I'm Not Your Hero

"I'm Not Your Hero" is a song written, recorded and performed by Canadian duo Tegan and Sara and produced by Greg Kurstin for the album Heartthrob (2013). Recorded at Echo Studio and EastWest Studios in California in 2012, it was released on October 21 of that year as a promotional single. The lyrics for the new wave synthpop ballad were written by Sara Quin, and discuss her teenage life in the 1990s when she was unable to identify with the lives of pop culture figures and had unforeseen thoughts about her later life. Guitar chords, drums, bass guitar, synths and harmonized vocals are also played in the track.

"I'm Not Your Hero"
Promotional single by Tegan and Sara
from the album Heartthrob
ReleasedOctober 21, 2012 (2012-10-21)
Recorded2012
Studio
Genre
Length3:51
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)
  • Tegan Quin
  • Sara Quin
Producer(s)Greg Kurstin

"I'm Not Your Hero" was mostly well received by critics for its songwriting and composition. The track garnered comparisons to the works of Santigold, Fleetwood Mac and The Temper Trap. Commercially, it peaked at number 58 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 and 157 on the French SNEP singles chart. Tegan and Sara have performed it at the Austin City Limits Music Festival, their Let's Make Things Physical tour, and on shows and services such as Soundcheck and Queen's TV.

Production and composition
Sara Quin wrote "I'm Not Your Hero" based on her inability to identify with the lives of pop culture figures, as well as her political views and her sexuality.

In November 2011, it was revealed on Tegan and Sara Quinn's official website that they were writing new material for their seventh studio album: "[we] are back in our home studios working away at more songs. We’re really looking forward to making a new record now. Our hope is to be in the studio by early 2012."[1] "I'm Not Your Hero" was written for the album, which was later named Heartthrob and recorded between February and May 2012.[2] Sara, who wrote the lyrics, said the song was based on her life as a teenager when she was unable to identify with the lives of pop culture figures and had unforeseen thoughts about her future. She claimed the lyrics were about her political views from watching The West Wing, her identity and her sexuality.[3] Tegan stated that when Sara showed the song to her and the producers, it was initially more of a love song and much more acoustic and slow than the final mix that would be released, and said she "was haunted by it almost immediately. I found the verses to be quintessential Sara."[4]

According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Naked in a Snowsuit Publishing, the new wave synthpop ballad[5][6] is performed in common time at a tempo of 122 beats per minute. It is composed in the key of A Major, with the vocal range spanning from E4 to D6. A chord progression of A5−E5−F♯m−Dmaj7−F♯m−E−Dmaj7 is followed in the verse, D−A in the pre-chorus, and D−E−F♯m−D in the chorus.[7] The track opens with guitar chords before loud drums are played.[8] Harmonized vocals, bass guitar and blurred synthesizers are also parts of the track's arrangement.[8][9] Reviewers made comparisons of its musical structure to songs such as "L.E.S. Artistes" by Santigold,[10] The Temper Trap's "Sweet Disposition",[11] and the works of Fleetwood Mac.[12]

Release and live performances

"I'm Not Your Hero" was first available for digital download in the United Kingdom as part of their compilation extended play called In Your Head: An Introduction to Tegan and Sara, which was issued on October 19, 2012.[13] On October 21, it was released as a promotional single for worldwide streaming.[14] It received mostly positive reviews from critics upon its release, some calling it one of the best songs off Heartthrob.[15][16] Brodsky described it as "a track that honors their previous work but shows their dedication to musical development."[8] Bryne Yancey of Punknews.org wrote the song "blows out its chorus rather impressively from the verses with some neat, alternated instrumentation."[17] A more mixed opinion came from Billboard's Jason Lipshutz; he praised the song's "eloquent" message, but felt the track overall was not as engaging as the other songs on the album.[18]

In an interview with MTV Hive, Tegan and Sara said "I'm Not Your Hero" was one of their favorite songs to perform live.[19] The duo first did so, along with "Now I'm All Messed Up" and "I Was a Fool", in Vancouver on September 23, 2012.[20] They performed it at the 2012 Austin City Limits Music Festival,[21] and the song was also a part of the set list of their 2014 "Let's Make Things Physical" promotional tour.[22] In April 2014, the pair played it at the Juno Awards in Burton Cummings Theatre live on Queen's TV.[23] The duo has performed two acoustic renditions of the song, one in November 2012 in a studio session for Alter The Press!,[24] and in July 2013 on their interview by the WNYC program Soundcheck.[25]

Credits and personnel

The following information adapted from the liner notes of Heartthrob:[9]

Locations
Personnel

Charts
Chart (2013–14) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[26] 58
Canada AC (Billboard)[27] 11
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[28] 43
Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[29] 16
France (SNEP)[30] 157
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References
  1. Quin, Tegan (November 30, 2011). "Post Turkey Coma Dispatch". Tegan and Sara Official Website. Archived from the original on July 2, 2014. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  2. "Tegan and Sara / Heartthrob Press Kit" (PDF). Warner Bros. Records. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 4, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  3. "Tegan & Sara "I'm Not Your Hero" - 'Heartthrob': Track by Track". The Live Room powered by Warner Music Official YouTube Channel. February 15, 2013. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
  4. Trunick, Austin (January 22, 2013). "Track-by-Track: Tegan and Sara's Heartthrob Part Two". Under the Radar. Archived from the original on May 30, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  5. Snapes, Laura (January 28, 2013). "Tegan and Sara: Heartthrob". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on June 27, 2014. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
  6. Carlick, Stephen (October 22, 2012). "Tegan and Sara "I'm Not Your Hero"". Exclaim!. Ian Danzig. Archived from the original on November 11, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
  7. "Tegan and Sara – I'm Not Your Hero (Digital Download)". Musicnotes.com. Naked in a Snowsuit Publishing. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
  8. Brodsky, Rachel (October 23, 2012). "New Song: Tegan And Sara, 'I'm Not Your Hero'". MTV Buzzworthy. Viacom. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
  9. Heartthrob (Media notes). Tegan and Sara. Vapor. 2013. 2-532232.CS1 maint: others (link)
  10. Weiss, Dan (January 29, 2013). "Tegan and Sara: Heartthrob". Paste Magazine. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
  11. Johansen, Martine (February 20, 2013). "Tegan and Sara – Heartthrob". Alt Rock Live. Archived from the original on August 29, 2014. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  12. Zaleski, Annie (January 29, 2013). "Tegan And Sara: Heartthrob". The A.V. Club. The Onion. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
  13. "In Your Head: An Introduction to Tegan and Sara – EP by Tegan and Sara". iTunes Store (Great Britain). Apple Inc. Archived from the original on August 29, 2014. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  14. "Tegan and Sara - I'm Not Your Hero [Audio]". Tegan and Sara Official YouTube Channel. October 21, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  15. Hirsh, Marc (January 29, 2013). "Tegan and Sara, 'Heartthrob'". The Boston Globe. Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC. Archived from the original on August 29, 2014. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  16. Copsey, Robert (February 7, 2013). "Tegan and Sara: 'Heartthrob' - Album review". Digital Spy. Hearst Corporation. Archived from the original on January 2, 2014. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  17. Yancey, Bryne (January 28, 2013). "Tegan and Sara – Heartthrob". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  18. Lipshutz, Jason (January 29, 2013). "Tegan and Sara, 'Heartthrob': Track-By-Track Review". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on July 16, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  19. Solomon, Dan (October 16, 2012). "Tegan and Sara Went 'Crazy' With the Hooks on 'Heartthrob' Tegan and Sara". MTV Hive. Viacom. Archived from the original on July 17, 2014. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  20. Ableson, Joe (September 2012). "Tegan and Sara Perform Three New Songs Live In Vancouver". Alter The Press! SpinMedia. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  21. Ableson, Jon (October 2012). "Tegan and Sara Perform 'I'm Not Your Hero' At Austin City Limits Music Festival". Alter the Press! Spin Media. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
  22. Christine, Matt (June 27, 2014). "Tegan and Sara Make Things Physical in Bethlehem". Sight of Sound. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
  23. "Juno winners Tegan & Sara perform 'I'm Not Your Hero' on Q". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. April 10, 2014. Archived from the original on April 24, 2014. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  24. "ATP! Acoustic Session: Tegan and Sara". Alter The Press!. November 2012. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
  25. "Tegan And Sara: Synth Pop Jubilation". Soundcheck. WNYC. July 31, 2013. Archived from the original on August 29, 2014. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
  26. "Tegan and Sara Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  27. "Tegan and Sara Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  28. "Tegan and Sara Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  29. "Tegan and Sara Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  30. "Lescharts.com – Tegan And Sara – I'm Not Your Hero" (in French). Les classement single. Archived from the original on August 29, 2014. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
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