Hero

There's little doubt in my mind that at some stage you've heard a song with the title 'Hero' or even if it's just one part of the title. Many artists of any genre choose to use this for their music. Whether your preferred genre be pop, rock, country or rap there's almost no way that you don't know and love a song with at least one reference to heroism.

Could artists be using the idea of heroism to draw listeners to their music, or is the idea of a hero simply entrenched into the psyche of our society? Some will argue that it's a form of marketing. Others will insist that it's just on the minds of the songwriter when they are writing the music. Either way, what defines a hero?

One of the songs which I think illustrates a modern hero is 'My Hero' first recorded by the Foo Fighters. The line that I think allows the idea of an ordinary person being a hero to be acceptable sits in the chorus of the song.

"There goes my hero, watch him as he goes,

There goes my hero, he's ordinary"

This set of lines is sung several time in the song and almost helps to put an emphasis on the idea that an ordinary person can be a hero. Personally I prefer the cover of this done by 'Paramore' for the 'Sound of Superman' album. It just seems to flow better and is easier for me to sing (which I think is the main reason why I like it more).

unfortunately there isn't a proper video for this song

Another song that I think illustrates the idea of an ordinary hero well is 'Hero' by 'Skillet'. Although I don't think it is quite as obvious in the lyrics of the song, I thought it was very easy to see this idea in their music video.

'Hero' by Nickelback's Chad Kroeger featuring 'Saliva's' lead vocalist Josey Scott also holds the idea of heroism. However, this song doesn't specify what sort of hero was being sung about. Personally I feel this is because the song was for the first 'Spiderman' movie. As this film is about an ordinary person who was only able to become a hero after a spider bite, it would in some was defeat the idea of the movie to say in it's featured track that anyone can be a hero if they wanted to be.

A movie which I saw recently, although a few years old, that I found interesting was all about a mans track to becoming a hero. 'Unbreakable' staring Bruce Willis and Samuel L Jackson was better than I expected it to be. Being a fan of both men's works I didn't have exactly low expectations but the preview did it no justice. For anyone looking for a movie that's got a bit of a twist, but not too heavy, I'd recommend this.