| "Peaches" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single byJack Black (credited asBowser) | ||||
| from the albumThe Super Mario Bros. Movie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | ||||
| Released | April 7, 2023 (2023-04-07) | |||
| Recorded | 2022 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 1:35 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriters |
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| Producer | John Spiker | |||
| Jack Black singles chronology | ||||
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| Music videos | ||||
| Jack Black – Peaches (Directed by Cole Bennett) onYouTube | ||||
| Bowser – Peaches (Official Music Video) onYouTube | ||||
"Peaches" is a song by American actor and musicianJack Black from theNintendo/Illumination filmThe Super Mario Bros. Movie, in which he voicesBowser. The song was released as a single alongside thesoundtrack on April 7, 2023.
The song is asentimental ballad[1] in whichBowser, Jack Black's character inThe Super Mario Bros. Movie, expresses his love forPrincess Peach.
The film's initial draft did not incorporate a musical background for Bowser.[1]Aaron Horvath, one of the film's co-directors, toldGameSpot he wanted a musical Bowser, but planned for a moremetal track in the vein ofTenacious 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]
The song received two official music videos. The first one was a live-action music video directed byCole 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 byLyrical 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 hispiano from the actual film, as well as other clips. It was uploaded byIllumination on April 10, 2023.[6]
The song was considered to be the highlight of the film by several critics. Owen Gleiberman ofVariety praised Black's performance as Bowser, especially through "Peaches". He compared the song toMeat Loaf's songs onBat Out of Hell, and further compared Black to Meat Loaf and Tom Jones.[7] Kristin Smith ofPlugged In 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 seeThe 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 ofRolling Stone called the song a "hit", expecting it to be "aTikTok staple to the chagrin of parents everywhere."[10] Kristy Puchko ofMashable, 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 ofRogerEbert.com, a self-described lifelongMario 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]
During the final night of its North American leg ofFive Albums. One Night. The World Tour, Black performed the song live on stage inBrooklyn, in which theJonas Brothers invited him to perform on stage, at the intermission.[13] Black also performed the song as the finale for theGame Awards 10-Year Concert at theHollywood Bowl.[14]
The song was eligible for theAcademy Award for Best Original Song at the96th Academy Awards,[15] but it was not shortlisted.[16] In December 2023, the song became nominated for theGolden Globe Award for Best Original Song for the81st Golden Globe 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 |
The song reached number 56 on the USBillboard 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, theNetherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
| 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 |
| USBillboard Hot 100[26] | 56 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[27] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
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