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"I Don't Want to be a Hero"
Single by Johnny Hates Jazz
from the album Turn Back the Clock
B-side	"The Cage"
Released	August 1987 (UK) October 1987 (US)
Recorded	1986–1987
Genre	Sophisti-pop
Length	3:37
Label	Virgin
Songwriter(s)	Clark Datchler
Producer(s)	Calvin Hayes Mike Nocito
Johnny Hates Jazz singles chronology
"Shattered Dreams" (1987) "I Don't Want to be a Hero" (1987) "Turn Back the Clock" (1987)

"I Don't Want to Be a Hero" is a 1987 song by the British band Johnny Hates Jazz. It reached #11 in the UK top 40 in August 1987 spending 10 weeks on the chart. It is taken from their #1 album Turn Back the Clock.

Writing and inspiration

The song was written by the band's lead singer and main songwriter, Clark Datchler. It has a strong anti-war sentiment and is written from the perspective of a soldier who is questioning their participation in what they consider an unjust war. The band's American record company were reluctant to release the single in the U.S. because of its anti-war stance. The song makes references to conscription and propaganda.

In a 1987 interview with Record Mirror, Datchler said, "It's a very profound song but I'm not about to preach to anyone. All my songs are observations and the nice thing about 'I Don't Want to be a Hero' is that you've got a serious subject and putting it with quite a poppy musical backing. I don't think people get involved enough with lyrics in the pop field."

Music video

The international music video for the song was directed by Andy Morahan.

Critical reception

Jerry Smith of British magazine Music Week described "I Don't Want to Be a Hero" a "slick and polished pop song", but deemed it "lacks infectious edge" of "Shattered Dreams". In a review published in Smash Hits, Vici McDonald described the song as being "extremely polished and springhtly but it's so blandly anonymous that it could be by practically anybody", adding that Johnny Hates Jazz are just one of many interchangeable men bands "playing jazzy, breezalong white funk".

Charts

Covers

In 1988, Japanese singer Yōko Nagayama covered the song, "反逆のヒーロー".

See also

• List of anti-war songs

References

1. Inskeep, Thomas; Soto, Alfred. "The Bluffer's Guide – Sophisti-Pop". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on 2016-03-14. Retrieved 2016-04-28.
2. "Johnny Hates Jazz - I Don't Want To Be A Hero". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2012-02-23.
3. 1. Interview with Calvin Hayes, April 2008
4. Strickland, Andy (19 September 1987). "Rubber Johnnies". Record Mirror. p. 48, 49. ISSN 0144-5804.
5. Garcia, Alex S. "mvdbase.com - Johnny Hates Jazz - "I don't want to be a hero [version 1: non-US]"". Music Video DataBase. Retrieved 2015-11-01.
6. Smith, Jerry (29 August 1987). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 22. Retrieved 11 September 2023 – via World Radio History.
7. McDonald, Vici (12–25 August 1987). "Singles reviewed by Vici McDonald" (PDF). Smash Hits. Vol. 9, no. 16. p. 61. ISSN 0260-3004. Retrieved 21 November 2023 – via World Radio History.
8. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 159. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
9. "Johnny Hates Jazz – I Don't Want to Be a Hero" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
10. "Johnny Hates Jazz – I Don't Want to Be a Hero" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
11. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 8692." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
12. "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 43. 31 October 1987. p. 18. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
13. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
14. "Johnny Hates Jazz – I Don't Want to Be a Hero" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
15. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I Don't Wanna Be a Hero". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
16. "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 31 May 2022. Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, type "Johnny Hates Jazz" in the "Artista" field and press "cerca".
17. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Johnny Hates Jazz" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
18. "Johnny Hates Jazz – I Don't Want to Be a Hero" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
19. "Johnny Hates Jazz – I Don't Want to Be a Hero". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
20. "Johnny Hates Jazz – I Don't Want to Be a Hero". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
21. "Johnny Hates Jazz: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
22. "Top Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 10 October 1987. p. 17. Retrieved 11 September 2023 – via World Radio History.
23. "Johnny Hates Jazz Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
24. "Johnny Hates Jazz Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
25. "Johnny Hates Jazz Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
26. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending September 10, 1988". Cash Box. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
27. "Offiziellecharts.de – Johnny Hates Jazz – I Don't Want to Be a Hero" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
28. "European Charts of the Year 1987 – Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 51/52. 26 December 1987. p. 34. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.

External links

• Johnny Hates Jazz Official Website

• Songs about soldiers
• Songs about the military
• 1986 songs
• 1987 singles
• Anti-war songs
• Johnny Hates Jazz songs
• Music videos directed by Andy Morahan
• Songs written by Clark Datchler
• Virgin Records singles