Friday, September 26, 2008

Song of My Super-Self

One of the best things about the digital age is walking to work with an iPod full of thousands of my favorite songs, putting that sucker on shuffle and seeing what happens. Unlike like blog brother Ben, I don't have any Miley Cyrus in my music library, but I'll shamelessly bob my head to Justin Timberlake, R. Kelly, or Blondie. But sometimes... every so often... one of those random tunes pops up. You know, one of those that you bought off iTunes in moment of weakness or downloaded illegally because you just had to have it.

Well, one of those popped up for me today on my walk to work. It was Superman's Song by the Crash Test Dummies. For those you who don't know anything about Canada or 1990's, Superman's Song is a melodious musical comparison of the heroic merits of Superman and Tarzan. Obviously, Superman is deemed superior by the artists. Some of the arguments in favor of the Man of Steel include:

Clark Kent... now there was a real gent.
He would not be caught sittin' around in some jungle escape,
Dumb as an ape, doin' nothin'.

It's a damn good song. In addition to touting Superman's work ethic, this little ditty also hints at his benevolence, citing the fact that he chooses gainful employment over simply exploiting his massive power for financial benefit. It's a good point indeed. If you haven't heard this song... go download it.

But it got me thinking about other super-hero related songs. There are many songs that reference Superman: there's that Three Doors Down song about Kryptonite... that wimpy Five for Fighting Song about how super-heroes have feelings too... and let's not forget Jimmy Olsen's blues, a veritable rock 'n' roll Elseworld's tale in which Jimmy steals his best pal's girlfriend.

(Note: Jimmy wouldn't do that, of course, but I applaud the Spin Doctors for recognizing that in the orrery of 52 earths, there might somewhere be a Jimmy Olsen who would try to get with Lois and carry poisonous Kryptonite on his person)

I'll admit it... I have all those songs on my iPod. I went looking for other super-hero or comic book music on my little 60 gigabyte wonder... I don't remember downloading T-U-R-T-L-E Power or Ninja Rap, but here they are...

(And by the way... how did a Vanilla Ice song end up in my 'Hip-Hop' playlist? Smart Playlist my ass... curse you iTunes!)

In addition, I found a Beanie Siegel song called 'Feel It In the Air' where he repeats the line 'a spider's sense is tinglin' followed by this weird high pitched squeak, which I assume is intended to be the sound of a spider's sense as it... well... tingles. Anyway, my thirst for super-hero related music is far from quenched.

Second printers, help me. What are you favorite super-hero related songs, and what are some of the more choice lines from these songs?

Also, don't forget to scroll down and add to the questions we'll all be asking our significant others in our extremely scientific survey of non-geek comic book knowledge.

18 comments:

Devon Sanders said...

http://www.metrolyrics.com/superman-lover-lyrics-johnny-guitar-watson.html

"Superman Lover" by Johnny "Guitar" Watson, I need say no more.

Unknown said...

"Superman, You're Crying" by SJD.

Some sample lyrics:

Superman, you're crying
Superman, you need a rest
From all the constant flying
And bullets bouncing off your chest

the world goes on without you
we'll be alright without you
for a while

*****

I have the CD, so I'm not sure if it's available on itunes or similar sources. SJD is from NZ and as yet his work is not widely distributed internationally. But I highly recommend the album "Southern Lights", if you can find it.

Here's a link to the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adGxuPO65B4

Benhatt said...

F*&@ you, Mike P. "Full Circle" makes me happy.

Unknown said...

Oh, also

"That's Really Super, Supergirl" by XTC.

I can't hold you down
If you want to fly
Can't you see I'm all broke up inside
Well just you use your two X Ray eyes

Hurt like Kryptonite
Put me on my knees
Now that I've found out
just what you're doing
With your secret identities

That's really super Supergirl
How you saved yourself in seconds flat
And your friends are going to say
That's really super Supergirl
How you're changing the world's weather
But you couldn't put us back together
Super Supergirl
How you stopped the universe from dying
But you're never going to stop me crying
Super Supergirl
I'm here in your Fortress of Solitude
Don't mean to be rude
But I don't feel super

Shana Jean Hausman said...

The Ballad of Barry Allen, definitely.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TW4fLXWjgE

Thomas said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQteCbd9HAo

I've always loved the song "Superman's Ghost" by Don "American Pie" McClean It's a sad song about what happens to the man who has to measure up to Superman every day of his life.

"Well I never was real or stronger than steel.
I'm a figment of Freudian need.
And the video screen is a psychotic scene
And it's all done with mirrors and greed

My agent just called, the talks have been stalled
I soon will be pulled from the air.
But the image persists in the video mists
That a Superman still will be there!"

argh.sims said...

The musical trilogy by Wesley Willis:

I Whipped Superman's Ass
I Whupped Batman's Ass
&
Birdman Kicked My Ass

Jeff said...

Super Powers by Ookla the Mok

Arthur Curry by Ookla the Mok

Green Lantern by Blue Harvest

Anthony Strand said...

I agree with the Jim's Big Ego and Ookla the Mok suggestions, to which I'd also add Ookla's excellent "My Secret Identity" and "Stop Talking About Comic Books Or I'll Kill You", among others).

But my favorite has got to be "Four-Color Love Story" by The Metasciences, which is a superhero's ode to his One True Love Interest.

"We were still in high school when I met you
If you believe the continuity
I rescued you from robots and untied you from the tracks
You pretended not to know that it was me
We didn't even kiss
Until issue 26
This world still feels like 1963.

http://www.kibblesmith.com/metasciences/mp3s.html

Anthony Strand said...

Also good - "Brainiac's Daughter" by Dukes of Stratosphear (XTC).

Madpuppy said...

XTC must have a thing for comics, because in addition to the two mentioned above, they also did "Sgt. Rock is Going to Help Me"

Jon said...

Iced Earth did a whole album based on Spawn, called "The Dark Saga". Some brilliant songs: "Violate", "The Hunter", "Vengeance is Mine", and "A Question of Heaven" (with an end riff to die for).

Then obviously there's the Joe Satriani guitar stuff relating to the Silver Surfer, "Surfing With The Alien" and "Back to Shalla-Bal".

Jon said...

Oh yeah, and while it's not technically "comic book", we're all geeks here, so it's worth mentioning Bolt Thrower's "Realm Of Chaos" album, based largely on the Warhammer 40,000 wargame.

Hale of Angelthorne said...

"Superman (It's Not Easy)" by Five for Fighting.

"It's alright, you can all sleep sound tonight, I'm not crazy or anything."

David said...

The Franchise has Rorshach, and the more general song Superhero on the same album.

(I admit to being the author of both of those...)

Ken Cox said...

How is it that nobody's mentioned Donovan's "Sunshine Superman?" Is it just too obvious?

Superman & Green Lantern ain't got a-nothin' on me.


"Superman" by The Clique, but the cover by R.E.M. is more famous:

I am I am I am Superman and I know what's happening.
I am I am I am Superman and I can do anything.


Also, "Ghost Rider" by Suicide. R.E.M. covered this song as well. So did Henry Rollins (I believe):

Ghost Rider, motorcycle hero.
Bebebebebebebe he's lookin' so cute.
Sneakin' round round round in a blue jumpsuit.

Ghost Rider motorcycle hero.
Bebebebebebebe he's a-blazin' away.
Packin' stars stars stars in the universe.

Ghost Rider motorcycle hero.
Bebebebebebebe he's a-screamin' the truth.
America, America is killin' its youth.

KENT! said...

Rollins did "Ghost Rider" on the Crow soundtrack IIRC.

I'll have to concur with rlsims that the Wesley Willis superhero trilogy is the bee's knees.

Rob S. said...

Of course, there's always "Catch Me Now, I'm Falling," by the Kinks:

Now I'm callin' all citizens
from all over the world,
This is Captain America calling
I bailed you out
when you were down on your knees
So won't you catch me now, I'm falling


But Shana's suggestion, "The Ballad of Barry Allen," tops my list.