Holding Out for a Hero - wikipedia Holding Out for a Hero For the British television programme, see Holding Out for a Hero ( game show ). `` Holding Out for a Hero '' Single by Bonnie Tyler from the album Footloose and Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire Released 13 April 1984 Format CD single, 7 ``, 12 '' Recorded 1984 Genre Dance - rock Length 5 : 50 ( album version ) 4 : 21 ( single edit ) Label Columbia Songwriter ( s ) Jim Steinman, Dean Pitchford Producer ( s ) Jim Steinman Bonnie Tyler singles chronology `` A Rockin ' Good Way ( to Mess Around and Fall in Love ) '' ( 1984 ) `` Holding Out for a Hero '' ( 1984 ) `` Here She Comes '' ( 1984 ) `` A Rockin ' Good Way ( to Mess Around and Fall in Love ) '' ( 1984 ) `` Holding Out for a Hero '' ( 1984 ) `` Here She Comes '' ( 1984 ) Music video `` Holding Out for a Hero '' on YouTube `` Holding Out for a Hero '' is a song recorded by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler for the soundtrack to the 1984 film Footloose, and later included on her 1986 album Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire. It was written by Jim Steinman and Dean Pitchford. Initially, the song only just reached the Top 100 in the UK Singles Chart, but made it to number 2 the following year, and re-entered the charts again at number 69 in 1991. The song reached No. 1 on the Irish Singles Chart on 28 September 1985. It reached the top 40 in the United States and Canada. The song 's instrumental break was reused from an earlier song by Jim Steinman called `` Stark Raving Love '', which featured on Steinman 's 1981 album Bad for Good. Contents 1 Background 2 Impact 3 Music video 4 Live performances 5 Track listings and formats 6 Credits and personnel 7 Other versions 7.1 Cover versions 7.2 Soundtrack appearances 7.2. 1 Television 7.2. 2 Film 7.2. 3 Video games 8 Charts and certifications 8.1 Weekly charts 8.2 Certifications 9 References Background Jim Steinman had been recruited to work on the Footloose soundtrack, for which he wrote `` Holding Out for a Hero '' with Dean Pitchford. Steinman suggested Tyler 's name when he was approached about finding a singer to record the song. Tyler recorded the song at the Paramount Studios, and was shown the scene of the film where the song would feature. Impact Around the world, Holding Out for a Hero has become considered a torch song. In the LGBT community, The Star Observer of Australia deemed the song a dearly - loved gay anthem. Perhaps its most iconic entry into LGBT culture is the lip sync performance given by Tandi Iman Dupree to the song. It was featured in the 1988 film Short Circuit 2 during the final action sequence. In 2015, Christina Grimmie performed the song in a commercial for the Humane Society of the United States. Tyler 's version is heard in a 2017 TV commercial for the Kia Niro that aired during Super Bowl LI on February 5, 2017, but was posted online before the game. The ad stars Melissa McCarthy, who travels around the world stopping environmental disasters. It won the USA Today Super Bowl Ad Meter, becoming the second consecutive car commercial to win the Ad Meter. The song is heard in another 2017 TV commercial for Arby 's, but with Ving Rhames dubbing the word `` gyro '' over the word `` hero '' in the lyrics. Tyler 's version is heard in a third 2017 TV commercial for Walmart as part of a back - to - school promotion. Music video The video was produced by Jeffrey Abelson, and directed by Doug Dowdle, with the concept by Keith Williams. It was the second music video ( following Deniece Williams ' `` Let 's Hear It For The Boy '' ) that successfully promoted Footloose while having no movie footage in the video. The video starts off with Bonnie Tyler escaping from a burning house ; the video is set primarily in the vicinity of the burning house and on the edge of the Grand Canyon -- interspersed with shots of angelic background singers dressed all in white. Evil cowboys dressed in black, carrying neon whips appear before Tyler, threatening her ; a cowboy hero dressed in white, brandishing a revolver, appears on horseback and the evil cowboys flee on horseback, with the hero in pursuit. As the song fades out, the hero cowboy appears in front of Tyler. It was used as the opening theme for the Channel 4 American Football show in the 1980s. Live performances Two recorded live performances of `` Holding Out for a Hero '' have been released on her live albums Bonnie Tyler Live ( 2007 ) and Live in Germany 1993 ( 2011 ). Video performances have also been released on Tyler 's DVDs, Bonnie on Tour ( 2007 ) and the DVD edition of Live in Germany 1993. Track listings and formats 1984 7 '' single `` Holding Out for a Hero '' -- 4 : 22 `` Faster Than the Speed of Night '' -- 4 : 40 1984 12 '' single `` Holding Out for a Hero '' ( Extended Remix ) -- 6 : 19 `` Holding Out for a Hero '' ( Instrumental ) -- 5 : 15 `` Faster Than the Speed of Night '' -- 4 : 40 1991 12 `` / CD single `` Holding Out for a Hero '' -- 4 : 41 `` Faster Than the Speed of Night '' -- 4 : 40 `` Total Eclipse of the Heart '' -- 6 : 49 Credits and personnel Bonnie Tyler -- vocal Rory Dodd -- background vocal, vocal arrangement Holly Sherwood -- background vocal Eric Troyer -- background vocal, vocal arrangement Ellen Foley -- vocal arrangement Michael Brecker -- tenor saxophone Hiram Bullock -- guitar Tom `` Bones '' Malone -- trombone, horn arrangement Jim Pugh -- trombone Alan Rubin -- trumpet Sterling Smith -- drums, piano, synthesizer Lew Soloff -- trumpet David Taylor -- bass trombone Art Wood -- drums Jim Steinman -- producer Other versions Since the original release in 1984, Tyler has re-recorded the song three times. Two versions were released under Stick Music, on her album Simply Believe ( 2004 ) and EP Bonnie Tyler ( 2005 ). She recorded the song again in 2011 on an EP entitled Total Eclipse of the Heart, released by Cleopatra Records. Cover versions Japanese singer Miki Asakura recorded the song in Japanese as ヒーロー HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO in 1984. Elizabeth Daily recorded the song as the series theme song to the TV series Cover Up. Jennifer Saunders recorded the song for the 2004 film Shrek 2. It was also featured on the associated soundtrack. Frou Frou also recorded an alternatively tuned version of the song for Shrek 2 which appears during the film credits and in the soundtrack. American Post-Hardcore band Emery also did a cover for the 2005 Fearless Records compilation Punk Goes 80 's. Ella Mae Bowen recorded a country version of the song which appeared on the soundtrack to the 2011 remake of Footloose. Soundtrack appearances Television Cover Up ( 1984 ) Days of Our Lives ( 1984 ) Alvin and the Chipmunks - Episodes `` Three Alarm Alvin '' ( 1985 ) and `` Alvin 's Not So Super Hero '' ( 1989 ) Lois & Clark : The New Adventures of Superman - Episode `` Pilot '' ( 1993 ) Cold Case - Episode 22, Season 3 `` The River '' ( 2006 ) Drawn Together - Episode `` Spelling Applebees '' ( 2006 ) Smallville - Episode 8, Season 9 `` Idol '' ( 2009 ) `` Glee - Episode 7, Season 4 `` Dynamic Duets '' ( 2012 ) Regular Show - Episode `` Eggscellent '' ( 2012 ) Scream Queens - Episode 2, Season 2 `` Warts and All '' ( 2016 ) RuPaul 's Drag Race - Episode 3, Season 9 `` Draggily Ever After '' ( 2017 ) Future Man - Episode 12, Season 1 `` Prelude to an Apocalypse '' ( 2017 ) Film Footloose ( 1984 ) Short Circuit 2 ( 1988 ) Who 's Harry Crumb ? ( 1989 ) Bandits ( 2001 ) Shrek 2 ( 2004 ) Nacho Libre ( 2006 ) Video games Saints Row : The Third ( 2011 ) Just Dance 2015 ( 2014 ) Charts and certifications Weekly charts Chart ( 1984 ) Peak position Australia ( Kent Music Report ) 44 Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) 19 Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) 19 Germany ( Official German Charts ) 19 Italy ( FIMI ) 30 New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) 33 South Africa ( Springbok Radio ) 23 Sweden ( Sverigetopplistan ) 19 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) 96 US Billboard Hot 100 34 Chart ( 1985 ) Peak position Ireland ( IRMA ) UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) Chart ( 1991 ) Peak position UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) 69 Chart ( 2016 ) Peak position France ( SNEP ) 144 Chart ( 2017 ) Peak position Poland ( Polish Airplay Top 100 ) 49 Certifications Region Certification Certified units / Sales United Kingdom ( BPI ) Silver 250,000 sales figures based on certification alone shipments figures based on certification alone References Jump up ^ Bond, Nick ( October 22, 2008 ). `` Holding Out for Bonnie ''. The Star Observer. Jump up ^ `` Walmart TV Commercial `` Shop Fast, Check Out Faster '' Song By Bonnie Tyler ``. Ispot.tv. August 21, 2017. Jump up ^ Music video in Dailymotion.com Jump up ^ `` Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler ''. iTunes Store. Apple, Inc. Retrieved 26 August 2014. ^ Jump up to : `` Shrek 2 ( Soundtrack from the Motion Picture ) by Various Artists ''. iTunes Store. Apple, Inc. Retrieved 27 August 2014. Jump up ^ Kent, David ( 1993 ). Australian Chart Book 1970 -- 1992 ( illustrated ed. ). St Ives, N.S.W. : Australian Chart Book. p. 316. ISBN 0 - 646 - 11917 - 6. Jump up ^ `` Austriancharts.at -- Bonnie Tyler -- Holding Out for a Hero '' ( in German ). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Jump up ^ `` Top RPM Singles : Issue 6742. '' RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 21 October 2016. Jump up ^ `` Offiziellecharts.de -- Bonnie Tyler -- Holding Out for a Hero ''. GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 21 October 2016. Jump up ^ `` Hit Parade Italia ''. HitParadeItalia ( in Italian ). Retrieved 21 October 2016. Jump up ^ `` Charts.org.nz -- Bonnie Tyler -- Holding Out for a Hero ''. Top 40 Singles. Jump up ^ `` South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1965 -- 1989 Acts T ''. The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Retrieved 21 October 2016. Jump up ^ `` Swedishcharts.com -- Bonnie Tyler -- Holding Out for a Hero ''. Singles Top 100. Jump up ^ `` Official Singles Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 October 2016. Jump up ^ `` Bonnie Tyler Chart History ( Hot 100 ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` The Irish Charts -- Search Results -- Holding Out for a Hero ''. Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 21 October 2016. Jump up ^ `` Official Singles Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 October 2016. Jump up ^ `` Official Singles Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 October 2016. Jump up ^ `` Lescharts.com -- ( ( ( artist ) ) ) -- ( ( ( song ) ) ) '' ( in French ). Les classement single. Retrieved 11 October 2017. Jump up ^ `` Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia : : Związek Producentów Audio - Video ''. Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved May 22, 2017. Jump up ^ `` British single certifications -- Bonnie Tyler -- Holding Out for a Hero ''. British Phonographic Industry. Enter Holding Out for a Hero in the search field and then press Enter. Preceded by `` Dancing in the Street '' by David Bowie and Mick Jagger IRMA number - one single 28 September 1985 Succeeded by `` Part - Time Lover '' by Stevie Wonder Bonnie Tyler songs Discography The World Starts Tonight `` Lost in France '' `` More Than a Lover '' Natural Force `` It 's a Heartache '' `` Living for the City '' `` Heaven '' `` ( You Make Me Feel Like ) A Natural Woman '' `` Here Am I '' Diamond Cut `` Too Good to Last '' `` My Guns Are Loaded '' Goodbye to the Island `` I 'm Just a Woman '' `` Sometimes When We Touch '' `` A Whiter Shade of Pale '' `` Sitting on the Edge of the Ocean '' `` I Believe in Your Sweet Love '' Faster Than the Speed of Night `` Have You Ever Seen the Rain ? '' `` Faster Than the Speed of Night '' `` Total Eclipse of the Heart '' `` Straight from the Heart '' Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire `` If You Were a Woman ( And I Was a Man ) '' `` Loving You 's a Dirty Job but Somebody 's Gotta Do It '' `` Band of Gold '' `` Lovers Again '' `` Holding Out for a Hero '' Hide Your Heart `` Hide Your Heart '' `` Do n't Turn Around '' `` Save Up All Your Tears '' `` To Love Somebody '' `` The Best '' Bitterblue `` Against the Wind '' `` Bitterblue '' `` Where Were You '' Angel Heart `` Fools Lullaby '' `` I Cry Myself to Sleep at Night '' Silhouette in Red `` You Are So Beautiful '' Free Spirit `` You 're the One '' `` Making Love Out of Nothing at All '' `` Bridge over Troubled Water '' `` Two Out of Three Ai n't Bad '' All in One Voice `` Angel of the Morning '' `` I Put a Spell on You '' `` The Rose '' `` He 's the King '' `` Silent Night '' Heart Strings `` Human Touch '' `` Everybody Hurts '' `` Amazed '' `` Against All Odds ( Take a Look at Me Now ) '' `` And I Am Telling You I 'm Not Going '' `` Lean on Me '' `` In My Life '' `` Learning to Fly '' `` Right Here Waiting '' `` I Still Have n't Found What I 'm Looking For '' `` I Ca n't Make You Love Me '' `` Need Your Love So Bad '' `` It 's Over '' Simply Believe `` Si demain... ( Turn Around ) '' `` Si tout s'arrête ( It 's a Heartache ) `` Darlin ' '' Wings `` Louise '' Rocks and Honey `` This Is Gonna Hurt '' `` Believe in Me '' `` What You Need from Me '' `` Love Is the Knife '' `` Mom '' Collaborations `` A Rockin ' Good Way ( to Mess Around and Fall in Love ) '' `` Islands '' `` Vergiß Es ( Forget It ) '' `` Amour Éternel ( Eternal Flame ) '' `` Love 's Holding On '' Other songs `` Sayonara Tokyo '' `` Here She Comes '' `` The Desert Is in Your Heart '' `` I Do n't Know How to Love Him '' Footloose Adaptations 1998 musical 2011 film Music Soundtracks `` Footloose '' `` Let 's Hear It for the Boy '' `` Almost Paradise '' `` Holding Out for a Hero '' `` Dancing in the Sheets '' `` I 'm Free ( Heaven Helps the Man ) '' `` Somebody 's Eyes '' Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Holding_Out_for_a_Hero&oldid=833824867 '' Categories : 1984 singles Songs written by Jim Steinman Bonnie Tyler songs Songs from Footloose Songs written by Dean Pitchford Irish Singles Chart number - one singles 1984 songs Song recordings produced by Jim Steinman CBS Records singles Songs about sexuality Rock ballads Hidden categories : CS1 Italian - language sources ( it ) Articles with hAudio microformats Singlechart usages for Austria Singlechart usages for Canadatopsingles Singlechart called without artist Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Germany2 Singlechart usages for New Zealand Singlechart usages for Sweden Singlechart usages for UK Singlechart making named ref Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart usages for Ireland2 Singlechart usages for France Singlechart usages for Poland Certification Table Entry usages for United Kingdom Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Español Euskara فارسی Français Italiano עברית Magyar Nederlands Norsk Polski Русский Slovenčina 4 more Edit links This page was last edited on 2 April 2018, at 16 : 15. 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Question: who sings i need a hero in footloose
Answer: Bonnie Tyler