There’s an official music video for A Minecraft Movie’s lava chicken song, and we’re taking it far too seriously

“Chicken jockey,” take a step back — it’s time for the official music video of “Steve’s Lava Chicken” to have a moment in the Minecraft movie spotlight. And by “official music video,” we mean “The Warner Bros. folks have released a 50-second clip from A Minecraft Movie and comically labeled it as an official music video.”

As Steve, Jack Black sings a few little songs in A Minecraft Movie, but the “Steve’s Lava Chicken” song has gotten the most buzz, with clips turning up online even ahead of this “official” 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’s just Steve singing to himself about whatever’s going on, which honestly sounds a lot like what hanging out with Jack Black would be like. 

But considering Jack Black’s prior over-the-top movie musical performances, like Bowser crooning a melody to Peach in The Super Mario Bros. Movie or the “…Baby One More Time” cover in the credits of Kung Fu Panda 4 or the entirety of School of Rock and Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny… Well, the official music video for “Steve’s Lava Chicken” seems a bit toned down for him. We have thoughts about it. Probably way more thoughts than a 50-second clip warrants. Let’s dig in. 

Petrana: Not gonna lie… after the huge spectacle that was the official “Peaches” music video — wherein Jack Black wears an elaborate Bowser-evoking costume, plays a peach-colored grand piano, and dramatically twirls around and flops across the floor — I was kinda expecting more from an “official” Jack Black music video! 

Tasha: 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 — every time Jack Black started to sing, I was surprised at how quickly he stopped. It isn’t like A Minecraft Movie is a committed musical; it’s more like Steve’s just the kind of guy who randomly sings little songs about whatever’s going on. (Um, relatable, honestly.) Then the Minecraft Overworld magically supplies him with background music. (Where do I sign up for that?)

Petrana: It definitely feels like Steve just improvises everything on the spot. Sorta reminds me of the scene in School of Rock where Jack Black’s 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 clip, Jason Momoa’s character clowns on the quality of Steve’s chicken jingle, but does anyone else in the movie go, “Oh my God, Steve, shut up”?

Tasha: They really don’t acknowledge that he’s singing! It’s kinda weird — but again, maybe relatable. People sometimes politely avert their eyes when I burst into random spontaneous song, too. 

Look, Steve just breaking into song in A Minecraft Movie kinda seems like a reasonable character beat, even though no one else ever sings. (Well, until the epilogue, when he and Momoa’s character form a band. Spoilers, sorry.) Steve broke from the real world a long time ago to go hang out in the Minecraft world, where he’s surrounded by creepy, blocky, bug-eyed pink sheep and villagers who only speak in murmur-burbles. One of the big threads in this movie is that he’s kind of a maniacal weirdo who isn’t 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.

I can also believe that the folks behind A Minecraft Movie saw that “Peaches” video and wanted some of that “video game-derived movie with a Jack Black song” virality for themselves, but also didn’t 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’t seen the movie — how does this scene/song/plea for TikTok virality play for you? 

Petrana: Hmm, with the knowledge that it’s 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’ve laughed, because I, too, burst into random songs to narrate what’s going on in my life. 

On its own, though, it feels a little too “primed for social media.” I feel like there’s enough pause between the singing and any other dialogue to perfectly cut for viral clips. Also — he’s 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!

Tasha: Yeah, the framing and the length both feel very conscious and preplanned. So does the emphasis on a product that didn’t exist in Minecraft until the movie integration add-on dropped, for a little cross-promo energy. (At least it’s a free add-on and not a monetization ploy.)

Here’s the thing, though: I just find Jack Black fun. At this stage of his career, he feels like he’s embracing everything about his energy and his physicality and making it into a gag we can all share. He’s like a wholesome, welcoming, upbeat version of Chris Farley who has no interest in the self-hatred humor that’s 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 “Weird Al” Yankovic’s “Tacky” video and just revel in how much and how well Jack Black projects self-ownership and pride.

So I’m kinda primed to enjoy this “video,” no matter how short, weird, and media-calculated it is. I guess I’m the target audience for this kind of nonsense.

Petrana: I also like Jack Black’s whole schtick! I just wish the “official music video” went a bit harder. Like I said, I expected a whole production, not just a clip. Maybe this is less a fault of Jack Black and more on the Warner Bros. social media accounts. They should know better! Label it an “official clip” and set those expectations low.  

Tasha: Here’s the important question that the characters in A Minecraft Movie have to face immediately after this clip, though. Would you eat the lava chicken?

Petrana: I can’t front; it looks real good, even in its blocky shape. The sizzle and the juice drippings… mmmmm. Then again, it is lunchtime for me right now. 

Tasha: You do you, but I tend to avoid square food. Too many corners. Now that’s what this little ditty needed — a second verse about how Steve goes about navigating a messy meal with sharp edges. Maybe for the sequel?