Than a post about the Spin Doctors?
Remember this?
Well, I don’t think I can handle this
A cloudy day in Metropolis
I think I’ll talk to my analyst
I got it so bad for this little journalistIt drives me up the wall and through the roof
Lois and Clark in a telephone booth
I think I’m going out of my brain
I got it so bad for little miss Lois Lane(Chrous)
Lois Lane please put me in your plan
Yeah, Lois Lane you don’t need no Super Man
Come on downtown and stay with me tonight
I got a pocket full of kryptonite, I
I got a pocket full of kryptonite, I
I got a pocket full of kryptoniteHe’s leaping buildings in a single bound
I’m reading Shakespeare at my place downtown
Come on downtown and make love to me
I’m Jimmy Olsen not a titan, you seeHe’s faster than a bullet, stronger than a train
He’s the one who got lucky, got his cape around miss Lois Lane
I can’t believe my dilemma is real
I’m competing with the man of steel
I think it’s clever. Boy did the song suck, though. (I saw them once…)
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Here’s a better one, by Braid - “Collect From Clark Kent”
honey please don’t ignore me
please accept this call
i’m on the corner of cough and cold
and i’m a lovestruck lost soul
please save me
from the superpowers that i don’t believe in
save me please
i’m lost and alone
i can’t come home
i’m stuck in a phone booth
honey understand me
i’m not sure to fly
in fact i’m super stupid tonight
and all the loose ends remain untied
please save me
from the superpowers that i don’t believe in
save me please
i’m lost and alone
i can’t come home
i’m stuck in a phone booth again
but once in your arms
we’ll rise above the ground
you and me and the beautiful aerial view
of sunrise city
i’m never coming down
in your arms
we’ll rise above the clouds
me and you in the sweetest sheets of blue
i’m never coming down
but come and pick me up first please.
Super dramatic sounding in performance, and actually quite funny lyrically. But not just funny. Love it.
Than a post about the Spin Doctors?
Only a post that wasn’t self-aware about what an embarrassment any reference to the Spin Doctors is. You: +1
Comment by Yow — May 12, 2008 @ 10:59 pm
+1 me?
yes!
Hmm. Are there any other superhero songs? There’s must be.
There’s the Bat Dance by Prince. There’s a reference to the Hulk in this Lawrence Arms song, I forget the name just now.
Uh… any others? Gee Angel by Sugar could probly be read as a reference to the X-Men character Angel and the Ministry song Hegro could be read as being about the Punisher, but I’m really sure neither is about a super hero.
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I saw the Spin Doctors with other bands that I forget, and the Screaming Trees. I was really into the Screaming Trees for a long while. I was a freshman in high school I think, it was this big outdoor venue. I don’t remember what I thought of the Spin Doctors’ performance, which means I probably liked it and am blocking it out now.
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Since this a music post and since I’m feeling too lazy to post this on its own… I was chatting recently with a friend and I mentioned that I’d seen Jawbreaker before. Here’s the story, can’t remember if I’ve blogged on this or no. Saw them in Chicago at the Metro with Jawbox. Dear You and the Jawbox self titled had either just come out or werent out yet. I didn’t own either one. They each played a bunch off those records, I went out and bought them right away and was like “that’s one from the show! so’s that!” I saw them one other time, in 1994 I think. They opened for Nirvana and I was a big nirvana fan then. That’s how I heard of Jawbreaker. The only song I really remember was Boat. That one stuck out from the show. I bought Unfun right after that. At the show w/ Jawbox, Jawbox played last. They played Capillary Life. There’s this part part where they sing “is it too late” a bunch, I looked over and some or all of Jawbreaker (defnitely chris and blake) were standing to the side and just watching and singing along. It was raelly cool. Like - this band I love really loves this other band I love. We have this in common. Later after Jawbox had broken up I saw Burning Airlines at Fireside and all embarassedly told it to J Robbins, told him it’s one of my favorite rock show memories. He did like this wipe a tear from his eye gesture and nodded his head, said “thank you for sharing that with me” and shook my hand. Yay for music.
Comment by Nate — May 13, 2008 @ 3:34 am
On other superhero-related songs, Laurie Anderson’s “Oh Superman”, and that Three Doors Down song referring to the same superhero… That’s all I’ve got.
Speaking of individualised notions of heroism, has anyone else see that old John Carpenter film They Live, which appears to be about someone finding a pair of Chomsky’s prescription sunglasses, suddenly seeing the world as if “through his eyes”, and so picking up a shotgun and walking through the city shooting rich people and cops?
Comment by benjamin rosenzweig — May 13, 2008 @ 7:44 am
This hilarious song is what came to my mind…
Excerpt of “Rapper’s Delight” by Sugarhill Gang
Well i was comin home late one dark afternoon
a reporter stopped me for a interview
she said she’s heard stories and she’s heard fables
that i’m vicious on the mike and the turntable
this young reporter i did adore.
so i rocked some vicious rhymes like i never did before
She said damn fly guy im in love with you
the casanova legend must have been true
i said by the way baby what’s your name
said i go by the name of lois lane
and you could be my boyfiend you surely can
just let me quit my boyfriend called superman
i said he’s a fairy i do suppoose
flyin through the air in pantyhose
he may be very sexy or even cute
but he looks like a sucker in a blue and red suit
I said you need a man who’s got finesse
and his whole name across his chest
he may be able to fly all through the night
but can he rock a party til the early light
He cant satisfy you with his little worm
but i can bust you out with my super sperm
i go do it, i go do it, i go do it, do it , do it
an i’m here an i’m there i’m big bang hank, im everywhere
just throw your hands up in the air
and party hardy like you just dont care
Comment by Adam W. — May 16, 2008 @ 4:08 am
I’ve got one! ‘Superman Song’ by a Canadian band from the 90s, Crash Test Dummies. Very clever (and a good little tune, too, so I encourage you to seek it out), about the death of heroes and the like.
Tarzan wasn’t a ladies’ man
He’d just come along and scoop ‘em up under his arm
Like that, quick as a cat in the jungle
But Clark Kent, now there was a real gent
He would not be caught sittin’ around in no
Junglescape, dumb as an ape doing nothing
[Chorus:]
Superman never made any money
For saving the world from Solomon Grundy
And sometimes I despair the world will never see
Another man like him
Hey Bob, Supe had a straight job
Even though he could have smashed through any bank
In the United States, he had the strength, but he would not
Folks said his family were all dead
Their planet crumbled but Superman, he forced himself
To carry on, forget Krypton, and keep going
Tarzan was king of the jungle and Lord over all the apes
But he could hardly string together four words: “I Tarzan, You Jane.”
Sometimes when Supe was stopping crimes
I’ll bet that he was tempted to just quit and turn his back
On man, join Tarzan in the forest
But he stayed in the city, and kept on changing clothes
In dirty old phonebooths till his work was through
And nothing to do but go on home
Comment by Michael — May 23, 2008 @ 5:18 am
hi Michael,
I remember the Crash Test Dummies, I had one of their albums. I can’t remember if this song was on that album. Here’s another one:
” Well, I start to feel like Superman
Then I pick a fight
Only to find that my opponent’s
Holding kryptonite”
From “Ten Feet Tall And Bulletproof” by Travis Tritt (http://whatinthehell.blogsome.com/2007/12/01/is-ten-feet-tall-and-bulletproof/)
Which is referenced in the Jawbox song “Chinese Fork Tie”
Comment by Nate — May 28, 2008 @ 2:46 pm