"We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)" is a song written by Graham Lyle and Terry Britten. It was recorded by American singer Tina Turner for the soundtrack album to the 1985 film Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, which starred Mel Gibson and Turner. On the heels of Turner's multiplatinum album Private Dancer (1984), the song was released as an edited 7-inch single, while the full album version was released as a 12-inch single and on the film's soundtrack album. In the United Kingdom, a shaped picture disc was also issued. The power ballad received a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Original Song and a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. In 1986, the song received the Ivor Novello Awards for Best Contemporary Song and Best Film Theme or Song.
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 recording, Lawrence Dallaglio, became famous as a rugby union star and captain of the England national team.
Chart performance "We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)" became one of Turner's biggest hit singles. It peaked at number two on September 14, 1985, on the US Billboard Hot 100, behind John Parr's "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)". It peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart and topped the charts in Australia, Canada, Poland, Spain, Switzerland and West Germany.
Music video
The accompanying music video for "We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)" features Turner dressed in her Aunty Entity costume from the Mad Max film, a heavy chain mail gown. As several spotlights shine on her, she proceeds to sing atop a platform while various scenes from the film 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.
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1985–1986)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report) 1Canada Retail Singles (The Record) 1Europe (European Top 100) 4Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) 4Italy (Musica e dischi) Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Tina Turner". 2Portugal (Musica & Som) 2South Africa (Springbok Charts) 9Spain (AFYVE) 1 US Cash Box Top 100 3
Chart (2022)Peakposition
Year-end charts Chart (1985)PositionAustralia (Kent Music Report) 20Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) 11Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) 10Canada Top Singles (RPM) 12Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 31New Zealand (RIANZ) 24Norway Summer Period (VG-lista) 2Spain (AFYVE) 14Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 6UK Singles (OCC) 43US Billboard Hot 100 57US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) 26US Hot Black Singles (Billboard) 49West Germany (Media Control) 6
Certifications
Cover versions In March 2016, Seal and Jencarlos Canela performed a cover of the song during the Fox television special The Passion. In the narrative, Pontius Pilate (Seal) is torn at sentencing Jesus (Jencarlos) to death; the lyrics were amended to remove the reference to Thunderdome, which was replaced with "the love we know".
On May 19, 2023, Swedish rock band Ghost released a version of the song on their Phantomime covers EP.
References