Jump to content

Hero (Enrique Iglesias song)

Checked
Page protected with pending changes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Hero"
Single by Enrique Iglesias
from the album Escape
Released3 September 2001 (2001-09-03)
RecordedFebruary–May 2001
Studio
Genre
Length
  • 4:24 (album version)
  • 4:11 (radio edit)
LabelInterscope
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Mark Taylor
Enrique Iglesias singles chronology
"Sad Eyes"
(2000) 		"Hero"
(2001) 		"Escape"
(2002)
Music video
"Hero" on YouTube

"Hero" is a song by Spanish singer-songwriter Enrique Iglesias from his second English-language studio album Escape (2001). It was written by Iglesias, Paul Barry and Mark Taylor. Interscope Records released the song on 3 September 2001 to a positive critical and commercial reception. To the date the single has sold over 8 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best selling singles of all time.

After the 11 September attacks on the World Trade Center, which took place eight days after the single was released, "Hero" was one of the few songs chosen by radio DJs in New York City to be remixed with audio from police, firefighters, civilians at Ground Zero, and politicians commenting on the attacks. Iglesias was asked to sing the song live at America: A Tribute to Heroes. He had performed the song earlier at that year's Miss Venezuela, but due to the terrorist attacks the show was not aired on television.

The American television series Glee featured a version of the song as a mashup mixed with the Gipsy Kings' "Bamboléo". The release from the twelfth episode (called "The Spanish Teacher") in season 3 of the show is named "Bambolero/Hero". The main vocals were done by Chord Overstreet (playing the character Sam Evans). British musician Lawrey recorded a synth-pop version of the song featuring Kate Hawken and Jory Griffin. An Italian version of this song was covered by Micheal Castaldo, in his studio album Bergamot.

On 4 December 2020, Latin boyband CNCO released a cover version of the song 20 years after the original.

Background

[edit]

"Hero" has a meaning of love and assurance with a desire to be a hero for the love of a woman.[1] Iglesias stated that his high school days were the inspiration for the song. During a 2013 radio interview with Ryan Seacrest, he stated, "I went back to when I was 17 in high school, and this might be cheesy, but I thought about what would be the song I want to slow dance to with my prom date. When I wrote it, it felt good and ... I thought I know there is something special in this song."[2]

Due to the song's subject matter, it was one of the few songs chosen by radio DJs in New York City to be remixed with audio from police, firefighters, civilians at Ground Zero, and politicians commenting on the attacks. Iglesias was also asked to sing the song live at the America: A Tribute to Heroes benefit concert, which took place on 21 September. His performance was broadcast from a warehouse in New York alongside Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, and Sheryl Crow.[3] The location of the warehouse was kept secret in case of further attacks. It was Iglesias's first televised performance of the song. He had performed the song earlier at that year's Miss Venezuela, but due to the terrorist attacks the show was not aired on television.[3]

Chart performance

[edit]

"Hero" topped many charts in the US including the Billboard adult contemporary chart for fifteen weeks.[4] On the latter, the song would re-enter the top ten a year later, the first song ever to do so. The song peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart,[4] though it is actually his most played song on the chart, outdoing prior singles "Bailamos" and "Be with You", both of which went to number one on the chart. A remixed recording also topped the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in January 2002.

In January 2002, the song was released in the UK, where it debuted at number 86 before jumping 85 places to number one, where it remained for four weeks. Up to this point, Iglesias had already had two hits in the UK ("Bailamos" and "Could I Have This Kiss Forever") but was still largely unknown. "Hero" was seen as his breakthrough in the UK and it became the third best-selling single of 2002 there, whilst Escape was also the third best-selling album of the year. With sales of 836,500, "Hero" was the 17th best-selling single of the 2000s in the UK. In April 2015, it was announced that the song had sold 1 million copies in the UK.[5]

In Australia, the song reached number one on the ARIA Chart, becoming his first number-one in that country. The song also topped the charts in Spain, Switzerland, Portugal, Romania, Ireland and Canada. This is one of Iglesias' best-selling singles and has sold 8 million copies.[6]

Music videos

[edit]

The music video for "Hero" was directed by Joseph Kahn in August 2001. It features Iglesias as an honorable criminal hunted by his enemies, while Jennifer Love Hewitt plays his love interest[7] and Mickey Rourke plays one of the men hunting him.[8] The video follows Iglesias and Hewitt running from their enemies in the desert. Finally, Iglesias' enemies track him down and confront him outside a church. The confrontation leads to Iglesias being floored by Rourke, before being struck with a baton. The video skips ahead where Iglesias and Hewitt are seen in the rain surrounded by police cars. Iglesias, though heavily injured, walks towards Hewitt and breaks down beside her. The video ends with Iglesias' death.

In addition to this video, a second video was made for the UK with less violence. The final shot of this video shows Iglesias' legs moving, suggesting that he's not dead. While originally made for the UK, this version has since replaced the original video on many music video stations throughout the world. It is also the version shown on Vevo and YouTube.

Portions of the video were filmed in the ghost town Amboy, California in the Mojave Desert and just outside Desert Hot Springs, California near Palm Springs. The historic gas station location that they filmed at, outside of Desert Hot Springs, was one of the first gas stations in the Palm Springs area. As of 1 June 2024, the video has been viewed 534 million times on YouTube.[9]

In May 2024, Hewitt told Entertainment Tonight, "The craziest thing about that video shoot that I don’t know if people know, is that Enrique and [American singer and actress] Aaliyah were close friends. And the night that we filmed that video, was the night that she passed. And so Enrique had to film that, like all of his crying stuff in the video was filmed and he was really crying because she had passed [...] we all did a big prayer for [Aaliyah] at the end of the video."[10][11]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Awards and nominations for "Hero"
Year Ceremony Award Result
2002 My VH1 Music Awards Best Actor in a Video (Jennifer Love Hewitt) Nominated
Is It Hot In Here, Or Is It Just My Video Nominated
The Record of the Year Award Record of the Year Nominated
Billboard Latin Music Awards Latin Dance Club/Play Track of the Year Won
Canadian Fannie Awards Favourite Video Nominated
Comet Awards Best Male Video Won
MTV Europe Music Awards Best Song Nominated
Lo Nuestro Award Video of the Year Won
Los Premios MTV Latinoamerica Video of the Year Won
MTV Video Music Awards Best Male Video Nominated
Viewer's Choice Nominated
MTV Latin America (North) Nominated
MTV Latin America (Pacific) Won
2003 ASCAP Pop Music Awards Song of the Year Won
Ivor Novello Awards Best Selling UK Single Nominated

Track listings

[edit]

UK CD1

  1. "Hero" (Album Version) – 4:24
  2. "Hero" (Metro Mix – English Version) – 3:28
  3. "Bailamos" (Album Version) – 3:37
  4. "Hero" (Video) – 4:24

UK CD2 – The Remixes

  1. "Hero" (Metro Mix – English Version) – 4:19
  2. "Hero" (Ventura & Colombo Remix) – 3:43
  3. "Hero" (Metro Mix – Spanish Version) – 4:19
  4. "Hero" (Thunderpuss Radio Edit) – 3:18

DE CD single

  1. "Hero" (Radio Edit) – 4:11
  2. "Be With You" (Thunderpuss Radio Mix) – 3:56
  3. "Hero" (Metro Mix – Spanish Version) – 4:19

Japanese CD single

  1. "Hero" (Radio Edit) – 4:11
  2. "Be With You" (Thunderpuss 2000 Remix) – 7:46
  3. "Hero" (Metro Mix – Spanish Version) – 3:28

Japanese "Hero/Escape" maxi single[12]

  1. "Hero" (Album Version) – 4:27
  2. "Escape" (Album Version) – 3:30
  3. "Hero" (Instrumental Version) – 4:23

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications and sales for "Hero"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[82] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[83] Gold 20,000*
Belgium (BEA)[84] Gold 25,000*
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[85] Platinum 90,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[86] Gold 250,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[87] Gold 40,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[88] Platinum  
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[89] Gold 30,000‡
Sweden (GLF)[90] Platinum 30,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[91] Platinum 40,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[92] 2× Platinum 1,200,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Release dates and formats for "Hero"
Region Version Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States "Hero" 31 August 2001
Interscope [93]
Spain
Australia 22 October 2001 CD [94]
Japan 24 October 2001 [95]
"Hero" / "Escape" 23 January 2002 [96]

CNCO version

[edit]

On 4 December 2020, Latin boyband CNCO released a cover version of the song 20 years after the original. The single is accompanied with a music video, in its turn being a tribute to the visual direction of the Backstreet Boys' 1999 music video "Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely". The track "Hero" appeared on the band's cover album Déja Vu in 2021. The group also recorded a Spanish version for the deluxe edition of their album.[97] CNCO previously worked with Iglesias on a remix of his 2017 song "Súbeme la Radio".[citation needed]

Television and film soundtracks

[edit]

"Hero" has become wildly popular due in part to the fact that it has been featured in many television shows and movies around the world. The earliest appearance of the song on an American television show was on a 2001 episode of The WB show Smallville entitled "Craving". Since then the song has been featured in such American sitcoms and reality television shows as Scrubs, Saturday Night Live: The Best of Jimmy Fallon, Glee, The X Factor, So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing with the Stars and the miniseries I Love the New Millennium. The song has also been featured in such international television shows as Hinter Gittern – Der Frauenknast and So You Think You Can Dance Canada. Numerous films also feature the song, including Hot Tub Time Machine, Premios Amigo 2001, Zoom, Lady Godiva, Drillbit Taylor, Don Quixote, and Beverly Hills Chihuahua.

Although the song has appeared in many television shows and movies, the first televised performance of the song was scheduled to be Iglesias's performance of the song at Miss Venezuela on 11 September 2001, but this performance was not televised due to the terrorist attacks on that day. The actual first televised performance of the song was when Iglesias performed the song at the America: A Tribute to Heroes concert on 21 September, ten days after the attacks.[98]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Aviles, Hector (11 September 2011). "Released on Iglesias's second English album, Hero shows love and determination". Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  2. ^ Marquina, Sierra (24 September 2013). "Enrique Iglesias on New Single 'Heart Attack,' His Writing Process". RyanSeacrest.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  3. ^ a b Aviles, Hector (3 September 2011). "Enrique Iglesias "Hero" Uplifted Nation After 9-11 Attacks". Latino Music Cafe. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  4. ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications)
  5. ^ Copsey, Rob (19 September 2017). "The UK's Official Chart 'millionaires' revealed". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  6. ^ "Enrique Iglesias top 10 hits". Music Videos & Lyrics. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  7. ^ Manan, Dazman (12 October 2002). "At Home with Hewitt". Life & Times. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  8. ^ "Jennifer Love Hewitt in Enrique Iglesias' 'Hero': The Best Music Video Celebrity Cameos Ever". Capital FM. Archived from the original on 31 October 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  9. ^ "Enrique Iglesias - Hero". YouTube. 25 December 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  10. ^ Saunders, Angel (1 June 2024). "Enrique Iglesias and Aaliyah 'Were Close Friends,' Says Jennifer Love Hewitt: 'He Was Really Crying'". People. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  11. ^ Bryant, Jacob (31 May 2024). "Jennifer Love Hewitt Reveals Enrique Iglesias Was Actually Crying Over Aaliyah's Death in 'Hero' Music Video". The Wrap. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  12. ^ "Amazon.co.jp： ヒーロー/エスケイプ: エンリケ・イグレシアス: 音楽". amazon.co.jp. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  13. ^ "Enrique Iglesias – Hero". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  14. ^ "Enrique Iglesias – Hero" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  15. ^ "Enrique Iglesias – Hero" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  16. ^ "Enrique Iglesias – Hero" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  17. ^ "Enrique Iglesias Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  18. ^ Steffen Hung. "Danish charts portal". danishcharts.dk. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
  19. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 18, no. 48. 24 November 2001. p. 5. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  20. ^ "Enrique Iglesias – Hero" (in French). Les classement single.
  21. ^ "Enrique Iglesias – Hero" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  22. ^ "Top 50 Singles". IFPI Greece. Vol. 19, no. 47. 17 November 2001. p. 29. Archived from the original on 22 February 2002. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  23. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 19, no. 47. 22 February 2002. p. 29.
  24. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Hero". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  25. ^ "Enrique Iglesias – Hero". Top Digital Download.
  26. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 50, 2001" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  27. ^ "Enrique Iglesias – Hero" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  28. ^ "Enrique Iglesias – Hero". Top 40 Singles.
  29. ^ "Topp 20 Single uke 1, 2002 – VG-lista. Offisielle hitlister fra og med 1958" (in Norwegian). VG-lista.
  30. ^ "Polish Airplay Charts – Lista krajowa 38/2001". PiF PaF Production. Archived from the original on 31 January 2002. Retrieved 1 February 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  31. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 18, no. 46. 10 November 2001. p. 11. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  32. ^ a b "Top of the Year 2001". Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 9 December 2002. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  33. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  34. ^ "Enrique Iglesias – Hero" Canciones Top 50.
  35. ^ "Enrique Iglesias – Hero". Singles Top 100.
  36. ^ "Enrique Iglesias – Hero". Swiss Singles Chart.
  37. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  38. ^ "Enrique Iglesias Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  39. ^ "Enrique Iglesias Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  40. ^ "Enrique Iglesias Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  41. ^ "Enrique Iglesias Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
  42. ^ "Enrique Iglesias Chart History (Hot Latin Songs)". Billboard.
  43. ^ "Enrique Iglesias Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  44. ^ "ARIA End of Year Singles Chart 2001". ARIA. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  45. ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 2001". austriancharts.at (in German). Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  46. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2001" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  47. ^ "BDS CHART : Top 100 of 2001". Jam!. Archived from the original on 1 July 2002. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  48. ^ "Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2001". Jam!. Archived from the original on 26 January 2003. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  49. ^ "Year in Review – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2001" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 18, no. 52. 22 December 2001. p. 14. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  50. ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 2001" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  51. ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2001". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  52. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2001" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  53. ^ "Tabla 16. Lista de CD-Singles Más Vendidos en el Año 2001" [Table 16. List of Best-Selling CD Singles in 2001] (in Spanish). AFYVE. p. 253. Retrieved 11 November 2021. Click on Música grabada.
  54. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 2001" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  55. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2001". hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  56. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 2001". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  57. ^ "ARIA End of Year Singles Chart 2002". ARIA. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  58. ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 2002". austriancharts.at (in German). Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  59. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2002" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  60. ^ "Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 2002". Crowley Broadcast Analysis. 3 April 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  61. ^ "Top 100 top played radio tracks in Canada in 2002". Jam!. Archived from the original on 12 August 2004. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  62. ^ "Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2002". Jam!. 14 January 2003. Archived from the original on 6 September 2004. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  63. ^ "Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2002 (Part 2)". Jam!. 14 January 2003. Archived from the original on 6 September 2004.
  64. ^ "Year in Review – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2002" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 21, no. 2–3. 11 January 2003. p. 14. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  65. ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 2002" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  66. ^ "Top 100 Songs of 2002". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 2002. Archived from the original on 2 June 2004. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  67. ^ "Top of the Music – Mix e Singoli" (PDF) (in Italian). FIMI. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 May 2006. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  68. ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2002". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  69. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2002" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  70. ^ "End of Year Charts 2002". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  71. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2002". hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  72. ^ "ChartsPlus Year-end 2002" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  73. ^ "Most Broadcast Of 2002 — Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Music Week. 18 January 2003. p. 31. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  74. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 2002". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  75. ^ "2002 The Year in Music". Billboard. Vol. 114, no. 52. 28 December 2002. p. YE-96. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  76. ^ "2003 The Year in Music". Billboard. Vol. 115, no. 52. 27 December 2003. p. YE-80. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  77. ^ "ARIA Chart Sales – End of Decade Top 100 Singles" (PDF). ARIA. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  78. ^ "Decennium Charts - Singles 2000-2009". MegaCharts (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  79. ^ Radio 1 Official Chart of the Decade, as broadcast on BBC Radio 1 on 29 December 2009, presented by DJ Nihal
  80. ^ [1] publisher:Billboard at the Wayback Machine (archived 17 May 2012)
  81. ^ "Top 20 of All Time". IRMA. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  82. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2002 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  83. ^ "Austrian single certifications – Enrique Iglesias – Hero" (in German). IFPI Austria.
  84. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2001". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  85. ^ "Danish single certifications – Enrique Iglesias – Hero". IFPI Danmark.
  86. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Enrique Iglesias; 'Hero')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  87. ^ "Dutch single certifications – Enrique Iglesias – Hero" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 5 November 2019. Enter Hero in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 2002 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  88. ^ "IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  89. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Enrique Iglesias – Hero". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  90. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2002" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011.
  91. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Hero')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  92. ^ "British single certifications – Enrique Iglesias – Hero". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  93. ^ "Enrique Iglesias lanzará 'Escape' a fines de octubre" (in Spanish). 29 August 2001. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  94. ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 22nd October 2001" (PDF). ARIA. 22 October 2001. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 February 2002. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  95. ^ "新譜発売日一覧 10月分" [New Release Date List for October] (in Japanese). Universal Music Japan. Archived from the original on 17 February 2002. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  96. ^ "新譜発売日一覧 2002年 1月分" [New Release Date List for January 2002] (in Japanese). Universal Music Japan. Archived from the original on 8 August 2002. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  97. ^ Kira Grunenberg (4 December 2020). "CNCO Shows Respect for the Past Through a Pair of Nostalgic Hits". American Songwriter. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  98. ^ Axelrod-Contrada, Joan. "Iglesias, Enrique: 1975—: Singer, Songwriter." Contemporary Hispanic Biography. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. 2 April 2015 <http://www.encyclopedia.com> Archived 29 December 2016 at the Wayback Machine.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hero_(Enrique_Iglesias_song)&oldid=1258851890"