Hero (Afrojack and David Guetta song)

"Hero" is a song by Dutch DJ Afrojack and French DJ David Guetta. The song was released on 30 April 2021 under Afrojack's own label Wall Recordings, and was notably performed at the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 grand final on 22 May 2021.^[2][3]

"Hero"
Single by Afrojack and David Guetta
Released	30 April 2021 (2021-04-30)
Genre	Progressive house[1]
Length	2:51
Label	Wall
Songwriter(s)	Nick van de Wall David Guetta Mikkel S. Eriksen Tor Erik Hermansen Ellie Goulding Jamie Scott Ryan Tedder
Producer(s)	Afrojack David Guetta Stargate DubVision
Afrojack singles chronology
"Stay Mine" (2021) "Hero" (2021) "All Night Long" (2021)
David Guetta singles chronology
"Bed" (2021) "Hero" (2021) "Get Together" (2021)
Music video
"Hero" on YouTube

The song was written by Afrojack, Guetta, Mikkel S. Eriksen and Tor Erik Hermansen of production duo Stargate, English singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding, English singer Jamie Scott, and American musician Ryan Tedder of the band OneRepublic. The song was produced by Afrojack, Guetta, Stargate and Dutch production duo DubVision. Although Goulding was the vocalist on the demo version of the song, the vocals on the final version were performed by American singer Luxtides (a.k.a. Danni Bouchard).^[4] However, she is not billed as a credited singer.

Critical reception

"Hero" was described as an "inspiring summer song" and "a crossover between pop and EDM".^[5] American web site EDM.com said that the song clearly refers back to the sound of the early 2010s which since then had eroded a bit, but that "(...)after a brutal year devoid of live music thanks to the fury of COVID-19, many ravers have found themselves nostalgic, desperately clinging to memories of simpler times in the throes of solitude. Afrojack hopes "Hero" can serve as a time machine."^[1]

Track listing

Digital download^[6]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Hero"	2:51

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Hero"

Chart (2021)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[7]	15
France (SNEP)[8]	192
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[9]	3
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[10]	14
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[11]	6
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[12]	22
Venezuela (Record Report)[13]	40

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Hero"

Chart (2021)	Position
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[14]	8
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[15]	59

References

1. Haffler, Jason (30 April 2021). "How Afrojack's New Song With David Guetta Could Revitalize The Lost Art of Progressive Rave Music". Edm.com - the Latest Electronic Dance Music News, Reviews & Artists. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
2. Bain, Katie (18 May 2021). "20 Questions With Afrojack: On Eurovision, His BFF David Guetta & Why He Wants You to Email Him". Billboard. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
3. Rossini, Matteo (4 May 2021). "Afrojack & David Guetta, il nuovo singolo è Hero" (in Italian). Sky TG24. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
4. "Luxtides Official Site". Luxtides Official Site. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
5. "Afrojack & David Guetta - Hero". Spinnin' Records. 30 April 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
6. "Afrojack & David Guetta – Hero (2021, 16-Bit - 44.1 KHZ, File)". Discogs. 30 April 2021.
7. "Afrojack & David Guetta – Hero" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
8. "Top Singles (Week 28, 2021)". SNEP. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
9. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 32, 2021" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
10. "Afrojack & David Guetta – Hero" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
11. "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 18". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
12. "Afrojack Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
13. "Record Report Top 100 - Fecha de Publicación: Sábado 04/09/2021" (in Spanish). Record Report. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
14. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2021" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
15. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2021" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 4 January 2022.