in 2001, which was titled Tenacious D. Its title was chosen by the audience at their first live performance, which was at Al’s Bar in Los Angeles. Other names considered were Pets or Meat, Balboa’s Biblical Theatre, and The Axe Lords Featuring Gorgazon’s Mischief, which was Gass’ favorite.