Superheroes in Song Quiz | Bands and Singers in Songs

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. "I am Superman, and I can do anything" permeates the chorus of this hit, released early in the group's history. Originally known as a college band, they became more mainstream in the latter 1980s. From their album "Life's Rich Pageant", who is the band that had a mild hit with "Superman"?

Answer: R.E.M.

This was one of the few singles from R.E.M. that didn't feature the usual lead singer Michael Stipe on lead vocals, instead having Bill Berry sing. Originally recorded by a group called The Clique in 1969, R.E.M. first recorded it in 1986. It would be their last hit in relative obscurity, as their next album produced the song "The One I Love", their first mainstream single to chart in the Top 10 on the American Hot 100.

2. One of few songs to find the top of the music charts that mentions a superhero, this song goes further and bases the entire song on one. Inspired by the 1989 movie "Batman", this artist put together an eclectic mix of funk music intermingled with audio clips from the movie. As much a four-minute advertisement as it is a song, who performed this long reference to Batman?

Answer: Prince

Prince's "Batdance" hit Number One on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in the summer of 1989. It was never used in the movie, unlike several other songs Prince wrote for the soundtrack. The song was nearly banned due to the misunderstanding of its opening phrase, "Get the funk up!", referring to the funky nature of the music style.

3. "I don't believe in Peter Pan, Frankenstein or Superman," is the reference to a superhero for this song from the group's album, "Jazz". What was the group that put out "Bicycle Race" in 1978?

Answer: Queen

Numerous pop culture references permeated "Bicycle Race", some of which include "Star Wars", Watergate, the Vietnam War, and John Wayne. "Bicycle Race" was a dual single co-released with "Fat Bottomed Girls". Promotional activities to push the song included an actual bicycle race in Wimbledon Park with naked women.

4. The debut LP of this hard rock band in 1988 produced the song "Paradise City", which references the Marvel Comics superhero Captain America. What band recorded "Paradise City"?

Answer: Guns n' Roses

"Captain America's been torn apart, now he's a court jester with a broken heart," is how the lyric was delivered by lead singer Axl Rose. The song would be GNR's third hit from the hugely successful album "Appetite for Destruction", following "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Sweet Child o' Mine".

5. It's rare to find a bass voice as the lead singer in a band, but that's just what you hear from this Canadian group who released "Superman's Song" in 1991. Led by Brad Roberts, who was this group from the Great White North?

Answer: Crash Test Dummies

Roberts and Company garnered their biggest success worldwide with their vowel-challenged hit song "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm". Strangely enough the popularity of the group had waned in Canada by this time, and "Mmm..." was not near the hit in their homeland that it was in other parts of the world. Regarding "Superman's Song", "Superman never made any money for saving the world from Solomon Grundy" is the lyric in question, taken from the chorus.

6. The world was introduced to this hip-hop artist in 1999 with the song "My Name Is". Intermingled with the vulgar and misogynistic lyrics is a reference to the superhero The Incredible Hulk. Which rapper, with double-digit Grammy Awards and an Oscar on his mantel, is this?

Answer: Eminem

Eminem won a Grammy Award for this performance, and would later go on to win the Best Song Academy Award for "Lose Yourself", taken from his semi-autobiographical movie, "8 Mile".

"Clothes ripped like the Incredible Hulk", the line referencing a superhero in "My Name Is", describes his life before success in the slums of Detroit. The rest of the surrounding lyrics will remain unmentioned.

7. The hard rock band in question here references Superman in the chorus of their hit single "Kryptonite", the title also a reference to the universe that is all things Superman. Who was the group to give us this superhero shoutout in 2000?

Answer: 3 Doors Down

"If I go crazy then will you still call me Superman?" begins each chorus of "Kryptonite". The debut single for 3 Doors Down reached Number Three on Billboard's Hot 100, and the top spot on numerous rock-oriented charts.

8. Looking at the alternative music scene in 1996, the song "Why's Everybody Always Pickin' On Me" includes a reference to X-Men member Wolverine, not dwelling on Wolverine's heightened abilities, but rather his extreme hirsuteness. What band was this that released "Why's Everybody Always Pickin' On Me" in the 1990's?

Answer: The Bloodhound Gang

"What I mean is Wolverine is less hairy than your son, He looks like Chewie Baba Booey Baba Booey and Hong Kong Phooey all in one" is the reference to the superhero. Some will argue that the inclusion of Hong Kong Phooey may make this song a double superhero reference.

The Bloodhound Gang relied on shock value in their lyrics and videos to maintain their success, and their success didn't last long. All four bands played at the Dotfest concert festival in my home state of Iowa in 1997. Bloodhound Gang was the headliner, and most would say DID disappoint.

The Bloodhound Gang was named after a recurring portion of a children's science show in the 1980's called "3-2-1 Contact".

9. In 1986, this pop group released a politically infused anthem from their album "Invisible Touch" entitled "Land of Confusion". "Hey, Superman, where are you now?" is the line featuring a superhero. The video even featured the Superman suit. Can you name the group?

Answer: Genesis

Genesis (Phil Collins, Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford) put together a video for "Land of Confusion" and collaborated with the puppeteers from the British television show "Spitting Image". Numerous celebrities and politicians were parodied in puppet form in the video, the foremost was Ronald Reagan, the United States President at the time.

He was the one to don the blue tights with the "S" on the front, trying to save the world from imminent destruction.

10. A pop culture buffet released in 1998, the song "One Week" referenced Aquaman in its rapid fire lyrics. Also included in the many references are Japanese director Akira Kurosawa and baseball player Bert Campaneris. What band released the Billboard Number One hit "One Week"?

Answer: Barenaked Ladies

Barenaked Ladies is the second Canadian band in this quiz to involve a superhero in its lyrics, choosing to reference the often maligned Aquaman. "Hold it now and watch the hoodwink, As I make you stop, think...You'll think you're looking at Aquaman" is the opening line from the first verse. Ironically, "One Week" spent ONE WEEK at Number One on the Billboard Hot 100.

11. The only true ballad in this quiz to involve a superhero, it references Superman in its title, "Superman (It's Not Easy)", but not in the lyrics. But verses that feature words like "I'm only a man in a silly red sheet, Digging for kryptonite on this one way street. Only a man in a funny red sheet Looking for special things inside of me" let you know exactly who songwriter John Ondrasik is talking about. Who is this "band" in question here?

Answer: Five For Fighting

John Ondrasik actually uses "Five For Fighting" as his stage name, adding studio musicians when he goes on tour. "Superman" was a small hit in 2000 upon its release, but resurged in 2001 as a healing anthem for victims of 9/11, and was played as a fundraiser song for telethons throughout the aftermath.

12. Prior to devoting his musical career to a life on the beach with a drink in his hand, this future superstar released a song in 1970 called "Captain America", a song with political overtones that describes the person he wanted to see bring the country out of the upheaval it was in at the time. Who was the artist who first did "Captain America"?

Answer: Jimmy Buffett

If you aren't really familiar with Jimmy Buffett, you will be surprised to know he started out as a folk singer. The album that "Captain America" came from, "Down to Earth", was nowhere close to the free-wheeling style that Parrotheads know and love him for. "Captain America we love you, Captain America you're grand.
Oh Spiro Agnew eat your heart out, Captain America's our man" is an example of the lyrics from this pre-Margaritaville song. "Captain America" was released as a single but gained no momentum to chart.

13. Giving two references to superheroes in one song, this group released "Thick as a Brick" in 1972. One of the verses states "Make your will and testament. Won't you join your local government? We'll have Superman for president, let Robin save the day." Who is this group who would later win a surprising Grammy in 1989?

Answer: Jethro Tull

Jethro Tull and their medieval stylings would become infamous in 1989 when they won the Grammy for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance. Going against AC/DC, Jane's Addiction, and pre-ceremony favorite Metallica, they didn't even show up to the Grammys, assuming it was a mistake they were even entered in the first place.

The event is looked upon with humor now, but the short term aftermath of this mistake caused an uproar in the voting community.

14. This artist gave us good advice when he told us, "You don't tug on Superman's cape" in 1972. Despite the title of the song, he isn't actually referring to himself in the song in question. Who was this singer/songwriter who was taken from his fans far too soon?

Answer: Jim Croce

"You Don't Mess Around With Jim" was a top ten single for Jim Croce and was reportedly about pool shark Big Jim Walker. He also in other lyrics from the song advised against spitting into the wind, and pulling on the mask of the Lone Ranger. Tragically a plane crash took his life in 1973, and the posthumously released "Time in a Bottle" became a poignant self-written farewell.

15. Another artist to release a song with two superhero call-outs, this one puts the Green Lantern side by side with Superman in the song "Sunshine Superman", released in 1966. Who is this eclectic musician that is difficult to pigeonhole in any music genre?

Answer: Donovan

Donovan (Donovan Leitch) earned a Number One hit with "Sunshine Superman", coming from the album of the same name. He claims that "Superman or Green Lantern ain't got a-nothin' on me, I can make like a turtle and dive for your pearls in the sea, yeah!", which makes him one of few artists to pump his ego up enough to figuratively rise above the superhero mentioned, or in this case two of them. Donovan still continues to perform, building his performances around this song and his other big hit, "Mellow Yellow".

Source: Author Spaudrey

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Superheroes in Song Trivia Quiz

There have been many different superheroes immortalized in literature, and some have gone on to be mentioned in music as well. Here is my quiz based on songs that mention superheroes, you just give me the artist who performs them.

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