Waitin' for a Superman cover

Waitin' for a Superman

The Flaming Lips · 1999

23 min · 5 tracks · alternative rock · space rock

A poignant blend of ethereal sounds and introspective lyrics that capture the fragility of hope.

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Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • ethereal soundscapes for introspection
  • gradual build to emotional resolution
  • short sessions of poignant reflection
  • front-loaded energy with depth

Maybe skip if you want

  • seeking instant gratification
  • prefer standalone tracks over cohesion

Where this album fits

In the catalog
Breakthrough — This single helped establish the band's reputation with its critical success and emotional depth.
Themes
fragile hope· whimsical storytelling
Career context
By 1999, The Flaming Lips had transitioned from their early abrasive sound to a more polished, accessible style with 'The Soft Bulletin' released just prior in 1999. 'Waitin' for a Superman' marked their artistic evolution towards more lyrical depth and melodic experimentation, establishing them as a significant force in alternative rock during the late '90s.
Stylistic neighbors
Animal Collective· Tame Impala· MGMT
If this clicks, go next to
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots — Continues the ethereal sound with deeper themes of hope and resilience.
Sounds like this from elsewhere
OK Computer by Radiohead — Shares introspective lyrics and a mix of ethereal soundscapes with fragile emotional themes.
Sea Change by Beck — Explores introspective themes and layered production, creating an atmosphere of delicate emotional depth.
New to The Flaming Lips? Find your way in →

Tracklist

New here? Start with "Waitin’ for a Superman (radio edit)".

  • 1 Waitin’ for a Superman (radio edit) Start here 3:31
  • 2 Waitin’ for a Superman 4:19
  • 3 Waitin’ for a Superman (Mokran mix) 4:19
  • 4 Thirty‐Five Thousand Feet of Despair (stereo mix) 5:08
  • 5 Riding to Work in the Year 2025 (Your Invisible Now) (stereo mix) 5:55

What to play next

This album is considered a Breakthrough in The Flaming Lips's catalog. This single helped establish the band's reputation with its critical success and emotional depth.

Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
Listen next

Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots

2002

Continues the ethereal sound with deeper themes of hope and resilience.
The Soft Bulletin
Go back to

The Soft Bulletin

1999

Precedes with a similar blend of introspective lyrics and lush soundscapes.
Full The Flaming Lips discography Where to start with The Flaming Lips Artists like The Flaming Lips
alternative rock space rock

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata