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{{Italic title}}
{{Infobox single <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Songs -->
{{Infobox song
| Name = O Superman
| Cover = OSuperman.JPG
| name = O Superman
| Cover size = 175
| cover = OSuperman.JPG
| Artist = [[Laurie Anderson]]
| alt = O Superman (For Massenet)
| Album = [[Big Science (album)|Big Science]]
| type = single
| B-side = "Walk the Dog"
| artist = [[Laurie Anderson]]
| album = [[Big Science (Laurie Anderson album)|Big Science]]
| Released = 1981
| Format = [[7" vinyl]], [[12-inch single|12" vinyl]]
| B-side = Walk the Dog
| released = October 1981 (UK)<ref>{{cite book | last1 = Bacon | first1 = Tony | title = Singles | publisher = Backbeat UK | year = 2006 | pages = 195 | isbn = 978-1-871547-73-3}}</ref>
| Recorded = 1981, The Lobby, [[New York City]]<ref name=rec>
| recorded = 1981, The Lobby, [[New York City]]<ref name=rec>{{cite AV media notes| title=Big Science| title-link=Big Science (Laurie Anderson album)| year = 1982| publisher=[[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]}}</ref>
{{cite album-notes
| title = Big science
| studio =
| albumlink = Big Science (album)
| venue =
| genre = {{hlist|[[electronic music|Electronic]]<ref name="dj mag">{{cite news|last1=Murphy|first1=Ben|title=Laurie Anderson's 'O Superman' Re-Released!|url=https://djmag.com/content/laurie-andersons-o-superman-re-released|work=[[DJ Magazine]]|access-date=June 23, 2016}}</ref>|[[art pop]]<ref name="nme">{{cite news|last1=Bychawski|first1=Adam|title=The Big Pink sample Laurie Anderson's 'O Superman' on new track - listen|url=https://www.nme.com/news/the-big-pink/60390|work=[[New Musical Express]]|date=November 14, 2011}}</ref>|[[New wave music|new wave]]<ref name="laurieNYT">{{cite news|last1=Hermes|first1=Will|title=Electronic Expressions in the Service of the Soul|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/27/arts/music/27laurie.html?_r=0|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=June 25, 2010}}</ref>|[[experimental pop]]<ref name="guardianmom">{{Cite news|last1=Rodgers|first1=Jude|title=Mother's Day 2015: the 10 best songs about mothers|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2015/mar/15/mothers-day-the-10-best-songs-about-mothers|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=18 July 2016|date=2015-03-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Derry |first1=Mark |title=Laurie Anderson: On the Jagged Edge |journal=Elle |date=1989 |url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/laurie-anderson-on-the-jagged-edge |access-date=November 29, 2020}}</ref>|[[minimal music|minimalism]]<ref name="laphil">{{cite web|title=About the Piece: O Superman (tape)|url=http://www.laphil.com/philpedia/music/o-superman-tape-laurie-anderson|website=[[LA Philharmonic]]|access-date=23 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826005726/http://www.laphil.com/philpedia/music/o-superman-tape-laurie-anderson|archive-date=26 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Lester |first1=Paul |title=What's the weirdest chart hit of all time? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2008/jul/11/whatstheweirdestcharthito |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=12 October 2018 |date=11 July 2008}}</ref>}}
| bandname = [[Laurie Anderson]]
| year = 1982
| length = 8:21
| label = [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]
| notestitle =
| url =
| writer = Laurie Anderson
| first =
| producer = Laurie Anderson
| last =
| prev_title =
| authorlink =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Sharkey's Day
| coauthors =
| pages =
| next_year = 1984
| format =
| publisher = [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]
| publisherid =
| location =
| mbid = 5b9e6ad2-8f80-4713-bb8b-2e1f977c4808
}}</ref>
| Genre = [[Avant-garde]]
| Length = 8:21
| Label = [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]
| Writer = [[Laurie Anderson]]
| Producer = [[Laurie Anderson]]
| Audio sample? =
| Certification =
| Last single =
| This single = "O Superman"<br />(1981)
| Next single = "Sharkey's Day"<br />(1984)
| Misc =
}}
}}


"'''O Superman (For Massenet)'''" is a 1981 song by experimental [[performance artist]] and musician [[Laurie Anderson]]. Part of the larger work ''[[United States (Anderson)|United States]]'', "O Superman", a half-sung, half-spoken, almost [[minimalism|minimalist]] piece unexpectedly rose to #2 on the [[UK Singles Chart]]s in 1981.<ref name=ukchart>{{cite web |url=http://www.chartstats.com/songinfo.php?id=9614 |title=Chart Stats - Laurie Anderson - O Superman |accessdate={{Start date|2009|4|25}}}}</ref> Prior to the success of this song, Anderson was little known outside the art world. First released as a single, the song also appeared on her debut album, ''[[Big Science (album)|Big Science]]''.
"'''O Superman'''", also known as "'''O Superman (For Massenet)'''", is a 1981 song by [[Performance art|performance artist]] and musician [[Laurie Anderson]]. The song became a surprise hit in the United Kingdom after it was championed by DJ [[John Peel]],<ref name="dj mag"/> rising to number 2 on the [[UK Singles Chart]]s in 1981.<ref name=ukchart>{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/o-superman/ |title=The Official Charts Company - Laurie Anderson - O Superman |website=[[Official Charts Company|Official Charts]] |access-date=April 25, 2009}}</ref> Prior to the success of this song, Anderson was little known outside the art world. First released as a promotional single, the song also appeared on her debut album ''[[Big Science (Laurie Anderson album)|Big Science]]'' (1982) and as part of her live album ''[[United States Live]]'' (1984).


In the 1981 ''[[The Village Voice|Village Voice]]'' [[Pazz & Jop]] poll, critics voted "O Superman" the best single of the year.<ref>[https://robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pjres81.php Robert Christgau: Pazz & Jop 1981: Critics Poll]</ref><ref>[https://www.villagevoice.com/2019/01/07/1981-pazz-jop-the-year-the-rolling-stones-lost-the-pennant/ 1981 Pazz & Jop: The Year the Rolling Stones Lost the Pennant|The Village Voice]</ref>
The song topped the 1981 ''[[Village Voice]]'' [[Pazz & Jop]] singles poll.


==Music==
==Structure and release==
Anderson constructed the song as a [[Cover version|cover]] of the [[aria]] "Ô Souverain, ô juge, ô père" (O Sovereign, O Judge, O Father) from [[Jules Massenet]]'s 1885 opera ''[[Le Cid (opera)|Le Cid]]''. She got the idea after listening to a recording of the aria made by African-American tenor Charles Holland, whose career was hampered for decades by racism in the classical music world. The first lines ("''O Superman / O Judge / O Mom and Dad"'') especially echo the original aria ("Ô Souverain / ô juge / ô père"). ([[Susan McClary]] suggests in her book ''Feminine Endings'' that Anderson is also recalling another opera by Massenet; his 1902 opera, ''[[Le jongleur de Notre-Dame]]''. The opera is one in which the arms of the mother—the Virgin Mary—embrace/bless the dying Rodrigo. In this way, it may not have been simply a "cover" of the Le Cid aria.)
In writing the song, Anderson drew from the [[aria]] "Ô Souverain, ô juge, ô père" ("O Sovereign, O Judge, O Father") from [[Jules Massenet]]'s 1885 opera ''[[Le Cid (opera)|Le Cid]]'', that she had heard in the voice of tenor [[Charles Holland (singer)|Charles Holland]].<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-11-12-mn-20094-story.html|title = Obituaries: Charles Holland; Singer Fled Bias, Found Success|date = November 12, 1987|newspaper = Los Angeles Times|last = Folkart|first = Burt A.}}</ref> The first lines ("O [[Superman]] / O Judge / O Mom and Dad") echo the aria.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archives.otherminds.org/index.php/Detail/objects/5503 |title=Laurie Anderson Record Release Party| publisher=Other Minds Archives |access-date=May 24, 2024}}</ref> [[Susan McClary]] suggests in her book ''Feminine Endings'' that "O Superman" may also have been inspired by Massenet's 1902 opera ''[[Le jongleur de Notre-Dame]]''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=McClary |first=Susan |title=Feminine Endings: Music, Gender, and Sexuality |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |year=2002 |isbn=0-8166-4189-7 |location=Minneapolis |page=141 |orig-date=1991}}</ref>


Overlaid on a sparse background of two alternating [[Chord (music)|chord]]s formed by the repeated spoken syllable "Ha" created by looping with an [[Eventide, Inc.|Eventide]] [[Harmonizer]], the text of "O Superman" is spoken through a [[vocoder]]. A [[saxophone]] is heard as the song fades out, and a sample of tweeting birds is subtly overlaid at various points within the track.
Anderson's lead vocals are overlaid on a sparse background of two alternating [[Chord (music)|chords]] formed by the repeated spoken syllable "ha" created by [[Loop (music)|looping]] with an [[Eventide, Inc|Eventide]] Harmonizer.<ref name=":0" /> A [[Roland VP-330]] [[vocoder]] was used on Anderson's voice to sound "like a [[Greek chorus]]".<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://amp.theguardian.com/culture/2016/apr/19/how-we-made-laurie-anderson-o-superman|title=How we made Laurie Anderson's O Superman|first=Danny|last=Simpson|date=April 19, 2016|website=The Guardian|access-date=January 6, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Selective Synthesis: "O Superman" |url=https://www.rolandcloud.com/news/selective-synthesis-o-superman |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=Roland Cloud |language=en}}</ref> A saxophone is heard as the song fades out, and a flute line and sample of bird calls appear at various points within the track. The two chords of the song are A{{music|flat}} major and C minor, the repeating "ha" syllable acting as a harmonic [[Drone (sound)|drone]] on C.

== Lyrics ==
{{Listen
{{Listen
|filename=Jules Massenet, Enrico Caruso, O Souverain, O Juge, O Pere.ogg
|filename=Jules Massenet, Enrico Caruso, O Souverain, O Juge, O Pere.ogg
|title=O souverain, O juge, O père!
|title=O souverain, O juge, O père!
|description=The song "O Superman" is based on, from [[Jules Massenet]]'s ''[[Le Cid (opera)|Le Cid]]''. Sung by [[Enrico Caruso]] in 1916.
|description=The song "O Superman" is based on the aria "O souverain, O juge, O père!", from [[Jules Massenet]]'s opera ''[[Le Cid (opera)|Le Cid]]'', here sung by [[Enrico Caruso]] in 1916.
}}
}}
As part of the larger work ''United States'', the text addresses issues of technology and communication, quoting at various points [[answering machine]] messages and (what is falsely perceived to be) the [[United States Postal Service creed]]: "Neither snow nor rain nor gloom of night shall stay these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds." This line is in fact the inscription over the entrance of the [[James Farley Post Office]] in New York and is derived from a line in [[Herodotus]]' ''[[Histories (Herodotus)|Histories]]'' (8.98), referring to the ancient courier service of the Persian Empire. This line is also interpreted in the accompanying music video into [[American Sign Language]] by Anderson wearing white gloves, white sunglasses and a white coat.


The song's introduction consists of a repetition of the "O Superman / O Judge / O Mom and Dad" [[stanza]].{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} The rest of the song's lyrics are loosely structured around a one-sided conversation.<ref name=":0"/> At first, the voice leaves a message claiming to be the narrator's mother,<ref name="guardianmom"/> and asks the narrator if they are coming home.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Richard Flood |date=September 1981 |title=Laurie Anderson |url=https://www.artforum.com/events/laurie-anderson-7-228245/ |magazine=[[Artforum]] |volume=20 |number=1 |pages=80–81 |access-date=December 8, 2024}}</ref> The voice then identifies itself as "the hand that takes" and informs the narrator that the "American planes" are coming. The song concludes with the stanza "When love is gone, there's always justice / and when justice is gone, there's always force / and when force is gone, there's always mom", with the narrator pleading to be held in her mom's long [[petrochemical]], military, electronic arms.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Honigmann |first=David |date=May 13, 2019|title=O Superman — Laurie Anderson’s experimental hit proved to be uncannily prophetic |url=https://ig.ft.com/life-of-a-song/o-superman.html |access-date=September 17, 2024|website=Financial Times|language=en-GB}}</ref>
All of this is in the context of an attack by American planes and arms. Several times, including in an interview with the Australian magazine ''Bulletin'' in 2003, Anderson has claimed that the song is connected to [[Iran-Contra affair]] occurring when she wrote it.<ref>
{{cite web
| last =Wiesel
| first =Al
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Sound Zero
| work =The Bulletin
| publisher =
| date ={{Start date|2003|1|22}}
| url =http://bulletin.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=132926
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate = {{Start date|2007|10|1}}}}
</ref>
However, because the song was released in 1981 and the first public reporting of the weapons-for-hostages deal happened on November 3, 1986, this could not be true. It is also possible that Anderson simply used the wrong term for the original [[Iran hostage crisis]] which took place in 1979-1980, a time frame which ''does'' more closely fit Anderson's description.


As part of the larger work ''United States'', the text addresses issues of technology and communication, quoting [[answering machine]] messages and the [[United States Postal Service]] motto "[[United States Postal Service creed|Neither snow nor rain nor gloom of night shall stay these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds]]".<ref name=":0"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Selective Synthesis: "O Superman" |url=https://www.rolandcloud.com/news/selective-synthesis-o-superman |access-date=October 26, 2024 |website=Roland Cloud |language=en}}</ref> In a 2022 ''[[60 Minutes]]'' interview, Anderson summarized the song as being about how "technology cannot save you".<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 25, 2022 |title=Laurie Anderson: The 60 Minutes Interview |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rydadItdnt0 |access-date=January 27, 2024 |publisher=[[60 Minutes]]}}</ref>
The lines "'Cause when love is gone, there's always justice / And when justice is gone, there's always force / And when force is gone, there's always Mom" derive from the fourth sentence of Chapter 38 of the [[Tao Te Ching]]: "When Tao is lost, there is goodness. When goodness is lost, there is kindness. When kindness is lost, there is justice. When justice is lost, there is ritual. Now ritual is the husk of faith and loyalty, the beginning of confusion."


The lines "'Cause when love is gone, there's always justice / And when justice is gone, there's always force / And when force is gone, there's always Mom" derive from the fourth sentence of Chapter 38 of the ''[[Tao Te Ching]]'': "When ''[[Tao]]'' is lost, there is goodness. When goodness is lost, there is kindness. When kindness is lost, there is justice. When justice is lost, there is ritual. Now ritual is the husk of faith and loyalty, the beginning of confusion."<ref>{{citation |last=Reed |first=S. Alexander |page=81 |title=Laurie Anderson's Big Science |date=2021-12-10 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-092601-4 |language=en}}</ref>
"O Superman" did not appeal to all listeners. According to the 1982 book ''The Rock Lists Album'', compiled by [[John Tobler]] and [[Allan Jones (editor)|Allan Jones]], polls conducted by several unidentified British newspapers saw "O Superman" voted readers' least favorite hit single of 1981 (even though the song had been championed by [[John Peel]]).


In an interview with the Australian magazine ''[[The Bulletin (Australian periodical)|Bulletin]]'' in 2003, Anderson erroneously stated that the song was connected to the [[Iran–Contra affair]],<ref>{{cite web |last=Wiesel |first=Al |date=January 22, 2003 |title=Sound Zero |url=http://bulletin.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=132926 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080129004251/http://bulletin.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=132926 |archive-date=January 29, 2008 |access-date=October 1, 2007 |work=The Bulletin}} </ref> but she had meant to refer to the earlier [[Iran hostage crisis]] and the failure of [[Operation Eagle Claw]] in 1980.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-04-08|title='It has never been more pertinent' – Margaret Atwood on the chilling genius of Laurie Anderson's Big Science|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/apr/08/margaret-atwood-laurie-anderson-big-science-o-superman-prophetic-80s-america-pertinent|access-date=2021-04-20|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Featured Audio - 98.7WFMT - Classical and Folk Music Radio Streaming Online |url=http://www.wfmt.com/main.taf?p%3D4%2C5%2C17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130209011141/http://www.wfmt.com/main.taf?p=4,5,17 |archive-date=February 9, 2013|access-date=February 19, 2013}}</ref>
First released as a single by [[B. George]]'s [[One Ten Records]], the song's popularity led to Anderson signing a distribution contract with [[Warner Bros.]], who went on to release Anderson's album ''[[Big Science (album)|Big Science]]'' in 1982; the album included "O Superman" and Warner also reissued the single. A live version of the song also appears in Anderson's 4-disc box set ''[[United States Live]]'' (1984).


==Release==
Although Anderson had, almost two decades before, dropped the song from her performance repertoire, she revived the piece in 2001 during a concert tour that included a retrospective look at some of her older pieces, an idea conceived by her companion, [[Lou Reed]]. A live performance of "O Superman" was recorded in [[New York City]] the week following the [[9/11 attacks]]. In this context, certain lyrics appeared to many to take on a more topical significance: "This is the hand, the hand that takes / Here come the planes / They're American planes. Made in America / Smoking or non-smoking?" The 2001 live performance appears on Anderson's 2002 album ''[[Live in New York (Laurie Anderson)|Live in New York]]''.
The song was first released as a single One Ten Records at the encouragement of its owner, [[B. George]]. 1,000 copies of the single were initially pressed, which Anderson sold from her apartment by individually wrapping the single and distributing it via mail.<ref name=":0"/><ref name="Humans">{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Sam |date=October 6, 2021 |title=Laurie Anderson Has a Message For Us Humans |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/06/magazine/laurie-anderson.html |access-date=December 8, 2024 |work=[[New York Times]]}}</ref>


[[John Peel]] frequently played "O Superman" on [[BBC Radio 1]] and a British distribution company asked to press 80,000 copies of the single.<ref name=":0"/> The song reached number two on the [[UK Singles Chart]] and was ranked among the top ten "Tracks of the Year" for 1981 by ''[[NME]].<ref>[https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19811018/7501/ Official Singles Chart Top 75, 18 October 1981 - 24 October 1981]</ref>''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016 |title=Albums and Tracks of the Year |url=https://www.nme.com/bestalbumsandtracksoftheyear/1981-2-1045398 |access-date=2 November 2016 |publisher=[[NME]]}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> After the song's unexpected popularity, Anderson signed an eight album record deal with [[Warner Records]], which would reissue the single and later release her debut album ''[[Big Science (Laurie Anderson album)|Big Science]]'' in 1982.<ref name="Humans"/> A live version of the song also appears on Anderson's 1984 live album ''[[United States Live]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dorris |first=Jesse |title=Laurie Anderson: United States Live |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/laurie-anderson-united-states-live/ |access-date=December 8, 2024|website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref> "O Superman" did not appeal to all listeners. According to the 1982 book ''The Rock Lists Album'', compiled by [[John Tobler]] and [[Allan Jones (editor)|Allan Jones]], polls conducted by several unidentified British newspapers saw "O Superman" voted readers' least favourite hit single of 1981.<ref name=":1">{{cite book|title=The Rock Lists Album|author1=Tobler, John |author2=Jones, Allan |publisher=Methuen|year=1982|isbn=0458969001}}</ref>
The [[A-side and B-side|B-side]] of the original single was a spoken word piece called "Walk the Dog," which would also be performed in a live version on the ''[[United States Live]]'' album. Unlike "O Superman," this studio version of the track had never been issued on any album until the 25th Anniversary re-release in 2007 of ''[[Big Science (album)|Big Science]]'', where it was included as a bonus track in [[MP3]] and [[wav]] formats.


Although Anderson had dropped the song from her performance repertoire almost two decades earlier, she revived the piece in 2001 during a concert tour that included a retrospective look at some of her older pieces, an idea conceived by her romantic partner [[Lou Reed]]. A live performance of "O Superman" was recorded in New York City shortly after the [[September 11 attacks]], which some, including Anderson, felt gave the song's lyrics a new topical resonance.<ref>{{cite web|website=Pitchfork|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/10455-big-science/|title=Laurie Anderson Big Science|first=Joshua|last=Klein|date=August 2, 2007|accessdate=October 9, 2021}}</ref> This performance would appear on Anderson's 2002 album ''[[Live in New York (Laurie Anderson)|Live in New York]]''.<ref>{{cite web|website=WNYC|url=https://www.wnyc.org/story/71167-september-11th-anniversary-coverage/|title=September 11th Anniversary Coverage|accessdate=October 9, 2021|date=September 3, 2004}}</ref>
==Chart performance==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! style="text-align:center;"|Chart (1981)
! style="text-align:center;"|Peak<br />position
|-
{{singlechart |Dutch100 |10 |artist=Laurie Anderson |song=O Superman}}
|-
{{singlechart |Dutch40 |9 |artist=Laurie Anderson |song=O Superman}}
|-
{{singlechart |Ireland |11 |artist=Laurie Anderson |year=1981 |week=43}}
|-
{{singlechart |New Zealand |21 |artist=Laurie Anderson |song=O Superman}}
|-
{{singlechart |UKchartstats |2 |artist=Laurie Anderson |song=O Superman |songid=9614}}
|}


The [[A-side and B-side|B-side]] of the original single was a [[spoken word]] piece titled "Walk the Dog", which would also appear on ''United States Live''. The studio version of the track was included on the Warner Bros. compilation ''Attack of the Killer B's'' (1983),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/master/765078-Various-Attack-Of-The-Killer-Bs-Volume-One|website=Discogs|title=Attack Of The Killer B's (Volume One)|accessdate=October 9, 2021}}</ref> but was never issued on any studio album until the twenty-fifth anniversary reissue of ''Big Science'' in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|website=Uncut|url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/reviews/album/laurie-anderson-big-science-130168/|title=Laurie Anderson - Big Science|first=Laura|last=Barton|date=April 19, 2021|accessdate=October 9, 2021}}</ref>
==Covers, remixes and quotes==


== In popular culture ==
* In 1988 the song became popular in [[Italy]], as it was chosen as soundtrack for the first government campaign for preventing the [[HIV]]-AIDS epidemic.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.progettosteadycam.it/filemanager/download/r/rassegnacampagneaidsok.htm|title=AIDS communication campaigns in Italy (Italian)|accessdate=2010-05-19}}</ref>
The Italian [[Ministry of Health (Italy)|Ministry of Health]] used the song in a series of public service announcements on [[HIV]] prevention from 1988 to the early 90's.<ref>{{Cite web |title=When Alessandro Mendini Met Laurie Anderson |url=https://www.domusweb.it/en/from-the-archive/2024/01/02/laurie-anderson-interview-by-alessandro-mendini-from-the-domus-archive.html |access-date=June 25, 2024 |website=www.domusweb.it |language=en-gb}}</ref>
* The 1991 [[Army of Lovers]] song "[[Massive Luxury Overdose|Obsession]]" is in part inspired by "O Superman."
* The song was covered by [[David Bowie]] during his [[Earthling Tour|1997]] tour for the album ''[[Earthling (album)|Earthling]]''.
* The [[Canada|Canadian]] [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] group [[Brassmunk]] sampled "O Superman" in their 2002 single "O Supaman".
* In 2003, [[Staalplaat]] released a [[remix album]] of "O Superman", limited to 500 copies.
* In 2005, the German electronica group [[Booka Shade]] along with the group [[M.A.N.D.Y.]] (both from the [[Get Physical Records|Get Physical label]]) created a mix of Anderson's piece, entitled "Oh Superman" (note spelling), in two versions.
* The 2008 biographic documentary ''[[Louise Bourgeois: The Spider, the Mistress, and the Tangerine]]'' about the artist and sculptor [[Louise Bourgeois]] contains the last part of the song (from ''So hold me Mom'') in several places, in correspondence to Bourgeois' theme of depicting a mother figure with spider sculptures.
* In October 2008, [[M.A.N.D.Y.]] vs. [[Booka Shade]] featuring Laurie Anderson released two 12" singles with a version of "O Superman" on the German [[Get Physical Records|Get Physical label]]. The vinyl singles, also made available as digital downloads, featured remixes by Matt John, Reboot, Audiofly, [[Felix Da Housecat]] and Robag Wruhme.<ref>[http://physical-music.com/#data.pl?release=GPM098.1;center O Superman Remixes Vinyl 1], Get Physical - Retrieved on 26 November 2008.</ref>
* The track "Which Way To Kyffin" from Welsh musician [[James Dean Bradfield]]'s 2006 album ''The Great Western'' features a sample from the start of "O Superman."
* In 2008, the song was used in the Yves Saint Laurent Spring-Summer 2009 Men's Collection video.
* The count-off to the song "Cement Mixer" by [[Clinic (band)|Clinic]] is sampled from this song's introduction.
* The "Ha" sound was used by [[Cut Chemist]] in the track "Spat", on the album ''[[The Audience's Listening]]''.
* In 2011, Valerie Donzelli used this song in her movie ''[[:fr:La guerre est déclarée|La guerre est déclarée]]''.
* In 2012, UK duo [[The Big Pink]] used a sample from "O Superman" in their song "[[Future This|Hit The Ground (Superman)]]."
* In 2012, [[HTC]], a [[Taiwanese]] manufacturer of [[smartphones]] and [[tablets]] used this song in a television advertisement in the United States.


The 2018 interactive film ''[[Black Mirror: Bandersnatch]]'' includes an ending scored by "O Superman".<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 8, 2019|title=All The Songs In 'Black Mirror: Bandersnatch,' So You Can Marvel At The Sheer Amount Of '80s Details |url=https://www.bustle.com/p/all-the-songs-in-black-mirror-bandersnatch-so-you-can-marvel-at-the-sheer-amount-of-80s-details-15576355 |access-date=January 25, 2024 |website=Bustle |language=en}}</ref>
===Mashups===

"O Superman" has proven popular in the [[Mashup (music)|mashup]] scene.
In November 2023, an audio clip from "O Superman," centered on the lyrics "Well, you don’t know me / But I know you,” went viral as a sound on [[TikTok]]. The song debuted at number 12 on the [[TikTok Billboard Top 50|Tiktok ''Billboard'' Top 50]] and was the highest debut for the week dated 9 December 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rutherford |first=Kevin |date=December 7, 2023|title=Playboi Carti Is Back Atop TikTok Billboard Top 50 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/playboi-carti-sky-number-1-tiktok-billboard-top-50-mariah-carey-rises-1235540206/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207201132/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/playboi-carti-sky-number-1-tiktok-billboard-top-50-mariah-carey-rises-1235540206/ |archive-date=December 7, 2023 |access-date=April 11, 2024 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}
* In 2002, Bittersoundfoundation created the mashup "Tears for Superman", it also includes portions of songs by [[Tears for Fears]] and [[Tones on Tail]].
</ref>
* In 2004, [[DJ Earworm]] created the mashup "Stairway to Bootleg Heaven". Mostly based around [[Dolly Parton]]'s version of "[[Stairway to Heaven]]", it starts with speeded up portion of "O Superman".<ref>[http://djearworm.com/Stairway-to-Bootleg-Heaven.htm Stairway to Bootleg Heaven], DJ Earworm - Retrieved on 26 November 2008.</ref>
* Also in 2004, a bootleg 12" was released in the UK. Side A of ''XBooty 01'' featured a mashup of "O Superman" and Henry Cullen & Julian Liberator's ''Heavy Feeder EP''.<ref>[http://www.discogs.com/release/257127 XBooty 01] at discogs.com - Retrieved on 26 November 2008.</ref>


==Recording details==
==Recording details==
Words and music written by Laurie Anderson.
Words and music written by Laurie Anderson.


* Laurie Anderson – vocals, [[Roland VP-330]]<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPqOg6f2xFg O Superman (For Massenet) (Remastered) by Laurie Anderson-Topic on YouTube]</ref>
* Laurie Anderson: vocals, [[vocoder]], electronics
* [[Roma Baran]]: [[Farfisa]] organ, [[Casio VL-1|Casio]]
* [[Roma Baran]] – [[Farfisa]] organ, [[Casiotone|Casio]] keyboard
* [[Perry Hoberman]]: [[flute]], [[saxophone]]
* [[Perry Hoberman]] – [[flute]], [[saxophone]]

* Produced by Laurie Anderson and Roma Baran.
* Produced by Laurie Anderson and Roma Baran.
* Assistant producer: Perry Hoberman
* Assistant producer: Perry Hoberman
* Engineer: Roma Baran
* Engineer: Roma Baran
* Lacquer Cut ([[Mastering engineer]]): Bill Kipper at [[Masterdisk]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/382992-Bill-Kipper |title=Bill Kipper Discography |website=Discogs.com |access-date=2016-10-23}}</ref>
* Recorded and mixed at The Lobby (Laurie Anderson's home recording studio),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/label/290738-The-Lobby |title=The Lobby - CDs and Vinyl |website=Discogs.com |access-date=2016-10-23}}</ref> [[New York City]], 1981<ref name=rec/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/release/880009 |title=Laurie Anderson - O Superman (Vinyl) |website=Discogs.com |date=2015-03-30 |access-date=2016-10-23}}</ref>


==Charts==
* Recorded and mixed at The Lobby, [[New York City]] 1981.<ref name=rec/>
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Chart (1981)
!Peak<br>position
|-
|Australia ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=Illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=978-0-646-11917-5}}</ref>
|align="center"|28
|-

{{singlechart|Flanders|19|artist=Laurie Anderson|song=O Superman}}
|-
{{singlechart|Dutch40|9|artist=Laurie Anderson|song=O Superman}}
|-
{{singlechart|Dutch100|10|artist=Laurie Anderson|song=O Superman}}
|-
{{singlechart|Ireland2|11|song=O Superman}}
|-
{{singlechart|New Zealand|21|artist=Laurie Anderson|song=O Superman}}
|-
|South Africa ([[Springbok Radio]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/sa_charts_1969_1989_songs_(M-O).html|title=SA Charts 1965 - 1989 Songs M-O|access-date=1 April 2018}}</ref>
|align="center"|16
|-
{{singlechart|UKsinglesbyname|artistid=19313|2|artist=Laurie Anderson|song=O Superman|songid=9614}}
|}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist|30em}}


===Listening===
===Listening===
*[http://www.archive.org/download/LaurieAndersonReleaseParty/LaurieAndersonReleaseParty_vbr.mp3 Laurie Anderson Record Release Party for “O Superman” 7" 1980-04-28 at The Kitchen (NYC)]
*[https://archive.org/download/LaurieAndersonReleaseParty/LaurieAndersonReleaseParty_vbr.mp3 Laurie Anderson Record Release Party for “O Superman” 7" 1980-04-28 at The Kitchen (NYC)]
*[http://www.archive.org/download/LaurieAndersonOTG/LaurieAndersonR1.mp3 Laurie Anderson interview (Speaking of Music 1984-12-06) Part 1 of 2]
*[https://archive.org/details/SOM_1984_12_06 Laurie Anderson interview (Speaking of Music 1984-12-06)]
*[http://www.archive.org/download/LaurieAndersonOTG/LaurieAndersonR2001.mp3 Laurie Anderson interview (Speaking of Music 1984-12-06) Part 2 of 2]


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://h2g2.com/approved_entry/A874758 "O Superman" article at h2g2].
* [http://h2g2.com/approved_entry/A874758 "O Superman" article at h2g2].
* [http://www.teenagewildlife.com/Songs/O/OS.html "O Superman" lyrics]
* [http://www.teenagewildlife.com/Songs/O/OS.html "O Superman" lyrics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050404033802/http://www.teenagewildlife.com/Songs/O/OS.html |date=2005-04-04 }}
* [http://markingtime4now.wordpress.com/2013/02/19/laurie-anderson-performance-artist-personal-hero/ Laurie Anderson and O Superman article at 'Marking Time']
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vkfpi2H8tOE Laurie Anderson - O Superman (Official Music Video) by Nonesuch Records on YouTube]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmwpYmpjMXI Laurie Anderson's 'O Superman' - John Peel Documentary]


{{Laurie Anderson}}
[[Category:1981 singles]]
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:1981 debut singles]]
[[pt:O Superman]]
[[Category:1981 songs]]
[[Category:Warner Records singles]]
[[Category:Experimental pop songs]]
[[Category:Art pop songs]]
[[Category:American new wave songs]]
[[Category:Avant-pop songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by Laurie Anderson]]
[[Category:Popular songs based on classical music]]
[[Category:Jules Massenet]]

Latest revision as of 12:04, 28 December 2024

"O Superman"
O Superman (For Massenet)
Single by Laurie Anderson
from the album Big Science
B-side"Walk the Dog"
ReleasedOctober 1981 (UK)[1]
Recorded1981, The Lobby, New York City[2]
Genre
Length8:21
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)Laurie Anderson
Producer(s)Laurie Anderson
Laurie Anderson singles chronology
"O Superman"
(1981) 		"Sharkey's Day"
(1984)

"O Superman", also known as "O Superman (For Massenet)", is a 1981 song by performance artist and musician Laurie Anderson. The song became a surprise hit in the United Kingdom after it was championed by DJ John Peel,[3] rising to number 2 on the UK Singles Charts in 1981.[10] Prior to the success of this song, Anderson was little known outside the art world. First released as a promotional single, the song also appeared on her debut album Big Science (1982) and as part of her live album United States Live (1984).

In the 1981 Village Voice Pazz & Jop poll, critics voted "O Superman" the best single of the year.[11][12]

Music

[edit]

In writing the song, Anderson drew from the aria "Ô Souverain, ô juge, ô père" ("O Sovereign, O Judge, O Father") from Jules Massenet's 1885 opera Le Cid, that she had heard in the voice of tenor Charles Holland.[13] The first lines ("O Superman / O Judge / O Mom and Dad") echo the aria.[14] Susan McClary suggests in her book Feminine Endings that "O Superman" may also have been inspired by Massenet's 1902 opera Le jongleur de Notre-Dame.[15]

Anderson's lead vocals are overlaid on a sparse background of two alternating chords formed by the repeated spoken syllable "ha" created by looping with an Eventide Harmonizer.[16] A Roland VP-330 vocoder was used on Anderson's voice to sound "like a Greek chorus".[16][17] A saxophone is heard as the song fades out, and a flute line and sample of bird calls appear at various points within the track. The two chords of the song are A♭ major and C minor, the repeating "ha" syllable acting as a harmonic drone on C.

Lyrics

[edit]
O souverain, O juge, O père!
The song "O Superman" is based on the aria "O souverain, O juge, O père!", from Jules Massenet's opera Le Cid, here sung by Enrico Caruso in 1916.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

The song's introduction consists of a repetition of the "O Superman / O Judge / O Mom and Dad" stanza.[citation needed] The rest of the song's lyrics are loosely structured around a one-sided conversation.[16] At first, the voice leaves a message claiming to be the narrator's mother,[6] and asks the narrator if they are coming home.[18] The voice then identifies itself as "the hand that takes" and informs the narrator that the "American planes" are coming. The song concludes with the stanza "When love is gone, there's always justice / and when justice is gone, there's always force / and when force is gone, there's always mom", with the narrator pleading to be held in her mom's long petrochemical, military, electronic arms.[19]

As part of the larger work United States, the text addresses issues of technology and communication, quoting answering machine messages and the United States Postal Service motto "Neither snow nor rain nor gloom of night shall stay these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds".[16][20] In a 2022 60 Minutes interview, Anderson summarized the song as being about how "technology cannot save you".[21]

The lines "'Cause when love is gone, there's always justice / And when justice is gone, there's always force / And when force is gone, there's always Mom" derive from the fourth sentence of Chapter 38 of the Tao Te Ching: "When Tao is lost, there is goodness. When goodness is lost, there is kindness. When kindness is lost, there is justice. When justice is lost, there is ritual. Now ritual is the husk of faith and loyalty, the beginning of confusion."[22]

In an interview with the Australian magazine Bulletin in 2003, Anderson erroneously stated that the song was connected to the Iran–Contra affair,[23] but she had meant to refer to the earlier Iran hostage crisis and the failure of Operation Eagle Claw in 1980.[24][25]

Release

[edit]

The song was first released as a single One Ten Records at the encouragement of its owner, B. George. 1,000 copies of the single were initially pressed, which Anderson sold from her apartment by individually wrapping the single and distributing it via mail.[16][26]

John Peel frequently played "O Superman" on BBC Radio 1 and a British distribution company asked to press 80,000 copies of the single.[16] The song reached number two on the UK Singles Chart and was ranked among the top ten "Tracks of the Year" for 1981 by NME.[27][28][29] After the song's unexpected popularity, Anderson signed an eight album record deal with Warner Records, which would reissue the single and later release her debut album Big Science in 1982.[26] A live version of the song also appears on Anderson's 1984 live album United States Live.[30] "O Superman" did not appeal to all listeners. According to the 1982 book The Rock Lists Album, compiled by John Tobler and Allan Jones, polls conducted by several unidentified British newspapers saw "O Superman" voted readers' least favourite hit single of 1981.[29]

Although Anderson had dropped the song from her performance repertoire almost two decades earlier, she revived the piece in 2001 during a concert tour that included a retrospective look at some of her older pieces, an idea conceived by her romantic partner Lou Reed. A live performance of "O Superman" was recorded in New York City shortly after the September 11 attacks, which some, including Anderson, felt gave the song's lyrics a new topical resonance.[31] This performance would appear on Anderson's 2002 album Live in New York.[32]

The B-side of the original single was a spoken word piece titled "Walk the Dog", which would also appear on United States Live. The studio version of the track was included on the Warner Bros. compilation Attack of the Killer B's (1983),[33] but was never issued on any studio album until the twenty-fifth anniversary reissue of Big Science in 2007.[34]

[edit]

The Italian Ministry of Health used the song in a series of public service announcements on HIV prevention from 1988 to the early 90's.[35]

The 2018 interactive film Black Mirror: Bandersnatch includes an ending scored by "O Superman".[36]

In November 2023, an audio clip from "O Superman," centered on the lyrics "Well, you don’t know me / But I know you,” went viral as a sound on TikTok. The song debuted at number 12 on the Tiktok Billboard Top 50 and was the highest debut for the week dated 9 December 2023.[37]

Recording details

[edit]

Words and music written by Laurie Anderson.

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1981) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[42] 28
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[43] 19
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[44] 9
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[45] 10
Ireland (IRMA)[46] 11
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[47] 21
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[48] 16
UK Singles (OCC)[49] 2

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Bacon, Tony (2006). Singles. Backbeat UK. p. 195. ISBN 978-1-871547-73-3.
  2. ^ a b Big Science (Media notes). Warner Bros. 1982.
  3. ^ a b Murphy, Ben. "Laurie Anderson's 'O Superman' Re-Released!". DJ Magazine. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  4. ^ Bychawski, Adam (November 14, 2011). "The Big Pink sample Laurie Anderson's 'O Superman' on new track - listen". New Musical Express.
  5. ^ Hermes, Will (June 25, 2010). "Electronic Expressions in the Service of the Soul". The New York Times.
  6. ^ a b Rodgers, Jude (2015-03-15). "Mother's Day 2015: the 10 best songs about mothers". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  7. ^ Derry, Mark (1989). "Laurie Anderson: On the Jagged Edge". Elle. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  8. ^ "About the Piece: O Superman (tape)". LA Philharmonic. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  9. ^ Lester, Paul (11 July 2008). "What's the weirdest chart hit of all time?". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  10. ^ "The Official Charts Company - Laurie Anderson - O Superman". Official Charts. Retrieved April 25, 2009.
  11. ^ Robert Christgau: Pazz & Jop 1981: Critics Poll
  12. ^ 1981 Pazz & Jop: The Year the Rolling Stones Lost the Pennant|The Village Voice
  13. ^ Folkart, Burt A. (November 12, 1987). "Obituaries: Charles Holland; Singer Fled Bias, Found Success". Los Angeles Times.
  14. ^ "Laurie Anderson Record Release Party". Other Minds Archives. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  15. ^ McClary, Susan (2002) [1991]. Feminine Endings: Music, Gender, and Sexuality. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. p. 141. ISBN 0-8166-4189-7.
  16. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, Danny (April 19, 2016). "How we made Laurie Anderson's O Superman". The Guardian. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  17. ^ "Selective Synthesis: "O Superman"". Roland Cloud. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  18. ^ Richard Flood (September 1981). "Laurie Anderson". Artforum. Vol. 20, no. 1. pp. 80–81. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  19. ^ Honigmann, David (May 13, 2019). "O Superman — Laurie Anderson's experimental hit proved to be uncannily prophetic". Financial Times. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  20. ^ "Selective Synthesis: "O Superman"". Roland Cloud. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  21. ^ "Laurie Anderson: The 60 Minutes Interview". 60 Minutes. July 25, 2022. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  22. ^ Reed, S. Alexander (2021-12-10), Laurie Anderson's Big Science, Oxford University Press, p. 81, ISBN 978-0-19-092601-4
  23. ^ Wiesel, Al (January 22, 2003). "Sound Zero". The Bulletin. Archived from the original on January 29, 2008. Retrieved October 1, 2007.
  24. ^ "'It has never been more pertinent' – Margaret Atwood on the chilling genius of Laurie Anderson's Big Science". The Guardian. 2021-04-08. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
  25. ^ "Featured Audio - 98.7WFMT - Classical and Folk Music Radio Streaming Online". Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
  26. ^ a b Anderson, Sam (October 6, 2021). "Laurie Anderson Has a Message For Us Humans". New York Times. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  27. ^ Official Singles Chart Top 75, 18 October 1981 - 24 October 1981
  28. ^ "Albums and Tracks of the Year". NME. 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  29. ^ a b Tobler, John; Jones, Allan (1982). The Rock Lists Album. Methuen. ISBN 0458969001.
  30. ^ Dorris, Jesse. "Laurie Anderson: United States Live". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  31. ^ Klein, Joshua (August 2, 2007). "Laurie Anderson Big Science". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  32. ^ "September 11th Anniversary Coverage". WNYC. September 3, 2004. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  33. ^ "Attack Of The Killer B's (Volume One)". Discogs. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  34. ^ Barton, Laura (April 19, 2021). "Laurie Anderson - Big Science". Uncut. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  35. ^ "When Alessandro Mendini Met Laurie Anderson". www.domusweb.it. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  36. ^ "All The Songs In 'Black Mirror: Bandersnatch,' So You Can Marvel At The Sheer Amount Of '80s Details". Bustle. June 8, 2019. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  37. ^ Rutherford, Kevin (December 7, 2023). "Playboi Carti Is Back Atop TikTok Billboard Top 50". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 7, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  38. ^ O Superman (For Massenet) (Remastered) by Laurie Anderson-Topic on YouTube
  39. ^ "Bill Kipper Discography". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2016-10-23.
  40. ^ "The Lobby - CDs and Vinyl". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2016-10-23.
  41. ^ "Laurie Anderson - O Superman (Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 2015-03-30. Retrieved 2016-10-23.
  42. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 978-0-646-11917-5.
  43. ^ "Laurie Anderson – O Superman" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  44. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Laurie Anderson" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  45. ^ "Laurie Anderson – O Superman" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  46. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – O Superman". Irish Singles Chart.
  47. ^ "Laurie Anderson – O Superman". Top 40 Singles.
  48. ^ "SA Charts 1965 - 1989 Songs M-O". Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  49. ^ "Laurie Anderson: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.

Listening

[edit]
[edit]
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