Superman (The Clique song)

Infobox Single
Name = Superman


Artist = R.E.M.
from Album = Lifes Rich Pageant
A-side =
B-side = "White Tornado"
Released = November 1986 (US) March 1987 (Europe)
Format = 7" Vinyl
Recorded = April - May 1986
Genre = Alternative rock
Length = 2:54
Label = I.R.S. Records
Writer =
Producer = Don Gehman
Certification =
Last single = "Fall on Me" (1986)
This single = "Superman" (1986)
Next single = "The One I Love" (1987)
Misc =

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

It was written by Mitchell Bottler and producer/songwriter Gary Zekley and originally released as the b-side to The Clique's hit "Sugar on Sunday," itself a cover of a Tommy James and the Shondells song.

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. [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:9wabqj5boj0a~T31 allmusic.com] ]

R.E.M. version

Lead singer Michael Stipe was not as enthusiastic about recording the song as the others band members were, and as a result bassist Mike Mills debuted on lead vocals with Stipe providing background.

The B-side to the single is a surf rock instrumental entitled "White Tornado," recorded in 1981.

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

7": IRS / IRM 128 (UK)

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

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

12": IRS / IRT 128 (UK)

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

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

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

Charts

In popular culture

R.E.M. version

*In 1996, the song appeared in "" in the episode "Tempus Anyone?"

*In a 2006 episode of "The Simpsons", "Million Dollar Abie," the song is played during a montage of fun things Abe Simpson does after reconsidering euthanasia.

*"" season 2 used the R.E.M. version to close its episode "Super Men".

Other versions

*In early 1999, IBM began a television advertisement campaign for its Lotus Notes software product that included the chorus of "Superman," sung by a female vocalist.

*In 2006, the song was covered by the band The Academy Is... on the album "Sound of Superman", coinciding with the release of the new Warner Bros. film "Superman Returns".