Wikipedia

Peaches (Jack Black song)

"Peaches" is a song by American actor and musician Jack Black from the Nintendo/Illumination film The Super Mario Bros. Movie, in which he voices Bowser. The song was released as a single alongside the soundtrack on April 7, 2023.

"Peaches"
Single by Jack Black (credited as Bowser)
from the album The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
ReleasedApril 7, 2023 (2023-04-07)
Recorded2022
Genre
Length1:35
Label
  • Back Lot
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)John Spiker
Jack Black singles chronology
"5 Needs"
(2020) 		"Peaches"
(2023) 		"Video Games"
(2023)
Music videos
Jack Black – Peaches (Directed by Cole Bennett) on YouTube
Bowser – Peaches (Official Music Video) on YouTube

Concept

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The song is a sentimental ballad[1] in which Bowser, Jack Black's character in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, expresses his love for Princess Peach.

The film's initial draft did not incorporate a musical background for Bowser.[1] Aaron Horvath, one of the film's co-directors, told GameSpot he wanted a musical Bowser, but planned for a more metal track in the vein of Tenacious D. After deciding that it would be boring for Bowser to simply say, "I love Princess Peach", Horvath decided to tell the song through a ballad.[2] The original demo was recorded with Eric Osmond on vocals.[2] Two days later,[2] Black completed the final recording of the song with an original piano track by his pianist.[1]

Music videos

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The song received two official music videos. The first one was a live-action music video directed by Cole Bennett, depicting Jack Black wearing a Bowser-inspired costume and playing the song on the piano while in a room with windows overlooking computer-animated landscapes from the film. The video was uploaded by Lyrical Lemonade the same day as the single's release.[3] On the same day, a behind-the-scenes video was posted on Lyrical Lemonade's secondary channel.[4] On April 10, the music video reached No. 2 on YouTube's trending page.[5]

The second video features clips of Bowser performing the song on the piano, as well as other clips from the film. It was uploaded by Illumination on April 10, 2023.[6]

Reception

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The song was considered to be the highlight of the film by several critics. Owen Gleiberman of Variety praised Black's performance as Bowser, especially through "Peaches". He compared the song to Meat Loaf's songs on Bat Out of Hell, and further compared Black to Meat Loaf and Tom Jones.[7] Kristin Smith of Plugged In (publication) praised the live-action music video, writing, "it’s an innocent, silly ballad...with flashy colors and plenty of fun to (they hope) entice viewers to go see The Super Mario Bros. Movie."[8] Comic Book Resources listed the song as the best song from the film, writing, "the best part of the song is Jack Black, who sounds like he's giving the performance of his life as the love-struck Koopa King".[9] In a positive review of the film, Christopher Cruz of Rolling Stone called the song a "hit", expecting it to be "a TikTok staple to the chagrin of parents everywhere."[10] Kristy Puchko of Mashable, who gave the film a generally negative review, wrote, "All my gripes about this movie were silenced during the interludes when Black lets loose in all his rock star might to sing, "Peaches, Peaches, Peaches, Peaches, Peaches," over and over". Reflecting on this and other Bowser scenes in the film, she commented, "...[the] balance of stupid and fun are perfect."[11]

Conversely, Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com, a self-described lifelong Mario fan who criticized the film for lacking in creativity, called the song "truly uninspired", opining that "How on Earth a film like this gets a rock talent like half of Tenacious D and doesn’t let him unleash a few clever Bowser tunes is one of this film’s many mysteries."[12]

Live performances

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During the final night of its North American leg of Five Albums. One Night. The World Tour, Black performed the song live on stage in Brooklyn, in which the Jonas Brothers invited him to perform on stage, at the intermission.[13] Black also performed the song as the finale for the Game Awards 10-Year Concert at the Hollywood Bowl.[14]

Accolades

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The song was eligible for the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 96th Academy Awards,[15] but it was not shortlisted.[16] In December 2023, the song became nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song for the 81st Golden Globe Awards.

Awards
Award Year[a] Category Result
Hollywood Music in Media Awards 2023 Best Original Song in an Animated Film Nominated
Golden Globe Awards 2024 Best Original Song Nominated
Critics' Choice Movie Awards 2024 Best Song Nominated

Commercial performance

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The song reached number 56 on the US Billboard Hot 100 after debuting at number 83, making it Black's first solo single to chart.[17] The song also reached the top 40 in Australia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

Charts

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Chart performance for "Peaches"
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[18] 91
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[19] 52
Global 200 (Billboard)[20] 48
Ireland (IRMA)[21] 41
Netherlands (Single Tip)[22] 4
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[23] 13
UK Singles (OCC)[24] 28
UK Indie (OCC)[25] 3
US Billboard Hot 100[26] 56

References

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  1. ^ a b c Acuna, Kirsten (April 5, 2023). "Jack Black actually wrote the catchy ballad Bowser sings in The Super Mario Bros. Movie". Insider.com. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Owen, Phil (April 12, 2023). "Jack Black's 'Peaches' Song In The Super Mario Bros Movie Went From Idea To Full Song In Days". GameSpot. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  3. ^ Robinson, Tasha (April 7, 2023). "Jack Black's 'Peaches' video shows why he rules the Mario movie". Polygon. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  4. ^ Iasimone, Ashley (April 9, 2023). "Jack Black Drops Music Video for Super Mario Bros. Movie Song 'Peaches'". Billboard. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  5. ^ Tangcay, Jazz (April 10, 2023). "'Peaches' From Super Mario Bros. Movie Is Eligible for Oscars Best Original Song (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  6. ^ Deschamps, Marc (April 10, 2023). "The Super Mario Bros. Movie Releases Official 'Peaches' Music Video Featuring Bowser". ComicBook.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  7. ^ Gleiberman, Owen (April 30, 2023). "That Old Jack Black Magic: As the Villain of 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie,' the Actor Gives His Peachiest Performance in Years". Variety. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  8. ^ Smith, Kristin (April 12, 2023). "Peaches". Plugged In (publication). Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  9. ^ Stanczak, Garrett (April 8, 2023). "10 Best Songs On The Super Mario Bros. Movie Soundtrack". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  10. ^ Cruz, Christopher (April 4, 2023). "The Super Mario Bros. Movie Is Not Ruined by Chris Pratt's Mario". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  11. ^ Puchko, Kristy (April 4, 2023). "The Super Mario Bros. Movie review: What if Mario had daddy issues?". Mashable. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  12. ^ Tallerico, Brian (April 5, 2023). "The Super Mario Bros. Movie movie review (2023)". RogerEbert.com. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  13. ^ Alli Rosenbloom (December 11, 2023). "Jack Black sings Golden Globe nominated 'Super Mario Bros.' song at Jonas Brothers concert". CNN Entertainment. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  14. ^ Adele Ankers-Range (June 26, 2023). "Watch Jack Black Perform The Super Mario Bros. Movie's Peaches Live". IGN. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  15. ^ Tangcay, Jazz (April 10, 2023). "'Peaches' From 'Super Mario Bros. Movie' Is Eligible for Oscars Best Original Song (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  16. ^ Wacholz, Charlie (December 21, 2023). "Mario Movie's 'Peaches' Snubbed by the Oscars for Best Song". IGN. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  17. ^ Zellner, Xander (April 17, 2023). "Hot 100 First-Timers: Jack Black Scores First Solo Hit With Super Mario Bros. Ballad 'Peaches'". Billboard. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  18. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 1 May 2023". The ARIA Report. No. 1730. Australian Recording Industry Association. May 1, 2023. p. 4.
  19. ^ "Jack Black Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  20. ^ "Jack Black Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  21. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  22. ^ "Dutch Single Tip 29/04/2023". DutchCharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  23. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  24. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  25. ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  26. ^ "Jack Black Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2023.

Notes

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  1. ^ Indicates the year of ceremony. Each year is linked to the article about the awards held that year, wherever possible.
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