The Supermen

"The Supermen" is a song written by David Bowie in 1970 and released as the closing track on the album The Man Who Sold the World. It was one of a number of pieces on the album inspired by the works of literary figures such as Friedrich Nietzsche and H. P. Lovecraft.

Music and lyrics

The song has been cited as reflecting the influence of German Romanticism, its theme and lyrics referencing the apocalyptic visions of Friedrich Nietzsche and its prominent timpani part being likened to Richard Strauss' Also Sprach Zarathustra.Nicholas Pegg (2000). The Complete David Bowie: pp.209-210David Buckley (1999). Strange Fascination - David Bowie: The Definitive Story: p.267 Critics have also seen the influence of H. P. Lovecraft's stories of "dormant elder gods".Roy Carr & Charles Shaar Murray (1981). Bowie: An Illustrated Record: p.38

According to Bowie himself the guitar riff was given to him by Jimmy Page when the latter, who was Shel Talmy's session guitarist in the mid-1960s, played on one of Bowie's early releases, "I Pity the Fool". The riff was later used on another...
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