"He doesn't know he's a leader with the way he behaves." "He can do what he wants, because it's his right; the choices he makes change a nine-year-old's life."
When "Hero" first came out on Superchick's Last One Picked in 2002, it wasn't the only song bemoaning the state of the nation's youth. P.O.D.'s "Youth of the Nation" similarly spoke of our sad state (or at least it was a "we" for me at the time when I first heard those songs.)
But now, five years after the song first appeared, this remix seems more popular than the original version. (Hey, I liked the first one.) Superchick's standard odd mix of music appears in both with nearly-identical choruses, though overall I'll have to call the "Red Pill Remix" an improvement on the original. It's not nearly as harsh-sounding.
Many people, not necessarily Christians, have been convicted by this song, and it strikes close to home for many. It's a warning that a little bit of kidness from each one of us can make a difference. Each verse tells a different story where that can be true—of a boy who lashes out at his tormentor through suicide or a gun, of a girl who in her loneliness fights "the lie that giving up is the way," and of a boy who doesn't realize he's leading many others down the path for life that he's chosen for himself, including his young brother.
An addition in this remix to the original "Hero" comes with the rap part (that actually has some of the best background vocals and music of the entire song), returning to the first boy and telling of him putting a gun to his head.
Superchick's an interesting breed of music, mixing aspects of pop, punk, R&B, contemporary Christian, and rapcore. It's therefore hard to rank, since it's rather "unique." The layers were designed to flow together as a unit rather than work separately, so sometimes there's a layer in the song that's an assault on the ears. I therefore don't care for Superchic[k] nearly as much as I once did, but their lyrics still rank among my favorites.
Superchic[k] doesn't try to preach theology; the members offer Bible-based advice. The clear… singing… when it is singing… sounds very much like it's geared for teens, as some listeners have complained. The band also dresses like it's trying to reach a teen audience.
Go figure. It is.
Lyrics: 5/5
Music: 4/5
Vocal(s): 3/5
Overall: 8/10
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