Superman

Album: The Speed of Now Part 1 (2020)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Superman" is an upbeat track where Keith Urban recalls a past romance. Their love was so good it made him feel invincible, like a superhero.

    When I was with you, baby, I was Superman
    Yeah, we were sky high, there was nothing better


    Urban also compares their liaison to Johnny Cash's longtime relationship with June Carter.

    When I was with you, grabbin' that live wire
    Where we were Johnny and June in a ring of fire


    Urban explained in a press release that he wrote "Superman" metaphorically, but with some specific details in mind. "I like when listeners can put their own story, their own faces and their own characters into the song," he said, "and this one to me, is definitely one of those songs."
  • Craig Wiseman, one of Nashville's most sought-after country music writers, helped Urban write this song.
  • Urban co-produced the funky, electronic track with Captain Cuts. The Los Angeles-based production trio, comprising Ben Berger, Ryan McMahon and Ryan Rabin, also have credits on hit songs by Walk the Moon ("Shut Up And Dance"), Hailee Steinfeld ("Love Myself") and Bebe Rexha ("I Got You").

    The three Captain Cuts members also play on the tune.
  • The accompanying video shows Urban in rare form as a hand-drawn character in a flip book and then performing in front of colorful graphics. The singer enlisted Andymation to help create the animation.
  • Shot during the coronavirus pandemic, Urban wanted to do something fresh rather than resorting to a green-screen type performance video. The idea for the clip came out of a conversation with creative design artist Ben Dalgleish, who put together the singer's Vegas show.

    Urban recalled to Variety they were talking about the a-ha "Take On Me" promo and Dalgleish suggested, "What about a flipbook video?"

    Dalgleish hooked Urban up with Andymation, who has a popular channel on YouTube, and he started work on the concept. The singer did some filming at his Nashville warehouse where he stores all his equipment and has a big green-screen setup.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum

Dave Pirner of Soul AsylumSongwriter Interviews

Dave explains how the video appropriated the meaning of "Runaway Train," and what he thought of getting parodied by Weird Al.

Is That Song Public Domain?

Is That Song Public Domain?Fact or Fiction

Are classic songs like "Over The Rainbow" and "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" in the public domain?

Kelly Keagy of Night Ranger

Kelly Keagy of Night RangerSongwriter Interviews

Kelly Keagy of Night Ranger tells the "Sister Christian" story and explains why he started sweating when he saw it in Boogie Nights.

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"They're Playing My Song

The Prince-penned "Manic Monday" was the first song The Bangles heard coming from a car radio, but "Eternal Flame" is closest to Susanna's heart, perhaps because she sang it in "various states of undress."

Julian Lennon

Julian LennonSongwriter Interviews

Julian tells the stories behind his hits "Valotte" and "Too Late for Goodbyes," and fills us in on his many non-musical pursuits. Also: what MTV meant to his career.

Director Nick Morris ("The Final Countdown")

Director Nick Morris ("The Final Countdown")Song Writing

Nick made some of the biggest videos on MTV, including "The Final Countdown," "Heaven" and "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)."