Iron Man (song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2008) |
| “Iron Man” | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||||
| Single by Black Sabbath from the album Paranoid |
|||||
| B-side | "Electric Funeral" | ||||
| Released | October 1971 | ||||
| Format | 45 RPM | ||||
| Genre | Heavy metal | ||||
| Length | 3:33 (Single)
5:56 (Album) |
||||
| Label | Vertigo Warner Bros. (US/Canada) |
||||
| Writer(s) | Iommi, Osbourne, Butler, Ward | ||||
| Producer | Rodger Bain | ||||
| Black Sabbath singles chronology | |||||
|
|||||
"Iron Man" is a signature song of Birmingham (United Kingdom) heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath. It was first released on their second album Paranoid (1970) and later included on their initial greatest hits compilation We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll (1976), as well as all subsequent greatest hits compilations. Many musical acts have recorded cover versions of the song, and the song is frequently used and referenced during sporting events and in television shows and films. Trailers for the 2008 feature film Iron Man, as well as the film's closing credits, have portions of this song. Iron Man is also a playable song in Guitar Hero. Bob Rivers wrote the parody I Am Santa Claus.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Story
The lyrics concern a champion of humanity who travels Time, presumably to ensure "the future of Mankind" — his original mission was to save our species. We learn that this champion unfortunately encountered a "Great Magnetic Field," turning him into steel and rendering him immobile. He has been in this state for so long that humanity has forgotten his original identity and his original mission. Rather than hailing him as a hero, the human race now regards him as an oddity, little more than an enigmatic statue from another age. The first few lines of the song are the musings of curious passersby, wondering if he's alive or dead, if he can see, if he can move, et cetera. Although the exact nature of his transformation is not elucidated, we know that Iron Man is not solid steel, but is in perhaps an organic/inorganic state, in which he can still perceive the physical world and can still think, but cannot take action. Because humanity has forgotten everything he's done for them in the past, Iron Man has grown increasingly bitter and plans his vengeance upon the ungrateful human race. Evidently, his bizarre state of suspended animation is only temporary — when Iron Man regains his freedom to move, he "kills the people he once saved" in a dreadful manner.
The title of the song was conceived by Ozzy Osbourne; As a child Ozzy would spray paint Ironman and Ozzy Ironman everywhere he went. Geezer Butler took to writing the lyrics around the title, but was careful not to make it about the comic book character so as to avoid a copyright infringement lawsuit.
[edit] Other Releases/References in Popular Culture
There have been many re-releases of "Iron Man". It was also a B-side for the 1981 picture disc single Paranoid.
Sir Mix-a-Lot sampled Iron Man as a rap song in the late '80s on his album Swass.
Busta Rhymes used elements of the song in the track "This Means War!!" (featuring Ozzy Osbourne as guest vocalist) on his E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event): The Final World Front album.
Though the song is not related to the comic book character, it was used (without the lyrics, only the playback) in the closing credits of the 2008 Marvel Studios movie Iron Man.
Bus driver Otto sings the Iron Man riff while driving, on The Simpsons.
In the movie School of Rock, Dewey Finn taught Iron Man as the first song to his class, in particular to the guitarist Zack Mooneyham (Joey Gaydos Jr.).
Swedish band The Cardigans has covered the song on their First Band on the Moon album.
[edit] Awards & Chart Position
- In 2000, 30 years after the song was first released, it won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.
- "Iron Man" also won spot #310 in Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
- "Iron Man" was awarded the #1 spot on VH1's 40 Greatest Metal Songs in 2006.[2]
- Peaked at #52 in 1971
- "Iron Man" is a playable song in "Guitar Hero"
- "Iron Man" was used for the end credits in the 2008 film "Iron Man"
- Beavis and Butt-Head frequently hum the tune, especially in early episodes.
- Marilyn Manson used the main riff much higher for their song "Sam Son of Man".
[edit] Personnel
[edit] References
[edit] See Also
 |
This 1970s single-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
