4 Amazing Covers of “Heroes” by David Bowie That Reimagined the Magical Original

While not his most acclaimed song, David Bowie’s “Heroes” has been the spark that ignited many artists’ creativity. The song has been a transcendent needle drop in films. It has played in Christiane F, Stranger Things, and served as the defining ending scene in The Perks of Being a Wallflower. It has been covered dozens of times since the song’s release in 1977. Each cover has brought its own creative spin to the song while still maintaining the song’s original themes of how ordinary moments can be made extraordinary. Here are four covers of “Heroes” by David Bowie that reimagined the original song.

Peter Gabriel

First featured in the dramatic and emotional Season One episode three ending of Stranger Things, Peter Gabriel’s orchestral interpretation retold the song in a haunting narrative. “‘Heroes,’ for me, was always one of the great Bowie tracks,” Gabriel said. “It is heroism in the face of oppression and desperation; it’s something triumphant despite the desperate situation.” And that oppression and desperation are exactly what Gabriel caught in this cover.

During the time of the song’s original release, it was never considered a “hit.” The song never made it to the top of the Billboard Hot 100. But that all changed when Netflix’s inclusion caused the song to surge in popularity.

Not only does the song play in several tense moments throughout the series, but it was also the ending credits song, making it the final song played in the hit show. The choice to end this record-breaking TV series came from one of the main actors, Joe Keery.

“It was actually Joe Keery who suggested that we do the Bowie version,” Stranger Things creator Ross Duffer told Tudum. “Once Joe said that, we immediately knew that was the right song to end the show on because it is, in some ways, an anthem for ‘Stranger Things’. To use the original Bowie version just felt fitting for the conclusion.”

Billie Joe and Jakob Armstrong

Green Day lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong and his son Jakob have taken on the challenge of covering “Heroes” for the 50th season of Survivor. The song was first featured in a promo video for that season. It was released a month before Survivor Season 50, which started on February 25.

The song remains faithful to the original instrumentation but has an added alternative sound to the vocals. Jakob’s work with his father isn’t his first run with music. He previously released music under the moniker Jakob Danger and fronts the band Ultra Q.

This cover aligns closely with Green Day’s successful halftime show performance at the Super Bowl LX.

Blondie

Three years after Bowie’s original release of the song, Blondie was taking the song on the road, occasionally covering the song as part of their live show.

In 1978, the band performed “Heroes” all three nights of their sold-out show. To the fans’ surprise, in the middle of the performance on the 12th of January, the band produced cover versions of The Nerves, Richard Berry, Donna Summer, James Brown, and, of course, “Heroes.” The band recorded their rendition of “Heroes” and released it shortly after.

Motörhead

On Sept. 1, 2017, Motörhead released their album Under Cöver, which consisted of covers that the band had recorded over the years. At the time of that album, the only unreleased track was the band’s cover of David Bowie’s “Heroes.” The song was recorded before the death of bassist and frontman Lemmy Kilmister. It was one of the last songs the band recorded together.

”[Lemmy] was very, very proud of it not only because it turned out so well but because it was fun,” drummer Mikey Dee said in a statement. “Which is what projects like this should be—fun.”

Their metal and more intense rendition of the song surpassed 50 million views. It was a massive hit for Motörhead and certainly a cover of “Heroes” by David Bowie that reimagined the original song.