R.e.m. - Superman May 2026

R.E.M.'s "Superman," the final track on their 1986 album , is a rare departure for the band—a bright, power-pop cover of a song originally recorded by the Texas sunshine-pop group The Clique in 1969. Historical Significance & Production

Released on Life's Rich Pageant , the song marked a shift for Michael Stipe toward more "loud and clear" vocals after the "murmuring" style of their earlier records. Chart Performance & Legacy R.E.M. - Superman

Uncharacteristically, bass player Mike Mills sings lead vocals instead of Michael Stipe. Stipe reportedly felt the song didn't fit his vocal style or the band's serious image at the time, though he eventually embraced it. Stipe reportedly felt the song didn't fit his

While it didn't dominate the main pop charts, it peaked at #17 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart . This was provided by a pull-string Godzilla toy

The song features a distinct, scratchy spoken-word intro in Japanese. This was provided by a pull-string Godzilla toy belonging to the band. Thematic & Lyrical Content

It is one of the few cover songs R.E.M. included on a studio album during their I.R.S. Records era.