13 Totally Heroic Hero Songs features Adam Lambert, Mariah Carey, Martin Garrix x JVKE, Metro Boomin, and Taylor Swift.
βWe can beat them just for one day / We can heroes just for one day.β Yes, David Bowie, yes we can! βDrinking dope turned me to a superhero.β Thatβs sus,
Future, if Iβm being honest
β¦ How about one moβ? βWe donβt need another hero / We donβt need to know the way home / All we want is life beyond / Thunderdome.β Oh,
Tina Turner, you are the sugar honey iced tea β
βThe Bestβ! That said, itβs NOT the best that is the focus of this 18th playlist on The Musical Hype in 2023 β itβs about the HEROES, baby!
Most of the songs do feature the word HERO in their song title in some form or fashion. That said, my boy Logic opted to cite a specific hero β βBlack SpiderManβ! Besides the aforementioned musicians, 13 Totally Heroic Hero Songs features music contributions from
Adam Lambert,
Mariah Carey,
Martin Garrix x JVKE,
Metro Boomin, and
Taylor Swift among others. A multi-genre list, there something for everyone on this heroic musical compendium!
1. Metro Boomin, Future & Chris Brown, βSuperhero (Heroes & Villains)β
HEROES & VILLAINS β’
Boominati Worldwide, LLC / Republic β’
2022
βDrinking dope turned me to a superhero.β Um, hmmβ¦ Producer extraordinaire
Metro Boomin came out swinging on his 2022 album,
HEROES & VILLAINS, which debuted at no. 1 on the Billboard 200. Among the highlights from HEROES & VILLAINS is the title track,
βSuperhero (Heroes & Villains)β, the second track on the album. Metro Boomin produces what commences as a malicious trap production alongside
Allen Ritter and DAVID x ELI.
Much of βSuperhero (Heroes & Villains)β is dominated by Future, who is on fire from the jump during the SUPERHERO portion of the song. Yes, it is Future who asserts dope turned him into a superhero. Beyond that absurd line, he drops no shortage of colorful, outlandish one-liners. Heβs ratchet in several instances, whether it be, βShout out to Dallas, my bitch is a star,β βBitch get graphic, fuck me in a car,β or many drug references, such as βSelling the bowls, bitch do yoga / I deserve awards, serving these boulders.β Even with βPlutoβ putting in much of the heavy lifting, things change. Near the end of βSuperhero (Heroes & Villains),β there is a distinct production/beat switch, which eliminates predictability. Sure, things were hot with Future spitting his non-transcendent $hiβ , but the entrance of
Chris Brown provides the opportunity for the VILLAIN to enter the picture, in all his hellishness! The
Grammy winner sings, βSoon as you up, these niggas wanna bring you down / The weight of the world sit on my shoulders, hold the crown / I ainβt got a cap so I canβt save you now.β Woo!
βSuperhero (Heroes & Villains)β = surefire Rap BaNGeR
!
Appears in :
2. Taylor Swift, βAnti-Heroβ
Midnights β’
Taylor Swift β’
2022
βI have this thing where I get older, but never wiser,β
Grammy winner
Taylor Swift sings on
βAnti-Hero,β a gem and no. 1 hit from her 10th album,
Midnights. Swift continues singing in the first verse of the single, βMidnights become my afternoons.β Thatβs just one instance of the poetry of her pen, which seems endless on this particular record. See the second pre-chorus where she sneaks in words like narcissism and altruism perfectly. Beyond the impeccable lyricism, Swift delivers a respectable vocal backed by sound production (a fine collaboration with
Jack Antonoff). The centerpiece of βAnti-Heroβ is the chorus, something that Swift has excelled at since the beginning of her career. In the chorus, Swift asserts, βIβll stare directly at the sun, but never in the mirror / It must be exhausting always rooting for the anti-hero.β Woo! Her honesty is epic in itself.
Appears in :
3. Adam Lambert, βHolding Out for a Heroβ
High Drama β’
More is More, LLC / BMG Rights Management (US) LLC β’
2023
βWhere have all the good men gone and where are all the gods?β That is a legitimate question,
Adam Lambert, sigh. I wish I had the answer! He goes on to sing in the first verse of
βHolding Out for a Heroβ, βWhereβs the streetwise Hercules to fight the rising odds?β Lambert is not the first to asks these burning questions. That honor belongs to
Bonnie Tyler, who recorded this
Jim Steinman and Dean Pitchford penned record for the Footloose soundtrack in 1984. Additionally, the hit appeared on the Welsh singerβs 1986 LP,
Secret Dreams & Forbidden Fire. Lambertβs cover of βHolding Out for a Heroβ graces his 2023 album,
High Drama.
βHolding Out for a Heroβ suits him perfectly. Big-voiced and theatrical to the nth degree, Lambert makes this hit sound like an original. Given his prodigious vocal skills, it is unsurprising that Adam can transform a song originally sung by the opposite sex and make it work perfectly for him. Of course, given the fact that he is openly gay, it also works seamlessly that his love interest is male (βItβs gonna take a Superman to sweep me off my feetβ). As intriguing as the verses are, it is the anthemic chorus where Adam shines his brightest: βI need a hero / Iβm holding out for a hero βtil the end of the night / Heβs gotta be strong, and heβs gotta be fast / And heβs gotta be fresh from the fight.β Besides the singing, the production ( Andrew Wells and Charley Bagnall) successfully reintroduces βHolding Out for a Heroβ for the 21st century. The synths sizzles, while the beat hits hard.
βHolding Out for a Heroβ does not sound like an anachronism in 2023, particularly in the
Grammy-nominated pop/rock artistβs hands.
Appears in :
- Adam Lambert, βHolding Out for a Heroβ: Covers No. 6 (2023)
- 15 Songs That Require You to HOLD On (2023)
4. Mariah Carey, βHeroβ
Music Box β’
Columbia β’
1993
βThereβs a hero / If you look inside your heart / You donβt have to be afraid / Of what you are,β
Grammy winner
Mariah Carey sings on one of her most beloved hits,
βHero.β βHero,β which graces her 1993 album,
Music Box, was a no. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. To date, βHeroβ has performed in a heroic fashion, earning double platinum honors. Furthermore, Music Box has been certified diamond (!) by the RIAA β big time! Focusing on βHero,β given the inspirational and uplifting vibe, itβs unsurprising it ranks near the top of Careyβs illustrious collection.
Vocally, Mariah Carey shows everyone she possesses the voice of an angel. She sings incredibly expressively, and you buy what sheβs selling. With a superb first verse under her belt, she keeps the uplifting vibes going strong in the second: βYou can find love / If you search within yourself / And the emptiness you felt / Will disappear.β Sigh, doesnβt that just make you feel some type of way β all warm, fuzzy, and encouraged inside? The crΓ¨me de la crΓ¨me β the crowning achievement β is none other than the chorus, where the heroics reach a fever pitch!
βAnd then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So, when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And youβll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you.β
Appears in :
5. Macklemore, βHEROESβ (FT. DJ Premier)
BEN β’
Bendo, LLC β’
2023
βWhen I grew up, criminals were my heroes.β Now that is quite the assertion,
Macklemore! Macklemore brings the heat on
βHEROESβ, a promo single from his 2023 album,
BEN. βHEROESβ features incredible, old-school, dusty hip-hop production courtesy of
Budo (think boom bap). The beat knocks β it goes FKNG hard! Of course, it should be noted, the record samples
βTiger Trotβ by
Leroi Conroy. Given the sample, and Budoβs own skills, the backdrop has plenty of charm, with its horns, keys, scratches.
Still, the star(s) are Macklemore and his featured guest,
DJ Premier. DJ Premier is responsible for the chorus: βPick up the mic, put your money where your mouth is / Doinβ petty crimes, back in the daysβ¦β As for Macklemore, heβs on fire over the course of two verses. He delivers an agile, aggressive flow, with plenty of personality. It all begins with that βcriminalβ opening line from the first verse. It doesnβt stop there of course, as Macklemore goes in, bar after bar after bar. Memorably, you heart it when he asserts, βBy sixteen, I had an MPC / (It was hip hopβs fault) That I wanted to grow up / Sell drugs, smoke blunts, drink Mad Dog and fuck.β Woo! Also memorable: βWanted a perm like DJ Quik / My mama said, βBen, are you aware your hair is way too thin?ββ βHEROESβ is nothing short of a vibe. Macklemore is back, baby!
6. Lil Baby & Lil Durk, βVoice of the Heroesβ
The Voice of the Heroes β’
Quality Control Music β’
2021
βJust keep on beinβ the voice, Iβll be the hero / and everything I got is a profit, started with zero.β Two of the hottest rappers of the 2020s joined forces. Thatβs right,
Lil Baby and
Lil Durk topped the Billboard 200 with their 2021 collaborative album,
The Voice of the Heroes. Of course, what better way to commence the album than with the title track,
βVoice of the Heroes.β βVoice of the Heroesβ is produced by
TouchofTrent and Haze, who certainly fuel Baby and Durksβ fire.
Out the gate, Lil Durk brings it strong with his agile, melodic flow. On the first verse, heβs very honest about life, whether itβs missing his kids, seeing an uncle die, or seeing hs βBrother stack his bricks up and it look like Tetris.β Following the verse, Durk goes on to give us the heroic chorus, which highlights the titular lyric. Next, Lil Baby drops his own slaughter fest, with his ever-distinct tone and compelling flow. Like Durk, he keeps things real, dropping the gem, βI showed all my niggas in the trenches itβs a better life / Never get too big for me to listen, Iβll take your advice.β A shorter Durk verse, followed by a shorter Lil Baby verse occurs before the chorus returns. βVoice of the Heroesβ is both a fine opening cut, as well as a totally, worthwhile single.
Appears in :
7. Lillias White, Cheryl Freeman, LaChanze, Roz Ryan, Vaneese Thomas & Tawatha Agee, βZero To Heroβ
Hercules β’
Disney β’
1997
βBless my soul, Herc was on a roll.β Woo, indeed! Heβs Hunk-ules with that chiseled bod and those dashing looks
! Some of the very best, most electrifying moments from the soundtrack to the 1997 Disney animated film,
Hercules, arrived courtesy of The Muses. Among the best songs performed by The Muses β
Lillias White,
Cheryl Freeman,
LaChanze,
Roz Ryan,
Vaneese Thomas, and
Tawatha Agee β is
βZero To Hero.β
βZero To Heroβ speaks for itself. The Muses highlight the come-up of Hercules. The one-liners are everything. βHerc could stop a show / Point him at a monster and youβre talkinβ SRO.β Woo! Calliope, who sings that marvelous line, goes on to say, βNow heβs a honcho,β of course, after previously being a zero! Fittingly, Thalia informs us, βAnd they slapped his face on every vase,β echoed by Clio (βOn every vase!β). Beyond the awesome lyrics celebrating this zero-turned-hero, the music is ripe, embracing R&B and gospel vibes. One of the best moments of this classic is when The Muses turn it up another notch and βZero to Heroβ opts for a double-time feel. Amen! Alan Menken and David Zippel composed a surefire gem!
Appears in :
8. Logic, βBlack SpiderManβ (Ft. Damian Lemar Hudson)
Everybody β’
Def Jam β’
2017
βBlack SpiderManβ serves as the penultimate record on
Everybody, the third studio album by
Logic. The
Grammy-nominated rapper enlists
Damian Lemar Hudson for the assist. βBlack SpiderManβ features lush, gospel-tinged production work, giving the record an exuberant quality. Logic sings respectably on the hook, over the spiritually driven backdrop. Following the spirited hook, he breaks into quick-paced, spirited rhymes. The central theme is that everybody is included.
βI ainβt ashamed to be white
I ainβt ashamed to be black
I ainβt ashamed of my beautiful Mexican wife as a matter of fact.β
It is worth noting that at the time, Logic was married someone different than he is nowβ¦ Anyways, in the context of βBlack SpiderMan,β he continues to explore the message, adding sexuality and religion to the mix. The titular lyric arrives towards the end of the lengthy verse, with Logic changing the perceptions of familiar things, including references to black Jesus. Amen?
Appears in :
9. Martin Garrix & JVKE, βHeroβ
βHeroβ β’
STMPD RCRDS B.V. / Epic Amsterdam β’
2022
βCanβt you see youβre not ready? My arms are gettingβ heavy from the weight of the world.β Wow, that is some heavy lifting
!
JVKE continues singing, βItβs up to me and Iβm getting sweaty / Is it too much to hold?β Perhaps, perhaps! Backtracking, an Enigmatic intro (βoohβ vocals) sets the tone for
βHeroβ, a collaboration by Dutch dance/electronic producer extraordinaire,
Martin Garrix (
) and ascending singer/producer, JVKE. βHeroβ was released as a single in December 2022. As always, Garrix serves up terrific production wizardry, co-producing with
Jason Suwito, New Haven, and Brooks. The synths and sound effects are ear-catching, while the groove hits hard (when it occurs).
Shifting the focus to JVKE, once more, his vocals are gorgeous from the opening tip to the close of the track. Some of his best moments include when he dips into falsetto β utterly sweet! The crowning achievement of βHeroes,β unsurprisingly, is the chorus. Here, JVKE employs more assertiveness and bite, and the production is more dynamic and grander in scheme. You could call the chorus of βHeroβ incredibly heroic and perhaps, more importantly, CATCHY AS ALBEIT!
βWoah-oh, I know
Say you want a hero, you donβt
Say you want a savior, pull you off the ground
Then you wanna blame me when youβre fallinβ down
Woah-oh, I know
Donβt wanna be your hero, oh no
Whenβs it gonna sink in that weβre sinkinβ and fallinβ apart?
βCause love donβt last in the dark.β
Appears in :
10. Alec Benjamin, βDeath of a Heroβ
Narrated for You β’
2018
βI tried to help but he said he was just too far from saving.β One reason why
βDeath of a Heroβ (
Narrated for You) is a magnificent record is thanks to the fact that pop musician
Alec Benjamin is incredibly authentic β quite sincere. Furthermore, the theme makes βDeath of a Heroβ a gem, with Benjamin expressing his disappointment with a role model. We assume our role models to be saintly. Then, what do they do? Disappoint us, forcing us to regroup and rethink everything.
βDeath of a Hero,β hence is a βdeadlyβ song, metaphorically speaking. Here, the singer/songwriterβs βSupermanβ exhibits his unflattering side, and the image of his hero is forever tarnished. There, my friends, is the metaphorical death.
Appears in :
- 101 Best Songs of 2018
- Recapping 40 Stunning Ballads from 2018
- Deadly Songs Unlikely to Leave You Literally Dead (Vol. 2) (2020)
- Hero: 5ive Songs No. 64 (2022)
11. Enrique Iglesias, βHeroβ
Escape β’
Interscope β’
2001
Grammy-winning Latin pop artist
Enrique Iglesias is⦠SMOKING HOT
! Now that I got that out of the way, letβs focus on what truly matters β his voice. Throughout the course of his career, Iglesias has wowed with his expressive instrument. His tone is truly radiant, particularly on arguably his best song,
βHeroβ (
Escape, 2001). Does it help that Iglesias is easy on the eyes β quite the heartthrob? Yes, by all means it does help, but he is more than his dashing good looks β he is incredibly talented. Honestly, it is hard to believe that βHeroβ did not reach the no. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 β it settled for no. 3. Regardless, βHeroβ spent 34 weeks on the Hot 100.
On βHero,β his dedication and devotion to his lover is respectable. βI can be your hero, baby / I can kiss away the pain,β he sings in the chorus, continuing, βI will stand by you forever / You can take my breath away.β Essentially, Iglesias seems willing to die for this person. Of course, there is also sensual element as well, particularly lines like, βWould you tremble, if I touched your lips.β Still, the big takeaway is L-O-V-E. This is a totally different vibe than a later Enrique Iglesias cut, βTonight (Iβm Fuckinβ You)β where it is clear what head Mr. Iglesias is thinking about. More than 20 years after its release, βHeroβ remains powerful and definitely a heroic statement about love.
Appears in :
12. Tina Turner, βWe Donβt Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)β
Simply the Best β’
Parlophone β’
1991
βOut of the ruins / Out from the wreckage / Canβt make the same mistake this time.β For sure,
Tina Turner, for sure! By the time
βWe Donβt Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)β arrived, Turner had firmly secured her makeover as a pop/rock artist in her solo career.
Private Dancer had arrived in 1984, a year ahead of the
Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome soundtrack. Notably, Turner was an actor in the movie (Aunty Entity) in addition to singing on the soundtrack. Of course, the song trumps everything else on the soundtrack, earning Turner another huge hit (it peaked at no. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100).
βWe Donβt Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)β was written by
Graham Lyle and Terry Britten. The backdrop is energetic, with ample rhythm, an impressive groove, and colorful instrumental cues (keys, guitars, bass, saxophone solo by
Tim Cappello). From start to finish, Tina Turner delivers her signature tone. She is a bit more poised during portions of the verses, picking up steam on the gargantuan, anthemic chorus in all its glory.
βWe donβt need another hero
We donβt need to know the way home
All we want is life beyond
Thunderdome.β
Another memorable moment precedes the chorus, as Turner sings, in both verses, βAnd I wonder when we are ever gonna change / Living under the fear, until nothing else remains.β Also, shout out the totally turned up bridge β WOO! Adding to the distinct, memorable nature of βWe Donβt Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)β is when a truly spirited Turner invites the children to sing. The timbre of childrenβs voices just adds something extra special to so many songs, with βWe Donβt Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)β being no exception.
Appears in :
13. David Bowie, βHeroesβ
βHeroesβ β’
Jones / Tintoretto Entertainment Company LLC β’
1977
βI, I will be king / And you, you will be queen,β
David Bowie asserts in the chorus of
βHeroesβ, among his most critically acclaimed and beloved songs. He continues, βThough nothing will drive them away / We can beat them just for one day / We can heroes just for one day.β Woo! One day is better than nothing, right? βHeroesβ appears on Bowieβs 1977 album,
βHeroesβ. Is Bowie really talking about royalty and heroism? No. Heβs referencing an affair between his producer (who was married) and his girlfriend. Scandalous!
It makes sense on this
Brian Eno co-write that this relationship canβt possibly be permanent. Need I reiterate that
Tony Visconti was married! That is often the case with affairs, whoβs secrecy is often revealed to catastrophic repercussions. Regardless, Bowie sings in impassioned fashion, eventually belting about the possibility of one day of loverβs bliss, uninterrupted, sigh. Furthermore, he hopes for more, given the fact βWe can beat them forever and ever.β The energy and the sheer expression of his vocals is awe-inspiring, earning the characterization by some that this is the David Bowie performance to beat. Among the most memorable lyrics appear in the third verse, citing the incident in which Bowie witnessed the affair this song is based on:
βI, I can remember (I remember)
Standing by the wall (By the wall)
And the guns shot above our heads (Over our heads)
And we kissed as though nothing could fall (Nothing could fall).β
Appears in :
13 Totally Heroic Hero Songs [
: Brent Faulkner/The Musical Hype; Alec Benjamin, Bendo, LLC, Boominati Worldwide, LLC / Republic, Columbia, Def Jam, Disney, Interscope, Jones / Tintoretto Entertainment Company LLC, More is More, LLC / BMG Rights Management (US) LLC, Parlophone, Quality Control Music, STMPD RCRDS B.V. / Epic Amsterdam, Taylor Swift; Ferdie Balean, Klaus Nielsen, RODNAE Productions, RonΓͺ Ferreira, Roy Reyna via Pexels]
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13 Songs Where The Need Is Real | Playlist
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Β· February 15, 2023 at 12:02 am
[β¦] 13 Totally Heroic Hero Songs (2023) [β¦]
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