Heart of Courage explained

Heart of Courage
Artist:Two Steps from Hell
Album:Invincible
Released:May 3, 2010
Recorded:2008
Length:1:57

"Heart of Courage" is a song by the American production music company, Two Steps from Hell; it was composed by co-founder Thomas Bergersen.[1] It originates from the "drama"/second disc of their 2008 trailer music demo album, Legend, circulated exclusively within the movie advertising industry for the purpose of licensing. The track was subsequently made available for public purchase on the group's first commercial album, Invincible, released on 3 May 2010.

It is considered the group's most famous song, having gone on to be extremely used worldwide as the background track for film trailers, video game trailers, TV commercials, stadium events and festivals.[2] [3] Particularly notable was its use as the entrance theme of the teams onto the pitch at all 31 matches of UEFA Euro 2012 which thrust it into the public limelight, becoming known as a de facto theme of the tournament.[1]

Description

"Heart of Courage" is orchestral and choral-based, with an emphasis on strings including significant use of the violin and cello.[1] [4] [5] Instrumental elements were performed by the Czech-based Capellen Orchestra, whilst the choral elements were performed by The Salt Lake Tabernacle Choir.[6]

It begins gently and slowly in B-flat minor. The song starts to build after ~0:30 with the introduction of a repetitive rhythm, and further still at ~0:45 when a catchy melody is introduced, featuring a choir singing short lines, mostly consisting of just a word or two. The song ceases to build after roughly half of its length when it then crescendos in E-flat minor, climaxing in intensity at ~1:40. Strings then continue on until the end of the track, once again returning to B-flat minor and finishing by fading out.[7] [8] [9]

The song is famed for its "epic" and emotive qualities.[1] Soundstripe summaries the song from this perspective saying, "No matter which visual you prefer, this piece of adventure music somehow captures the excitement and danger that we'd expect to find in another place or time. And in two minutes that song creates an experience that might take 30 minutes to pull off in a visual medium."[10] Its capacity to induce emotion has led it to be frequently cited by professional sports people as a popular pre-game motivational anthem.[11] [12]

Charts

Chart (2012–15)! scope="col"
Peak
position
UK Independent Singles (OCC)[13] 46
UK Independent Singles Breakers (OCC)11
French Top 200 Singles (SNEP)[14] 95

Appearances

"Heart of Courage" has appeared on multiple Two Steps from Hell albums:

Use in media

The following are select examples of notable uses of "Heart of Courage" in the media, and the varying types it is frequently featured in:

Samples

The main segment of the melody has been re-used in the song "Darkside" by Alan Walker during the chorus at the lyric "I see it, let's feel it, while we're still young and fearless".

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fußball-Fans küren pompöse Einlaufmusik zur wahren EM-Hymne . Hein . Dirk . DerWesten . 28 June 2012 . 17 June 2022 . de.
  2. Web site: Hickie, James . 29 April 2022 . From Marvel to the main stage: get to know Nick Phoenix . 4 May 2022 . Alternative Press.
  3. Web site: The cult of failure reaches a new peak at Unfiltered Live . Junn . Jihee . . 29 June 2019 . 15 June 2022 . 'Heart of Courage' by Two Steps From Hell blasted across the room (aka that music that gets played in almost every dramatic movie/TV/sporting trailer known to man). It's also the opening theme song to Nathan for You.
  4. Web site: Concert 'Great Choirs by Morricone, Zimmer & Williams' in Barcelona – Summary . Cano, Coque . SoundTrackFest . 1 March 2022 . 14 June 2022 .
  5. Web site: FM Prague: Two Steps from Hell . Smit, Anton . Soundtrack World . 7 May 2018 . 14 June 2022 .
  6. Invincible . . 2010 . 30 March 2022 . Official booklet . https://web.archive.org/web/20110717120659/http://www.twostepsfromhell.com/invincible_booklet.pdf . 17 July 2011 . dead.
  7. Web site: Two Steps From Hell: Invincible Review . Cheshire Cat Studios . 24 August 2011 . 14 June 2022 . 19 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230619195954/https://www.cheshirecatstudios.com/two-steps-from-hell-invincible-review/ . dead .
  8. PhD . Werlé . Xavier Derrick . 2014 . The Music of World of Warcraft - Lore of Epic Music . . 14 June 2022.
  9. Web site: Heart of Courage - Analyse . Müller, Sarah . HELPSTER . 14 June 2022 . de.
  10. Web site: Welcome to Outstanding Adventure Music . soundstripe . 14 June 2022 .
  11. Web site: Which Hollywood star does Neil Robertson credit for his recent success? . Nunns . Hector . . 7 December 2015 . 17 June 2022 .
  12. NBA Playoffs Playlists: Ballers Love Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West and Mozart . Stutz . Colin . . 17 April 2015 . 17 June 2022 .
  13. Web site: TWO STEPS FROM HELL . . 12 November 2023 .
  14. Web site: Two Steps From Hell - Heart Of Courage (Chanson) . lescharts.com . 13 June 2022 . fr.
  15. Web site: Legend . TrailerMusic.info . 7 April 2022 .
  16. Web site: Two steps from hell - "Heart of courage" - SWR1 . . 21 May 2019 . 14 June 2022 . de.
  17. Web site: Legacy - Two Steps From Hell . 4 May 2022 . HMV Japan . ja.
  18. Web site: 11 February 2016 . Two Steps From Hell: Ringtones . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161122155515/https://play.google.com/store/music/album/Two_Steps_From_Hell_Two_Steps_From_Hell_Ringtones?id=Bcnhogjst76o2rpgtubd73rwj2a . 22 November 2016 . 4 May 2022 . Google Play.
  19. Web site: Legend Anthology Soundtrack . filmmusicsite.com . 7 April 2022 .
  20. Web site: Greatest Hits Remastered - Two Steps From Hell . 10 May 2022 . Sondz - Know Your Music.
  21. Web site: Two Steps From Hell veröffentlichen am 9. November ihr erstes Major-Label-Album mit den größten Hits . Kaczmarek, Viktor . Play Experience . 10 September 2022 . 27 December 2022 . de.
  22. Movie trailer music composers Two Steps From Hell perform live . Rome, Emily . . 15 June 2013 . 17 May 2022 .
  23. News: Their movie trailer music is proudly commercial . Rome, Emily . . 8 April 2012 . 17 May 2022 .
  24. Web site: The best game trailer music: top sync - Blog - Tracks & Fields . Tracks & Fields . 1 March 2017 . 15 June 2022 .
  25. Web site: Trailer Music Placements: November . Asuratov, Arkady . Behind The Audio . 31 December 2013 . 15 June 2022 .
  26. Web site: Xbox One's Exclusive Ryse: Son of Rome's Launch Trailer is Beautiful and Epic . Nelva, Giuseppe . DualShockers . 19 November 2013 . 16 June 2022 .
  27. Web site: Game of War: Fire Age TV Commercial, 'Time'. iSpot.tv Real-Time TV Advertising Metrics. 8 May 2015. 10 September 2015.
  28. Web site: Two Steps From Hell Sync Placements . Tunefind . 15 June 2022 .
  29. Web site: Thy Despair - The Song of Desolation Review . Emya . Angry Metal Guy . 6 May 2020 . 15 June 2022 . Two Steps from Hell's “Heart of Courage” (the main opening theme song of the hilarious TV show Nathan for You) .
  30. Web site: What's your favorite song used in a game trailer? . Macgregor, Jody . . 30 March 2019 . 16 June 2022 .
  31. Web site: Survivor: Η επική μουσική του ριάλιτι σε πιανιστική εκδοχή . Youfly . 5 March 2021 . 16 June 2022 . el.
  32. Web site: "Viaggio nella Grande Bellezza»: anche Canale 5 ha (finalmente) il suo «Ulisse" . Manca . Mario . Vanity Fair Italia . 19 December 2019 . 16 June 2022 . it.
  33. Web site: MEINUNG - Pure Langeweile bei "7 vs. Wild": Der Youtube-Hit ist schlechter als sein Ruf . de . 2022-12-30 . 2022-12-30 . Ullrich . Jennifer . watson.de (Swiss/German news portal) .
  34. Web site: A nova Ferrari Four V12 com tração nas quatro . Nascimento Valadares, Guilherme . Papo de Homem . 8 February 2011 . 15 June 2022 . pt .
  35. Web site: Quelle est la musique de pub Mercedes-Benz « Nouveaux SUV 2015 » ? . Quai Baco . 7 September 2015 . 15 June 2022 . fr.
  36. Web site: Mercedes-Benz SUV - Inspiration . Adbreakanthems . 9 September 2015 . 15 June 2022 .
  37. Web site: Coupe du monde de rugby 2015 : Quand Tywin Lannister prend la place du coach . Le Geek C'est Chic . 8 September 2014 . 16 June 2022 . fr . 19 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230619195822/http://legeekcestchic.eu/coupe-du-monde-de-rudby-2015-quand-tywin-lannister-prend-la-place-du-coach/ . dead .
  38. Web site: Behind the scenes of the Rugby World Cup 2015 campaign . Patterson, Ewan . . 8 September 2014 . 16 June 2022 .
  39. Web site: Reed.co.uk - Charger . Adbreakanthems . 15 January 2016 . 15 June 2022 .
  40. Web site: Reed.co.uk Battle Cry Advert Song 2016 – Kevin . Commercial Song . 29 June 2016 . 15 June 2022 .
  41. Web site: 2021 Music+Sound Awards – Best Use Of Production Music In Broadcast Advertising Finalists . Music+Sound Awards . 2021 . 16 June 2022 .
  42. Web site: The Music of the Euro 2012 final The Official Soundtrack . Abnos, Alexander . newsounds . 30 June 2012 . 15 June 2022 .
  43. Web site: Thomas Bergersen: The "Epic Music" Creator Behind Interstellar, Harry Potter And The Dark Knight . Upmanyu, Suryansh . ED Times . 3 February 2022 . 31 May 2022 .
  44. Web site: The Growing Success of Trailer Music in Various Shows . Lebrun, Clothilde . Trailer Music News . 3 January 2013 . 15 June 2022 .