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Hero of the Day

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Wikipedia article




{{Infobox song

| name = Hero of the Day

| cover = Metallica - Hero of the Day cover.jpg

| alt =

| border = yes

| type = single

| artist = Metallica

| album = Load

| B-side = See below

| released = September 9, 1996

| recorded = December 13, 1995

| studio = The Plant (Sausalito, California)

| genre =

| length = 4:21

| label =

| writer =

| producer =

| prev_title = Until It Sleeps

| prev_year = 1996

| next_title = Mama Said

| next_year = 1996

| misc =

}}

"'Hero of the Day'" is a power ballad by American heavy metal band Metallica from their 1996 album 'Load'. The song was recorded on December 13, 1995, at Plant Studios in Sausalito, California.'Metallica: Fuel and Fire' p. 165 "Hero of the Day" was Metallica's second single release from the album. The song became their second consecutive number-one hit on the US 'Billboard' Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and reached number two in Australia, number three in Finland and number eight in Norway. The song is one of the few Metallica songs written primarily in a major key. A promotional video for the track was also filmed.

The "Hero of the Day" single is notable for including four Motrhead cover songs, recorded live direct to two-track at The Plant Studios during a rehearsal for Lemmy's 50th Birthday Party at Los Angeles' Whisky a Go Go nightclub.'Metallica: Fuel and Fire' p. 174 These B-sides were later released on the second CD of the Garage Inc. compilation in 1998.

History



According to an article in the rock music magazine 'Kerrang', around the time of 'Load's release, the demo for the song was entitled "Mouldy" due to the main riff reminding James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich of a typical Bob Mould sound. The demo was recorded on December 10, 1994, one of the earliest demo recordings for the 'Load' sessions (the first demo to be recorded was for "Wasting My Hate" on November 28, 1994).[https://www.metallica.com/releases/other/release-4259.html 'metallica.com: releases]

Critical reception



Discussing the style of the song, 'Loudwire' opined "Hero of the Day" to be a "mellifluous saunter into soft rock territory". Terry Bezer of 'Louder Sound' called the song "epic".

Music video



The music video for this song was directed by Anton Corbijn and features a drug-addled youth watching a television, with every channel featuring Metallica in some way. A Western movie titled 'Load' is featured, starring Newsted and Hetfield, followed by a boxing match with Hetfield as coach, and Newsted and Kirk Hammett as the fighters. After a drink called "Load" is advertised by Ulrich and Hetfield in matching suits, a game show called "Hero of the Day" (which is a parody of 'Jeopardy!') is seen being played of which Jason Newsted is the host. Then, it cuts to the news with the anchorman played by Hammett and featuring a clip of Hetfield singing the lyrics to the song. A girl calls at the youth's house and they later try having sex, but the young man is unaroused, and leans back in his bed, visibly disappointed. The girl later leaves. At the end, the youth passes out, and dreams of tiny robot creatures, rendered in stop motion, emerging from his ear. He awakes from the dream and vomits into his toilet.

Track listings



Charts and certifications



Weekly charts



Year-end charts



Certifications



References



Category:1996 singles

Category:1996 songs

Category:American soft rock songs

Category:Black-and-white music videos

Category:Elektra Records singles

Category:Metallica songs

Category:Music videos directed by Anton Corbijn

Category:Song recordings produced by Bob Rock

Category:Songs written by James Hetfield

Category:Songs written by Kirk Hammett

Category:Songs written by Lars Ulrich

Category:Vertigo Records singles

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