Heroes
by Mika

Album: The Origin of Love (2012)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Mika penned this song with Empire of the Sun's Nick Littlemore, Nylon Studios composer Jack Milas, and NYC based producer Oli Chang. He explained to the music-streaming site Spotify that he wrote it about a war veteran. Said Mika: ''It talks about a solider who comes back from the war and he looks physically unharmed and looks physical completely fine, but inside he's destroyed. Everyone looks at him and is like 'you're fine, look at you, you're not missing a limb.'"
  • The lyrics were inspired by a taxi driver that Mika had driving him from his place in London to the studio one day. He explained to Spotify that, "he was telling me how he had spent a lot of time in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Lebanon, and all the problems he encountered.''

Comments: 1

  • Swit Chill from CebuI think Mika has a good heart because he listened to the driver when the driver was telling his story to someone he didn't know.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Harold Brown of War

Harold Brown of WarSongwriter Interviews

A founding member of the band War, Harold gives a first-person account of one of the most important periods in music history.

Glen Burtnik

Glen BurtnikSongwriter Interviews

On Glen's résumé: hit songwriter, Facebook dominator, and member of Styx.

Macabre Mother Goose: The Dark Side of Children's Songs

Macabre Mother Goose: The Dark Side of Children's SongsSong Writing

"London Bridge," "Ring Around the Rosie" and "It's Raining, It's Pouring" are just a few examples of shockingly morbid children's songs.

Holly Knight ("The Best," "Love Is A Battlefield")

Holly Knight ("The Best," "Love Is A Battlefield")Songwriter Interviews

Holly Knight talks about some of the hit songs she wrote, including "The Warrior," "Never" and "The Best," and explains some songwriting philosophy, including how to think of a bridge.

Little Richard

Little RichardFact or Fiction

Was Long Tall Sally a cross-dresser? Did he really set his piano on fire? See if you know the real stories about one of rock's greatest innovators.

Jesus In Pop Hits: The Gospel Songs That Went Mainstream

Jesus In Pop Hits: The Gospel Songs That Went MainstreamSong Writing

These overtly religious songs crossed over to the pop charts, despite resistance from fans, and in many cases, churches.