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Superhero Songs: 30 Super Tunes About Comic Book Heroes
- Posted by Pat Pemberton
Getty Images / AP
'The Supreme Being Teaches Spider-Man How to Be in Love'
The Flaming Lips (2007)
Written for the 'Spider-Man 3' soundtrack, this Flaming Lips ballad features Spidey in the ring with Muhammad Ali. In the song, the Web Head's alter ego, Peter Parker, struggles to balance his love for Mary Jane Watson with his superhero duties. "There's this really sweet aspect of the Spider-Man thing. And, you know, we're sappy like that," Coyne told the McClatchy-Tribune in 2007.
Bernd Muller/Redferns
'Flash'
Queen (1980)
In the 1980 movie, 'Flash Gordon' is a quarterback for the New York Jets who has to save the Earth from a series of natural disasters planned by Emperor Ming the Merciless. We won't bore you with the convoluted plot, nor will we speak of the overly snug pants and cheap effects. But we will note that Queen scored the movie, which featured this campy song written by guitarist Brian May.
Steve Jennings/WireImage
'Batman and Robin'
Snoop Dogg, Feat. RBX and The Lady of Rage (2003)
Inspired by the campy '60s TV show, this hip-hop tune name-drops Batman foes, including the Penguin, Clayface and the Mad Hatter, as Batman (Snoop Dogg) and Robin (Lady of Rage) trade off lines about fighting crime in Gotham. Snoop also teamed up with Willie Nelson to perform 'Superman' on his 2011 album, 'Doggumentary.'
Kevin Winter/ImageDirect
'Batdance'
Prince (1989)
After using Prince songs on a temporary soundtrack, 'Batman' director Tim Burton asked the Purple One to contribute songs to the movie's official soundtrack. Prince obliged with an album's worth of Bat tunes. Featuring a Marvel-ous guitar solo and words from Joker Jack Nicholson ("Stop the press"), it became Prince's fourth No. 1.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
'Spider-Man'
The Ramones (1995)
The legendary punk rockers covered the Spidey cartoon theme for the album 'Saturday Morning: Cartoon's Greatest Hits,' which also featured the 'Underdog' theme by the Butthole Surfers and Sublime's version of the 'Hong Kong Phooey' song. The Ramones version of 'Spider-Man' also appeared as a hidden track on their 1995 album, 'Adios Amigos.' A jazzy version of the Spider-Man theme by Michael Buble surfaced during the credits for 'Spider-Man 2.'
Jorgen Angel/Redferns
'Ninja Rap'
Vanilla Ice (1991)
Still on a roll from his smash hit 'Ice Ice Baby,' Vanilla Ice was asked to play himself in 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: The Secret of the Ooze.' In the film, he dances with the super-reptiles while singing, "Go ninja, go, ninja, go!" (Several times, actually.)
Mick Hutson/Redferns
'Dan Dare (Pilot of the Future)'
Elton John (1975)
Created in 1950, Dan Dare was sort of the UK version of Buck Rogers, a space adventurer, who appeared both in comics and on radio. Referenced in songs by David Bowie and Pink Floyd, the frequent flyer became the focus of this Elton John tune thanks to lyricist Bernie Taupin -- a pop culture fanatic.
Robert Knight / Retna Ltd.
'Superman'
Eminem (2002)
Rumored to be about a breakup with Mariah Carey, the track features Eminem rap, "They call me superman, leap tall hoes in a single bound." Slim Shady -- apparently a comic book nerd -- also sported a very Robin-like costume in his 'Without Me' video and was once spotted buying 100 pounds worth of comic books at A1 Comics in Glasgow, Scotland.
Kevin Winter/ImageDirect
'Johnny Thunder'
The Kinks (1968)
Inspired by three DC comics characters named Johnny Thunder, the Kinks, who also gave us '(I Wish I Could Fly) Like Superman,' were also inspired by 'The Wild One,' a Marlon Brando film about rival biker gangs. In this song, Johnny Thunder is a rebel biker who rides solo and feeds on lightning.
Andrew Maclear/Redferns
'Superman's Song'
Crash Test Dummies (1991)
The Crash Test Dummies weren't so dumb, after all. Just a year after they released this eulogy-in-song to a recently deceased Superman, DC Comics came out with 'The Death of Superman,' in which the man who leaps tall buildings falls to a foul-tempered super villain named Doomsday. In the song, Superman is credited for being a selfless hero. In the comics, Superman came back from the dead after a few months of rest.
Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images
'SuperGirl'
Saving Jane (2008)
Saving Jane frontwoman Marti Dodson came up with the melody for this fly-by-night hit while in the shower during a visit to Sweden. Inspired by its girl-power lyrics, it's been adopted as a theme song by Olympic gold winner Nastia Liukin, race car driver Danica Patrick and TV star/chef Rachel Ray.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
'The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts'
Sufjan Stevens (2005)
In comics, Metropolis is the fictional home of Superman; In Illinois, Metropolis is a real town of 6,500 people that really likes to play up the Superman connection. With that in mind, Stevens wrote this song about the need to create symbols of national pride, fame and glory, telling one Australian newspaper, "We're a country suffering an identity crisis." In concert, the singer has performed this song with an inflatable Superman, which he purchased in Metropolis, of course.
Karl Walter/Getty Images
'Tony's Theme'
Pixies (1988)
This erratic and charming ditty from 'Surfer Rosa' showcases the Pixies' chronicle of a young wheelie-popping superhero named Tony. "I can look at the sun if you give me some bad sun glasses / I'm back on the road, I cut my grass like I'm told! / After classes!" Frank Black sings, referencing the wide-eyed imagination of a neighborhood boy wonder.
George Pimentel, Getty Images
'Superman'
R.E.M. (1986)
Few people have heard the Clique's version of this song from 1969, and R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe reportedly wasn't as big of a fan of the bubblegum song, but his other bandmates were, so bassist Mike Mills sang the lead. His gleeful, childlike vocals add a touch of irony as he sings "I am Superman ... and I can do anything."
Ebet Roberts / Redferns
'Ghost Rider'
Suicide (1977)
Suicide's name was inspired by 'Satan Suicide,' an issue of 'Ghost Rider' (vocalist Alan Vega's favorite comic book). Here, the synth poppers add a little punk flair with the lyric, "America's killin' its youth." The song was later covered by acts like the Rollins Band and R.E.M. In 2000, M.I.A. sampled it in 'Born Free.'
Peter Noble/Redferns
'Particle Man'
They Might Be Giants (1990)
They Might Be Giants' song about four beings seems right out of the Edwin Abbott Abbott novel 'Particle Man.' Universe Man, Triangle Man and the very melancholic Person Man represent the boundless differences (and violent interactions) between persons of separate dimensions, including Triangle Man's disdain for Person Man: "Triangle Man hates Person Man / They Have a fight, Triangle Wins / Triangle Man."
Barney Britton, Redferns / Getty Images
'Kryptonite'
3 Doors Down (2000)
Singer Brad Arnold was 15 years old and bored in algebra class when he wrote the lyrics to this song, which asks, "If I go crazy, will you still call me Superman?" Arnold, who also came up with the drum beat while beating on a school desk, has said the 3 Doors Down track poses the question: will you be there through both good and bad times? Sounds a lot like marriage vows.
Chris Pizzello/ImageDirect
'Superman (It's Not Easy)'
Five for Fighting (2001)
Frontman John Ondrasik released this song on a solo album in 2000, but the piano ballad, released a year later with Five for Fighting, became an unofficial anthem for the rescue workers who responded to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. In the song Superman comes off surprisingly mortal, declaring "It's not easy to be me."
SGranitz/WireImage
'Jimmy Olsen's Blues'
Spin Doctors (1991)
The shaggy '90s jam-rockers had a hit with their ode to Jimmy Olsen, in which he's not Superman's best pal, after all. In the song, Olsen spends a cloudy day in Metropolis pining over Lois Lane and dreaming of taking Superman down with his "pocketful of kryptonite," which was also the title of the band's breakthrough album. In thanks, the comics occasionally drew Olsen wearing a Spin Doctors t-shirt (thus forever ruining his chances with Lois, who doesn't date hippies.)
George Napolitano/FilmMagic
'Superman Tonight'
Bon Jovi (2009)
Hoping to stay relevant, Bon Jovi wrote about more serious subjects for their album 'The Circle.' Then there was this one, which Richie Sambora suggested was still serious, even if it was about Superman. "'Superman Tonight' is probably the only boy/girl song on this record," he told the Arizona Republic in 2010. "But you can take that into a place where the rescuer, Superman, could be a fireman or a policeman or a doctor or a nurse or just a normal person just doing some good in the world." Like a rock star?
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
'Challengers'
The New Pornographers (2007)
The New Pornographers' sweet-sounding breakup song features an allusion to the Challengers of the Unknown -- a quartet of adventurers who explored paranormal occurrences, took assignments from the Pentagon and met up in a hollowed-out mountain.
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
'Wonderboy'
Tenacious D (2002)
Jack Black and his guitar-shredding cohort Kyle Gass detail this medieval rivalry of Wonderboy and his arch nemesis Nasty Man through an incredibly polished and spine-tingling Tenacious D ballad of epic proportions. Wonderboy's abilities include yak-killing mind bullets and flight. "That's levitation, Holmes!"
Douglas Mason, Getty Images
'I Whipped Spiderman's Ass'
Wesley Willis (1995)
The late Chicago punk rocker was known for his strangely unique, yet oddly simple musical compositions (as well as his affinity for giving a welcoming headbutt to friends). But it seems as though Willis headbutted Spider-Man into oblivion when the superhero "tried to cut [his girlfriend] out of seventy dollars." If beating up Spidey isn't enough for you, you can also check out Willis' account of his assault on Batman.
Tim Shaffer, AP
'Sunshine Superman'
Donovan (1966)
Written for his future wife, Linda Lawrence, Donovan refers to two DC Comic superheroes here ("Superman and Green Lantern ain't got nothin' on me.") Prior to the release of the 'Sunshine Superman' album, the record was held up in legal limbo, so Donovan, contemplating retirement, played the songs exclusively for pals like Paul McCartney and George Harrison. Initially titled 'For John and Paul,' it featured the guitar work of Jimmy Page, who was a session musician at the time.
Andrew Maclear/Redferns
'Surfing With the Alien'
Joe Satriani (1987)
Satriani borrowed a bit of the Silver Surfer's power cosmic for this instrumental single, which put him in the pantheon of guitar gods. In return, he not only named the song and album in honor of Marvel's underrated superhero, but also plastered the Surfer's image on the album cover. Comic book icon John Byrne said Satriani swiped the art from his 1982 issue of 'Silver Surfer #1' without permission or payment. Galactus (and Coldplay) are not be amused.
Christie Goodwin/Getty Images
'Boy Falls From the Sky'
U2 (2010)
At a dinner in his honor, Andrew Lloyd Webber thanked rock musicians for leaving theater music up to him. Alas, he should have known his friend Bono wouldn't let the comment slide. "We decided to give Andrew a little competition," Bono said afterward. In 2007, Bono and U2 bandmate the Edge began working on tunes for a Spider-Man musical. While the play suffered production delays and financial woes, the songs were completed, including this one, sung by Peter Parker. U2 also contributed the song 'Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me' to the 'Batman Forever' soundtrack in 1995.
Didier Messens/Getty Images
'Go Monkey Go'
Devo (2000)
The Powerpuff Girls had so many fans in the indie community that they released a compilation in 2000. 'Heroes & Villains' included original songs about kindergarten crime-fighters Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup by everyone from Frank Black and Bis to Apples in Stereo and Shonen Knife. Devo's Mark Mothersbaugh and Bob Casale produced the album and got their band back together for the coolest cut, a New Wave love letter to simian super-villain Mojo Jojo.
Jim Dyson/Getty Images
'Side Kick'
Rancid (1994)
Everyone knows Batman and Robin, but most probably don't realize there have been a host of pint-sized partners over the comic book issues. So Rancid decided to pay tribute to former Robin, Tim Drake with this song. But then they start singing about Wolverine fighting cops and government agents even though Wolvie is totally Marvel while Bats is DC. Epic geek fail!
Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images
'Iron Man'
Black Sabbath (1968)
When Ozzy Osbourne first bellowed through this historic rock anthem, he wasn't thinking of Iron Man as the Hollywoodized playboy Tony Stark that Robert Downey Jr. portrays in the films, but rather a silent, world-weary and vengeful mute of a man, who is both unwanted and unloved.
Chris Walter, WireImage
'The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill'
The Beatles (1968)
In an interview with Playboy, John Lennon tells the story of a Beatles excursion to the ashram of the Maharishi Mahesh yogi. While the band was trying to commune with God, a man named Jungle Jim would leave the prayer session to poach tigers in the area and subsequently return to his meditation. Inspired by Jim, the band wrote 'Bungalo Bill' about a man whose bravado is challenged by the one and only Captain Marvel, who zaps the vain hunter "right between the eyes."
Jan Persson, Redferns / Getty Images
- Filed under: Exclusive, The Hit List
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Add a Comment
sidekick by rancid doesn't mention tim drake, rancids singer is called tim armstrong, it's about him being wolverines sidekick, hence the name, so I guess the epic geek fail wasn't on rancids part.....
March 15 2013 at 5:06 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyPaul McCartney also wrote a song detailing a bank robbery called,
"Magneto and Titanium Man" , on his 1975 album, "Venus and Mars".
The Marvel World of Icarus is an album full of superhero based songs including
Ironmann, Conan, Daredevil et al
Dated but worth a living one or two tracks are available on youtube.
The Marvel World of Icarus is an album full of superhero based songs including
Ironmann, Conan, Daredevil et al
no Adam Warrock, this list needs an update
May 28 2011 at 7:50 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyWhat about 'Cartoon Heroes' by Aqua? - they mention several superheroes in that song!
May 28 2011 at 6:15 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replywhat about Wolverine Blues by Entombed?
May 28 2011 at 5:29 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replyi like all the super heroes batman superman th flash etcwe need heroes in this day and age to combat terrorism and yes even help with our government they cant do any worst to whose already in office
May 27 2011 at 11:24 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyWHAT? Where the hell is "I Am The Law" by Anthrax?!!!
May 27 2011 at 9:01 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to gbat70's comment
dazoo666
I was thinking exactly the same thing. "I Am The The Law, You Won't **** Around No More", awsome, awsome, awsome.
May 28 2011 at 7:14 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down
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