Hero (Weezer song)

2020 song by Weezer

"Hero"

Single by Weezer
from the album  Van Weezer
Released| May 6, 2020
Recorded| 2020
Genre|

* Power pop
* hard rock

Length| 3:57
Label|

* Atlantic
* Crush

Songwriter(s)|

* Rivers Cuomo
* Daniel Bedingfield
* Daniel Omelio
* Denzel Baptiste
* David Biral
* Dave Bassett

Producer(s)| Suzy Shinn
Weezer singles chronology
| "The End of the Game"
(2019)  | "Hero"
(2020)  | "Beginning of the End"
(2020)

|
|

Music video
"Hero" on YouTube

"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 fifteenth studio album, Van Weezer. It became the fifth Weezer song to reach number one on the US Alternative Airplay chart.

## Composition

[edit]

Rolling Stone described "Hero" as an outcast anthem, which focuses on frontman Rivers Cuomo's feelings of inadequacy.[1] The band described the song as for "the stay at home dreamers, the zoom graduators, the sourdough bakers, and the essential workers".[2] 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.[3] Spin described it as "a dose of power pop".[4]

On July 30, the band released an alternate version of the song titled "Hero (Piano)", arranged as a piano ballad.[5]

## Music video

[edit]

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.[1] The video includes a cameo from the band Real Estate.[6]

## Charts

[edit]

### Weekly charts

[edit]

| Chart (2020)  | Peak
position

|

Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[7] | 47
Canada Rock (Billboard)[8] | 2
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[9] | 1
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[10] | 17
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[11] | 19
US Rock & Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[12] | 1

### Year-end charts

[edit]

| Chart (2020)  | Position

|

US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[13] | 18
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[14] | 64
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[15] | 19

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Blistein, Jon (6 May 2020). "Weezer Honor Essential Workers With New Outcast Anthem 'Hero'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
2. ^ Aniftos, Rania. "Weezer Return With New Song 'Hero' – And Here's How They're Honoring Real Heroes Caring For COVID-19 Patients". Billboard. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
3. ^ Bloom, Madison (6 May 2020). "Weezer Delay Album and Share New Song "Hero": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
4. ^ "Weezer Share "Hero" Video That's Dedicated to Frontline Workers". Spin. May 6, 2020.
5. ^ "Hero (Piano)" - via www.youtube.com.
6. ^ "Hello – we make an appearance in a new @Weezer music video, thus fulfilling childhood dreams we didn't know we had". Real Estate on Twitter. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
7. ^ "Weezer – Hero" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
8. ^ "Weezer Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
9. ^ "Weezer Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
10. ^ "Weezer Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
11. ^ "Weezer Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
12. ^ "Weezer Chart History (Rock & Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
13. ^ "Alternative Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
14. ^ "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
15. ^ "Rock Airplay Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2020.

* v
* t
* e

Weezer

* Rivers Cuomo
* Patrick Wilson
* Brian Bell
* Scott Shriner
* Karl Koch

* Matt Sharp
* Jason Cropper
* Mikey Welsh

Studio albums|

* Blue Album
* Pinkerton
* Green Album
* Maladroit
* Make Believe
* Red Album
* Raditude
* Hurley
* Everything Will Be Alright in the End
* White Album
* Pacific Daydream
* Teal Album
* Black Album
* OK Human
* Van Weezer

Compilation albums|

* Death to False Metal

Extended plays|

* The Good Life
* Christmas CD
* The Lion and the Witch
* Christmas with Weezer
* SZNZ
* Spring
* Summer
* Autumn
* Winter

Videos|

* Weezer – Video Capture Device: Treasures from the Vault 1991–2002

Singles|

* "Undone – The Sweater Song"
* "Buddy Holly"
* "Say It Ain't So"
* "El Scorcho"
* "The Good Life"
* "Hash Pipe"
* "Island in the Sun"
* "Photograph"
* "Dope Nose"
* "Keep Fishin'"
* "Beverly Hills"
* "We Are All on Drugs"
* "Perfect Situation"
* "Pork and Beans"
* "Troublemaker"
* "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn)"
* "Dreamin'"
* "(If You're Wondering If I Want You to) I Want You to"
* "I'm Your Daddy"
* "Memories"
* "Hang On"
* "Back to the Shack"
* "Cleopatra"
* "Da Vinci"
* "Thank God for Girls"
* "Do You Wanna Get High?"
* "King of the World"
* "Feels Like Summer"
* "Happy Hour"
* "Africa"
* "California Snow"
* "Can't Knock the Hustle"
* "Zombie Bastards"
* "The End of the Game"
* "Hero"
* "All My Favorite Songs"
* "Tell Me What You Want"
* "Enter Sandman"
* "A Little Bit of Love"
* "Records"

Promotional singles|

* "Pink Triangle"
* "This Is Such a Pity"
* "Mexican Fender"

Other songs|

* "My Name Is Jonas"
* "Only in Dreams"
* "Lonely Girl"
* "The British Are Coming"
* "Go Away"
* "Rosanna"
* "Take On Me"
* "Lost in the Woods"

Tours|

* Summer Tour 2016
* Hella Mega Tour
* Indie Rock Road Trip
* 2024 UK and Ireland tour with The Smashing Pumpkins
* Voyage to the Blue Planet

Related|

| Articles|

* Discography
* Songs

|

Music|

* The Kitchen Tape
* Songs from the Black Hole
* Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo
* Alone II: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo
* "Island Holiday"

Bands|

* The Rentals
* Scott & Rivers
* The Special Goodness
* The Relationship
* Homie
* Space Twins

* Category

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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