SUPERMAN IN MUSIC

There have been several songs written about Superman, three of the most famous being "Superman's Song" by the Crash Test Dummies in the early 1990s, "Kryptonite" by 3 Doors Down, and "Superman" by Five for Fighting.

First, look at the lyrics of the three songs.

i) What do you learn about Superman's powers?

ii)  What do you learn about why he is a hero?

iii) What do you learn about Superman as a person?

iv) What are the most significant lines in the song for you when you read the lyrics?

"Superman's Song" (Crash Test Dummies)

Tarzan wasn't a ladies' man

He'd just come along and scoop 'em up under his arm

Like that, quick as a cat in the jungle

But Clark Kent, now there was a real gent

He would not be caught sittin' around in no

Junglescape, dumb as an ape doing nothing

[Chorus:]

Superman never made any money

For saving the world from Solomon Grundy

And sometimes I despair the world will never see

Another man like him

Hey Bob, Supe had a straight job

Even though he could have smashed through any bank

In the United States, he had the strength, but he would not

Folks said his family were all dead

Their planet crumbled but Superman, he forced himself

To carry on, forget Krypton, and keep going

Tarzan was king of the jungle and Lord over all the apes

But he could hardly string together four words: "I Tarzan, You Jane."

Sometimes when Supe was stopping crimes

I'll bet that he was tempted to just quit and turn his back

On man, join Tarzan in the forest

But he stayed in the city, and kept on changing clothes

In dirty old phonebooths till his work was through

And nothing to do but go on home

"Kryptonite"  (3 Doors Down)

I took a walk around the world to

Ease my troubled mind

I left my body laying somewhere

In the sands of time

I watched the world float to the dark

Side of the moon

I feel there is nothing I can do, yeah

I watched the world float to the

Dark side of the moon

After all I knew it had to be something

To do with you

I really don't mind what happens now and then

As long as you'll be my friend at the end

If I go crazy then will you still

Call me Superman

If I'm alive and well, will you be

There holding my hand

I'll keep you by my side with

My superhuman might

Kryptonite

You called me strong, you called me weak

But your secrets I will keep

You took for granted all the times I

Never let you down

You stumbled in and bumped your head, if

Not for me then you would be dead

I picked you up and put you back

On solid ground

If I go crazy then will you still

Call me Superman

If I'm alive and well will you be

There holding my hand

I'll keep you by my side with my

Superhuman might

Kryptonite

//Oh whoa whoa//

3x

Second, listen to the three songs by playing the YouTube videos below.

i) What kind of message do you get from the song - do you think the singer likes or dislikes Superman?

ii) What are the most significant lines in the song for you when you listen to it?

iii) Do you learn anything more about Superman as a person or hero?

Superman's Song (Crash Test Dummies)

Superman (Five for Fighting)

Kryptonite (3 Doors Down)

Third, play the YouTube videos (look above) again, this time watching them without any sound.

i) Does the video add to your understanding of either the song's meaning or Superman?  Why do you think Superman was chosen as the song's title and/or subject?

ii) What kind of message do you get from the song - do you think the singer likes or dislikes Superman?

iii) What are the most significant images in the song for you when you view it?

iv) Do you learn anything more about Superman as a person or hero?

Superman

ENG2D1 Unit Two