Superman (Keith Urban song)

"Superman" is a song recorded by Australian country artist Keith Urban. The track was written by Urban with Craig Wiseman, and producers Ben Berger, Ryan Rabin, and Ryan McMahon of Captain Cuts.[1] It was the fourth single released in Australia off Urban's eleventh studio album The Speed of Now Part 1,[2] and the second single off the album released in the United Kingdom.[3]

"Superman"
Single by Keith Urban
from the album The Speed of Now Part 1
Released17 July 2020 (2020-07-17)
Genre
Length2:50
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Keith Urban singles chronology
"Polaroid"
(2020)		 "Superman"
(2020)		 "Change Your Mind"
(2020)
Music video
"Superman" on YouTube

Background

Urban held a writing retreat in Nashville and he wanted to put together different writers that he knew who has never collaborated before. He elected to bring the three-man group Captain Cuts from Los Angeles and experienced country songwriter Craig Wiseman together and the group came up with "Superman" on their first day of writing.[4] Urban said the song was written metaphorically, adding "I like when listeners can put their own story, their own faces and their own characters into the song, and this one to me, is definitely one of those songs".[5][6]

Critical reception

Joseph Hudak of Rolling Stone noted influence of 1980s music in "Superman", saying Urban "embraces synth and drum machine, using both to zero in on his new sweet spot", referring to him as "Nashville’s preeminent summer-song creator".[7] Chris Parton of Sounds Like Nashville described the song as "an instantly enjoyable foot-tapper full of much-needed positivity".[5] Eric Alper called the song "infectious," and " brimming with energy and swagger".[8]

Commercial performance

"Superman" reached a peak of number 10 on the TMN Country Hot 50 in Australia.[9] It also reached peaks of number 16 on the Billboard Hot Canadian Digital Songs chart[10] and number six on the US Country Digital Songs chart.[11]

Music video

The official music video for "Superman" was directed by Ben Dalgleish and premiered on 17 July 2020.[12] The video was filmed in a flip book style, with the animation portion of the video being drawn by Andymation.[13] It was mostly filmed at Urban's warehouse in Nashville, Tennessee. He noted inspiration from the video for Norwegian synth-pop band A-ha's hit "Take On Me", which he called one of his "favourite videos of all time".[4]

Track listings

Digital download – single[14]

  1. "Superman" – 2:50
  2. "Polaroid" – 2:30
  3. "God Whispered Your Name" – 3:52

Credits

Adapted from The Speed of Now Part 1 liner notes.[15]

  • Nathan Barlowe – keyboards
  • Ben Berger – bass guitar, keyboards, programming, background vocals
  • Nathan Chapman – bass guitar
  • Ryan McMahon – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, programming, background vocals
  • Ryan Rabin – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, programming, background vocals
  • Jerry Roe – drums
  • Keith Urban – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, keyboards, slide guitar, lead vocals, programming

Charts
Chart (2020) Peak
position
Australia Country Hot 50 (TMN)[9] 10
Canada Digital Songs (Billboard)[10] 16
US Country Digital Songs (Billboard)[11] 6

Release history
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various 17 July 2020
[14]
Australia Contemporary hit radio EMI Music Australia [2]

References
  1. "Keith Urban – Superman". New Country Songs. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  2. "Singles to Radio – Issue 1298". The Music Network. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  3. "Keith Urban releases brand new music video for 'Superman' ahead of new album release". Smooth Radio. 21 July 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  4. Kaufman, Chris (17 July 2020). "Keith Urban Premieres His New Video, 'Superman,' and Talks About How He Overcame Lockdown Paralysis (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  5. Parton, Chris (17 July 2020). "KEITH URBAN BECOMES THE MAN OF ROMANTIC STEEL IN 'SUPERMAN'". Sounds Like Nashville. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  6. Brooks, Nancy (17 July 2020). "WATCH: Keith Urban's New 'Superman' Video". 102.7 Coyote Country. Beasley Media Group. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  7. Hudak, Joseph (22 July 2020). "Keith Urban Has His A-ha Moment in Animated 'Superman' Video". Rolling Stone.
  8. "Keith Urban Flies Towards Upcoming Album Release With "Superman," New Single And Video Out Now". That Eric Alper. 18 July 2020.
  9. "Country Hot 50: Issue 1310". The Music Network. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  10. "Keith Urban Chart History (Hot Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  11. "Keith Urban Chart History (Country Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  12. "Keith Urban – Superman (Official Music Video)" (video). YouTube. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  13. "In His New Video, Keith Urban Brings "Superman" to Life". CMT. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  14. "Superman – Single by Keith Urban". Apple Music (CA). Apple Inc. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  15. The Speed of Now Part 1 (CD booklet). Keith Urban. Capitol Records Nashville/Hit Red Records. 2020. B003245602.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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