Superman (Eminem song)

"Superman" is a song by American rapper Eminem from his fourth studio album, The Eminem Show (2002), featuring guest vocals from Eminem's frequent collaborator, singer Dina Rae. Written by Eminem, Jeff Bass and Steve King, the song was released as the third single from The Eminem Show on January 14, 2003 in the United States only. It peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on the issue dated March 15, 2003 and received a Platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

"Superman"
Single by Eminem featuring Dina Rae
from the album The Eminem Show
ReleasedJanuary 14, 2003 (2003-01-14)
Recorded2001
Genre
Length5:50 (album version)
5:02 (music video)
4:47 (clean version)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Eminem singles chronology
"8 Mile"
(2002)		 "Superman"
(2003)		 "Sing for the Moment"
(2003)
Music videos

Background

"Superman" is about the rocky relationships and promiscuous nature of the girls Eminem has had in his life and how he plans to deal with it. In his 2008 autobiography, The Way I Am, Eminem revealed that the song is, to an extent, about his alleged relationship with American singer Mariah Carey.[1] "Superman" is very similar to Eminem's song "Drug Ballad" and D12's song "Pimp Like Me".

In a 2021 interview with Raaj Bundles of SideShowRaaj, Dina Rae revealed that Carey originally sung the hook for "Superman" before being replaced with herself, due to personal conflicts between Eminem and Carey.[2]

Critical reception

Entertainment Weekly editor described "In the creepy-crawly, mesmerizing 'Superman', he depicts himself as both sexual predator and commitment-phobic single guy."[3] HipHopDX named the production "the southern bounce", lyrics as dealing with groupies and called the chorus "cheesy".[4] Steve Juon described: "'Superman' features Eminem playing with his flow in a stuttered cadence, but he's done the gimmick before and his beat on this one inspires only partial attention to his flow."[5] Rolling Stone concluded that his divorce fuels the slow Southern bounce of the hypermisogynist "Superman".[6]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Superman" features pornographic actress Gina Lynn. Shannon Elizabeth was Eminem's first choice, although this never came to fruition as they could not come to terms. The video can only be found on the 8 Mile DVD and contains an edit different from the album version. The uncensored video contains nudity and is rarely shown on MTV or BET, although it is available on YouTube, Vevo, and Dailymotion

Track listing and formats
Promotional CD single[7]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Superman" (clean radio edit)
  • Marshall Mathers
  • Jeff Bass
  • Steve King
  • Eminem
  • Jeff Bass[a]
4:42
12-inch vinyl single[7]
Side A
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Superman" (clean radio edit)
  • Mathers
  • Bass
  • King
4:42
2."Superman" (album version)
  • Mathers
  • Bass
  • King
5:50
Total length:10:32
Side B
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Superman" (instrumental)
  • Mathers
  • Bass
  • King
4:27
2."Superman" (acapella)
  • Mathers
  • Bass
  • King
4:27
Total length:8:54
Notes
  • ^[a] signifies an additional producer.

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[18] Gold 45,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[19] Gold 50,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[20] Platinum 40,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[21] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[22] 2× Platinum 2,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States January 21, 2003 (2003-01-21) Contemporary hit radio Shady, Aftermath, Interscope [23]

References
  1. Mathers, Marshall (2008). The Way I Am. Dutton. p. 163. ISBN 9780525950325.
  2. 24x7 Team (August 17, 2021). "Mariah Carey was the original feature on Eminem's "Superman"". Hip Hop 24x7. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  3. "The Eminem Show - EW.com". Entertainment Weekly's EW.com. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  4. "Eminem - The Eminem Show (Advanced Copy)". Hiphopdx.com. Archived from the original on October 30, 2013. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  5. "RapReviews.com Feature for May 28, 2002 - Eminem's "The Eminem Show"". Rapreviews.com. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  6. "Eminem The Eminem Show Album Review". Rolling Stone. June 6, 2002. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  7. "Eminem - Superman (vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  8. "Eminem feat. Dina Rae – Superman". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  9. "Eminem Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  10. "Eminem Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  11. "Eminem Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  12. "Eminem Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  13. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 202246 into search. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  14. "Eminem Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  15. "Eminem feat. Dina Rae – Superman". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  16. "ČNS IFPI". IFPI ČR. Note: Select SK SINGLES DIGITAL TOP 100 and insert 202244 into search. Archived from the original on April 1, 2019. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  17. "Billboard Top 100 – 2003". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  18. "Danish single certifications – Eminem – Superman". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
  19. "Italian single certifications – Eminem feat. Dina Rae – Superman" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  20. "Portuguese single certifications – Eminem – Superman" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  21. "British single certifications – Eminem – Superman". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  22. "American single certifications – Eminem – Superman". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  23. "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1487. January 17, 2003. p. 24. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
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