Iggy Pop Sings At Latest Superman Film

If you stick around after the credits roll in the new Superman reboot, you’ll hear a gritty, rebellious voice ringing out—none other than punk legend Iggy Pop. As David Corenswet’s Superman completes his journey of reconciling his alien origins with his Earth-bound life, the closing track kicks in: “Punkrocker.”

The lyrics come across as disaffected, even a little chaotic: “You see me drivin’ down the street, I’m just not looking good / I got both hands off the wheel, I got you runnin’ / I’m listening to music you can’t hear, I got pretty music in my ear.”

There’s a sense that the narrator lives in his own world—one that outsiders will never fully understand.

A Song With Roots in Swedish Alt-Rock

Though it might seem tailor-made for Pop, Punkrocker is no recent creation. The track dates back to 2000, originally written and recorded by Swedish alt-rock group Teddybears for their album Rock’n’Roll Highschool. The version most audiences know—featuring Iggy Pop—was released in 2006 on Soft Machine, a compilation meant to introduce Teddybears to American listeners. The song gained additional visibility when it appeared in a Cadillac commercial the following year.

“There is always that high level of energy even though the gear we perform our music on shifts, and tempos will vary,” said Teddybears’ Joakim Åhlund in a 2011 interview with Riff, reflecting on the band’s evolving sound.

Why Iggy Pop Was the Perfect Fit

Over the years, Teddybears have worked with a wide range of collaborators—from Kylie Minogue to Kesha and Britney Spears—but Iggy brought a rawness that stood out.

“We always look for unique voices that touch us in a strong way,” Åhlund explained. “Be it the raspy bass of Mad Cobra, the sweet soulful falsetto of Cee Lo Green or the deep drawl of Iggy Pop.”

Collaborating with Iggy wasn’t just exciting—it was personal. In another interview, Åhlund admitted the experience was profound:

“All those people are our heroes… we never would’ve dared to dream. It’s all pretty amazing for us that we got the opportunity to work with such cool artists.
“I don’t mean any disrespect to any of the others, but Iggy Pop – that’s a proud moment for me.”