Superman (Black Lace song)

Last updated

"Superman"
Single by Black Lace
from the album Party Party
B-side "Teardrops in Your Eyes"
ReleasedSeptember 1983
RecordedEarly–mid 1983 at Woodlands Studio, Normanton
Genre
Length3:35(album/single version)
4:56 (12" version)
Label Carrere Records (France)
Flair Records (UK)
Songwriter(s) Claudio Cecchetto, Claudio Simonetti
Black Lace singles chronology
"Mary Ann"
(1979)		"Superman"
(1983)		"Hey You"
(1983)

"Superman", also titled "Gioca Jouer", [1] is a 1981 novelty song, [2] [3] written by Italian musicians Claudio Cecchetto and Claudio Simonetti, [1] and most famous in the UK for the 1983 recording by Black Lace. [4] The UK single's B-side, "Teardrops in Your Eyes", was an original composition by Black Lace's Alan Barton and Colin Routh. [1]

Contents

Overview

The original version of the song, "Gioca Jouer", had great success in Italy, also being the Festival di Sanremo of 1981 opening theme. In the summer, the song arrived in Spain, and became very popular in discos. John Wagtaff (head of Flair Records) heard it while looking for a style of music that would be popular in the United Kingdom. [5] When translated into English, "Gioca Jouer" became "Superman". [6]

The song featured a number of dance gestures that acted out the lyrics – including sleeping, waving, hitching a ride, sneezing, walking, swimming, skiing, spraying deodorant, sounding a horn, ringing a bell, flexing muscles as a "Macho Man", making the letters "OK", blowing kisses, combing, and flying like Superman. [7] These dance moves were detailed on the record sleeve. [3]

On the Black Lace recording, the intro drum fill was played by Wakefield drummer Barry Huffinley; the remaining rhythm was programmed using a sequencer. [5] The song was recorded at Woodlands Studio in Normanton, West Yorkshire. [5] [8] In 1987, Colin Gibb released an alternative version of the song with explicit lyrics, entitled "Supercock". [9]

Laddi recorded an Icelandic version for his 1983 album "Allt í Lagi Með Það". [10] [11]

Reception

The single was released in the UK in September 1983; [4] its first UK chart appearance was on 10 September, when it was ranked No. 94. [12] It peaked at No. 9 on 22 October, and was last on the chart at No. 73 on 21 January 1984, having spent 20 weeks in the top 100. [12] The song was released in 1984 on the group's debut album, Party Party, [13] which reached No. 4 on the UK Albums Chart. [14] The song has become a staple of many children's parties in the UK, and the subject of many covers, mainly for children. [15]

Analysis

Some analysts (including Paul Simpson and The Guardian's Will Dean) draw parallels between the song and Friedrich Nietzsche's Übermensch concept. [16] [17]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anita Dobson</span> English actress and singer (born 1949)

Anita, Lady May, known as Anita Dobson, is an English actress and singer. She is best known for her role from 1985 to 1988 as Angie Watts in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. In 1986, she reached number four in the UK Singles Chart with "Anyone Can Fall in Love", a song based on the theme music of EastEnders. She is married to Queen guitarist and astrophysicist Sir Brian May.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chas & Dave</span> British pop rock band

Chas & Dave were an English pop rock duo, formed in London by Chas Hodges and Dave Peacock.

<i>Rattus Norvegicus</i> (album) 1977 album by The Stranglers

Rattus Norvegicus is the debut studio album by English punk rock band the Stranglers, released on 15 April 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Lace</span> British pop band

Black Lace are a British pop band, best known for novelty party records, including their biggest hit, "Agadoo". The band first came to the public eye after being selected to represent the UK in the 1979 Eurovision Song Contest, in which they finished seventh with the song "Mary Ann". The band had numerous line-up changes, with Colin Gibb being the longest serving original member, until retiring and dying in 2024. Currently Black Lace are composed of Phil Temple and 2008 Britain's Got Talent contestant Craig Harper.

<i>O Superman</i> 1981 single by Laurie Anderson

"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, rising to number 2 on the UK Singles Charts in 1981. 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).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agadoo</span> 1984 single by Black Lace

"Agadoo" is a novelty song recorded by the British band Black Lace in 1984. "Agadoo" peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart, and spent 30 weeks in the top 75. It went on to become the eighth best-selling single of 1984 in the UK, despite not being included on the playlist for BBC Radio 1 because it "was not credible".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walk On By</span> 1964 single by Dionne Warwick

"Walk On By" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for singer Dionne Warwick in 1963. Warwick's recording of the song peaked at number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on the Cash Box Rhythm and Blues Chart In June 1964 and was nominated for a 1965 Grammy Award for the Best Rhythm and Blues Recording.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Chicken Song</span> 1986 single by Spitting Image, featuring The Wet Gits

"The Chicken Song" is a novelty song by the British satirical comedy television programme Spitting Image. The nonsensical lyrics were written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor; the music was written by Philip Pope, who also produced the song, with Michael Fenton Stevens & Kate Robbins as vocalists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In a Little Spanish Town</span>

"In a Little Spanish Town " is a popular song published in 1926. The music was written by Mabel Wayne, and the lyrics by Sam M. Lewis & Joe Young.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mama Weer All Crazee Now</span> 1972 single by Slade

"Mama Weer All Crazee Now" is a song by the British rock band Slade, released in 1972 as the lead single from their third studio album Slayed? It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and produced by Chas Chandler. It reached No. 1 in the UK, giving the band their third number one single, and remained in the charts for ten weeks. In the United States, the song reached No. 76.

Giancarlo Meo is an Italian record producer and entrepreneur. He started his career very young, contributing to the Italo disco scene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alan Barton</span> British singer

Alan Leslie Barton was a British singer and member of the hit-making duo Black Lace. Their hits included "Agadoo", "Superman" and their United Kingdom Eurovision Song Contest 1979 seventh-place finisher "Mary Ann" in Jerusalem.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Ann (Black Lace song)</span> Song by Peter Morris

"Mary Ann" was the British entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1979, performed in English by Black Lace.

"Incredibilmente donna" is a song by French singer Amanda Lear released in 1982 by Ariola Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let's Call It Quits</span> 1976 single by Slade

"Let's Call It Quits" is a song by the British rock band Slade, released in 1976 as the second single from their sixth studio album, Nobody's Fools. The song was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and produced by Chas Chandler. It reached number 11 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 50 for seven weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Best Years of Our Lives (song)</span> 1982 single by Modern Romance

"Best Years of Our Lives" is a song recorded by English band Modern Romance. It was released in October 1982 as a 7-inch single and 12-inch single by WEA. A Japanese and German edition was also released.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Claudio Cecchetto</span> Italian record producer and talent scout (born 1952)

Claudio Cecchetto is an Italian record producer, deejay, musician, and talent scout.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wig-Wam Bam</span> 1972 single by The Sweet

"Wig-Wam Bam" is a song by British glam rock band The Sweet, written by songwriters Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman, released as a single in September 1972. It was the first Sweet single on which the band members actually played their instruments, as previous singles featured producer Phil Wainman on drums, and session musicians John Roberts and Pip Williams on bass and guitars respectively.

"Leap Up and Down (Wave Your Knickers in the Air)" is a song and single by British band, St Cecelia. Written by Keith Hancock and produced by Jonathan King, it was first released in the UK in 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corrado Rizza</span> Italian DJ and producer (born 1961)

Corrado Rizza is an Italian DJ and producer.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Black Lace – Superman (Gioca Jouer)". Discogs. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
  2. ↑ Deregibus, Enrico (2006). Dizionario Completo Della: Canzone Italiana. Milan: Giunti Editore. p. 107. ISBN   88-09-75625-8.
  3. 1 2 "Black Lace – Superman". Discogs. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
  4. 1 2 Evans, Richard; Fry, Martin (2009). Remember the 80s: Now That's What I Call Nostagia!. London: Anova Books. p. 63. ISBN   978-1-906032-12-8.
  5. 1 2 3 Dobson, Terry (2009). And Then Came Agadoo. AuthorHouse. p. 431. ISBN   978-1-4389-8675-3.
  6. ↑ Mawer, Sharon. "Black Lace". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
  7. ↑ "B Listing (6)". Essential Eighties. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
  8. ↑ Dobson, Terry (2009). And Then Came Agadoo. AuthorHouse. p. 435. ISBN   978-1-4389-8675-3.
  9. ↑ "Supercock". Amazon. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
  10. ↑ "Kennsluleiðbeiningar" [Teaching guide] (in Icelandic).
  11. ↑ "Laddi – Allt í Lagi Með Það". Discogs . Retrieved 26 May 2011.
  12. 1 2 Ford, Matt. "Superman (Gioca Jouer)". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 25 October 2011.
  13. ↑ "Black Lace – Party Party". Discogs . Retrieved 25 October 2011.
  14. ↑ Ford, Matt. "Superman (Gioca Jouer)". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 25 October 2011.
  15. ↑ "Superman". YouTube. kidsmusicCYP. 26 April 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  16. ↑ Dean, Will (9 July 2009). "Psychoville episode four: 'Give 'em enough rope'". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
  17. ↑ Simpson, Paul (2003). The rough guide to cult pop. London: Rough Guides. p. 8. ISBN   1-84353-229-8.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.