Superhero (Daze song)

"Superhero"
Single by Daze
from the album Super Heroes
B-side"Remix"
Released1997
GenreEurodance
Length3:22
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Jesper Tønnov Rasmussen
  • Lucas Sieber
Producer(s)
  • Johnny Jam
  • Delgado
Daze singles chronology
"Superhero"
(1997) 		"Together Forever (The Cyber Pet Song)"
(1998)
Music video
"Superhero" on YouTube

"Superhero" is a song by Danish Eurodance band Daze, released in 1997 as the first single from their double platinum debut album, Super Heroes (1997).[1] The song is written by Jesper Tønnov Rasmussen and Lucas Sieber, and produced by Johnny Jam and Delgado. It was very successful in Scandinavia, peaking at number two in Denmark, Finland and Norway. In Sweden, it narrowly missed the top 10, reaching number 11. The single became the fastest selling single of 1997 in Denmark[2] as well as reaching number one on the Danish radio and club chart. "Superhero" has sold both gold and platinum all over Scandinavia, and after the song's success, Daze won the Best Dance Act of the Year award at the Danish Grammy Awards.[2]

Critical reception

AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine felt that "Superhero", compared to Aqua's "Barbie Girl", was "quite similar to that slice of relentlessly catchy and danceable Europop".[3] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Is there still a little steam left in the Euro-NRG movement? When the material is as giddy and catchy as this, you bet. This exuberant trio—fronted by the chirpy Bix and helmed by the producers behind Aqua—speeds through a rave-ish groove and a sea of cotton-candy synths. Bix is not an extraordinary vocalist, but she's several notches above her European contemporaries, vamping with notable dexterity and confidence. The hook is sticky good fun and perfect car-radio fodder. Expect it to be blasting from rhythm-crossover and top 40 stations well into the early summer season."[4]

Gerald Martinez from New Straits Times complimented it as a "bouncy and catchy dance tune".[5] Music Week stated that Aqua's fellow Danes Daze "have come up with a Europop classic, though cynics might regard it as just a predictable re-hash of the "Barbie Girl" sound." They added, "Pulsating and infectious, "Superhero" is a totally danceable hit. The kids will love it, with its "eey yay oh" chorus hook".[6]

Chart performance

"Superhero" enjoyed success on the charts especially in Scandinavia, where it reached number two in Denmark, Finland and Norway. The song was also a number one hit on both the Danish Airplay Chart[2] and the Danish Dance Chart.[2] Additionally, it entered the top 20 in Sweden (11) and the top 30 in the Netherlands (23). In the United Kingdom, it peaked at number 76 in its first week at the UK Singles Chart, on May 17, 1998.[7] On the Eurochart Hot 100, it reached its highest chart position as number 91 in October 1997. Outside Europe, "Superhero" charted in both New Zealand and the United States, peaking at number 42 and 88, respectively.

Music video

There were made two different music videos for the song. The second version was later made available on YouTube in 2018 and by September 2023, it had generated more than 6,7 million views.[8]

Track listing

  • CD single, Denmark (1997)
  1. "Superhero" (Albumversion) – 3:45
  2. "Superhero" (Albumversion Xtended) – 5:05
  • CD single, UK & Europe (1998)
  1. "Superhero" (Album Version) – 3:25
  2. "Superhero" (Rated PG Club Mix - Radio Edit) – 4:02
  3. "Superhero" (Rated PG Club Mix) – 7:47
  4. "Superhero" (Rated PG Dubstrumental) – 7:48
  5. "Superhero" (Album Version Extended) – 5:09
  6. "Superhero" (Superhero Club Extra) – 6:181
  • CD maxi, Scandinavia (1997)
  1. "Superhero" (Albumversion) – 3:45
  2. "Superhero" (Albumversion Xtended) – 5:05
  3. "Superhero" (Super Hero Club Mix) – 4:30
  4. "Superhero" (Super Hero Club Xtra) – 6:15

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Norway (IFPI Norway)[14] Platinum  
Sweden (GLF)[15] Gold 15,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Covers

Russian metal cover project Even Blurry Videos released their version of the song on YouTube in January 2019.

References

  1. ^ Ferro, Charles (1998-03-14). "Latest News From Around the Plane: Denmark". Billboard. p. 69.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Talent: Ones to Watch" (PDF). Music Week. 1998-03-28. p. 9. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  3. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Daze - Super Heroes". AllMusic. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  4. ^ Flick, Larry (1998-05-09). "New & Noteworthy" (PDF). Billboard. p. 31. Retrieved 2018-01-26.
  5. ^ Martinez, Gerald (1998-05-17). "Raitt — competent but no spark". New Straits Times. Retrieved 2020-03-15.
  6. ^ "Single reviews" (PDF). Music Week. 1998-03-28. p. 31. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  7. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100 17 May 1998 - 23 May 1998". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  8. ^ "Daze - Superhero". YouTube. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  9. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. 1997-09-20. p. 14. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  10. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. 1997-10-18. p. 13. Retrieved 2018-03-06.
  11. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Daze" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
  12. ^ "Daze – Superhero". Top 40 Singles.
  13. ^ "Årslista Singlar – År 1997" (in Swedish). Hitlistan. Archived from the original on 2015-02-08. Retrieved 2019-11-22.
  14. ^ "IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  15. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-17. Retrieved 20 March 2024.