Jack Black Lights Up ‘SNL’ Stage With Lively Opening Song Featuring Marching Band: “I’m Back”

Jack Black is back! The comedic veteran lit up Studio 8H with an opening musical tribute — marching band in tow — set to his newest song for A Minecraft Movie.

In his fourth time hosting, the School of Rock star joked that he was going to “quit” in the middle of his monologue, citing that it was “too stressful.” That is, until an enticing riff reminiscent of “I Feel Alive” — the new track also from Dave Grohl and Troy Van Leeuwen — motivated him into staying.

His first time back on Saturday Night Live in 20 years, Black began his energizing performance by somersaulting on stage, crooning in perfect falsetto and rock bravado, “I’m back, I’m back on Saturday Night Live again, I’m Jack Black.”

Throughout the four minute opener, the Kung Fu Panda voice actor journeyed up the stairs into the audience, even embracing one viewer as he sang to them “I bet this guy did not know he’d be on TV, take a look,” and sashayed across the upper bleachers.

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“Ladies and gentlemen, a marching band,” he aptly introduced his rousing background musicians.

Afterward, Black marched back toward the stage, stopping by to say hello to Kenan Thompson and hilariously mispronouncing Heidi Gardner’s name as “Helen” and Marcello Hernandez as “Marquizio.” “It’s been a while since I watched the show,” he sang-joked.

“SNL‘s 50, and I’m 55! The older we get, the more we feel alive, ’cause I’m back,” he yelled in a big finish.