is one of our guilty pleasures. We've been following along since about season 2, watching intently as Clark Kent sows his oats, comes of age and generally, works up to a future of tights and flights. We're now into season 10, the last season, and, according to the producers, all the faithful will be rewarded this year with a conclusion to the series that meets all of our expectations. Hmmmm? Well, as hopeless optimists, even in the face of probable disappointment, we're holding our breathe and tagging along.So, what's that got to do with the tune "Superhero"? OK, off the bat, I need to confess that "Superhero" wasn't inspired by Smallville, but rather, by a film called Hollywood Land
. Hollywood Land examines the time and events around the reported suicide of George Reeves, television's original Superman. It explores the seedy side of Hollywood and the entertainment business of that time and considers the possibility that George Reeves was murdered. However, the scene that stuck with me was a short montage which showed the day the news reported that "Superman commits suicide". The scene painfully portrayed the impact this had on a generation of children. To these children, that headline seemed impossible. They bought the mythology and the possibility of Superman dying was hard enough to swallow. The notion that he killed himself, this icon who stood for "truth, justice and the American way", was earth shattering. This was a poignant reminder of the responsibility of the media and the devastation caused when heroes fall. The tune, "Superhero", looks at the notion of heroes in our lives. It pictures three seasons of life, childhood, young adulthood and adulthood, and how our relationship to our heroes may change during those times. The amazing thing about human nature is that we have the capacity to be moved by something which can inspire us to make choices beyond our basic survival needs. We can be moved to courageous self sacrifice and compassion and in turn inspire others. The mythology of modern superheroes, for many people, has provided that spark that allows one to consider rising above their limitations for the common good. However, the realities of life, at times brutal, unforgiving and unrelentingly cold often drown our heroic inspirations in an ocean of cynicism and hopelessness. Perhaps we find ourselves rooting for the anti-hero, someone who isn't morally driven to do right but rather participates out of opportunism or as a result of circumstance; or maybe we're now identifying more with the villain, sympathizing with his hard luck story and "DIY" ingenuity. In the midst of this heroic identity crisis we may find ourselves at a cross roads, between rational pragmatism and hopeful optimism. I don't think the extreme pragmatist would ever run into a burning building.
So then, why should Smallville use this tune for their finale? Besides our nerdy pre-occupation with the show and that it would really be cool, Superhero sums up much of what Clark Kent and his compatriots have been struggling with for ten years. First, to be or not to be a hero is a choice, even if you have super powers. The show made it clear that Clark's path to heroism, although a seemingly natural response to his abilities was also a choice that required consideration in lieu of a "normal" life. The show has also dealt with issues of moral ambiguity (is Lex Luthor really bad if he's motivated to save the human race), challenging ethics (Clark's opposition to killing, even when its clear that his enemy is determined to destroy him and the people he protects) and the need for heroic inspiration (such as the example set by his earth father, Jonathan Kent, to protect and save him). Each of these, and numerous others, are milestone challenges on a path towards either a deterministic fate or a revelatory self awareness. "Superhero" sings of a life's journey towards a point of decision; to follow the path of the pragmatist where one person can't make a difference so "give up boy, its not worth your time"; or to look up as an optimist who is at least willing to try and respond to a calling that is greater than himself.
In this zombie's humble opinion, there couldn't be a better tune to send Clark out, in flights and tights, towards the promise of a future where he can inspire generations to stand strong and do the right thing in the face of adversity while we all sing "look there he is, flying by, just look up, just look up". Yeah, I'm a little biased, but what the heck.
If you agree that Superhero would be awesome hit for the Smallville finale than feel free to suggest this to the Smallville producers and point them to this blog. That would be SUPER of you. In the meantime, check out Superhero on YouTube and take a gander at the lyrics below.
Zombie out!
Lyrics to Superhero:
When I was a boy I use to believe that a man could fly
Made me walk a little taller, try a little harder to touch the sky
And when the night seemed it's darkest
The shield on my chest could light my way
I had my super hero and nothing could darken my days
When I made my way in this world this young man
Learned at times I will fall
Though brave and determined the passions that burn
They would bring me down to a crawl
Through suffering and pain I've endured what remains
Of a bleeding heart
But I cling to my heros so nothing can tear my apart
See there he is flying by, Just look up, just look up
Look how he soars through the skies, Just look up, just look up
Just hold on and believe that he's still got something up his sleeve
And the day will be won -- just look up.
Now the days have turned shorter
And the skies seem much higher than I ever knew
And life is full of plot twists and turns that super heroes don't really do
In the back of my mind I'm questioning why I
ever thought a man could fly
I'm deconstructing my heroes and watching my dreams pass me by
When I was a boy I use to believe that a man could really fly
Now that I am a man my childish answers no longer seem to apply
But the seed of that courage, to soar above fear,
I still wear on my chest 'cause I know that he's here
And when the world says "give up boy, it's not worth your time"
I look up to the heavens and there I still find
there's a hero inside me and he was there all the time
See there he is flying by, Just look up, just look up
Look how he soars through the skies, Just look up, just look up
Just hold on and believe that he's still got something up his sleeve
And the day will be won -- just look up.
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