Superhero (Gary Barlow song) explained

Superhero
Cover:Superhero231339 1 f.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Gary Barlow
Album:Open Road Open Road: 21st Anniversary Edition
B-Side:Lay Down For Love
Released:
  • February 17, 1998 (original release)
  • April 1, 2018 (Open Road: 21st Anniversary release)
Recorded:SARM Studios, Cheiron Studios
Genre:Pop
Length:3:41
Label:Arista
Producer:
  • Max Martin
  • Kristian Lundin
Prev Title:Open Road
Prev Year:1997
Next Title:Hang On in There Baby
Next Year:1998

"Superhero" is the second American single released from the American version of British singer-songwriter Gary Barlow's debut solo album, Open Road. It was released on February 17, 1998, six weeks after the release of the album in America. The track also appears as a single on Barlow's 2018 compilation album, Open Road: 21st Anniversary Edition.

Background

Whilst reworking Open Road for the American market, Barlow met with songwriters Kristian Lundin, Max Martin and Jolyon Skinner, and whilst recording alternate vocals for So Help Me Girl, wrote an entirely brand-new track, Superhero, exclusively for the American market. Barlow described the song as "Something designed to be suited to the kind of pop music in the American charts now, such as that of

or the Backstreet Boys." The song was not as successful as his first American single, only peaking at number 23 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, and not even charting on the Billboard Hot 100.

Reworking

During recording sessions for his second British album, Twelve Months, Eleven Days, Barlow decided that he would re-work the song and release in the United Kingdom. He made three minor changes, which included changing two lines in the chorus, enhancing the beat from 68bpm to 72bpm, and renaming the song "For All That You Want". It was subsequently included as the first track on Twelve Months, Eleven Days, and was released as the second British single from the album, becoming the last single Barlow released in the United Kingdom until the Robbie Williams-duet "Shame" in 2010.

Track listing

  1. "Superhero" – 3:41
  2. "Lay Down For Love" – 5:35

Charts

Charts (1998)Peak
position
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[1] 23
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[2] 6

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Superhero Chart History (Adult Contemporary). Billboard. 6 January 2021.
  2. Web site: Superhero Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100). Billboard. 6 January 2021.