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.
Why
Superior Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My visions make me cry
I ask myself.
Why am I here
Left in despair - no light
And there's no change
Why do we love
We end in hate
Why do we have
Way enough food for all
But we don't share
Why does the sun end up in rain
Why does the shadow fall into the light.
And why is god out there
Where are his leading hands.
Why do we trust a godless church
Laughing at those who really seem to care.
And why is god out there
But no leading hands
Why am I here Can't close my eyes
Questions without answers to find.
Why am I here - lost in my fear
And no saving walls behind.
Why am I here
Can't close my eyes
Why am I here
Lost in my fear
Where is the healing hand
Embracing me and giving me the answers that I need.
Why am I here
Can't close my eyes.
Questions without answers to find.
Restless mind
Not willing to surrender
Never find solutions comprimised
It's just an endless game
(Whisper:) "When will I close my eyes"
Tell me ways to find Give me peace of mind.
Tell me ways to find Call me now!
Close my eyes!
The song "Why" by Superior is a powerful ballad that grapples with existential questions and the human condition. The singer of the song is caught in a state of despair and cannot fall asleep due to the troubling visions that plague their mind. The lyrics repeatedly ask the question "Why am I here?" and explore a range of related questions, from why we love only to end up hating, to why we have enough food but don't share it. The song also addresses larger, more philosophical questions such as why the sun ends up in rain, why the shadow falls into the light, and where God's leading hands are.
The lyrics of "Why" suggest a deep sense of disconnect and disillusionment with the world. The singer asks why we trust a "godless church" and laugh at those who "really seem to care." The absence of answers and healing hands leaves the singer feeling lost and alone, with no saving walls behind. The song ends on a note of desperation, with the singer pleading for ways to find peace of mind and the ability to close their eyes and surrender.
Overall, "Why" is a song that speaks the language of pain and confusion that many people experience at some point in their lives. It is a lament that echoes the great existential questions that have haunted philosophers and poets for centuries, and it challenges us to consider our own place and purpose in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't fall asleep.
I have insomnia and cannot get any sleep.
My visions make me cry
The things I imagine or envision cause me to shed tears.
I ask myself. Why am I here
I question my purpose and existence.
Left in despair - no light
I feel hopeless and in the dark.
And there's no change
Things stay the same and do not improve.
Why do we love
I wonder why we experience feelings of love.
Right at the start and then -
It is present from the beginning but eventually fades away.
We end in hate
Our love transforms into hatred.
Why do we have
I question why we possess certain things.
Way enough food for all
We have an abundance of food to feed everyone.
But we don't share
However, we refuse to distribute it fairly.
Why does the sun end up in rain
I wonder why even beautiful things are subject to harm and negativity.
Why does the shadow fall into the light.
I ponder why darkness and light can coexist and intertwine.
And why is god out there
I question the existence and role of a higher power.
Where are his leading hands.
I wonder where God's guidance and assistance can be found.
Why do we trust a godless church
I am confused why people place faith in a religious institution that does not possess religious values.
Laughing at those who really seem to care.
They even ridicule and mock those who truly have faith.
But no leading hands
However, there is no support or guidance from a higher power.
Why am I here Can't close my eyes
I feel unrest and cannot sleep.
Questions without answers to find.
I have many unanswered questions.
Why am I here - lost in my fear
I feel overwhelmed and scared.
And no saving walls behind.
There is no protection or safety to be found.
Where is the healing hand
I search for help and assistance to alleviate my pain.
Embracing me and giving me the answers that I need.
Providing comfort and insight to address my problems.
Restless mind
My mind is unsettled.
Not willing to surrender
I am not ready to give up or let go.
Never find solutions comprimised
I do not reach satisfactory compromises or resolutions.
It's just an endless game
It seems like an infinite cycle of frustration and disappointment.
(Whisper:) "When will I close my eyes"
I long for the relief and peace of sleep.
Tell me ways to find Give me peace of mind.
I beg for guidance to achieve tranquility.
Tell me ways to find Call me now!
I plead for immediate assistance.
Close my eyes!
I yearn for the restful release of sleep.
Contributed by Gianna Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@rupturedaorta
I can't fall asleep.
My visions make me cry
I ask myself.
Why am I here
Left in despair - no light
And there's no change
Why do we love
Right at the start and then -
We end in hate
Why do we have
Way enough food for all
But we don't share
Why does the sun end up in rain
Why does the shadow fall into the light.
And why is god out there
Where are his leading hands.
Why do we trust a godless church
Laughing at those who really seem to care.
And why is god out there
But no leading hands
Why am I here Can't close my eyes
Questions without answers to find.
Why am I here - lost in my fear
And no saving walls behind.
Why am I here
Can't close my eyes
Why am I here
Lost in my fear
Where is the healing hand
Embracing me and giving me the answers that I need.
Why am I here
Can't close my eyes.
Questions without answers to find.
Restless mind
Not willing to surrender
Never find solutions comprimised
It's just an endless game
[Whisper:] "When will I close my eyes"
Tell me ways to find Give me peace of mind.
Tell me ways to find Call me now!
Close my eyes!
@pierrebriquet
I love this song. Gladly could find it again. This band is an inspiration.
@packgrog
Glorious album, hilarious album naming ("Superior Behind")!
@josetolleto2989
this band is tremendous ... I've been listening to them for more than twenty years ... this album is anchored to my heart ... the only thing I recognize is that it's half melancholic ... and an overdose can lead to suicide
@carlosmarcelorodriguez7304
gran disco demasiado bueno que pena que no siguieron haciendo lo mismo
@fernandocosta5629
Such a underrated band..
@Rockit66
I guess they just didn't take off. It grew on me for 20 years, and it keeps getting better. I do have a lot of prog metal bands from the 90's that never got the cred they deserved.
@prgmtlman7533
Heard these guys many years ago but couldn't find any of their cd's anywhere, good to hear them again
@HiFiAlex
Discogs Marketplace
@rupturedaorta
I can't fall asleep.
My visions make me cry
I ask myself.
Why am I here
Left in despair - no light
And there's no change
Why do we love
Right at the start and then -
We end in hate
Why do we have
Way enough food for all
But we don't share
Why does the sun end up in rain
Why does the shadow fall into the light.
And why is god out there
Where are his leading hands.
Why do we trust a godless church
Laughing at those who really seem to care.
And why is god out there
But no leading hands
Why am I here Can't close my eyes
Questions without answers to find.
Why am I here - lost in my fear
And no saving walls behind.
Why am I here
Can't close my eyes
Why am I here
Lost in my fear
Where is the healing hand
Embracing me and giving me the answers that I need.
Why am I here
Can't close my eyes.
Questions without answers to find.
Restless mind
Not willing to surrender
Never find solutions comprimised
It's just an endless game
[Whisper:] "When will I close my eyes"
Tell me ways to find Give me peace of mind.
Tell me ways to find Call me now!
Close my eyes!
@jayrodriguez3235
I got 3 albums and 1 live album!! Awesome band!!!