R.e.m. - Superman -

Uncharacteristically, bass player Mike Mills sings lead vocals instead of Michael Stipe. Stipe reportedly felt the song didn't fit his vocal style or the band's serious image at the time, though he eventually embraced it.

While it didn't dominate the main pop charts, it peaked at #17 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart . R.E.M. - Superman

Released on Life's Rich Pageant , the song marked a shift for Michael Stipe toward more "loud and clear" vocals after the "murmuring" style of their earlier records. Chart Performance & Legacy R.E.M. - Superman

The song features a distinct, scratchy spoken-word intro in Japanese. This was provided by a pull-string Godzilla toy belonging to the band. Thematic & Lyrical Content R.E.M. - Superman