Super Heroes in Popular Music Trivia Quiz

Answer: Paradise City

Written by Axl Rose, Slash, Izzy Stradlin, Duff McKagan and Steven Adler, 'Paradise City' is a single by the American rock band Guns N' Roses. It's a track from their 1987 album 'Appetite for Destruction', released as a single in January 1989.

It reached number six on the UK Singles Chart and number five on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1989. It also peaked at number four in Norway, number ten in Belgium, number three in Sweden, number six in Finland, number four in the Netherlands and number one in Ireland.

Captain America appears in the fourth verse: 'Captain America's been torn apart, now he's a court jester with a broken heart. He said, "Turn me around and take me back to the start." I must be losin' my mind, "Are you blind?" I've seen it all a million times.'

Answer: Superman

Written by Raine Maida, Mike Turner, Jeremy Taggart and Duncan Coutts, 'Superman's Dead' is a single by the Canadian alternative rock band Our Lady Peace. It appeared on their 1997 album 'Clumsy' and was their first single to gain major U.S. airplay.

It reached number 11 on the U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number two on the Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM). The title reflects the song's theme of media overload and the fading of traditional heroes, framed around the question of why Superman is dead.

Answer: Eminem

Written by Eminem (Marshall Mathers), Jeff Bass and Steve King, 'Superman' is a track from Eminem's 2002 album, 'The Eminem Show', one of the best‑selling albums of the decade. The track blends R&B‑leaning production with the confessional, confrontational style which defined that era of his career. It reached number 15 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the album's most discussed tracks.

The song is about trust, fame, and the transient nature of romantic encounters in the life of a star. Its title plays on the idea of a superhero who can save people, contrasting sharply with Eminem's refusal to play that role in relationships. Its notoriety also stems from the period's intense media attention surrounding Eminem's personal life, making it one of the album's lightning‑rod tracks for critics and fans alike.

Answer: The Kinks

Written by Ray Davies, 'Catch Me Now I'm Falling' was recorded by The Kinks for their 1979 album 'Low Budget', a record that marked the band's commercial resurgence in the U.S. The song uses the image of Captain America as a metaphor for the United States during a period of economic strain and declining global influence, and criticises America's allies.

Musically, it leans into the harder, arena‑rock sound the band adopted in the late 1970s, helping the track become a regular of their live shows. Although not a major chart hit, it received significant FM rock‑radio play and became one of the album's prominent tracks.

Answer: So he could win Lois Lane

Written by Chris Barron, 'Jimmy Olsen's Blues' was recorded by the Spin Doctors. The narrator is Jimmy Olsen, the young Daily Planet photographer from the Superman comics. The song is written entirely from Jimmy's perspective, where he feels overshadowed by Clark Kent and Lois Lane. It reached number 78 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1993.

Kryptonite, the one substance that weakens Superman, becomes a symbol of the power Jimmy wishes he had so he could finally compete with Superman, especially in matters of love and attention. So the 'pocketful of Kryptonite' is Jimmy's imagined way to level the playing field against someone he could never beat otherwise.

Answer: 3 Doors Down

'Kryptonite' is a single by the American rock band 3 Doors Down, who formed in Escatawpa, Mississippi, in 1996. It was written by Brad Arnold (the band's lead singer) when he was about 15 years old. It reached number three on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, peaked at number 21 on the UK Singles Chart, reached number seven in Australia and peaked at number 13 in New Zealand.

In the song, the narrator wonders whether the people in his life will stay loyal if he struggles, changes, or 'goes crazy'. The Superman/Kryptonite imagery is a metaphor for vulnerability and needing reassurance, not a literal superhero story.

Answer: Real World

Written by Rob Thomas, 'Real World' was recorded by the American rock band Matchbox Twenty and released from their album 'Yourself or Someone Like You'. It reached number 38 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number 92 on the UK Singles Chart in 1998. It also peaked at number five in Canada.

The second verse of the song is: 'I wonder what it's like to be a superhero. I wonder where I'd go if I could fly around downtown, yeah. From some other planet, I'd get this funky high on a yellow sun. Boy, I bet my friends will all be ... stunned. They're stunned.
Yeah!'

Answer: Chad Kroeger, Josey Scott

'Hero' was written by Chad Kroeger (lead singer of Nickelback) and recorded by him along with Josey Scott (lead singer of Saliva) specifically for the superhero film 'Spider‑Man' (2002) soundtrack.

The single reached number four on the UK Singles Chart and number three on the US Billboard Hot 100. It also peaked at number one in Canada, number two in Ireland, Poland and Portugal, and number eight in Austria. It was nominated for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media.

Answer: Flash

Queen recorded 'Flash' as the theme song for the 1980 film 'Flash Gordon'. It's based on the classic comic-book hero. The track was written by guitarist Brian May, and it features dramatic dialogue clips from the movie woven into the music.

The song is recognisable for its chant of 'Flash! Ah-ahhh!' It was released as a single and charted internationally, reaching number ten on the UK Singles Chart and number 42 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It was also number one in Austria, number three in Germany and number ten in Ireland.

Answer: Aerosmith

Aerosmith recorded a high‑energy version of the classic 1967 'Spider‑Man' TV theme for the 2002 'Spider‑Man' film starring Tobey Maguire. Their version keeps the original melody but transforms it into a full‑throttle rock track, complete with Steven Tyler's trademark wails and Joe Perry's guitar playing. It plays over the end credits.

It was never released as a commercial single. Instead, it appeared on the 2002 'Spider‑Man: Music From and Inspired By' soundtrack and later on Aerosmith compilations, making it part of the band's catalogue without ever charting on its own.