Songs About Heroes, Opinions on Beyoncé & Drive-By Truckers
There have been many great songs about acts of heroism big and small, and in times like these, boy do we need heroes and heroines! Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot share their favorite songs about heroes. They'll also hear selections from the production team and review the new albums by Beyoncé and Drive-By Truckers.
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Renaissance Beyoncé
In her first solo album since the groundbreaking Lemonade, Beyoncé has another winner with Renaissance. Jim and Greg say she is working with the top producers in the world, but retains her individuality and humanity in this project.
Welcome 2 Club XIII Drive-By Truckers
In their fourteenth album, Drive-By Truckers are as potent as ever, making Welcome 2 Club XIII well worth a listen. As long-time admirers of the band, Jim and Greg appreciate the clear-eyed lyrics that look back at the band's early days and out at the music community.
Songs About Heroes
There’s a wide range of songs that approach the topic of heroes from different angles. Some are looking for help from heroes- like Aimee Mann’s “Save Me” or the Flaming Lips “Waitin’ On A Superman.” Others are commenting on the concept of a hero- like John Lennon’s “Working Class Hero” or The Strangler’s “No More Heroes.” Jim and Greg agree, heroes have proven a potent source of inspiration for all kinds of songwriters.
Greg
- Aimee Mann, "Save Me"
- The Impressions, "We're a Winner"
- Flaming Lips, "Waitin’ for a Superman"
- Rihanna, "Umbrella"
- David Bowie, "Heroes"
Jim
- John Lennon, "Working Class Hero"
- The Kinks, "Celluloid Heroes"
- The Stranglers, "No More Heroes"
- Natalie Merchant, "Ophelia"
- Nas, "Hero"
Producers’ Picks
- Sol: ONE OK ROCK, "Save Yourself"
- Alex: Elton John, "I’m Still Standing"
- Andrew Gill: Billy Bragg, "There Is Power In A Union"
Featured Songs:
- Bonnie Tyler, "Holding Out for a Hero," Footloose: Original Soundtrack of the Paramount Motion Picture, Columbia, 1984
- Beyoncé, "BREAK MY SOUL," Renaissance, Parkwood and Columbia, 2022
- Beyoncé, "COZY," Renaissance, Parkwood and Columbia, 2022
- Beyoncé, "ALIEN SUPERSTAR," Renaissance, Parkwood and Columbia, 2022
- Beyoncé, "THIQUE," Renaissance, Parkwood and Columbia, 2022
- Drive-By Truckers, "The Driver," Welcome 2 Club XIII, ATO, 2022
- Drive-By Truckers, "Welcome 2 Club XIII," Welcome 2 Club XIII, ATO, 2022
- Drive-By Truckers, "Every Single Storied Flameout," Welcome 2 Club XIII, ATO, 2022
- Drive-By Truckers, "Wilder Days," Welcome 2 Club XIII, ATO, 2022
- Aimee Mann, "Save Me," Magnolia: Music from the Motion Picture, Reprise, 1999
- John Lennon, "Working Class Hero," John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, Apple, 1970
- The Impressions, "We're a Winner," We're a Winner, ABC, 1968
- The Kinks, "Celluloid Heroes," Everybody's in Show-Biz, RCA Victor, 1972
- The Flaming Lips, "Waitin' for a Superman," The Soft Bulletin, Warner Bros., 1999
- The Stranglers, "No More Heroes," No More Heroes, United Artists, 1977
- ONE OK ROCK, "Save Yourself," Save Yourself (Single), Fueled By Ramen, 2022
- Family of the Year, "Hero," Loma Vista, Nettwerk, 2012
- Elton John, "I'm Still Standing," Too Low For Zero, Geffen, 1983
- Billy Bragg, "There Is Power in a Union," Talking With The Taxman About Poetry, Elektra, 1986
- Rihanna, "Umbrella (feat. Jay-Z)," Good Girl Gone Bad, Def Jam, 2007
- Natalie Merchant, "Ophelia," Ophelia, Elektra, 1998
- David Bowie, ""Heroes"," "Heroes", RCA, 1977
- Nas, "Hero (feat. Keri Hilson)," Untitled, Def Jam, 2008
- Talking Heads, "Once In A Lifetime," Remain In Light, Sire, 1980
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