"Superman"
A line drawing of a baby smiling
Single by R.E.M.
from the album Lifes Rich Pageant
B-side"White Tornado"
ReleasedNovember 1986 (1986-11)
RecordedApril–May 1986
Genre
Length2:54
LabelI.R.S.
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Don Gehman
R.E.M. singles chronology
"Fall on Me"
(1986)		 "Superman"
(1986)		 "The One I Love"
(1987)

"Superman" is a 1969 song by the Texas band The Clique, made more famous in 1986 when it was recorded by R.E.M.

It was written by Mitchell Bottler and Gary Zekley and originally released as the first single off of The Clique's first album for White Whale Records.

R.E.M. recorded it for their fourth album, Lifes Rich Pageant. It was released as a single and received a fair amount of radio play, but did not chart on the main U.S. singles chart, though it did reach #17 on Billboard magazine's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.[3]

R.E.M. version

The B-side to the single, a surf rock instrumental entitled "White Tornado", was first recorded by the band in 1981. The version used on the single was recorded in January, 1984, during the Reckoning sessions, but remained unreleased until "Superman."

The scratchy spoken intro is attributed to a Japanese pull-string Godzilla doll.[4] Translated loosely from the Japanese, it says, "This is a special news report. Godzilla has been sighted in Tokyo Bay. The attack on it by the Self-Defense Force has been useless. He is heading towards the city. Aaaaaaaaagh...."

Cash Box called it "another sparing example of simplicity maximized."[5] Rolling Stone called it "an irresistibly cheesy psychedelic grunge rocker." with "energetic treatment."[1]

Songwriter Gary Zekley joined R.E.M. on stage during a performance at Northern Illinois University in De Kalb, Illinois, on October 21, 1986.[6]

The R.E.M. version was played during the "Tempus, Anyone?" episode of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. It was also used as part of the soundtrack for the movie DC League of Super-Pets (2022).

7": IRS / IRM 128 (UK)

All songs written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe unless otherwise indicated.

  1. "Superman" (Gary Zekley/Mitchell Bottler) – 2:52
  2. "White Tornado" – 1:56

12": IRS / IRT 128 (UK)

  1. "Superman" (Gary Zekley / Mitchell Bottler) – 2:52
  2. "White Tornado" – 1:56
  3. "Femme Fatale" (Lou Reed) – 2:50

12": IRS / ILS 65025 5 6 (Holland)

  1. "Superman" (Gary Zekley/Mitchell Bottler) – 2:52
  2. "White Tornado" – 1:56
  3. "Perfect Circle" – 3:30

References

  1. 1 2 3 DeCurtis, Anthony (August 28, 1986). "Life's Rich Pageant". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
  2. ↑ Bogdanov, Vladimir; Woodstra, Chris; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2002). All Music Guide to Rock (3rd ed.). p. 930. ISBN 0-87930-653-X.
  3. ↑ allmusic.com
  4. ↑ "Rec.music.rem Frequently-Asked Questions list (2 of 3)".
  5. ↑ "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. November 15, 1986. p. 9. Retrieved 2022-08-07.
  6. ↑ Natkin, Paul (October 26, 1986). "Michael Stipe And Gary Zekley On Stage". Getty Images. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
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