Laurie Anderson - O Superman (Top Of The Pops 1981, Zoo dance routine)

A spectacularly bad dance routine. An extreme example of "Top Of The Pops" choreographer Flick Colby's habit of taking all lyrics (including obvious allegories) at face value. So we have to have a judge, a mom-and-dad etc. I suspect the only reason Superman himself didn't appear was down to a rights issue.

Introduced by Peter Powell. David Van Day (of Dollar) seems rather unamused by Powell's attempts to chat up his partner and girlfriend, Thereza Bazar. At the end, there is a brief glimpse of the late John Peel.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Superman
• Laurie
• Anderson
• Top
• Of
• The
• Pops
• Zoo
• Flick
• Colby
• TOTP
• Pan's
• People
• Pans

[anthonisaac]

@smz

Your assumption that anyone who is a fan of Laurie Anderson is "full of pretense and self import" is as annoying to me as is her music to you. As for her being "verbose," I find her words to be very musical apart from their meaning. In fact, much of "O Superman" could be scored, even when she is technically speaking. Furthermore, I don't believe her lyrics offer any sort of prophecy...I just happen to find this piece hypnotic and soothing, much like classical minimalism.

[SilentGunman]

If you showed this to me with no sound and asked me to guess what it was, I would have said a drug orgy or a really fucked up scene from Doctor Who.

[pigsmellfrommecca]

fuck. 30 years ago

[smzf]

@TheJoshigan How is the truth unbearable, the world is such a vile place. Bit adolescent isn't it on your part. The world is infinately better than it has been for the vast majority of human history.For at least 70% of the population life is no longer stunted brutish and short. The truth is very very bearable. In a historical context this piece was written during the 1980's, a critiscism of US cold war policy. A policy that proved neccessary and successful. Otherwise we wouldn't be posting this.

[TheJoshigan]

@MrJuno6 If you and any other's actually believe the intention was to be pleasing to the ear then truly we are all doomed. Art, song, performance, does it have to be beautiful? And by whose standards? Why do you limit yourself to 'acceptable' and 'pleasing' musak. You really need to try to Listen to "Difficult Listening Hour," you might actually start to have original thoughts. Also, can not a 'difficult truth, epiphany, no madder how 'ugly.' be sublimely expressed.

[TheJoshigan]

Not a song but a work of Art..."When 'Privacy' is gone...(my add), There's always Liberty.... And when Liberty is gone... There's always Freedom...And when Freedom is Gone...There's always Justice... And when Justice is gone...There's always 'FORCE!" 'Ha ha hah ha ha ha ha..So not laughing out loud. I know the truth is unbearable, so go ahead, pick the red pill, you will wake up feeling refreshed and that the world is fine.

[tacomadc]

Isn't that judge Cain?

[SilentGunman]

"Coming up next on BBC1, it's Doctor Who and the Shitty Dance Routine".

[lisalewis401]

@SilentGunman hahaha! Totally agree. lol

[sitemountain]

OH

MY

GOD! (a.k.a. Superman!)

This is just WRONG!

[skewlboypin]

wow. it's like a horrific traffic accident...i can't look at it and i can't look away.

too bad they do the whole song...we could have seen thier take on "american planes'

my brain bled while i watched this.

[GSmr666]

I am amazed at the silly inane comments to this track !

No it ain't no disco hit - but shit heads listen to the lyrics !