Hero

“Hero” is one of the best-selling singles of all time from Spanish singer Enrique Iglesias, and is the fourth track from his fifth studio album released in 2001: “Escape”.

“Hero”, which was written Iglesias, Paul Barry and Mark Taylor, depicts Iglesias telling a lover how he wants to be their “hero”, as well as questioning their love for him as well. In a 2013 radio interview with American radio host Ryan Seacrest, Iglesias discussed the track’s history and inspiration: “ “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.” “Hero” was released on CD on the 3rd September 2001, eight days before the September 11 attacks, and became frequently played track by New York DJs after the attack.

There are two music videos for “Hero”. The first music video for “Hero” was directed by Joseph Kahn, an features Iglesias being an honourable criminal who is chased by enemies, while his love interest (played by actress Jennifer Love Hewitt) joins Iglesias on the run. American actor Mickey Rourke plays the main enemy after Iglesias, and they eventually find him in a desert outside a church. At the end the video, Iglesias and Hewitt are shown in the rain surrounded by police cars, with Iglesias walking towards Hewitt but breaking down and passing away. This version of music video was uploaded to YouTube on the 25th December 2009, and as of October 2019, the video has over 345 million views and over 1.2 million likes. The second version released for the UK follows the original, but simply shows Iglesias’ legs moving at the end, implying he may not be dead

Release Date: 14th August 2001

Songwriter/s: Enrique Iglesias, Paul Barry & Mark Taylor

Producer/s: Mark Taylor

Label: Interscope Records

Music Video Release Date: 25th December 2009

Music Video Director: Joseph Kahn

Chart Rankings, Certifications & Awards: “Hero” ranked highly worldwide in its year of release. It hit #1 in Australia, #3 in Austria, #3 and #19 in Belgium, #10 in Brazil, #1 in Canada, #5 in Denmark, #43 in France, #3 in Germany, #1 in Ireland, #2 in Italy, #43 in New Zealand, #3 in Norway, #1 in the Philippines, #1 in Poland, #1 in Portugal, #1 in Romania, #1 in Scotland, #1 in Spain, #1 in Switzerland, #3 in Sweden, #1 in the UK Singles (Official Charts Company), #3 in the US Billboard Hot 100, #1 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, #12 on the US Billboard Adult Top 40, #1 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs, #1 on the US Billboard Hot Latin Songs (the Spanish version: “Héroe”), and lastly, #2 on the US Billboard Mainstream Top 40. It is certified Gold in Austria and Germany, Platinum in Sweden, Switzerland and the US, and certified 2x Platinum in the UK and Australia. “Hero” has also won a total of 6 awards: the “Latin Dance Club/Play Track of the Year” at the Billboard Latin Music Awards (2002), “Best Male Video” at the Comet Awards (2002), “Video of the Year” at the Lo Nuestro Awards (2002), “Video of the Year” at Los Premios MTV Latinoamerica Awards (2002), “MTV Latin America (Pacific)” at the MTV Video Music Awards (2002), and finally, the “Song of the Year” award at the 2003 ASCAP Pop Music Awards.

The lyrics for “Hero” can be accessed here: LINK