Superman (It's Not Easy)
Encyclopedia
"Superman" is the title of a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Five for Fighting
(stage name of American singer-songwriter John Ondrasik). It was released in April 2001 as the second single from his album America Town
. The song was first released in 2000, but became popular after the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York, entering the Hot 100 charts at number 38 on October 27, 2001 and peaking at number 14. The song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 44th Grammy Awards in 2002.
's point of view. Although his name is never mentioned specifically, some allusions are made to Superman's costume ('a man in a funny red sheet,' i.e. Superman's red cape), powers, and origins. The narrator portrays himself as misunderstood and unsure rather than the god-like figure others see; he does not feel as powerful and perfect as people see him, and at the same time believes he is more than simply that heroic, unreal figure. Instead, he describes himself experiencing an ordinary man's struggles to understand himself, to live up to expectations, and fulfill his responsibilities, even while he is aware of how much greater his responsibilities are. Because of the way the lyrics run, it's possible both to apply them specifically to Superman as well as to anyone who feels others see him as a heroic figure, a 'superman.'
in episode "Stray" (1.16) in Season 1. At the end of the song's music video, John Ondrasik lies in bed with his own wife and son. In his 2010 comedy tour, Conan O'Brien
sang a cover of the song by himself before Jim Carrey
appeared in a Superman suit and the two men sang a duet. It's also featured in on Dawson's Creek
in season four, episode two, and on the second Dawson's Creek soundtrack. The song was the backing track to BBC Match of the Day's "The Story So Far", bringing the group stages of the World Cup to an end. An anonymous cover was played on the seventh series of The X Factor
after Liam Payne's audition. The singer of this version was speculated to be Joe McElderry
, the winner of the previous series
. This turned out to be true when the tracklist for his debut album Wide Awake was revealed.
Five for Fighting
Five for Fighting is the stage name of American singer-songwriter John Ondrasik. He is best known for his piano-based rock, such as the Top 40 songs "Superman " , "100 Years" , and "The Riddle" .-Early years:...
(stage name of American singer-songwriter John Ondrasik). It was released in April 2001 as the second single from his album America Town
America Town
America Town is the debut major label 2000 album by Five for Fighting released by Aware Records. It includes the hit single "Superman .". The song "Easy Tonight" appears in an episode of the sitcom Scrubs...
. The song was first released in 2000, but became popular after the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York, entering the Hot 100 charts at number 38 on October 27, 2001 and peaking at number 14. The song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 44th Grammy Awards in 2002.
Content
The lyrics are written in first-person from the superhero SupermanSuperman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
's point of view. Although his name is never mentioned specifically, some allusions are made to Superman's costume ('a man in a funny red sheet,' i.e. Superman's red cape), powers, and origins. The narrator portrays himself as misunderstood and unsure rather than the god-like figure others see; he does not feel as powerful and perfect as people see him, and at the same time believes he is more than simply that heroic, unreal figure. Instead, he describes himself experiencing an ordinary man's struggles to understand himself, to live up to expectations, and fulfill his responsibilities, even while he is aware of how much greater his responsibilities are. Because of the way the lyrics run, it's possible both to apply them specifically to Superman as well as to anyone who feels others see him as a heroic figure, a 'superman.'
In popular culture
The song was featured in the Superman TV series SmallvilleSmallville
Smallville is the hometown of Superman in comic books published by DC Comics. While growing up in Smallville, the young Clark Kent attended Smallville High with best friends Lana Lang, Chloe Sullivan and Pete Ross...
in episode "Stray" (1.16) in Season 1. At the end of the song's music video, John Ondrasik lies in bed with his own wife and son. In his 2010 comedy tour, Conan O'Brien
Conan O'Brien
Conan Christopher O'Brien is an American television host, comedian, writer, producer and performer. Since November 2010 he has hosted Conan, a late-night talk show that airs on the American cable television station TBS....
sang a cover of the song by himself before Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey
James Eugene "Jim" Carrey is a Canadian-American actor and comedian. He has received two Golden Globe Awards and has also been nominated on four occasions. Carrey began comedy in 1979, performing at Yuk Yuk's in Toronto, Ontario...
appeared in a Superman suit and the two men sang a duet. It's also featured in on Dawson's Creek
Dawson's Creek
Dawson's Creek is an American teen drama television series which debuted on January 20, 1998, on The WB Television Network and was produced by Sony Pictures Television. The show is set in the fictional seaside town of Capeside, Massachusetts, and in Boston, Massachusetts, during the later seasons...
in season four, episode two, and on the second Dawson's Creek soundtrack. The song was the backing track to BBC Match of the Day's "The Story So Far", bringing the group stages of the World Cup to an end. An anonymous cover was played on the seventh series of The X Factor
The X Factor (UK series 7)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent; the winner of which receives a £1 million recording contract with the Syco Music record label. The seventh series started on ITV on 21 August 2010 and ended on 12 December 2010. The winner was Matt Cardle and...
after Liam Payne's audition. The singer of this version was speculated to be Joe McElderry
Joe McElderry
Joseph "Joe" McElderry is an English singer and model. He won the sixth series of the ITV show The X Factor in 2009. His first single "The Climb" reached number one on the UK Singles Chart and Irish Singles Charts. He was also crowned the winner of the second series of Popstar to Operastar, two...
, the winner of the previous series
The X Factor (UK series 6)
The sixth series of British television music competition The X Factor started on ITV on 22 August 2009 and was won by Joe McElderry on 13 December 2009. Cheryl Cole emerged as the winning mentor for the second consecutive year, the first time in the show's history that a mentor has won back-to-back...
. This turned out to be true when the tracklist for his debut album Wide Awake was revealed.
Charts
| Chart (2001) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 14 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks Adult Top 40 is a variation on the United States Billboard charts... |
1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States... |
2 |
| U.S. Billboard Top 40 Mainstream | 15 |
| U.S. Billboard Top 40 Tracks Top 40 Tracks Top 40 Tracks is a defunct airplay chart from Billboard Magazine. It was created in 1998, when Billboard Magazine changed the airplay profile of The Hot 100 Airplay to include more R&B, Country, and Rock stations to its profile . To preserve the notion of the former chart, Top 40 Tracks was... |
9 |
| UK Singles Chart | 48 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 5 |
| Australian ARIA Australian Recording Industry Association The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956... Singles Chart |
2 |
| Belgian Singles Chart Ultratop 50 Ultratop 50 singles, often just Ultratop 50, is the weekly chart of fifty best-selling singles in Flanders, Belgium, and is produced and published by the Ultratop organization. The chart has existed since March 31, 1995... (Flanders Flanders Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp... ) |
54 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart | 2 |
| Italian Singles Chart | 11 |
| Norwegian Singles Chart | 12 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 43 |