It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Charlie Wilson! The soul superhero is back with his new single “Superman,” and he’s ready to leap to the top of your playlists in one single bound. Dedicated to his wife, the crooner is crooning to the Superwoman who saved him and changed his life for the better on this love song that’s right on time for Christmas canoodling by the fireplace and making grown and sexy Valentine’s Day plans.
Uncle Charlie leans into the comic book characterization and imagery of Superman like Michael Jackson in the “Smooth Criminal” video throughout the lyrics. “Put my cape on my back / When it felt unattached / When I was at my ‘Lois’ / You saw a Superman / It’s a bird, it’s a plane / No it’s me, baby / Call me your Superman / Du du du dun Superman,” Wilson sings on the chorus. The lyrics are kinda hokey, but he is playing to his mature fanbase who will get a kick out of his play on words and appreciate the song’s sentimental nature.
“Superman” is Charlie Wilson’s first solo song of 2023 and follows his sensational Tiny Desk Concert that premiered during Black Music Month. There’s no indication yet if the track is another loosie or the lead single from his next LP, but a new album would be his first since 2017’s In It To Win It.
Over the past few years, Uncle Charlie has released a solid EP’s worth of singles, however. In 2020, he had us grooving to “Forever Valentine,” “One I Got” and “All Of My Love” with Smokey Robinson. Then in 2022, he collaborated with Babyface, Johnny Gill and K-Ci Hailey on the track “No Stoppin’ Us” and added his special sauce to Fetty Wap’s “Sweet Yamz (Remix)” alongside Ronald Isley, turning Masego and Devin Morrison’s “Yamz” from side dish to main course.
There’s no telling what Charlie Wilson’s next music move may be, but at 70 years old, he can do whatever, whenever and however he pleases. Listen to “Superman” then watch the visualizer, and stick around until the end for a message from Unc.