{"id":1171543,"date":"2026-02-13T02:13:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T02:13:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.polygon.com\/?p=556789"},"modified":"2026-02-13T02:13:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T02:13:07","slug":"theres-an-official-music-video-for-a-minecraft-movies-lava-chicken-song-and-were-taking-it-far-too-seriously","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/theres-an-official-music-video-for-a-minecraft-movies-lava-chicken-song-and-were-taking-it-far-too-seriously\/","title":{"rendered":"There\u2019s an official music video for A Minecraft Movie\u2019s lava chicken song, and we\u2019re taking it far too seriously"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cChicken jockey<\/a>,\u201d take a step back \u2014 it\u2019s time for the official music video of \u201cSteve\u2019s Lava Chicken\u201d to have a moment in the Minecraft<\/em> movie spotlight. And by \u201cofficial music video,\u201d we mean \u201cThe Warner Bros. folks have released a 50-second clip from A Minecraft Movie<\/em><\/a> and comically labeled it as an official music video.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Steve, Jack Black sings a few little songs in A Minecraft Movie,<\/em> but the \u201cSteve\u2019s Lava Chicken\u201d song has gotten the most buzz, with clips turning up online<\/a> even ahead<\/a> of this \u201cofficial\u201d release. Steve breaks into song repeatedly in the movie, but none of those songs are full-fledged musical numbers. Also, none of the other characters have similar musical moments. So it\u2019s just Steve singing to himself about whatever\u2019s going on, which honestly sounds a lot like what hanging out with Jack Black would be like. <\/p>\n

But considering Jack Black\u2019s prior over-the-top movie musical performances, like Bowser crooning a melody to Peach<\/a> in The Super Mario Bros. Movie<\/em><\/a> or the \u201c\u2026Baby One More Time\u201d cover<\/a> in the credits of Kung Fu Panda 4<\/em><\/a> or the entirety of School of Rock<\/em><\/a> and Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny<\/em><\/a>\u2026 Well, the official music video for \u201cSteve\u2019s Lava Chicken\u201d seems a bit toned down for him. We have thoughts about it. Probably way more thoughts than a 50-second clip warrants. Let\u2019s dig in.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Petrana: <\/strong>Not gonna lie\u2026 after the huge spectacle that was the official \u201cPeaches\u201d music video<\/a> \u2014 wherein Jack Black wears an elaborate Bowser-evoking costume, plays a peach-colored grand piano, and dramatically twirls around and flops across the floor \u2014 I was kinda expecting more from an \u201cofficial\u201d Jack Black music video! <\/p>\n

Tasha: <\/strong>Yeah, this is just straight-up a clip from the movie, no additional music or context or footage. I admit that when you sent this to me, I was hoping for a full-length band rendition of this little ditty. I had that reaction throughout the movie \u2014\u00a0every time Jack Black started to sing, I was surprised at how quickly he stopped. It isn\u2019t like A Minecraft Movie<\/em> is a committed musical; it\u2019s more like Steve\u2019s just the kind of guy who randomly sings little songs about whatever\u2019s going on. (Um, relatable, honestly.) Then the Minecraft <\/em>Overworld magically supplies him with background music. (Where do I sign up for that?)<\/p>\n

Petrana: <\/strong>It definitely feels like Steve just improvises everything on the spot. Sorta reminds me of the scene in School of Rock<\/em><\/a> where Jack Black\u2019s character makes up a song about learning math. But that one is fun because the other characters join in. Or, in the case of Principal Roz Mullins (Joan Cusack), look completely dubious. In the Minecraft Movie <\/em>clip, Jason Momoa\u2019s character clowns on the quality of Steve\u2019s chicken jingle, but does anyone else in the movie go, \u201cOh my God, Steve, shut up\u201d?<\/p>\n

Tasha: <\/strong>They really don\u2019t acknowledge that he\u2019s singing! It\u2019s kinda weird \u2014 but again, maybe relatable. People sometimes politely avert their eyes when I burst into random spontaneous song, too. <\/p>\n

Look, Steve just breaking into song in A Minecraft Movie <\/em>kinda seems like a reasonable character beat, even though no one else ever sings. (Well, until the epilogue, when he and Momoa\u2019s character form a band. Spoilers, sorry.) Steve broke from the real world a long time ago to go hang out in the Minecraft <\/em>world, where he\u2019s surrounded by creepy, blocky, bug-eyed pink sheep<\/a> and villagers who only speak in murmur-burbles. One of the big threads in this movie is that he\u2019s kind of a maniacal weirdo who isn\u2019t used to being around other people, which lets Jack Black act freaky a lot. I can absolutely believe Steve made up a little jingle for lava chicken and is happy to share it with his new friends.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I can also believe that the folks behind A Minecraft Movie <\/em>saw that \u201cPeaches\u201d video and wanted some of that \u201cvideo game-derived movie with a Jack Black song\u201d virality for themselves, but also didn\u2019t want to turn the movie into a full musical. So we get this weird compromise, where he sings, but only in tiny bursts. You haven\u2019t seen the movie \u2014\u00a0how does this scene\/song\/plea for TikTok virality play for you?\u00a0<\/p>\n

Petrana: <\/strong>Hmm, with the knowledge that it\u2019s a character beat, it feels a little more cohesive. But on its own it just feels weird! I think in the greater context of the movie, I probably would\u2019ve laughed, because I, too, burst into random songs to narrate what\u2019s going on in my life. <\/p>\n

On its own, though, it feels a little too<\/em> \u201cprimed for social media.\u201d I feel like there\u2019s enough pause between the singing and any other dialogue to perfectly cut for viral clips. Also \u2014 he\u2019s squarely in the middle of the frame for most of the song, which makes it ideal for translating the movie into a vertical format for TikTok or Instagram!<\/p>\n

Tasha: <\/strong>Yeah, the framing and the length both feel very conscious and preplanned. So does the emphasis on a product that didn\u2019t exist in Minecraft<\/em> until the movie integration add-on<\/a> dropped, for a little cross-promo energy. (At least it\u2019s a free add-on and not a monetization ploy.)<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the thing, though: I just find Jack Black fun. At this stage of his career, he feels like he\u2019s embracing everything about his energy and his physicality and making it into a gag we can all share. He\u2019s like a wholesome, welcoming, upbeat version of Chris Farley who has no interest in the self-hatred humor that\u2019s so often a core value for rotund comedians. Whenever I want a pick-me-up, I go back to his go-for-broke performance in \u201cWeird Al\u201d Yankovic\u2019s \u201cTacky\u201d video and just revel in how much and how well Jack Black projects self-ownership and pride.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n