What's That Song in the 'Superbad' Party Scene?

Posted on Sep 18th 2007 6:00PM by Christina Lang
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'These Eyes,' by the Guess Who

This 1969 hit single by Winnipeg's greatest gift to popular music not named Neil Young is what Michael Cera's character Evan was forced to sing at that raucous "older kids' party" in 'Superbad.' His earnest attempt at the classic rock ballad was an awkward and hilarious movie highlight.

The song was written by Guess Who members Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman and was the Canadian quartet's first stateside Top 10 hit, although the group would go on to greater fame with its No. 1 anti-U.S. allegory 'American Woman' in 1970. Yet this isn't the first appearance of 'These Eyes' in a feature film: The original recording of the song can be heard in the movies 'Now and Then' and 'Stay.'

In an interview with Movieweb, 'Superbad' director Greg Mottola admitted the 38-year-old song did seem to be a strange choice to include in a picture about and geared to the sensibilities of today's teenagers, but ultimately he went with it because, as he wisely pointed out, "classic rock never goes away." Other possibilities for the scene were filmed, included Cera performing Sisqo's 1999 hit 'The Thong Song' and one where Cera just danced rather than sang. But in the end, by going with 'These Eyes,' Mottola made a successful wager that young teen audiences would relate to the timelessness of the tune.

Listen to the original song!

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Next: M&M's Song

More About the Guess Who

Watch 'Superbad's' Michael Cera and Jonah Hill on Unscripted

Can't find that song from that commercial? Send the commercial, movie or TV show to us at whatsthatsong@aim.com.