Superman (it's Not Easy): TTBB Choral Octavo

Deke Sharon's arrangement transforms a modern rock ballad into a sophisticated choral work that avoids the trap of feeling like a "popular song chopped up for choir." The flexible voicing (TB/TTB/TBB/TTBB) means you can adapt it to your ensemble's strengths rather than the reverse, and the emotional directness of the text gives singers something real to sink their voices into.

Thoughtful and grounded, with the kind of honesty that makes an audience lean in rather than sit back. The piece has quiet moments that feel weightless and passages that swell with earned emotion, reflecting the song's meditation on what heroism actually means in ordinary life.

Male choirs of all experience levels, since the flexible voicing accommodates groups ranging from TB to full TTBB. The contemporary text and accessible harmonic language make it ideal for singers who connect with modern music but want arrangements that respect their musicianship.

• Balance the vulnerability of the text by resisting the urge to oversing; the message lands harder when voices stay conversational rather than soaring.
• Pay attention to how Deke layers the parts across the arrangement; often the emotional peak is not carried by the highest voice, so resist default doubling and let the harmonies breathe.
• Since this works across multiple voicing options, rehearse the sections your choir is using and mark clearly where the ranges shift, so singers know exactly what they're singing and why.
• Lean into the contrast between the intimate verses and any fuller moments; this song earns its power through dynamics, not volume.

Program this alongside other contemporary a cappella work to anchor a concert section dedicated to modern songwriting, or place it as a stand-alone moment in a more traditional program to show your choir's versatility. The emotional accessibility also makes it effective in community settings or informal performances where connection with the audience is the primary goal.

• Balancing mixed voicings (TB, TTB, TBB, TTBB) within a single arrangement
• Singing contemporary melodic material with harmonic sophistication
• Sustaining emotional authenticity in modern texts
• Voice leading across flexible soprano-less or baritone-light textures
• Interpreting dynamics and phrasing in pop-influenced harmonies