1) A German progressi… Read Full Bio ↴At least four bands have been called Superior:
1) A German progressive metal band existing from 1992 - 2007
2) An American Progressive Hardcore Band
3) British artist Su Goodacre
4) Dutch Hardcore band
1) German progressive metal band:
Founded in 1992, Superior is one of the few bands over ten years old that still has the same line-up. A mere eight months after Superior was founded, they released their demo "Timeshift". This demo contained an early version of the song "Tomorrow's Eve", which was to be included on their first album "Behind". "Timeshift" is a documentary of the changes that Superior underwent, who are, to this day, open to all kinds of musical influences. Until the middle of 1994 the band toured mainly in southwestern Germany and the more they toured the more they were convinced that it was due time for them to release their first self-produced CD. It took them a year to work on the compositions, arrangement and the concept of the album. In 1995 they recorded "Behind" in the Roko Soundstudios, close to Frankfurt/Main. The album consists of 10 songs that are progressive heavy rock. The lyrics are about the bigotry of society, the media, politics and reflections of personal everyday-life experiences of the individual members of Superior. Due to the themes the sound is heavy and aggressive, including epic and very melodic passages. The most important elements are heavy, driving guitars, complex piano and string arrangements and the powerful voice of Michael Tangermann. When the album was completed the band signed a contract with Hamburg label L.M.P., which got in touch with various record companies. In the fall of 1996 Superior signed a contract with Modern Music/Noise, which has the rights for the entire world, excluding France, where ARCADE/C.N.R. Music takes care of the band's interests. Shortly after signing with Noise Records, Superior toured Germany supporting Virgin Steele and Angra in such well-known venues as Hamburger Markthalle, Zeche Bochum and various others. Unfortunately after the fifth show, keyboardist Jan-Marco Becker hurt his hand severely and even had to be operated on during the tour. Angra's frontman Andre Matos spontaneously offered to rehearse some of the keyboard parts and Superior was able to continue touring, even though somewhat handicapped. After the tour Superior was forced to take a prolonged break, waiting on their keyboardist to recover. They couldn't join several tours offered to them by their record company and just didn't have the chance to promote their newly released album properly. In the middle of 1997, when their keyboardist had recovered, they began touring again, starting of with a short tour through France, where they also did some unplugged sessions, once again proving their diversity of musical styles. Following this, they did several shows in Germany, while already working on the material for their new album. In the midst of getting ready to record they did a tour through France with Vanden Plas and then got ready for the pre-production of "Younique". Finally, from the middle of March through the middle of May 1998 they recorded, mixed and mastered "Younique", once again in the Roko Soundstudios. The new album was neither a duplicate of "Behind" nor was it entirely different. It was the further development of their musical style; heavy riffing, typical for SUPERIOR, diverse keyboard arrangements and sounds, very complex and individual instrumentation, acoustic guitars, sitar-sounds, brass arrangements and saxaphone solos, everything that makes rock interesting. Very diverse musical influences, ranging from Latin, Funk and Classical music all the way to Jazz were arranged in the extremely heavy and powerful sound. To sum it up, "Younique" was an album that kept on going where "behind" ended. Although most important magazines worldwide celebrated “Younique” as a milestone in progressive music, the album divided fans into two camps, one being fascinated and the other one shocked. Immediately after the album´s release Superior started to perform live again. In 1999 several great shows followed in Germany, France, Netherlands and in Belgium. Definite highlights were the concert with Angra and Stratovarius at the Parisian “Zenith”, celebrated by 5.000 fans, and their liveshow at Progpower festival in the Netherlands. Another great event `99 has been the acoustic tour through France, where Superior once again proved their receptiveness to various musical influences. In the following months Superior and Noise records agreed that the style of the band´s music just didn´t match together with the company´s politics and their strict adherence to true metal style. At the same time the musicians and their French label NTS records decided to cooperate for a further SUPERIOR-album, which turned out to be a concept album about religious fanatisism with all its consequences down to terrorism. At the time the guys didn´t know how close they would come to truth. From January 2000 until May 2001 Superior worked on lyrics and music for “ULTIMA RATIO”. The recordings at the ROKO soundstudios took the following six months. They`ve been only interrupted by the ProgPower Festivals in the Netherlands and the USA, where the band presented some of their brandnew songs, which have been welcomed enthusiastically by the audience. “ULTIMA RATIO” is less experimental than “Younique”. The arrangements are clearly structured, and the dominating characteristics are the extremely heavy guitars, beautiful piano playing combined with the great melodies coming from Michaels powerful and emotional voice. But most of all the band’s members fulfilled a dream they shared since Superior was founded: to bring a soundtrack to reality, to create a movie for the ears by composing and arranging a concept album transformable into a cinematographic thriller. “ULTIMA RATIO” is the exposure of crime, complex images, agitation and suppression as cloaked by welfare and graze.
2) An American progressive Hardcore band
Formed in Omaha, Nebraska
3) British artist Su Goodacre signed to Virgin Records in 1997
This Superior consisted of Su 'Superior' and Lee Knott (ex It bites) and released 3 singles Coma (known for its Karl Bartos (ex kraftwerk) remix), Faster Than You and Being You. An album Germ Free was recorded but remains unrelased. Their song Polaroid Millenium was featured on the The Saint soundtrack.
Dial 911
Superior Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Have got new actors from the streets
Brand-new pictures, quite the best we've ever done.
We were glad to get your call
Soon we'll head out to find you.
We'll make you famous right before you die
Come on fear, you're on screen.
It's sensational.
Blood is running everywhere
Pictures filled with agony
Scream your last words now.
Call me now
Call me here
It's your chance,
We'll be there
Don't you dare to die alone
The show begins to send your own farewell.
Many people come tonight.
Staring at your famous face of pain.
Waiting for your final heartbeat
Tell them your impressions now.
How does man feel right before his end?
You don't have to act, just be yourself.
Let your howling fans freak out!
Make them feel superior
It's reality.
They possess you for a while
Like a picture on the wall.
Be their mirror now!
A million people pay tonight
Staring at your face of death
And I'm waiting for my cash my friend.
Tell you my impressions now.
This is not the end, it's quite a show.
Good for me is bad for you, that's life.
Yes, we all have fun tonight
With a legal drug we call:
Reality-TV.
I possess you for all time
I'm the dealer, you are mine-
CALL ME NOW !!!
The lyrics to Superior's song "Dial 911" tell the story of a twisted reality TV show where the producers promise to make their chosen victim famous before they die. The opening lines welcome the viewer to the show, and the tone of the lyrics is upbeat, almost celebratory. The producers claim to have new actors from the streets and brand-new pictures, and they are "glad to get your call", setting up the premise that anyone could be the next victim.
As the song continues, it becomes clear that this is not a show for the faint of heart. The viewers want blood and agony, and the producers are happy to give it to them. The victim is instructed to scream their last words, and the lyrics speak of how the producers will make them famous "right before you die". The victim is encouraged to let their howling fans freak out and make them feel superior.
The final verse takes a chilling turn, revealing that the producers of the show are profiting from their victim's pain and death. The line "I'm waiting for my cash, my friend" is particularly sinister, as it shows the true motivation behind the show. The lyrics are a commentary on the voyeuristic nature of reality TV and the way in which people can become desensitized to violence and suffering when it is presented as entertainment.
Line by Line Meaning
You are welcome to the show
Greetings and welcome to our production
Have got new actors from the streets
We have found fresh participants from the public
Brand-new pictures, quite the best we've ever done.
We have new and improved visuals that are unparalleled to our previous work
We were glad to get your call
We are appreciative that you reached out to us
Soon we'll head out to find you.
Our crew will be dispatched to locate you soon
We'll make you famous right before you die
We will ensure that your name and story become well-known through our production
Come on fear, you're on screen.
We encourage you to display your fear for our audience's entertainment
Give the viewers what they need
Provide the audience with the content they crave
It's sensational.
The experience is exhilarating and thrilling
Blood is running everywhere
The scene is filled with bloody imagery
Pictures filled with agony
The visuals depict emotional and physical suffering
Scream your last words now.
We encourage you to vocalize your dying words for dramatic effect
Call me now
Get in touch with us immediately
Call me here
Contact us at this location
It's your chance,
This is your opportunity
We'll be there
Our crew will arrive to document your story
Don't you dare to die alone
Do not pass away without our cameras present
The show begins to send your own farewell.
Our production serves as your final goodbye to the world
Many people come tonight.
A large audience has gathered for the spectacle
Staring at your famous face of pain.
The viewers are transfixed by your well-known expression of suffering
Waiting for your final heartbeat
The audience is anticipating the last beats of your heart
Tell them your impressions now.
Share your thoughts and feelings with the viewers at this moment
How does man feel right before his end?
What are the emotions one experiences nearing death?
You don't have to act, just be yourself.
Authenticity is preferred over pretense
Let your howling fans freak out!
Encourage your enthusiastic supporters to display their excitement
Make them feel superior
Make the audience feel powerful and dominant
It's reality.
This is the true, unfiltered experience
They possess you for a while
The viewers have control and influence over you momentarily
Like a picture on the wall.
You are a temporary visual to be appreciated and admired
Be their mirror now!
Reflect and embody the viewers' desires and emotions
A million people pay tonight
An immense amount of individuals are financially supporting our show
Staring at your face of death
The audience is captivated by your dying countenance
And I'm waiting for my cash my friend.
I am eagerly anticipating my payment for this production
Tell you my impressions now.
I will now express my personal reflections on this situation
This is not the end, it's quite a show.
This may be your finale, but it is our entertainment
Good for me is bad for you, that's life.
My gain is your loss, this is simply the way of the world
Yes, we all have fun tonight
Everyone is enjoying themselves this evening
With a legal drug we call: Reality-TV.
We are providing a legal high through the medium of reality television
I possess you for all time
I have control over you indefinitely through this production
I'm the dealer, you are mine-
I’m in charge here, and you belong to me
CALL ME NOW !!!
Contact me immediately!
Contributed by Stella K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@patriciovoltendalth1960
Es tremendamente bueno este album, lo escucho de hace un largo tiempo atras, todas sus canciones tienen un gran nivel. Lastima que no sea muy conocida esta banda.