Superman (It's Not Easy)

Five for Fighting

Company type	Solo project
Industry	Music
Founded	1995
Founder	John Ondrasik
Headquarters	United States
Products	Music recordings, singles, albums

Superman (It's Not Easy) is a track composed and performed by American artist Five for Fighting. Released on April 16, 2001, it served as the second single from his sophomore album America Town. The song gained notable recognition after the September 11 attacks, becoming an homage to those affected, including victims, survivors, and emergency personnel.

The single entered the US Billboard Hot 100 at position 38 on October 27, 2001, eventually reaching a peak of number 14. This achievement marked Five for Fighting's inaugural top-40 appearance in the United States. Globally, the song climbed to number two in both Australia and New Zealand and secured spots within the top 20 charts in Ireland, Italy, and Norway. Additionally, it received a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 44th Grammy Awards held in 2002.

Content

The song’s lyrics center around the legendary figure Superman, emphasizing the artist’s perspective that living as a superhero is unexpectedly challenging despite possessing great power. Ondrasik has described the composition as conveying "frustration about the inability to be heard."

Music video

The music video, directed by Ramaa Mosley, debuted in June 2001. Filming took place partially at the intersection of Yonge Street and Richmond Street in Toronto, Ontario. The video concludes with John Ondrasik resting in bed alongside his wife and child.

Impact

At the time of the September 11 attacks, Ondrasik was in London preparing for a concert while the song was gaining momentum across Europe. Following these events, it experienced a surge in popularity within the United States, evolving into an anthem that deeply connected with audiences by providing solace and highlighting shared humanity.

Weekly charts

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Weekly chart performance for "Superman (It's Not Easy)"

Chart (2001–2002)	Peak position
Canada CHR (Nielsen BDS)	7

Year-end charts

Year-end rankings for "Superman (It's Not Easy)"

Chart (2001)	Rank
Canada Radio (Nielsen BDS)	92
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)	16
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)	95
US Triple-A (Billboard)	20

Chart (2002)	Rank
Australia (ARIA)	24
Canada Radio (Nielsen BDS)	11
Ireland (IRMA)	32
New Zealand (RIANZ)	32
US Billboard Hot 100	46
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)	2
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)	10
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)	64

Chart (2003)	Rank
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)	14

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Superman (It's Not Easy)"

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	April 16, 2001	Adult alternative radio	Aware Columbia
	April 23, 2001	Adult contemporary hot adult contemporary radio
	April 24, 2001	Alternative radio
Australia	February 4, 2002	CD
United Kingdom	May 20, 2002

In popular culture and covers

The track "Superman" has seen numerous renditions by different performers, such as shadow artist Catman Cohen who included it on his 2005 album How I Want to Live: the Catman Chronicles 2. During his comedy tour in 2010, Conan O'Brien delivered a cover version that was later joined by Jim Carrey dressed as Superman. Additionally, Australian comedy rock group the Axis of Awesome created a parody titled "Birdplane," inspired by band member Jordan Raskopoulos’s gender transition.

This song has appeared in several television series including Smallville, which explores the youth of Clark Kent, and a rendition by Briana Lee was featured in the concluding episode of Code Black.

In notable moments within sports and media, "Superman" was played in tribute to NHL player Rick Rypien at Rogers Arena in 2011 following his death, underscoring the song’s emotional significance in these arenas.