Ode to a Superhero

Infobox Song
Name = Ode to a Superhero


Artist = "Weird Al" Yankovic
Album = Poodle Hat
Released = May 20, 2003
track_no = 9
Format = Cassette, CD
Recorded = March 21, 2003
Genre = Comedy
Length = 6:14
Label = Volcano Records"Ode to a Superhero" is the ninth song sung and written by "Weird Al" Yankovic in his album "Poodle Hat". It is a summary of the first Spider-Man movie and a parody of Piano Man by Billy Joel. [cite news |first=Andrew |last=Nielsen |title=Weirder and better than ever |url=http://daily.stanford.edu/article/2003/5/30/weirderAndBetterThanEver |publisher=The Stanford Daily |date=2003-05-30 |accessdate=2008-06-06 ] [cite news |first=Joshua |last=Rinaldi |title='Weird Al' Yankovic attacks society with humor |url=http://media.www.newsrecord.org/media/storage/paper693/news/2003/05/28/ArtsEntertainment/weird.Al.Yankovic.Attacks.Society.With.Humor-697428.shtml |work=The News Record |publisher=University of Cincinnati |date=2008-05-28 |accessdate=2008-06-06 ] It goes from Peter Parker being bitten in the lab to Green Goblin's funeral.

imilarities with "Piano Man"

"Ode to a Superhero" and "Piano Man" share the same music with different lyrics. Both songs discuss busy men who lacked time for their families. Yankovic sings about Norman Osborn, a billionaire scientist, who never had time for his son, Harry Osborn; Joel sings about Paul, a real estate novelist, who never had time for a wife. Also, the verses are very alike: where Billy Joel's version goes:

"Sing us a song, you're the piano man, sing us a song tonight",

the version of Weird Al is:

"Sling us a web, you're the Spider-Man, sling us a web tonight"

The rest of the verse is always the same in the original song, but changes throughout the song in the parody.

References

External links

* [http://www.alsongs.com/index.cfm?view=alsong&SongNumber=169&phrase=Ode%20to%20a%20Superhero Lyrics on Alsongs.com]

ee also

*List of singles by "Weird Al" Yankovic
*List of songs by "Weird Al" Yankovic