Superhero (Gary Barlow song)
Encyclopedia
"Superhero" is the second American single released from the American version of British singer-songwriter Gary Barlow
's debut solo album, Open Road. It was released on February 17, 1998, six weeks after the release of the album in America.
." The song was not as successful as his first American single, only peaking at #23 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart, and not even charting on the Billboard Hot 100
.
, Barlow decided that he would re-work the song and release in the United Kingdom
. He made three minor changes, which included changing two lines in the chorus, enhancing the beat from 68bpm to 72bpm, and renaming the song For All That You Want. It was subsequently included as the first track on Twelve Months, Eleven Days
, and was released as the second British single from the album, becoming the last single Barlow released in the United Kingdom
until the Robbie Williams
-duet Shame
in 2010.
Gary Barlow
Gary Barlow is an English singer-songwriter, pianist and record producer. He is frontman and lead vocalist of pop group Take That and is currently the head judge on the eighth series of The X Factor. Barlow is one of Britain's most successful songwriters...
's debut solo album, Open Road. It was released on February 17, 1998, six weeks after the release of the album in America.
Background
Whilst reworking Open Road for the American market, Barlow met with songwriters Kristian Lundin, Max Martin and Joylon Skinner, and whilst recording alternate vocals for So Help Me Girl, wrote an entirely brand-new track, Superhero, exclusively for the American market. Barlow described the song as "Something designed to be suited to the kind of pop music in the American charts now, such as that of *NSYNC or the Backstreet BoysBackstreet Boys
The Backstreet Boys are an American vocal group, formed in Orlando, Florida in 1993. The band originally consisted of A. J. McLean, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson. They rose to fame with their debut international album, Backstreet Boys...
." The song was not as successful as his first American single, only peaking at #23 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart, and not even charting on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
Reworking
During recording sessions for his second British album, Twelve Months, Eleven DaysTwelve Months, Eleven Days
Twelve Months, Eleven Days is the second solo album released by British singer-songwriter Gary Barlow. The album was released by BMG and RCA Records on October 11, 1999.-Album information:...
, Barlow decided that he would re-work the song and release in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He made three minor changes, which included changing two lines in the chorus, enhancing the beat from 68bpm to 72bpm, and renaming the song For All That You Want. It was subsequently included as the first track on Twelve Months, Eleven Days
Twelve Months, Eleven Days
Twelve Months, Eleven Days is the second solo album released by British singer-songwriter Gary Barlow. The album was released by BMG and RCA Records on October 11, 1999.-Album information:...
, and was released as the second British single from the album, becoming the last single Barlow released in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
until the Robbie Williams
Robbie Williams
Robert Peter "Robbie" Williams is an English singer-songwriter, vocal coach and occasional actor. He is a member of the pop group Take That. Williams rose to fame in the band's first run in the early- to mid-1990s. After many disagreements with the management and certain group members, Williams...
-duet Shame
Shame (Robbie Williams song)
"Shame" is a song by Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow, taken from Williams' second greatest hits compilation album, In and Out of Consciousness: Greatest Hits 1990–2010. It was released as the lead single from the album on 4 October 2010 by Virgin Records in the United Kingdom...
in 2010.
Music video
The music video for Superhero begins with Barlow witnessing a car crash. He manages to avoid getting hurt himself, but soon discovers that the driver of one of the vehicles involved has been seriously injured. He manages to pull her free, and as a thank you, she reaches up and kisses Barlow on the cheek. He then leaves the scene. Months later, Barlow witnesses a house fire, and while trying to save the occupants of the house, he discovers that the female is the same woman he helped in the car crash. She once again rewards him with a kiss on the cheek. The video concludes with the woman visiting Barlow at his house and thanking him for all he has done.Charts
| Chart | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| US (Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart) | 23 |
| US (Billboard Radio Chart) | 7 |
| US (Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles The Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It lists the top 25 singles below number 100 that have not yet charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Sometimes, however, singles halt their progress on this chart, and never appear on the Hot 100... ) |
6 |