Image

Original photo published by NASA.

Typeface

Avenir is a sans-serif typeface designed by Adrian Frutiger and released in 1988.

Background Story

I discovered this song through M.A.N.D.Y.’s remix in 2006. When I was in Berlin I shared it with an artist friend of mine and she told me “You know that this is sampled from a song of Laurie Anderson, an American performance artist. Its video was also exposed at MoMa in New York”. I went then after the original version and what I found was a weird and addictive unique song.

– I’d just heard this beautiful 19th-century aria by Massenet that began: “O sovereign …” It was a prayer to authority, which I thought was interesting, so I started writing: “O Superman …” The lyrics are a one-sided conversation, like a prayer to God. It sounds sinister – but it is sinister when you start talking to power. I juxtaposed sinister and mundane imagery: “Hold me Mom in your long arms, your petrochemical arms, your military arms.” We’d always been told that America was the motherland, to appeal to our love of mom and dad, but it’s really not like that.” – Laurie Anderson, The Guardian

Additional Info

How we made Laurie Anderson’s O Superman on The Guardian.

M.A.N.D.Y - Oh Superman (Original Mix).