Hi, in a recent interview she explained this song as message left by someone from the future who travelled back in time to record this message for future generations. To me it's just one of the most emotional songs ever written, can't hold my tears since the first time I heard it in the 80's. Greetings from Buenos Aires, Argentina 👋.

Art. This would not be out of place in a modern art museum in one of those side rooms that you sit down and watch it play on a loop for 2 hours.

“I think I like it; I’m not sure. But I respect it!” That’s been my reaction for the 40+ years this track has been in my consciousness.

Imagine this at the top end of the British charts in the early 80's! Disco, crap pop, comedy records and then THIS!!!

Truly random fact related to this song: A local radio station where I am has a drive time show that lets a listener pick the last song of the show, but it has to be one of that listener's guilty pleasures. Someone requested this a few months ago, the DJ played it in full, and then the show went off air for about two weeks because of it 🤣🤣🤣

The songs Let X = X/It Tango, Sharkey's Day/Sharkey's Night, Coolsville and The Dream Before are all well worth your time. Her concert film, Home of the Brave, is a visual and aural feast.

It reached number 2 in the UK singles charts, largely as a result of it being praised (and played) by the highly influential UK DJ John Peel....surely one of the more unusual chart hits ever!!

Haven't read through all the comments, but I noticed that almost no one has addressed the subtitle of this song "for Massenet." Jules Massenet wrote an opera called "Le Cid" (which is magnificent, BTW). There is a famous aria in the opera that begins "O Sovereign, O Judge, O Father." The protagonist of the opera is praying these words before he goes into battle for the honor of his nation's "military-industrial complex" (to put it in modern terms). Laurie seems to imply our current "sovereign" is now the pop fantasy of a "Superman," who is actually capable of bringing justice to the world. Her addition of "Mom" seems to be a reminder that if there is a "Father" there is always a "Mother" who should not be ignored. There's more to the story but it is pretty interesting!

One of my friends is a huge Laurie Anderson fan. I only know a couple of her numbers. This video and the number itself were ART, pure and simple. Brilliant efforts, and I could tell they were capturing you. :-)

I'm a huge Laurie Anderson fan. Never thought I'd see anyone react to her. She's done some really fascinating and innovative work. Thanks for the reaction and discussion!

In 1982, Laurie was a revelation to a group of artistic nerds coming of age in a college town in the midwest. Kate Bush was joining the party too.

Her album United States Live (released as a 5-record set) is a unique experience combining music and monologue and is well worth 3 1/2 hours of your time if you ever have that much to spare. The entire Big Science album is incorporated within it. For her more musical side, I recommend her album Strange Angels. The song "Ramon" is a particular favorite.

Bravo sir. Didn't think I'd ever see a reaction to this song. "Sharkey's Day" would be another Laurie Anderson song that would be great to react to.

Watch it more than once. Make sure you understand all the words. Performance artist, though she's not sure that's even what she is. CBS Sunday Morning recently had a segment on her that you can probably find on their KZfaq channel.

I've seen her live several times. She's a visual and performing artist completely unlike anyone else. The music is only one facet. If you ever get a chance to see her in-person, don't hesitate.

If you like the unusual use of sound, imagery and conceptual art, Laurie is a great example. Her videos are mesmerizing and her poetry beyond awesome. After listening to your new album today, i could say the same about you.

LAURIE ANDERSON BLEW ME AWAY AT HER MIND-BLOWING SHOW IN LONDON ! ! !

Hi Daniel. I still have the single on 7"vinyl, & yes it's 8 minutes long. It's a strange one indeed. Stranger still today it always makes me cry during the last couple of verses. It was my mum's favourite. She connected with it and loved it. I bought the record in '82 ...My mum passed away in '85 and so it's meaning goes deeper for me, especially leaving messages on an answer phone saying this is your mother. It's such a strange track to get emotional about yet my mum was before I did. Now I understand what she saw in it. Thankyou for playing. An unexpected and pleasant surprise.

I was 26 when it was released. I was blown away then. I remain astounded by O Superman to this day when I’m 67. She is unique. Though I suggest, if you like this, exploring Krautrock bands like Faust, Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream etc.

This album blew me away when it first came out. Still does. The entire album stands up as a mesmerizing journey with Laurie as a tour guide through this bizarre world we call home. You should REALLY check out the album opener, as well: "FROM THE AIR." It's an equally fascinating song / tale. Her single with Peter Gabriel was recorded twice and each different version appears on each other's albums. "Excellent Birds" and "This Is The Picture (Excellent Birds)" are a joy to listen to. Cheers!

I was introduced to Laurie Anderson's music in 1986. A friend gave me a copy of Big Science, and I was blown away! I listened to that album over and over. And every time I would listen, I would find new ways of interpreting it. Her music is pure art! Needless to say, I went down the Laurie Anderson rabbit hole whole heartedly and added all of her albums to my collection. I loved your reaction, Daniel! Please explore Laurie Anderson more. Big Science is a brilliant album. One of my favorite songs from that album is the title song, but then again, they are all favorites!

THE SHEER GENIUS THAT IS LAURIE ANDERSON ! ! !

Mister Heartbreak is a terrific album by Anderson, 1984. Check it out!

Laurie Anderson has almost always been described as "avant guarde", and I think that's fitting, especially when she first came onto the scene. Her first album, Big Science, is truly unique, interesting and amazing.

I first heard this in the 80s (I was in my early 30s). My S.O. bought the album (vinyl) called Big Science. He was a big fan. (Back then, we did not have a video to augment the music's meaning.) I listened to the whole album all the way through in one sitting. At that time I had a slightly more conventional idea of what music could be. So I sat there, asking myself, "Is this music?" And I ran through my criteria one by one, asking 'does it have this?' 'Does it do this?' And the answer was always yes. So I played it again. Loved her voice and her poetry. Another song of hers on that album called "LET X=X" grabbed my attention. Especially the lines: "I - feel - feel like - I am - in a burning building - and I gotta go. Cause I - I feel - feel like - I am - in a burning building - and I gotta go" I often felt like that during phone conversations....

masterpiece. you will never forget it

So glad you are checking out Laurie Anderson. She was at the forefront of Avant Garde music back in the 80's, and changed my life as it came to art and music. I had the opportunity to do mix her show on 2 occasions, well I say mix, she mixed on stage, and I got a feed to play through our PA. First time though, when she arrived at the theatre, her keyboard had been damaged in flight, and we were able to hustle to get it repaired for the show that night. Getting an opportunity to work with her is one of the highlights of my career. I would recommend listening to the entire album Big Science, from which O Superman comes. I particularly like Let X=X and It Tango played together. Also worth listening to Language Is A Virus, Gravity's Angel, Sharkey's Day, and Excellent Birds (a collaboration she did with Peter Gabriel). I know you don't do film reactions, but I also highly recommend watching her film Home Of The Brave to get a real feel for her form of performance art.

Laurie Anderson was great in concert too. Just her, her humor, and a variety of effects and light projections. She used a violin with recorder heads and taped sounds on the bows - very strange. Both Mr. Heartbreak and Strange Angels are superb. Not quite as 'arty', and very rhythmic. She took voice lessons, and sang quite well.

Look up Laurie Anderson as an inventor. She created a violin that repurposed old school cassette tape as well as many vocal effects. She was a real pioneer: still is.

The opening track from the same album, "From the Air", is one of my favorites by her. She went on to do some stuff that's a little bit more "pop", collaborating with the likes of Peter Gabriel, Nile Rodgers, and Adrian Belew. "Language Is a Virus" is a good example of her doing something closer to a pop song.

When you recover from O Superman, I suggest Koyaanisqatsi (a movie with music by Philip Glass). After that, try Einstein on the Beach (the music is also by Philip Glass).

Back in the '80s as a teen I didn't get this song's meaning but I still recognized it as art. Today I see it as someone speaking truth, saying their feelings about something they find alarming and about what needs changing in the country (or the world). Laurie Anderson, based on interviews I have watched over the years, seems like a creative dynamo who has to make art, who feels required to tell stories and to share her creativity. Also, in the 1980s she was one of the best looking people around. No wonder Lou Reed was drawn to her--- this lady had mucho talent and a face like a classic painting or 1950s movie star.

I MET LAURIE ANDERSON AFTER HER CONCERT IN LONDON & AFTER OUR MOST INTERESTING & SCINTILLATING CONVERSATION & TO MY SURPRISE SHE LEFT IN A BLACK LONDON CAB & NOT A TOUR BUS AS I WAS EXPECTING ! ! !

Every once and awhile, a piece of the avant garde makes it into pop culture. This is one of those times.

Your reaction is EXACTLY what mine was the first time I heard this at the time it came out. I accidentally came across it while radio dial scrolling. It had already started so I didn't get a name or artist. No info about. Pre-google, pre-streaming, pre-youtube. I was so "mildly disturbed", as you say, that I was frozen, captivated, curious. "What the heck is this???". That was the ONE AND ONLY time I heard it. It wasn't till the 2000's that I remembered that song and spent quite some time looking for that song just to see if it was a real song. STILL just as weird, different, yet interesting song. But, yes, your initial reaction is exactly like mine was.

Congratulations you found this masterpiece of confusion. This is a musical Acid trip - no chemicals required. No wonder all us 80s kids are screwed up, it's hypnotic, vertigo inducing, ear worm forming, IT'S EPIC. DJ, John Peel, supported many of the more Avent Gard and obscure artists in the UK, his "Peel session" are legendary gave air time to new And up and coming Artists no matter the genre.he also gave time to live on air concerts for some of the greatest acts at the time.

Lou and Laurie, Mr. and Mrs. Reed-Anderson, were King and Queen of the Coney Island Mermaid Parade one year. This is the ultimate performance art album. Great all the way through. Very influenced by Einstein on the Beach. I love how every time you think this song has gone on a tangent to nowhere, that she pulls it back. Sweaters, Example #22, and Let X=X are also wonderful from this album.

Yes. Love this album. It's so unique and fun.

I ran into Laurie Anderson and Lou Reed once outside BAM and asked about recordings of Lou Reeds previous BAM show POETRY, a tribute to Edgar Allen Poe. I told him how ubercool I thought he was. He hedged about a bit maybe suggesting something might be coming. (a short version showed up in stores a few months later) He was very kind and as we were leaving them I happily remembered to turn back to compliment L.A. on her substantial coolness! A great pair!

Thank you Daniel for this reaction of this important multimedia artist. I was fortunate to see Laurie Anderson two times...once with her full theatre performance and another time a small intimate performance with Lou Reed on a remote island off of British Columbia, Canada ....both were incredible. Presently: "Laurie Anderson: The Weather September 24, 2021 - July 31, 2022 Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, DC: "The Weather" is the largest-ever U.S. exhibition of artwork by celebrated multimedia artist Laurie Anderson. Re: Lou Reed: "I was holding in my arms the person I loved the most in the world, and talking to him as he died. His heart stopped. He wasn’t afraid. I had gotten to walk with him to the end of the world." Laurie Anderson.

Daniel, I highly recommend you listen to the entire album. You'll see : )

Thank you so much for this! I was one of the folks who suggested it, and it was a treat. Learned some new info about the track too! Yay! From the Air, Let X=X...

Here in Italy this song was featured in an historical series of PSAs against HIV/AIDS between 1980s and 1990s. I was roughly 8 when these came out first and coincidentally it was in the very middle of my puberty. This music terrorized me the most and for more than 30 years resounded in the back of my conscience, keeping me away from risky behaviors. I can see the point behind choosing this very song now, and I even came to like it.

I just rewatched this (rare for a reaction post). Your thoughtful, thorough interrogation of your reaction really impress me (I figured you were in your second year of university, but you actually were in high school :D ) I know you're in a different place now (recording music, etc) but I would love another first reaction to Ms. Anderson's work. Wishing you happiness, and all the etc.

She is brilliant. One of my faves.

Enjoyed your thoughtful reaction to this song, you picked up on the sinister undertones and references to the industrial military complex. In some parts of the song I take "Mom" to be America/the Motherland. Her song Let X = X was another great song from the same album. Another very unusual song you might enjoy is My Baby's Taking Me Home by Sparks.

I Noticed That The Story That Laurie's Telling Is That It Talks About The Iran Hostage Crisis In 1979-1981.

Interesting to watch someone reacting to one of my favorite tracks and music video. "O Superman" is definitely a great work of art :)

A fantastic example of sustained tension is “Walking and Falling” from this album.

I love this song. I used parts of it as ringtones back in the 00s when ringtones were a thing. The "hello is anybody home" part was my general ringtone. The "hello, this is your mother" part was my ringtone for my mom. I think the real overall message of this song is she's just messing with us. She was friends with Andy Kaufman.

Definitely check out Sharky's Day... that's an amazing song. Or Language is a Virus which actually pretty accessible. You can also check out her duet with Peter Gabriel, Excellent Birds. Laurie is a fascinating and unique performer. Very thought-provoking. Her first two albums, Big Science and Mister Heartbreak are masterpieces.

I am 67. When this came out in 1981, the shameful Vietnam War (that we lost) was fresh in our memory as a country. Life changing technology was exploding (personal computers, etc.) and electronics became huge. The oil companies were becoming the bad guys and the US changed from being the victors in a righteous war (WW2, greatest generation) to being aggressive predators "defending our intere$ts" abroad. The military/industrial complex and the oil industry were taking over and corporations were growing huge. The technology boom was exciting but ominous (as AI is now) as was the US foreign policy. The US Government became a scary "Mom" and "Dad." This piece captures that ominous feeling perfectly. The fact that this scared you and you found it disturbing means that you get it. Great reaction. Thanks. (P.S. Am I the only one who hears some Moondog influence in the melodic pieces?)

This is very Hypnotic, it reminds me of something that they would play to you during a Sleep Apnea screeing.

I respect you for reacting to this. I’ve always loved this track and remember it going to number two in the uk charts and then disappearing the following week. It’s so utterly unique and in my view totally brilliant.

I love this song. Damn, Laurie looks so young, I can’t believe it’s been so many years.

all new to me. thanks for sharing this journey.

She had a great trick consisting of an electric violin that doubled as a tape player. She could pick up one of many bows with a section of pre-recorded tape. Suddenly her violin could talk, play music, just make crazy sounds. Saw her once in concert, it was hypnotic.

The first time I heard this song was in a documentary about the artist Louise Bourgeois. I'm not sure that my mind would've been open enough to hear this for the first time in another context. I'm so glad I watched that doc and was introduced to this song as I think it's amazing. And to think she was married to Lou Reed. What a legendary couple! When he died my heart broke for us, but especially for her.

"Mildly creepy" ... You gave me a good chuckle, Daniel! LOL I've never seen or heard this before, so I did some Googling. This song was released in 1982. Anderson was already a world-renowned performance artist she and Lou Reed met in 1992, they didn't marry until 2008. Lou died in 2013. Thanks for reacting to this!

I was lucky enough to see this preformed live at Town Hall (years before 9/11 - BAM 92) it was truly amazing. It is completely immersive, the epitomy of performance art, along with Philip Glass. My personal favorite is " Language is a Virus". Glad that you reviewed this, great review Daniel.

LOL, I wondered what on earth you'd make of this one if you ever saw/heard it. Love your channel.

Big Science was the second album I bought as an early teen - still one of the best albums I own. Honestly? This song encapsulates my core "cold war" experience as a kid. Those planes were coming. There was no doubt, the only question was when. With luck my mom would be there to hold me as it all went down. IS that messed up? Indeed it is. This song still makes to places I don't want to go, but ya know? In a weird way that's comforting as at least I feel like my experience of that time is somewhat validated. Laurie Anderson was (and still is) an absolutely unique and fascinating artist. She built all of her own equipment, her performances are weirdly dark, touching and light hearted all the same time, she's simply a force of one. It bugs me every time people say "oh she was married to Lou Reed" - that is the very least interesting thing about her. She deserves so much more recognition.

I can't believe I'd forgotten about this one! What a trip! And it is great fun to watch one of your youthful age react exactly as Laurie would have hoped, I think. Anyway, thanks for reminding me, Daniel.

It does not surprise me that this got to 2 in the UK. the UK is well known for embracing the eccentric and unique. We are drawn to truely creative exploration of the fringes of all arts.

"Are we gonna die?" I bark-laughed!

You’ve probably listened to Laurie Anderson for years but didn’t realize it. The opening music/sounds for the Discovery Channel intro was a section of Sharkey’s Day. It sounds like birds whistling in the jungle.

This song rewrites brains for the better.

Thumbs up just for doing this song ;-) It was my go-to to make a friend of mine crazy :-D

absolutely beautiful american song

Thanks for doing this! Definitely not a song for everyone, but I'm glad to see that you appreciated it.

I put this on a mixtape to play in the car (~1990) and it would come on and people riding with me would freak out. Often we would pull off and listen to it in a trance while staring out the window of the car .. and they would have this strange look in their eyes, like "what have you done to me" because their brain was changed and music was not just music anymore for them. Some people could not take it for more than the first minute and reacted violently but could not explain their crazy reaction. Some were unimpressed, like it was just random noise to them. No one was neutral about it, tho.

I'l never forget watching her live show on HBO years ago. "Smoke Rings" is so funny and bizarre. "Que es mas macho, lightbulb o schoolbus?"

New music will make your brain rewire itself and more things will make sense afterwards.

Great work brother....

Well, I wasn’t expecting to cry today.

As a kid I was terrified of this record. Now it's a piece of genius. It's about an answering machine . Spooky good and haunts you

Well, Daniel you jumped in the deep end on this one! Laurie is amazing and there are other "easier" songs. Try "X= X" or "Sharkey's day". Just keep swimming.

It was social commentary based on the U.S involvement in Iran. Genius.

The single greatest moment in '80s music. This album belongs with Sgt. Peppers, Pet Sounds,Quadrophenia and all the others that transcend their period and genre.

Here come the planes, their American planes, made it America. These words have haunted me for forty years. Big Science was a remarkable album then it still is I think. Regards

I am so, so very glad that you've found Laurie Anderson. I can't think of a better meeting of minds

Top 9 hit in The Netherlands, love it.

Before it even starts, I'm looking forward to this one🙂

This track was when I realised, my musical tastes, were different from other kids! I was 15 years old and played it constantly! Changed my whole perception of music, for the better!😍🥰😍🥰😍

She recorded Digital Albums so every sound you hear she wants you to hear. She does poetry-based things... But she does have songs... I love 1984 "Gravity's Angel" It has the hook and was my first Sub-bass experience in music, It's a song, not a poetry art/piece. Unless you have equipment that can produce the crisp highs and sub-bass the dynamics will be lost. Pat Benatar's "Shadows of the Night" also has sub-frequency in it but few people had stereo equipment back then that could reproduce it so it is known to but a few. But it gets your attention when you hear it. It is a Wow moment. Bass, you feel more than you can hear.

"Strange Angels" or" Monkeys Claw". "Coolsviille" Gravitys Angel". She is AWESOME!

This is a master piece of art rock !

I saw Lauri Anderson when she blew up! Amazing woman, I love her...

OMG I listened to this album nonstop forever when this came out!

Her voice, digitally sampled and played as the song's beat, was beyond leading-edge technology, at the time. In 1980 and 82, it was mainly Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush who could afford digital samplers and knew what to do with them.

You quit before you began and you always will. It's about that too.

When I was a young art student in Houston we got to see her art exhibit which was quite innovative. I do remember her piece called fur covered pay phone, which was really cool . My art teacher was totally into Laurie Anderson at the time we thought she was a loon , but this brings back fond memories of my friends at the school. ✨

Saw Laurie Anderson perform this live a few years back at The Barbican in London.

I saw her do this live in the ‘80s. Fantastic show in a small venue. Original performance art incorporating all media.

Incredible ! It was a huge hit here in Brazil in 1982. I remember the first time i saw the video ...

Her best song for me is Blue Lagoon, it's hypnotic.

This song has been played on many such channels and every host has/ had a different interpretation of its meaning/ intention .Played it to my 14 year old grandaughter,she was facinated and confused in equal measures.I personally love it!.

Bravo. Pioneer doesn't even begin to describe her. She holds patents on some of her instruments. She has a performance film from the mid 80's called Home of the Brave. Amazing! Language is a Virus.

I got this album way back in the day because of this song.

I’m really enjoying your videos not least because I’m a huge Velvet Underground obsessive! Also quite envious of you hearing some of these songs for the first time!I first heard this track age 16 when it was released - played by John Peel on his late night show - he was the only DJ playing underground and experimental music on the radio at that time. Then bizarrely the track went mainstream and reached number 2 in the pop charts in the UK……. It still gives me goosebumps especially the “when love is gone….” part. Later I heard another musician, can’t remember who, saying that human beings are hard-wired to focus on human voices, and that any track where you can’t tell whether it’s a voice or an instrument instantly causes people to listen with intense curiosity - a sort of uncanny valley effect.