Search for the Hero
Encyclopedia
Search for the Hero
is the third single (remixed) from Bizarre Fruit
(1994), the multi-platinum selling album from M People
Written by Mike Pickering
and Paul Heard. Produced by M People
. It was released on 12th June 1995. The song peaked at number nine on the UK Singles Chart
.
and this single’s release. The band been busy in that time winning Best Dance Act for the second time at the 1995 Brit Awards
. The band then spent February to April on an International tour to Germany, Holland, Belgium, New Zealand, Australia, Hong King, Singapore and Japan.
After originally penned as the second single, but delayed for a more radio-friendlier single remix, "Search for the Hero" became one of the most familiar M People
songs, responsible for propelling the parent album Bizarre Fruit
back into the Top 10 in the Summer of 1995 after having first charted at #4 from November 1994. "Search for the Hero" was associated with the famous TV advert: The multi million pound Peugeot 406
ad campaign: 'The Drive of your life'.
. The single's chart positions peaked from number 9 to 12 to 17 to 25 to 31 to 36 to 59.
The two Bizarre Fruit
singles "Open Your Heart"
and "Search for the Hero" had been swapped by the record company because of the high demand for dance music in 1995, so "Search for the Hero" was pushed to be the middle single scheduled for the summer as a precursor to their world tour.
The single sold 88,700 copies in it's first week, which sold almost as much as Renaissance
which, a year previously had sold, 89,000 in it's first week charting higher at number 5 in February 1994.
This single also got to number 2 on the UK R'n'B Chart behind Bobby Brown
's "Two Can Play That Game"
.
Notably, in May 1996, almost a year after release "Search for the Hero" actually re-entered the airplay chart at number
33 and climbed for five consecutive weeks only to peak at number 20. This is therefore one of two singles in the 90s apart from Robbie Williams
’s "Angels" and Ultra Naté
’s Free
to do so.
in South London on the still disused site with special flame effects and Heather at the forefront with the band playing behind her. A triptych of images are detailed with DNA formulae, people in busy places and body statistics make up this image and foundation of life. Children are also seen running free and playing in the desecration and dilapidation of broken down cars, bricks, mortar, fire and flames.
The whole line up of the band are seen as well as, on drums Andy Gangadeen
, Lynieve Austin and Paul Johnson performing on backing vocals within the shell of the Power Station drums. The other images seen are of exploding cars, kids playing on wasteland, smashing glasses bottles and CCTV footage. There are two poignant images in the video are the dolls head falling to the ground and the child swing from the hanging rope noose.
The other mix is from Producers: Blacksmith with their "Mellow Flava mix". The final track on the single is a live performance recorded in Germany on the Bizarre Fruit Tour earlier in 1995.
12" Maxi
CD Maxi
Search for the Hero
Search for the Hero is the third single from Bizarre Fruit , the multi-platinum selling album from M People Written by Mike Pickering and Paul Heard. Produced by M People. It was released on 12th June 1995...
is the third single (remixed) from Bizarre Fruit
Bizarre Fruit
- Release history :...
(1994), the multi-platinum selling album from M People
M People
M People are a British house music act from Manchester, who formed in 1990 and achieved success throughout most of the 1990s. The name M People is from the initials of Mike Pickering, who formed the group.-Career:...
Written by Mike Pickering
Mike Pickering
Michael "Duncan" Pickering has DJed at The Haçienda's infamous "Nude" and "Hot" nights and later "Shine". He worked for Factory Records where he signed Happy Mondays, To Hell With Burgundy and James amongst others...
and Paul Heard. Produced by M People
M People
M People are a British house music act from Manchester, who formed in 1990 and achieved success throughout most of the 1990s. The name M People is from the initials of Mike Pickering, who formed the group.-Career:...
. It was released on 12th June 1995. The song peaked at number nine on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
Background
There had been a four and half month gap between previous single and their seventh consecutive Top 10 hit, "Open Your Heart"Open Your Heart (M People song)
"Open Your Heart" is the eleventh overall single from British band M People. It is the second single from their third album Bizarre Fruit . Written by Mike Pickering, Paul Heard and Heather Small. Produced by M People. It was released on 23 January 1995...
and this single’s release. The band been busy in that time winning Best Dance Act for the second time at the 1995 Brit Awards
Brit Awards
The Brit Awards are the British Phonographic Industry's annual pop music awards. The name was originally a shortened form of "British", "Britain" or "Britannia", but subsequently became a backronym for British Record Industry Trust...
. The band then spent February to April on an International tour to Germany, Holland, Belgium, New Zealand, Australia, Hong King, Singapore and Japan.
After originally penned as the second single, but delayed for a more radio-friendlier single remix, "Search for the Hero" became one of the most familiar M People
M People
M People are a British house music act from Manchester, who formed in 1990 and achieved success throughout most of the 1990s. The name M People is from the initials of Mike Pickering, who formed the group.-Career:...
songs, responsible for propelling the parent album Bizarre Fruit
Bizarre Fruit
- Release history :...
back into the Top 10 in the Summer of 1995 after having first charted at #4 from November 1994. "Search for the Hero" was associated with the famous TV advert: The multi million pound Peugeot 406
Peugeot 406
The Peugeot 406 was a large family car made by the French automaker Peugeot from 1995 to 2004. Available in saloon, estate and coupé bodystyles with a choice of petrol or turbodiesel engines, the 406 replaced the Peugeot 405 in Peugeot's lineup, and was itself replaced by the Peugeot 407...
ad campaign: 'The Drive of your life'.
Chart Performance
In June 1995, "Search for the Hero" continued the band’s unbroken run of eight consecutive Top 10 singles, entering the chart and peaking at number 9. It had been expected to chart much higher due to very strong radio support, but it stayed in the Top 20 for three weeks like predecessor single: "Open Your Heart"Open Your Heart (M People song)
"Open Your Heart" is the eleventh overall single from British band M People. It is the second single from their third album Bizarre Fruit . Written by Mike Pickering, Paul Heard and Heather Small. Produced by M People. It was released on 23 January 1995...
. The single's chart positions peaked from number 9 to 12 to 17 to 25 to 31 to 36 to 59.
The two Bizarre Fruit
Bizarre Fruit
- Release history :...
singles "Open Your Heart"
Open Your Heart (M People song)
"Open Your Heart" is the eleventh overall single from British band M People. It is the second single from their third album Bizarre Fruit . Written by Mike Pickering, Paul Heard and Heather Small. Produced by M People. It was released on 23 January 1995...
and "Search for the Hero" had been swapped by the record company because of the high demand for dance music in 1995, so "Search for the Hero" was pushed to be the middle single scheduled for the summer as a precursor to their world tour.
The single sold 88,700 copies in it's first week, which sold almost as much as Renaissance
Renaissance (song)
Renaissance is the ninth overall single from British band M People and is the fourth and final single from their second album Elegant Slumming . Written by Mike Pickering and Paul Heard. Produced by M People. It was released on 28 February 1994...
which, a year previously had sold, 89,000 in it's first week charting higher at number 5 in February 1994.
This single also got to number 2 on the UK R'n'B Chart behind Bobby Brown
Bobby Brown
Robert Barisford "Bobby" Brown is an American R&B singer-songwriter, occasional rapper, and dancer. After success in pop group New Edition, Brown began his solo career in 1987 and had a string of Top 10 Billboard hits, culminating in a Grammy Award. He was a pioneer of New Jack Swing music, a...
's "Two Can Play That Game"
Two Can Play That Game (song)
"Two Can Play that game" is a single released by R&B singer Bobby Brown on the MCA label.The song originally reached #38 in the UK charts upon its first release in 1994. It was remixed by K-Klass and re-released in 1995...
.
Airplay
Airplay for the single started off and remained encouraging from five weeks before retail release entering at number 45 moving to 31 to 23 to 18 and then to number 15 in the first retail week. Unlike the sales though, "Search for the Hero"'s airplay peaked at number 5 where it stayed for two weeks and did not leave the Airplay Top 40 for 13 weeks in total making the single one of M People’s best ever airplay songs.Notably, in May 1996, almost a year after release "Search for the Hero" actually re-entered the airplay chart at number
33 and climbed for five consecutive weeks only to peak at number 20. This is therefore one of two singles in the 90s apart from Robbie Williams
Robbie Williams
Robert Peter "Robbie" Williams is an English singer-songwriter, vocal coach and occasional actor. He is a member of the pop group Take That. Williams rose to fame in the band's first run in the early- to mid-1990s. After many disagreements with the management and certain group members, Williams...
’s "Angels" and Ultra Naté
Ultra Naté
Ultra Naté is an American house music, Dance-pop and sometimes R&B musician who has achieved a respectable amount of success on the pop charts with songs such as "Free" and "If You Could Read My Mind" as part of Stars on 54....
’s Free
Free (Ultra Naté song)
"Free" is a song by American recording artist Ultra Naté and was a hit single around the world, peaking at number 4 in the UK. It was the first single released from her album Situation: Critical.-Track listing:# "Free" – 3:41...
to do so.
Music Video
The video was shot in early May 1995 in and around the iconic Battersea Power StationBattersea Power Station
Battersea Power Station is a decommissioned coal-fired power station located on the south bank of the River Thames, in Battersea, South London. The station comprises two individual power stations, built in two stages in the form of a single building. Battersea A Power Station was built first in the...
in South London on the still disused site with special flame effects and Heather at the forefront with the band playing behind her. A triptych of images are detailed with DNA formulae, people in busy places and body statistics make up this image and foundation of life. Children are also seen running free and playing in the desecration and dilapidation of broken down cars, bricks, mortar, fire and flames.
The whole line up of the band are seen as well as, on drums Andy Gangadeen
Andy Gangadeen
Andy Gangadeen is a drummer from the United Kingdom, known for his band The Bays and as a session drummer. Born in the UK to a Guyanese family, he grew up in Walthamstow and took up drums aged 17....
, Lynieve Austin and Paul Johnson performing on backing vocals within the shell of the Power Station drums. The other images seen are of exploding cars, kids playing on wasteland, smashing glasses bottles and CCTV footage. There are two poignant images in the video are the dolls head falling to the ground and the child swing from the hanging rope noose.
Remixes
Remixes of the single were heavily RnB and not dance orientated for the first time of any M People single and were provided by Smith and Mighty. They serviced two mixes of the single in the form of a laid back RnB groove "Searchin mix" and a dub of the same remix.The other mix is from Producers: Blacksmith with their "Mellow Flava mix". The final track on the single is a live performance recorded in Germany on the Bizarre Fruit Tour earlier in 1995.
Track listings
Cassette12" Maxi
- “Search for the Hero” (Smith & Mighty Searchin Mix)
- “Search for the Hero” (Smith & Mighty Searchin Dub)
- “Search for the Hero” (Blacksmith Mellow Flava Mix)
- “Search for the Hero” (Master Mix)
CD Maxi
- “Search for the Hero” (Radio mix)
- “Search for the Hero” (Smith & Mighty Searchin Mix)
- “Search for the Hero” (Smith & Mighty Searchin Dub)
- “Search for the Hero” (Blacksmith Mellow Flava Mix)
- “Search for the Hero” (Live Mix)
Charts
| Chart (1995) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
9 |
| Australian Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
37 |