Hero (Skillet song)

Last updated

"Hero"
Skillet hero.png
Single by Skillet
from the album Awake
ReleasedMay 19, 2009 (2009-05-19)
Length3:06
Label
Songwriters
Producer Howard Benson
Skillet singles chronology
"Comatose"
(2007)		"Hero"
(2009)		"Monster"
(2009)

"Hero" is a song recorded by the American Christian rock band Skillet. It was released on May 19, 2009, as the first single from their seventh studio album, Awake .

Contents

Background and composition

"Hero" is the opening track from Skillet's seventh studio album, Awake . The band's lead vocalist and songwriter, John Cooper, felt that it laid the foundation for the album, with the song's bridge encapsulating the message they wanted to communicate. Cooper said he had a "metaphorical idea" of a hero due to growing up with comic books. He also said he felt the need to write a song about the topic due to the feeling of "[all] the people we believe in [having] let us down". [1]

Promotion

The music video for "Hero" was directed by the Erwin Brothers. It premiered on Yahoo! Music on September 10, 2009, and later on Tangle.com and TVU. It also began rotation on the Gospel Music Channel. [2]

Still in 2009, "Hero" was used in promotional material by the NBC for their new Sunday Night Football season and the Kickoff game of the National Football League (NFL). [2] The NFL also began using "Hero" to promote its Sunday night games. [3] WWE used the song in the video game WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 , [4] their Tribute to the Troops TV special, and the Royal Rumble 2010 event as its main theme. [5] It was also used in trailers of the film Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010). [5]

Skillet re-recorded it for their 2010 iTunes Session live EP. [6] A slowed down remix by The Legion of Doom, containing electronic and industrial elements, was included in Skillet's Awake and Remixed EP in 2011. [7] "Hero" appeared in the Christian compilation WOW Hits 2011 [8] and the next year on Skillet's compilation The Platinum Collection. [9]

Awards

The song was nominated for both "Rock Recorded Song of the Year" and "Short Form Video of the Year" at the 41st GMA Dove Awards. [10]

Personnel

Chart performance

Chart performance for "Hero"
Chart (2009–10)Peak
position
US Heatseekers Songs ( Billboard ) [11] 47
US Hot Christian Songs ( Billboard ) [12] 29
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) [13] 35

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [14] Gold45,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ) [15] Gold15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [16] Silver200,000‡
United States (RIAA) [17] 3× Platinum3,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ↑ Angel (August 24, 2009). "Skillet breathes life into Awake". NewReleaseToday. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Skillet music and videos gain support from Fuse, AOL Noisecreep, Yahoo! Music, the NFL on ABC and more". Jesus Freak Hideout. September 10, 2009. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  3. ↑ Somers, Eliza Marie (November 2, 2009). "Skillet gets a sporting chance". The Denver Post . Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  4. ↑ "The music of SmackDown vs. Raw 2010". WWE . Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  5. 1 2 Van Pelt, Doug (February 1, 2010). "Skillet slams into 2010 with no. 4 mainstream radio hit". HM Magazine . Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  6. ↑ DiBase, John (November 16, 2010). "Skillet, iTunes Session review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  7. ↑ DiBase, John (March 20, 2011). "Skillet, Awake and Remixed EP review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Various artists, WOW Hits 2011". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  9. ↑ McKarison, Timmy (May 28, 2022). "Skillet, The Platinum Collection review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Complete list of 2010 Dove Award nominees". The Christian Post . February 21, 2010. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Skillet chart history". Billboard . Retrieved October 19, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Skillet Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Skillet Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Skillet – Hero". IFPI Danmark . Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  15. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Skillet – Hero". Radioscope. Retrieved December 23, 2024.Type Hero in the "Search:" field.
  16. ↑ "British single certifications – Skillet – Hero". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  17. ↑ "American single certifications – Skillet – Hero". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved November 4, 2021.
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