Tina Turner vs. Ghost | Head 2 Head 🗣️

In the 23rd edition of Head 🗣️ 2 Head 🗣️ (2023), Tina Turner and Ghost contend for the best rendition of “We Don’t Need Another Hero.” 

Welcome to Head 2 Head! On Head 🗣️ 2 Head 🗣️, we pit at least two musicians singing the same song together, comparing their performances.  Then, after much deliberation, we deliver a verdict of which performance was the best, or at least, subjectively, which performance moved us more.  In the 23rd edition of head 🗣️2 head 🗣️ (2023), 🎙 Tina Turner and 🎙 Ghost contend for the best rendition of 🎵 “We Don’t Need Another Hero”. So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence! 

1. Tina Turner, “We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)” 

💿 Simply the Best • 🏷 Parlophone • 🗓 1991  

“Out of the ruins / Out from the wreckage / Can’t make the same mistake this time.” For sure, 🎙 Tina Turner, for sure! By the time 🎵 “We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)” 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).   

“We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)” 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.    

“We don’t need another hero  

We don’t need to know the way home  

All we want is life beyond  

Thunderdome.”     

Another memorable moment precedes the chorus, as Turner sings, in both verses, “And I wonder when we are ever gonna change / Living under the fear, until nothing else remains.” Also, shout out the totally turned up bridge – WOO! Adding to the distinct, memorable nature of “We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)” is when a truly spirited Turner invites the children to sing.  The timbre of children’s voices just adds something extra special to so many songs, with 🎵 “We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)” being no exception.   

via GIPHY

Appears in 🔻:   

• Tina Turner, “We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 21 (2023)  
• 13 Totally Heroic Hero Songs (2023)   
• 13 Songs Where the Need Is Real (2023)  

2. Ghost, “We Don’t Need Another Hero” 

💿 Phantomime • 🏷 Loma Vista • 🗓 2023 

It is NOT unusual for a rock or metal band to cover another rock artist.  The thing is, the late 😢, great 🎙 Tina Turner encompassed a wide variety of styles. The 1980s saw the icon transform herself into the Queen of Rock N Roll, in her mid 40s, mind you 🤘! 🎙 Ghost, the 🏆 Grammy-winning Swedish hard rock/metal band, covers Turner’s beloved hit, 🎵 “We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)” on their top-10 debuting, covers EP, 💿 Phantomime (that’s one hell of a title). “We Don’t Need Another Hero” appears as the fifth and final track.  It should be worth noting that Phantomime was released just days (May 19, 2023) before it was announced Turner had passed away (May 24, 2023). 

🎙 Tobias Forge gives his best recreating this famous soundtrack cut that has always stood on its own (it appeared originally in 1985’s 🎦 Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome).  The sound is clearly a contrast to the original, avoiding sounding like a copycat, and playing true to the Ghost style and vibes.  Vocally, Forge starkly contrasts Turner, but that’s to be expected.  He gives a solid performance and doesn’t try to overdo things nor be Tina Turner.  Turner is a once-in-a-lifetime singer, and rightfully, Forge stays true to self.  He sounds solid and truly delivers the goods in the powerful, anthemic chorus, which is also amplified by a more dynamic sound via instrumentation. One clear difference is that when he calls on the children to sing, there is no children’s choir.  Not a necessity, but worth noting the absence.  Beyond the chorus, one of the best moments of this lit Ghost cover is the bridge section, followed by a badass guitar solo 🎸🤘. In Ghost’s hands, 🎵 “We Don’t Need Another Hero” gets better and better as it progresses, as well as successive listens.

via GIPHY

Appears in 🔻:  

• Ghost, “We Don’t Need Another Hero”: Covers No. 23 (2023) 

The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️

🎙 Tina Turner or 🎙 Ghost?  We know the answer to this. Say it with me: TINA TURNER!!! She was a once in a lifetime artist. Still, give Tobias Forge and Ghost credit for a fine cover. Still, 🎵 “We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)” , in the hands of the Queen of Rock n Roll is untouchable, PERIOD!  

via GIPHY

Tina Turner vs. Ghost: Head 2 Head 🗣️ No. 23 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Loma Vista, Parlophone; Antoni Shkraba via Pexels, andresilva5, talha khalil, Valentin Tikhonov via Pixabay; Nick Wang on Unsplash]