Photo by Gary Wolstenholme/Redferns/Getty Images
Though it’s been seven years since Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie provided comic relief through folk parody and semi-autobiography on their beloved HBO series, the New Zealand duo announced yesterday that they’ll return to North America for their first tour since 2014. Better yet, Clement and McKenzie plan to preview new music at these shows, so while it’s TBD if Flight of the Conchords will ever return to TV for more than just two seasons, it looks like all hope isn’t lost for a new album at least. (We’d settle for a reboot of their 2005 BBC Radio 2 series, even!) While we await new tunes about life’s most unthinkably awkward moments, so-bad-they’re-funny attempts at rapping, and truly absurd send-ups (Tinder and Twitter seem ripe for the picking-on these days), refresh your memory by reliving some of Bret and Jemaine’s greatest hits.
"Business Time"
Has any song so accurately captured sex in a long-term monogamous relationship? Even now, Jemaine’s funky falsetto resonates, as he busts out his best Marvin Gaye impression with more realistic expectations than Gaye ever had: "Monday night is my night to cook, Tuesday night we go and visit your mother, but Wednesday, we make sweet weekly love."
"Leggy Blonde"
The amount of times "leggy" and "blonde" are repeated in this song is downright insane, but it’s really nothing compared to lines like, "I'll never get to tear your clothes off on the photo copy." Part of the humor of lines like that are that the music is so light and sweet. Manager Murray (Rhys Darby) is a real highlight of the series, and he guests here in all his pervy glory. Watch it here.
"Inner City Pressure"
Being broke remains a constant theme for Bret and Jemaine as they navigate their newfound lives in America as "New Zealand's fourth most popular guitar-based digi-bongo acapella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo" (thanks for nothing, Murray!). The struggle grows even more grim here as they consider buying/selling their underwear secondhand. But hey, at least they have time to stay home and play synthesizers; must be how they got so into Pet Shop Boys, as “West End Girls clearly inspired this one. Watch it here.
"Sugalumps"
Any parody of the Black Eyed Peas is generally a necessary parody, and "Sugalumps" remains the superior version of "My Humps." On season two’s second episode, Bret and Jemaine run into financial trouble after Bret purchases a new teacup for $2.79. Later, the duo falls short on their cell phone bills by exactly $2.79 and decide to use their sexual prowess to pull themselves out of debt. Clearly their assets require a hard sell: "We see you girls lookin' at our junk/ Then checkin' out our rumps/ Then back to our sugalumps."
"The Most Beautiful Girl (In the Room)"
This yacht-rock number, from the Flight of the Conchords pilot, was instant-classic Jemaine, the horndog who only thinks he can dance and definitely never says the right thing. His line about Sally being hot enough to work as a part-time model (but who definitely has to keep her day-job) somehow does the trick, however, and before you know it they’re sharing kebobs. Watch it here.
"Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros"
The duo take on muggers in episode three, paying homage to the Beastie Boys and various nonsensical hip-hop clichés along the way. Bonus points for their coordinated snapping and painfully awkward dance moves, a Flight of the Conchords staple.
"Fashion Is Danger"
Think about all of your favorite '80s pop videos, combine them into one, and you get "Fashion Is Danger." Bret and Jemaine flaunt their best Derek Zoolander looks (note their addiction to hair gel) and sing about everything from Ronald Reagan to lip gloss.
"Bowie’s in Space"
Certainly many people have dreamed about David Bowie, but Bret’s lucky enough to get a REM-cycle visit from numerous golden eras of Bowie (played by Jemaine, totally nailing Bowie’s voice), who encourages him to get an eyepatch. These dreams culminate in "Bowie’s in Space," a quick jaunt through even more Bowie hits that must be applauded for making good use of the line "receiving transmission from David Bowie’s nipple antennae." Watch it here.
"Too Many Dicks (On the Dancefloor)"
When Dave (Arj Barker) asks Bret and Jemaine to back off in the club—so he can meet more women, of course—it spawns this electro-pop protest of dicks, dongs, and schlongs clogging up the dance floor. This is easily one of the duo’s catchiest songs, though it’s one that’s rarely discussed as a Flight of the Conchords highlight (I blame Dave). Watch it here.
"We’re Both in Love With a Sexy Lady"
It had to happen eventually: Bret and Jemaine fall in love with the same woman (played by Kristen Wiig) on season two’s sixth episode. Taking cues from R. Kelly’s "Same Girl," the duo raps, runs, and debates whether her name is "Barbara" or "Brahbrah." Clement and McKenzie do many things well, but few compare to their ability to argue via song. Watch it from the show here, and also consider watching a live version below—their back and forth is even more amusing.