“Hero” is a song by the American rock band Weezer. It was released on May 6, 2020 as the second single from the band’s upcoming fourteenth studio album Van Weezer.
Rolling Stone described “Hero” as an outcast anthem, which focuses on frontman Rivers Cuomo’s feelings of inadequacy. The band described the song as for “the stay at home dreamers, the zoom graduators, the sourdough bakers, and the essential workers”. Following the style of Van Weezer’s return to the band’s roots in hard rock, “Hero” has been described musically as an upbeat Weezer song with heavy guitar usage. Spin described it as “a dose of power pop.”
“When I was a kid, I thought I’d save the world
Running ’round and chasing all the criminals
Swinging on a web, flying in the sky
Shooting lasers from my eyes
But now I know it never was my destiny
It’s not my place in life, not who I’m meant to be
And I don’t need the glory, I don’t need the fame
And I don’t wanna wear this cape
‘Cause on the inside (On the inside), I know it won’t last
On the inside (On the inside), I’m an outcast
Well, everybody needs a hero, but I’m not everybody else
I walk alone, yeah, I walk alone, yeah, I walk alone, oh, yeah
You know, I tried to be a hero, but I was lying to myself
I walk alone, yeah, I walk alone, yeah, I walk alone, oh, yeah”
The music video for the song was directed by Brendan Walter and Jasper Graham. It begins with a scene of Cuomo writing a letter, which is then seen passed along Weezer fans, accompanied with footage of the band performing the song. At the end of the video, the letter is opened to reveal a tribute to essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The video includes a cameo from the band Real Estate.
Check out the music video for “Hero” below:
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Photo Credit: Christian Bertrand / Shutterstock.com