I thought this had to be done from the get-go of this theme, and hung back with the expectation that someone else was going to latch on to it. Heading down to the theme expiration deadline, I guess it's up to me.
The song itself, I know well. The Magneto/Titanium Man comic book heroes: only through this song. Of all possible comic book heroes, Mr McCartney .. why this one? There must be some story lurking behind the choice that I can't fathom - even after some Internet research. Guess I'm not much of a Marvel fan.
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Of the various YouTube versions available, this version seemed the most appropriate: itself a cartoon that helps explain the song. A bit. All said and done, the song is a classic example of the Wings/McCartney genre. All due respect aside, most other YouTube versions show the band for what it's worth (sorry, Linda).
I’m a little obsessed with baseball right now, on the verge of Game 1 of the World Series. As a Mets fan, this has really been an unexpected and exciting playoff run. I’ve already discussed this in my Future post, and I’ve also written about tonight’s Game 1 starter, Matt Harvey, the Dark Knight of Gotham.
Which brings me to today’s discussion of Batman. I was utterly unaware of the Batman comics that predated the TV series that ran from January 12, 1966, to March 14, 1968. I have a pretty strong memory of watching maybe the first episode as a young child, and watching many more episodes, either during the initial run, or after school in syndication. I’m sure I knew that it was silly, even before I understood the concept of “camp.”
I never read any of the later Dark Knight stuff, or any of the later Batman comics, and while I remember seeing the Tim Burton/Michael Keaton Batman movie, I can’t remember whether I’ve seen any of the sequels or reboots (although I’m pretty sure I saw the one with George Clooney). Because I really don’t care all that much.
In fact, after all these years, it is probably the great theme song from the TV series that I remember the most. Written by the great musician, composer and arranger Neil Hefti (who also wrote the Odd Couple theme), the version that played during the credits is faster, and was arranged by the great composer and arranger Nelson Riddle. And I’m obviously not the only one with the song stuck in my brain, because the “Na na na na na na…..Batman!” meme is pretty much ubiquitous on the Internet. (There are, apparently 80 “nas” in the theme.) You can even buy shirts with it.
R.E.M. submitted their reimagining of the theme for inclusion in the soundtrack of Batman Returns, the sequel to the first Burton/Keaton film. It was rejected, and instead became the B-side to the “Drive” single, and has been included in a few box sets and anthologies. It actually hit #11 on the UK charts, and was used by the Weather Channel under local weather updates.
My song choice is a no-brainer for this month’s theme; it’s long
been in any number of my personal faves lists—I have a lot of ‘lists’, that
cover any emotional, historic, or aesthetic and are subject to as many,
probably a lot more, criteria for membership. I know—the whole list thing has
been done, thanks very much Nick Hornby…But, I don’t believe there is a true
music fan who does not naturally gravitate towards list making. It’s almost
instinctual—a way of cataloging the music one loves and justifying the
multiverse of songs, bands and genres we love. No reason one can’t have
favorites in multiple arenas of music, and revel in their love of many sounds.
The song I picked for this month’s theme fits neatly under three—probably
more—categories. One: it’s from a band that is at the top my personal Most Influential
list. Two: it is featured on an album that is on my personal Top Albums of all
Time list. And three: it is one the first songs I played live with a band
(another list—bands I’ve played in), and still one of my favorite songs to
play.
So, I present, in honor of “Cartoons and Comics”: REM’s
“Superman”… an obvious choice. The song is originally a cover by ‘60s band, The Clique. They were from Texas, and honestly: I don’t know much more about them.
REM’s version was recorded for the album Life’s
Rich Pageant, and released in 1986. It received some airplay, but not as
much as their breakthrough, “Fall on Me.”
It is also the first time bassist Mike Mills handled lead
vocals—according to the Wikipedia page, lead signer Michael Stipe did not like
the song and wanted little to do with the recording. He handles backing vocals
only on the cut.
Historically, it might be a silly little single, dashed off
and added to the album to perhaps lift the spirit of the thing, add a little
levity in an otherwise somber, yet still emotional driving set of songs.The originally is garage rock at it’s best: sludgy guitars, churning and ditzy rhythm, and full of hippy, 1960’s bounce and
sunshine.
Lyrically, I like the fact
that it takes an iconic story of a guy we all know (Superman), and puts him in
the place of any average love sick dude, pining for a girl he probably has no
chance of getting. Is it really Superman, or is this guy just bragging? I don’t
know; but I do like the very human quality the speaker shows—a lot of bravado
to cover up the very evident self-doubt. But, no one ever won by sitting back
and letting the race come to them, right…? This guy might be a little full of
himself, but, in the end, I think he definitely got the girl…
I love this song, not only for the sense of fun it still has
and the infectious urge to bob along when the hear it, but also for what it
represents to my own personal heritage of music. REM was one of the first
‘real’ bands I listened to: I graduated from Bon Jovi, Cinderella and a lot of
other hair metal crap to their 1987 release, Document, and I’ve always felt they were my introduction to music
that mattered. And certainly, they set me on a path of amazing musical
discoveries. Life’s Rich Pageant is a
collection of songs so integral to my early education that to go back and
listen to it is an exercise equally nostalgic and educational at the same time.
Nostalgic because those songs still make the same spark in me as when I first
heard them and was instantly hooked. Educationally? Probably for the same
reasons—good music has that ineffable sense of importance that it achieves
almost upon first listen. You hear a great song and it immediately finds a
place in your heart, in your personal favorites list. There is time enough for
explication and analysis, to determine where the music actually fits and on which
list. It’s that initial spark, that beautiful chemistry, that defies numbers
and categorization. It is what, as Kant said, makes music the ‘quickening art’—something
that is alive in you for the first time. Loving music brings that quickening
sensation on a near daily basis. I can’t think of anything else more
exhilarating, save for having a few Superpowers of your own…
