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词条 (Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman
释义

  1. Background

  2. Lyrics and music

  3. Release and reception

  4. Alternate versions

  5. Personnel

  6. Chart performance

  7. References

  8. External links

{{Use British English|date=November 2015}}{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}{{Infobox song
| name = (Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman
| cover = (Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman cover.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = The Kinks
| album = Low Budget
| B-side = Low Budget
| released = 26 January 1979 (UK)[1]
12 March 1979 (US)[1]
| format = 7" single
| recorded = January 1979 - June 1979, Konk Studios
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Rock, disco
| length = 3:36
5:57 (12" extended)
| label = Arista
| writer = Ray Davies
| producer = Ray Davies
| chronology = The Kinks UK
| prev_title = Black Messiah
| prev_year = 1978
| next_title = Moving Pictures
| next_year = 1979
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = The Kinks US
| type = single
| prev_title = Live Life
| prev_year = 1978
| title = (Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman
| year = 1979
| next_title = A Gallon of Gas
| next_year = 1979
}}
| album = Low Budget
| type = single
| tracks = {{Low Budget tracks}}
}}
}}

"(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman" is a song written by Ray Davies that was first released on the Kinks' 1979 album, Low Budget. The song, inspired by Superman: The Movie, employs a disco beat and lyrics that describe the singer's wish to be like the fictional character Superman (Christopher Reeve). The song's disco style was created as a response to Arista Records founder Clive Davis's request for "a club-friendly record," despite Ray Davies' hatred of disco.

The song was released as the lead single from Low Budget, becoming a moderate hit in North America. It has since appeared on numerous compilation and live albums.

Background

"(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman" was inspired by Ray Davies watching Superman: The Movie in late 1978.[1] Ray Davies has said that the song was written as a joke in response to a request by music producer Clive Davis, who was then running Arista Records, for a record to appeal to clubs.[1] Davies said of this: "It was kind of a joke, taking the piss out of Clive [Davis] wanting us to do a club-friendly record."[1]

{{quote box|quote=I've always admired Superman comics. I went to see the film when it came out at Christmas - that Christmas was three years ago - I was overwhelmed ... I thought it was so true to the comic books and I wanted to write kind of a rock disco cause I hate disco music as a rule ... but now we've got a sort of mix with a rock and roll backbeat and it works real well.|source= – Ray Davies, 1981[2]|width=30%|align=left|style=padding:8px;}}

"(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman", as well as its B-side, "Low Budget", were the first songs recorded for the Low Budget album, although, unlike the rest of the album which was recorded in New York, the tracks were cut in Konk Studios. The band's recently hired studio engineer, John Rollo, said of the sessions for the two songs, "The album before [Low Budget, Misfits] was beautifully recorded, but not that rock and roll. I think the first two songs [I did] went extremely well and the band wanted to spend some time in New York, to get away from distractions and kept it as a raw band recording."[3]

Dave Davies, initially unimpressed with the song, added guitar parts.[1] Dave Davies also said of the song's release, "I think that one ['Superman'] was, not the biggest mistake, but it could've been one of the biggest mistakes we made. I remember I had quite a difficult time with Ray while we were making the record, because I didn't like the direction it was going. It was a strange time for music in general, anyway. The fact that it's funny, that it was a humorous song, saved it. I don't feel bad about that song at all, but it could have been a big mistake."[4]

Lyrics and music

The song also invokes another movie from the era, Saturday Night Fever, and the 1960s Animals hit "We Got to Get Out of This Place."[1] The lyrics describe an average person dreaming of being Superman in order to get through social issues.[5] The lyrics combine "fantasy" and "mundanity," two of Davies' favorite themes.[12] Author Thomas Kitts notes the irony in the lyrics sung by a weakling wishing he were Superman which, as with other songs Davies wrote, leads to the singer feeling resigned.[6] Author Nick Hasted makes a similar point, that despite dreaming of being Superman, the singer remains Clark Kent and can't get over his fear of the bad news he keeps hearing.[1] According to Allmusic critic Richard Gilliam, its lyrics are among "Ray Davies' most sharp-edged."[5]

"(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman" has a disco-like sound, though a hard rock version is sometimes performed in concert.[5][17] Critic Johnny Rogan describes the lyrics as "witty" and the music as "upbeat."[7] Music critic Robert Christgau describes it as a "fusion of syndrum and macho-flash guitar."[8]

Release and reception

"(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman", backed with "Low Budget", was released as the lead single from Low Budget. Although it was a chart failure in Europe, the song found moderate success in North America, reaching #41 in the U.S. Billboard charts[9] and #43 in the Canadian RPM charts. Although multiple follow-up singles were issued, "(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman" is the only single from the album to be released in both Britain and America.

In addition to this appearance, the song is present on many of the band's compilation albums, including Come Dancing with The Kinks and The Ultimate Collection.

Billboard Magazine rated it one of the top tracks from Low Budget.[10] Producer Clive Davis described the song as tapping "the malaise at the tail end of the decade."[11] In its review of the single, Trouser Press praised the band for "tackl[ing] disco and com[ing] away with more than a shred of dignity."[12]

Alternate versions

During the recording of Low Budget, many alternate versions of "(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman" were created, including an approximately six-minute long extended edit that appeared on a 12-inch single in America and Britain. Studio engineer John Rollo said of the many versions: "On 'Superman' we must have mixed that song at Konk [studios] twenty times - and it was quite a long song - and to get it down for a 7-inch single version we had to do twenty edits. Then we were running out of days and [Ray] had to be out of the country. Clive Davis was always known as a totalitarian hands-on guy but Ray was having none of that, he was going to make the album he wanted."[3]

It also appeared in live form on the album One for the Road.[13] Allmusic critic Bret Adams called this live version a "raw, stripped-down" rendition.[13]

Personnel

  • Ray Davies – lead vocals
  • Dave Davies – lead guitar
  • Mick Avory – drums
  • Jim Rodford – bass guitar

Chart performance

Chart (1979-1980)Peak
position
Australian Singles Chart71
Canadian RPM Singles Chart43
US Billboard Hot 100[9]41

References

1. ^{{cite book|title=You Really Got Me: The Story of The Kinks|author=Hasted, N.|page=|year=2011|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=9781849386609}}
2. ^{{cite news|title=Ray Davies Interview: Denver 9-9-81}}
3. ^{{cite book|last1=Jovanovic|first1=R.|title=God Save the Kinks: A Biography|publisher=Aurum Press|pages=234–237}}
4. ^{{cite news |last1=McCue |first1=D. |title=Dave Davies - Out Of the Ordinary |url=http://www.davedavies.com/articles/gm_0290.htm |work=Guitar Magazine |date=February 1990 |accessdate=2015-03-28 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6XfDYXak2?url=http://www.davedavies.com/articles/gm_0290.htm |archivedate=9 April 2015 |deadurl=yes |df=dmy-all }}
5. ^{{cite web|title=(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/wish-i-could-fly-like-superman-mt0004961536|author=Gilliam, R.|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=2014-04-06}}
6. ^{{cite book|title=Ray Davies: Not Like Everybody Else|author=Kitts, T.|page=199|year=2008|publisher=Routledge|isbn=041597769X}}
7. ^{{cite book|title=The Complete Guide to the Music of the Kinks|author=Rogan, J.|page=126|year=1998|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=0711963142}}
8. ^{{cite book|title=Rock Albums of the '70s: A Critical Guide|author=Christgau, R.|page=214|year=1981|publisher=Da Capo Press|isbn= 9780306804090}}
9. ^{{cite web|title=The Kinks US Charts|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/misfits-mw0000200594/awards|website=allmusic|accessdate=2015-04-05}}
10. ^{{cite news|title=Top Album Picks|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LyQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT105&dq=%22catch+me+now+i%27m+falling%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Xs5BU_CVGOPJsQTkmoHABA&ved=0CEQQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=%22catch%20me%20now%20i'm%20falling%22&f=false|date=14 July 1979|accessdate=2014-04-06|newspaper=Billboard Magazine|page=88}}
11. ^{{cite book|title=The Soundtrack of My Life|author=Davis, C.|page=235|year=2013|publisher=Simon & Schuster|isbn= 9781476714783}}
12. ^{{cite book|title=The Kinks: All Day and All of the Night|author=Hinman, D.|year=2004|publisher=Hal Leonard|isbn= 9780879307653}}
13. ^{{cite web|title=One for the Road|author=Adams, B.|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/one-for-the-road-mw0000203885|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=2014-04-06}}

External links

  • {{MetroLyrics song|kinks|superman}}
{{The Kinks singles}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman}}

8 : The Kinks songs|1979 singles|Songs written by Ray Davies|Song recordings produced by Ray Davies|Arista Records singles|1979 songs|Songs about comics|Songs about fictional male characters

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