Hero (Mariah Carey Song) - The X Factor UK 2008 Finalists Version

The X Factor UK 2008 Finalists Version

The twelve finalists from the fifth series of the UK TV talent show The X Factor released a cover of the song on October 27, 2008 for the Help for Heroes and The Royal British Legion charities. The release was backed by, and originally suggested by, The Sun newspaper. The finalists performed the single for the first time alongside Mariah Carey on October 25, 2008 during a week when only Carey's material could be sung. The single was released on download on October 26, 2008, followed by the physical release the day after. On October 30 it was announced that the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, would waive all tax on copies sold on the single. He said, "I support the efforts being made by the X Factor contestants and in recognition of that I'm proposing effectively to waive the VAT on the sale of these singles. We will do that by making a donation equivalent to the value of the VAT." Following the single's release, the music video was sent to music channels on November 8, 2008 before the fifth live show, when the finalists (excluding Diana Vickers because of illness) sang it again. All the finalists appeared in the video, which also showed still images of soldiers in Iraq.

Upon its release the single was expected to top the charts in the United Kingdom, due to strong promotional push from Cowell and his management. On November 2, 2008 it debuted atop of the UK Singles Chart, staying there for three consecutive weeks and becoming the fastest selling single of 2008. The song sold 100,000 copies in the first day of its release and 313,244 copies by the end of the week. It has sold over 770,000 copies and raised over one million pounds for Help For Heroes foundation. It was suggested that the song would have become one of the biggest-selling releases of the 2000s (decade), with HMV spokesman Gennaro Castaldo saying: "This is proving to be one of the biggest single releases for years if not the decade. Only Leona Lewis's debut hit "A Moment Like This", which sold over 500,000 copies in its first week, can compare. It's selling more than most Christmas No 1s would, and HMV has placed an urgent order for more copies." On December 28, 2008, the UK Singles Chart listed it as the second biggest selling single for the year end countdown and the nineteenth best-selling single of the decade. The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) certified the song double-platinum, denoting shipments of over 1.2 million copies within the country.