Superman (Eminem song)
| "Superman" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Eminem featuring Dina Rae | ||||
| from the album The Eminem Show | ||||
| Released | January 27, 2003 | |||
| Format | ||||
| Recorded | 2002 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length |
5:50 (album version) 4:47 (clean radio edit) | |||
| Label | ||||
| Writer(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| Eminem singles chronology | ||||
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"Superman" is a song by American rapper Eminem. It features backing vocals from frequent collaborator, singer Dina Rae and was released in January 2003 as a single from the album in the U.S. only, peaking at number fifteen and forty-two on the Billboard Hot 100 and New Zealand, respectively. The single is taken from Eminem's fourth studio album The Eminem Show, which was released in 2002.
Background
The song 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 about his alleged relationship with singer Mariah Carey, to an extent.[1] The song is very similar to his song "Drug Ballad" and "Pimp Like Me" with D12. The music video for the song features porn star Gina Lynn and can only be found on the 8 Mile DVD. It also contains an edit different from the album version. The uncensored video contains nudity, and is rarely shown on MTV or BET. It features on the music video website VEVO. Shannon Elizabeth was Eminem's first choice to star in the video, although this never came to fruition, as they could not come to terms.
Critical reception
Entertainment Weekly editor described: "In the creepy-crawly, mesmerizing Superman, he depicts himself as both sexual predator and commitment-phobic single guy."[2] DX magazine named the production "the southern bounce", lyrics as dealing with groupies and the critic called the chorus cheesy.[3] 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."[4] Rolling Stone concluded that his divorce from Kim Mathers fuels the slow Southern bounce of the hypermisogynist "Superman."[5]
Track listing
- Promotional CD single[6]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Superman" (feat. Dina Rae) (Clean Radio Edit) | M. Mathers, J. Bass, S. King | Eminem, Jeff Bass | 4:42 |
- 12" vinyl[6]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Superman" (feat. Dina Rae) (Clean Radio Edit) | M. Mathers, J. Bass, S. King | Eminem, Jeff Bass | 4:42 |
| 2. | "Superman" (feat. Dina Rae) (Album Version) | M. Mathers, J. Bass, S. King | Eminem, Jeff Bass | 5:50 |
| 3. | "Superman" (feat. Dina Rae) (Instrumental) | M. Mathers, J. Bass, S. King | Eminem, Jeff Bass | 4:27 |
| 4. | "Superman" (feat. Dina Rae) (Acapella) | M. Mathers, J. Bass, S. King | Eminem, Jeff Bass | 4:27 |
Charts
| Chart (2003) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| New Zealand (RIANZ)[7] | 42 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[8] | 15 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[9] | 44 |
| US Pop Songs (Billboard)[10] | 10 |
| US Rap Songs (Billboard)[11] | 10 |
References
- ↑ Mathers, Marshall. The Way I Am. Dutton. p. 163. ISBN 9780525950325.
- ↑ "The Eminem Show - EW.com". Entertainment Weekly's EW.com. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
- ↑ http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/album-reviews/id.164/title.eminem-the-eminem-show-advanced-copy
- ↑ "RapReviews.com Feature for May 28, 2002 - Eminem's "The Eminem Show"". Retrieved 25 April 2015.
- ↑ "Eminem The Eminem Show Album Review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
- 1 2 "Eminem - Superman (vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-09-09.
- ↑ "Eminem feat. Dina Rae - Superman". charts.org.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
- ↑ "Eminem Album & Song Chart History: Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
- ↑ "Eminem Album & Song Chart History: R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
- ↑ "Eminem Album & Song Chart History: Pop Songs". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
- ↑ "Eminem Album & Song Chart History: Rap Songs". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 7 August 2011.