Brian Falduto Reunites With the School of Rock Cast for ‘You’re Tacky & I Hate You’

Last month, Brian Falduto gave us his new single Free Coffee, a sweet, feel-good ode to the addictive feeling of falling for someone, but he’s back with something that hits a very different kind of sweet spot. His new country single, You’re Tacky & I Hate You (School of Rock Reunion), trades the romantic vibes for a cheeky anthem packed with attitude, an iconic movie callback, and a reunion that is guaranteed to make anyone who grew up watching School of Rock feel a whole lot of nostalgia.

Yes, in case you haven’t recognized Brian yet, he’s that Brian Falduto. Back in 2003, he played Billy, aka “Fancy Pants,” the flamboyant, fashion-loving kid in Richard Linklater’s beloved comedy. His character’s now-iconic delivery of You’re tacky and I hate you became one of the movie’s most memorable lines, and Billy himself became a character many LGBTQ+ viewers recognized as a young queer icon long before Hollywood was giving us many openly queer kids to see ourselves in.

Now, more than two decades later, Falduto is taking that line and making it the chorus of a song. You’re Tacky & I Hate You (School of Rock Reunion) turns Billy’s legendary burn into a playful country anthem, with Falduto taking aim at a wannabe man-stealer while bringing plenty of wit and theatrical flair to the track. There’s even a little Dolly Parton inspiration in the mix, with the song serving as a queer response to the classic Jolene setup.

And then Jack Black shows up.

The School of Rock reunion doesn’t stop at the song’s title. Black, who played Dewey Finn in the film, lends his voice to the track with a guest verse, bringing the two back together musically more than 20 years after they first shared the screen. It’s the kind of collaboration that feels almost impossible not to smile at, especially when we remember just how much School of Rock has stuck around as a comfort movie for so many of us.

The accompanying music video takes that nostalgia even further, bringing together several members of the original cast for a mini reunion. Rivkah Reyes, Joey Gaydos Jr., Caitlin Hale, Aleisha Allen, Robert Tsai, and Mahyrenate all appear in the video alongside Falduto, while footage from the original film fills in the memories of the cast we remember from 2003. We get behind-the-scenes footage from the making of the song, along with then-and-now moments that show just how much time has passed since those kids first formed their fictional rock band.

And yes, seeing them back together and stepping into those familiar musical roles again is ridiculously sweet. There’s something special about watching members of the original cast return to the instruments and band dynamics we remember from the film, turning what could have been a simple nostalgia trip into a genuine celebration of a movie that has stayed with so many people. Although we don’t actually get to see Black in the reunion footage itself, the music video incorporates footage of Dewey from the original film, making his presence part of the nostalgic trip back to Horace Green.

The video also includes a dedication to the late Kevin Clark, who played drummer Freddy Jones in the original film. Falduto has shared that he wishes Clark could have been part of the reunion, making his presence felt even in his absence.

Watch the music video for You’re Tacky & I Hate You (School of Rock Reunion) below and get ready for a serious dose of School of Rock nostalgia.

The new single is part of Falduto’s upcoming EP I Could Be Happy, which continues his work making unapologetically queer country music. Earlier this year, he released Takin’ This City Back, a song inspired by his own experience reclaiming a genre that has not always made much room for LGBTQ+ stories, followed by Free Coffee, his feel-good collaboration with Will Leet.

With You’re Tacky & I Hate You, Falduto is taking one of the lines that helped define his childhood career and giving it a whole new life. And honestly, getting the School of Rock gang back together for the occasion? We’ll take that kind of nostalgia any day.

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You’re Tacky & I Hate You is available to stream on all major music platforms. Follow us on X and Instagram for all queer stuff!

Featured Image: Image Courtesy of The Karpel Group.