We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)


"We Don't Need Another Hero " is a 1985 song by Tina Turner. It appeared in the 1985 film Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, which starred Turner and Mel Gibson. The song was written by Terry Britten and Graham Lyle.
On the heels of Turner's multiplatinum album Private Dancer, the song was released as a 7" single, an extended version was released as a 12" single and on the film's soundtrack album. In the UK, a shaped picture disc was also released.
The power ballad received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song and a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1986. As songwriters, Lyle and Britten received the 1985 Ivor Novello award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically.

Music video

The music video features Turner dressed in her costume from the film, a heavy chain mail gown. As several spotlights shine on her, she proceeds to sing atop a platform while various scenes from the movie are interspersed. In the last portion of the video, Turner is accompanied by a children's choir and Tim Cappello, her tour saxophonist, percussionist and keyboardist at the time. The music video received an MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Female Video.

Recording

Turner was backed by a choral group from King's House School in Richmond, London. One of the choir members who appeared on the record, Lawrence Dallaglio, became famous as a rugby union star and captain of the England national team.

Versions and remixes

"We Don't Need Another Hero " became one of Tina Turner's biggest worldwide hit singles. The single peaked at number two on the United States Billboard Hot 100, behind only "St. Elmo's Fire " by John Parr, at number three in the UK and reached number one in Canada, Australia, Germany, Poland, Spain and Switzerland.

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications and sales

Cover versions

In 2004, Canadian singer Jane Child recorded a cover of the song, titling it "Beyond Thunderdome " for the album What's Love? A Tribute to Tina Turner.
In March 2016, Seal and Jencarlos Canela performed a cover of the song during the Fox television special The Passion. It was sung in the story where Pontius Pilate is torn at sentencing Jesus to death; the lyrics were amended to remove the reference to Thunderdome, which was replaced with "the love we know".