# What pop songs mention a superhero? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 3, 2003, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pop-songs-mention-a-superhero/152593 "2003-02-03T21:51:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pop-songs-mention-a-superhero/152593/1 "2003-02-03T21:51:41Z")
3 Door Down’s “Kyrptonite”, Five For Fighting’s “Superman” and the Spin Doctors’ “Jimmy Olsen’s Blues” all mention Superman. I’m betting he is probably the most common superhero too, since he is probably the only one that is a true cultural icon. (Batman being the next closest, in my opinion.) But what other songs are there? I don’t think Black Sabbath’s “Iron man” counts, since they are taliing of a Frankenstein’s Monster-type beast in that song, and not the MarvelComics superhero. ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pop-songs-mention-a-superhero/152593/2 "2003-02-03T22:03:30Z")
Superman and Green Lantern are both mentioned in **Sunshine Superman** by Donovan. Kitty Pryde and Nightcrawler in Weezer’s **In the Garage**. ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pop-songs-mention-a-superhero/152593/3 "2003-02-03T22:06:21Z")
Jim Croce’s You Don’t Mess Around With Jim: “You don’t tug on Superman’s cape…” “You don’t pull the mask off the ol’ Lone Ranger…” Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pop-songs-mention-a-superhero/152593/4 "2003-02-03T22:07:54Z")
Likewise, Neil Hefti’s 60’s song Batman (yes, the theme from the 1966 show) was #1 on the charts, so it might qualify as well. Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pop-songs-mention-a-superhero/152593/5 "2003-02-03T22:10:23Z")
The Kinks sang “Wish I Could Fly Like Superman.” REM sang “Superman” (I am I am I am Superman and I know what’s happening. I am I am I am Superman and I can do anything.) ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pop-songs-mention-a-superhero/152593/6 "2003-02-03T22:11:11Z")
Crash Test Dummies had a song called “Superman’s Song” ---
**Author:** ![cmburns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@cmburns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmburns)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pop-songs-mention-a-superhero/152593/7 "2003-02-03T22:12:06Z")
“Iron Man”- Black Sabbath" OK, that one is a little iffy. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pop-songs-mention-a-superhero/152593/8 "2003-02-03T22:12:06Z")
“Absurd” by Fluke is chock full of superhero references. Spiderman Judge Dredd Mighty Morphin Power Rangers X Men ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pop-songs-mention-a-superhero/152593/9 "2003-02-03T22:12:37Z")
Enter Sandman? Superman, by Barbara Streisand Yuleman vs. the Anti-Claus, by The Bobs “His powers came from an accident at the lighting of the city’s tree He was changing a bulb when they threw the switch zapping him with electricity” ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pop-songs-mention-a-superhero/152593/10 "2003-02-03T22:13:34Z")
Then again, there’s also the “superheros” mentioned in Triangle Man by They Might Be Giants: Triangle Man Particle Man Universe Man Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pop-songs-mention-a-superhero/152593/11 "2003-02-03T22:14:44Z")
By the way, [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=112713) are some more… Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![cmburns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@cmburns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmburns)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pop-songs-mention-a-superhero/152593/12 "2003-02-03T22:15:04Z")
Sorry, I should have read the OP more carefully before submitting Iron Man. Anthrax’s “I am the Law” is about Judge Dredd, who I think was in Marvel comics. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pop-songs-mention-a-superhero/152593/13 "2003-02-03T22:16:31Z")
Paul McCartney & Wings’ “Magneto and Titanium Man” ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pop-songs-mention-a-superhero/152593/14 "2003-02-03T22:26:27Z")
I have not reviewed the thread linked to above, but these sprang to mind: “That’s Really Super, Supergirl” by XTC and (though it’s cheating a lot) “Batdance” by Prince. ---
**Author:** ![skot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@skot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skot)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pop-songs-mention-a-superhero/152593/15 "2003-02-03T22:28:47Z")
**Our Lady Peace** “Superman’s Dead” **Rollins Band** “Ghostrider” ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pop-songs-mention-a-superhero/152593/16 "2003-02-03T22:31:16Z")
Way back when he was in a duo called Attila, Billy Joel co-wrote a song titled “Wonder Woman.” _Wonder woman with your skin so fair Wonder woman with your long red hair_ ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pop-songs-mention-a-superhero/152593/17 "2003-02-03T22:58:27Z")
Aquaman is mentioned in Barenaked Ladies’ “One Week.” ---
**Author:** ![percypercy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8baadc/32.png) [@percypercy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/percypercy)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pop-songs-mention-a-superhero/152593/18 "2003-02-03T23:07:25Z")
Green Lantern by the Mutton Birds ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pop-songs-mention-a-superhero/152593/19 "2003-02-04T00:14:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Scarlett67 \* > \*\*Way back when he was in a duo called Attila, Billy Joel co-wrote a song titled “Wonder Woman.” > > _Wonder woman with your skin so fair > Wonder woman with your long red hair_ \*\* Wow. He actually anticipated the Artemis/Wonder Woman series. Spooky. I’ve wondered about this,and I think Superman is the most often mentioned superhero in songs, because, as was said above, he’s the most iconic in our culture. Another thing I’ve noticed; kryptonite has become virtually synonymous with any person’s specific weakness (for example: “Liverwurst. That’s my kryptonite.” Not a quote, I just made it up as an example), maybe even more so now than “Achilles’ Heel,” and certainly more so than “albatross.” ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pop-songs-mention-a-superhero/152593/20 "2003-02-04T00:21:45Z")
Genesis’ _Land of Confusion_: “Superman, where are you now/when everything’s gone wrong somehow?” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pop-songs-mention-a-superhero/152593.md?page=2)