We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)

"We Don't Need Another Hero"
Song

"We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)" is the hit theme song to the 1985 film Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome with Mel Gibson and Tina Turner. The single was recorded by Turner, who played Aunty Entity in the movie. The song was written by Terry Britten and Graham Lyle.

"We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)" was released on the heels of Turner's multiplatinum album Private Dancer. The song's lyrical content is written from the perspective of those being oppressed and not wanting to get their hopes up in yet another "hero" who may or may not save them. The song was released in an extended, six minute-plus 12" version on the soundtrack album.

The song received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song in 1986, and a 1986 Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

Music video

The music video features Turner dressed in a heavy chain mail gown, more or less as Aunty Entity, the character she played in the movie. 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's tour saxophonist, percussionist and keyboardist – Timmy Capello and a children's choir accompany her.

The music video received an MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Female Video.

Recording

The song was written and produced by the same people behind Turner's Private Dancer album. 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 in a totally different field as a rugby union star and captain of the England national team.

Versions and remixes

• 7" edit – 4:16
• 7" instrumental – 4:41
• 12" Extended Mix (Soundtrack album version) – 6:07
• 12" Dub Mix (Soundtrack instrumental version) – 6:30

Chart performance

"We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)" became one of Tina Turner's biggest worldwide hit singles. The single peaked at #2 on the United States Billboard Hot 100, at #3 in the UK and reached #1 in Canada, Australia, Germany, Poland, Spain and Switzerland.

Chart positions

Chart	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	2
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Songs	3
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary	3
U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks	29
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play	23
UK Singles Chart	3
Germany	1
Australia	1
Switzerland	1
Poland	1
Austria	2
Belgium	2
France	3
Norway	2
Canada	1
Norway	2
Sweden	4
New Zealand	2
Netherlands	7
Ireland	2
Italy	2
Spain	1
South Africa	9

Cover versions

The Shadows did an instrumental version of the song on their 1987 album Simply Shadows.

Shirley Bassey covered this song on her 1995 album Sings the Movies.

In 1998, the Croatian group Vatrogasci (Firefighters) made a cover of this song in Gypsy life thematic, translating it into the Croatian language and naming it "Daj još jednu", giving it a tamburica/folk music arrangement.

Swedish singer Regina Lund has recorded a very soft and toned down version of this song, featured on her album "Year Zero" from 2000.

Jane Child made a cover version of this song in 2004, re-titling it "Beyond Thunderdome (We Don't Need Another Hero)".

A cover of this song was released in 2007 from the heavy metal Finnish band Northern Kings; from their debut album Reborn.

"Weird Al" Yankovic parodied the song as "We Won't Eat Another Hero". Though he has performed it a few times in concert, this parody was not released as a single.