We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome) (Redirected from We Don't Need Another Hero)
"We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)" | ||||
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Single by Tina Turner | ||||
from the album Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome | ||||
Released | July 8, 1985 | |||
Recorded | December 1984 | |||
Studio | Mayfair Studios (London, England) | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 6:07 | |||
Label | Capitol | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Terry Britten | |||
Tina Turner singles chronology | ||||
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"We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)" is a song written by Graham Lyle and Terry Britten. It was recorded by American singer Tina Turner for the soundtrack album to the 1985 film Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, which starred Mel Gibson and Turner. On the heels of Turner's multiplatinum album Private Dancer (1984), the song was released as a 7-inch single, an extended version was released as a 12-inch single and on the film's soundtrack album. In the United Kingdom, a shaped picture disc was also issued. The power ballad received a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Original Song and a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. As songwriters, Lyle and Britten received the Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically.
Recording
Turner was backed by a choral group from King's House School in Richmond, London. One of the choir members who appeared on the recording, Lawrence Dallaglio, became famous as a rugby union star and captain of the England national team.
Chart performance
"We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)" became one of Turner's biggest hit singles. It peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100, behind John Parr's "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)". It peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart and topped the charts in Australia, Canada, Poland, Spain, Switzerland and West Germany.
Music video
The accompanying music video for "We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)" features Turner dressed in her Aunty Entity costume from the Mad Max film, a heavy chain mail gown. As several spotlights shine on her, she proceeds to sing atop a platform while various scenes from the film are interspersed. In the last portion of the video, Turner is accompanied by a children's choir and Tim Cappello, her tour saxophonist, percussionist and keyboardist at the time. The music video received an MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Female Video.
Official versions/remixes
- Single Version – 4:16
- 7" Instrumental – 4:41
- 12" Extended Mix (Soundtrack Album Version) – 6:07
- 12" Dub Mix (Soundtrack Instrumental Version) – 6:30
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications and sales
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Canada (Music Canada) | Gold | 50,000^ |
Germany (BVMI) | Gold | 500,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI) | Silver | 250,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Cover versions
In 2004, Canadian singer Jane Child recorded a cover of the song, titling it "Beyond Thunderdome (We Don't Need Another Hero)" for the album What's Love? A Tribute to Tina Turner.
In 2007, Finnish supergroup Northern Kings covered the song on their debut album Reborn.
In March 2016, Seal and Jencarlos Canela performed a cover of the song during the Fox television special The Passion. It was sung in the story where Pontius Pilate (Seal) is torn at sentencing Jesus (Jencarlos) to death; the lyrics were amended to remove the reference to Thunderdome, which was replaced with "the love we know".
In May 2023, Swedish band Ghost covered the song on their EP Phantomime.
- 1985 songs
- 1985 singles
- Tina Turner songs
- Capitol Records singles
- Number-one singles in Germany
- Number-one singles in Spain
- Number-one singles in Switzerland
- Number-one singles in Australia
- RPM Top Singles number-one singles
- Mad Max music
- Songs written by Graham Lyle
- Songs written by Terry Britten
- Rock ballads
- 1980s ballads
- Film theme songs