Not all heroes wear capes. That’s a saying that most of us have heard (and possibly used) plenty of times in our respective lives. Heroes come in different forms, which is why many songs about heroes and superheroes have been written over the years.
Some heroes people play significant roles in our everyday lives that we couldn’t live without. To me, these are the true heroes. These are the people who do whatever they can whenever they can and don’t expect anything in return. It doesn’t matter which type of hero you are trying to honor. Here is a powerful list of songs that pay tribute to them.
1. My Hero by Foo Fighters
| Genre | Alternative Rock, Hard Rock |
| Year Released | 1997 |
| Album | The Colour and the Shape |
Over the years since this song was initially released on the Foo Fighters album “The Colour and the Shape,” there has been plenty of speculation as to whom the inspirational track “My Hero” was written about. For quite some time, the song was rumored to have been written about Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain. However, Dave Grohl has stated that this song was not written about one person in particular. It was written about several Ordinary People who have played integral roles in Grohl’s life, although on the surface, they would not be seen as anything more than normal human beings.
2. Hero by Weezer
| Genre | Alternative, Indie |
| Year Released | 2021 |
| Album | Van Weezer |
When you think of superheroes, most of the time it conjures up images of muscle-bound, perfectly sculpted genetic specimens who use superpowers to fight evil. Weezer has a differing opinion on what constitutes a true hero. “Hero,” the first single released from their latest album “Van Weezer,” was written as a way to pay tribute to all of the emergency personnel and frontline workers who were helping to battle the coronavirus pandemic. Nevertheless, that’s not to say that Rivers Cuomo and Weezer don’t have fun with the concept. They have no qualms about injecting their personality into a song of this magnitude.
3. Superman (It’s Not Easy) by Five For Fighting
| Genre | Rock |
| Year Released | 2000 |
| Album | Dawson’s Creek (Original Soundtrack) |
When writing his hit single “Superman (It’s Not Easy),” John Ondrasik, who is better known by his stage name Five For Fighting, made the conscious decision to look at things from the perspective of the titular superhero rather than from those who are waiting to be saved. The result was a song that was the second single from his debut album, “Message for Albert,” and was featured on the television series Dawson’s Creek. Ondrasik stated that the song was “frustration about the inability to be heard.” Superman makes everything look easy, but have we ever thought that it might not be easy for him?
4. Superheroes by The Script
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 2014 |
| Album | No Sound Without Silence |
When bands play in front of a sold-out show in the United States, it can give them a feeling that can only be described as superhuman. See how far you have come together can give you a sensation that is practically unmatched by anything you can experience. That’s exactly the feeling that inspired The Script’s single “Superheroes,” which was the first song they wrote for their album “No Sound Without Silence.” Frontman Danny O’Donoghue said that it was such a wonderful feeling that he felt the need to put it in a song. This catchy tune was the result.
5. Superman by Eminem
| Genre | Rap, Hip-Hop |
| Year Released | 2002 |
| Album | The Eminem Show |
At the height of his popularity, Marshall Mathers was rumored to have had romantic relationships with several celebrities, including none other than Mariah Carey. As you may have expected, things did not necessarily work out as planned between Slim Shady and Mimi. However, their loss was our gain as the result of their bitter break up was the track “Superman,” which was featured on the Billboard 200 number-one album “The Eminem Show.” In this song, Eminem takes several jabs at Mariah, insinuating that he would almost have to be superhuman to deal with all of the emotional baggage she brought to the relationship.
6. Hero by Mariah Carey
| Genre | R&B, Soul |
| Year Released | 1993 |
| Album | Music Box |
There are going to be many times in our respective lives when a particular situation is going to call for us to rise and be our heroes. That’s what this beautiful ballad from Mariah Carey’s album “Music Box” is about. According to Mariah, the song (which was first performed live during her 1993 Thanksgiving special) is about “looking inside yourself and being your hero, like not always having to look for some kind of hero to come along and save you,” which is one of the most positive and awe-inspiring messages that the gifted singer could have gifted us with.
7. Kryptonite by 3 Doors Down
| Genre | Alternative Rock |
| Year Released | 2000 |
| Album | The Better Life |
In the year 2000, the alternative rock band 3 Doors Down took the music world by storm when they released their breakthrough debut album, “The Better Life,” which included the smash hit single kryptonite. The song would peak at the number three spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and propel the album into the top ten on the Billboard 200 charts. According to lead singer Brad Arnold, the song ass not only if someone will be there to help pick you up if you fall, but if they will also be there through all of the good times as well.
8. Not All Heroes Wear Capes by Owl City
| Genre | Electronic Pop |
| Year Released | 2018 |
| Album | Cinematic |
Most of us have heard the expression “not all heroes wear capes” at some point in our lives, but have you ever stopped to think about what that means? Simply put, it means that there are Ordinary People who are doing extraordinary things every day and expect no recognition or reward for doing what they consider to be the right thing. When I think of this, my dad is the first person that comes to mind. Owl City’s dad inspired his single “Not All Heroes Wear Capes,” and it is indeed a fitting tribute to him.
9. Waiting for Superman by Daughtry
| Genre | Alternative Rock |
| Year Released | 2013 |
| Album | Baptized |
Some people spend their entire lives waiting for someone to come and rescue them from the boredom and benign that makes up every day of their life. However, while this may never happen, it certainly won’t prevent these people from dreaming of a day when they can be rescued from whatever situation they feel is holding them down. That’s exactly the message that is being conveyed on the track “Waiting for Superman,” which is the song that put Chris Daughtry on the map and helped him to garner the attention of alternative rock fans and radio stations across the United States.
10. Something Just Like This by The Chainsmokers (Featuring Coldplay)
| Genre | Electronic Pop |
| Year Released | 2017 |
| Album | Memories…Do Not Open |
The Chainsmokers have become one of the most recognized names in pop music, with five of their singles reaching the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. One of those songs was “Something Just Like This,” which featured a guest appearance from Coldplay. In The collaboration, Coldplay’s lead vocalist Chris Martin sings about his desire to have a relationship that doesn’t need heroic or superhuman deeds. The singer says, “This is about a relationship that doesn’t need to be superhumanly perfect, an ordinary love, a love everyone deserves like the boy on the cover art whose childhood memories are now boxed up.”
11. Holding Out For a Hero by Bonnie Tyler
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 1984 |
| Album | Footloose (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) |
One of the more popular films of the 1980s was the movie Footloose, which starred Kevin Bacon and was about a town where dancing in public was forbidden. “Holding Out For a Hero” was written by Dean Pitchford as one of nine songs that exclusively appeared on the film soundtrack. The soundtrack spent three weeks at the top of the Billboard charts based on the strength of singles such as this one, which was performed by Bonnie Tyler. The song is about the narrator’s quest to find someone that will come and rescue her from the everyday monotony that is her life.
12. Turn To You (Mother’s Day Dedication) by Justin Bieber
| Genre | Soul, Pop |
| Year Released | 2014 |
| Album | 100X Liefde 2014 – Deel 2 |
Love him or hate him, Justin Bieber is one of the most successful pop acts of this decade. The Canadian-born singer has sold over 38.4 million albums worldwide and has had one RIAA diamond-certified album and six albums that have been certified platinum in his career. In 2014, the singer released a loving tribute to his mother that was titled “Turn To You (Mother’s Day Dedication).” The track honors Pattie Mallette, who gave birth to Bieber when she was only 18 years old and raised him as a single parent. The singer released this song on Mother’s Day of 2012 as her gift.
13. Working Class Hero by John Lennon and The Plastic Ono Band
| Genre | Alternative, Indie |
| Year Released | 1970 |
| Album | John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band |
As a member of the Beatles, John Lennon helped The Four Lads from Liverpool to become the best-selling artist of all time, with over 183 million albums sold worldwide. However, despite all of their success, The Beatles went their separate ways in 1970, with John Lennon releasing a solo album with The Plastic Ono Band. Featured on that album was the track “Working Class Hero,” which was also one of the most controversial songs of Lennon’s career because many fans and critics felt that John Lennon had no business singing about the working class when he was raised in an upper-middle-class family. This is one of my personal favorite songs about heroes of all time.
14. My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys by Willie Nelson
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 1979 |
| Album | The Electric Horseman |
One of the most interesting facts about this song was that it was originally recorded in 1976 by Waylon Jennings, although it was never officially released as a single. However, Willie Nelson has officially gone on record as saying that he was always able to relate to the lyrics of the song because he always wanted to be a cowboy. Sadly, like many others, Nelson had to realize that being a cowboy is not as fun as you might think it would be. Unfortunately, it is filled with long days of misery and even longer nights of loneliness.
15. Hero by Chad Kroeger (Featuring Josey Scott)
| Genre | Alternative Rock |
| Year Released | 2002 |
| Album | Music from and Inspired by Spider-Man |
Although I have never been a fan of the Canadian band Nickelback (nor will I ever be), I would be remiss if I did not include this song from Nickelback lead vocalist Chad Kroger and Saliva lead singer Josey Scott. Despite the overwhelmingly negative reaction to the song, it was a huge hit, reaching the third spot on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. The song appeared on the Spider-Man soundtrack and won the 2002 2002 MTV Video Music Award for Best Video. However, it caused tension between Nickelback and saliva over a dispute as to how to divide profits from the song.
16. You & The 6 by Drake
| Genre | Rap, Hip-Hop |
| Year Released | 2015 |
| Album | If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late |
I know that I can’t be the only person who finds it refreshing when somebody comes up and makes it big and then pays homage to and shows appreciation to the people who got him or her to the top. That’s what makes this song from Drake a fantastic change of pace from the usual braggadocious lyrics found in many rap songs today. In this song, Drake pays tribute to his mother, Sandra Graham, whom he sees as his hero) and his hometown of Toronto, Canada. “The 6” refers to the two area codes found in Drake’s hometown of Toronto, which are 647 and 416.
17. Hero by David Crosby (Featuring Phil Collins)
| Genre | Folk Rock |
| Year Released | 1993 |
| Album | Thousand Roads |
David Crosby has found success and notoriety as a member of The Byrds, Crosby Stills & Nash, and as a solo artist. Although the singer tragically passed away in January of 2023, the Legacy he left at all three phases of his impressive musical career will live on, particularly with the song “Hero” from his record “Thousand Roads.” Featuring Phil Collins, the track makes the statement that people aren’t inherently good or evil. Instead, our personalities are a complicated mix of both sides of the proverbial coin. It’s about doing what you feel is right, even if there will be repercussions to be paid for your actions.
18. Hero Of War by Rise Against
| Genre | Alternative Rock |
| Year Released | 2008 |
| Album | Appeal to Reason |
Many of the people that we view as heroes struggle with demons that they do not allow the rest of the world to see. Many of the men and women who served our country struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder and choose to suffer in silence rather than draw attention to themselves. In this acoustic ballad, Rise Against pays tribute to the servicemen and servicewomen of the United States who come home from war to fight battles that many of them will never win. The band has stated that the song was inspired by the documentary The Ground Truth: After the Killing Ends. This is easily one of the most powerful songs about war ever written.
19. Flash’s Theme by Queen
| Genre | Hard Rock, Classic Rock |
| Year Released | 1980 |
| Album | Flash Gordon (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) |
In 1980, long before there was such a thing as the Marvel or the DC cinematic universe, there was a full-length motion picture made about the superhero known as The Flash. First appearing in 1956, The Flash (also known as Barry Allen) was known for having superhuman speed. Perhaps even more impressive than the Flash’s blazing speed was the fact that Queen was tapped for the entire soundtrack for the film, which included his theme song. Although the film wasn’t a commercial success, it laid down the groundwork for future superhero movies and set the precedent for having a popular band appear on the soundtrack.
20. Jimmy Olsen’s Blues by Spin Doctors
| Genre | Alternative, Indie |
| Year Released | 1991 |
| Album | Pocket Full of Kryptonite |
Who says that the alternative rock bands of the 1990s didn’t have a sense of humor? The Spin Doctors certainly did, and this can be heard on their track “Jimmy Olsen’s Blues,” which was from their debut album “Pocket Full of Kryptonite.” The song is centered around the fictional character Jimmy Olsen, who developed a crush on Lois Lane while he worked with her and Clark Kent during their time at the Daily Planet. Olsen, while trying to woo Lois Lane away from Clark Kent, teases that he has a pocket full of kryptonite, which is Superman’s only known weakness.
21. Lost Queen by Pharrell Williams
| Genre | Hip-Hop, Funk, Pop |
| Year Released | 2014 |
| Album | G I R L |
Sometimes, when we least expect it, someone will pop into our lives seemingly from thin air and change our perceptions of what we think constitutes a true hero. Whether they accomplish a major feat that will forever change your life, or if the deeds they perform seem small and insignificant at the moment, your view of this person can be changed forever. That’s the message being delivered by Pharrell Williams in his song “Lost Queen,” which is about feeling a love so strong and true that this person’s presence feels like a blessing, and everything they do for you feels special.
22. Heroes by David Bowie
| Genre | Rock, Classic Rock |
| Year Released | 1977 |
| Album | Heroes |
It is nearly impossible to pigeonhole David Bowie into one specific genre. I have never seen an artist possess the ability to adapt to the changing times the way that Bowie can, which has earned him a spot as one of Hi, my name is Kevin and I’m from Butler, Pennsylvania. I’ve been obsessed with music and audio gear for as long as I can remember. I started this website to help people find professional advice related to a wide range of audio topics. We have a number of Audio Engineers on our team who have been designing and fixing audio gear for decades.