`` Heroes '' ( David Bowie song ) - wikipedia `` Heroes '' ( David Bowie song ) `` '' Heroes '' ( song ) '' redirects here. For other songs of the same name, see Heroes. `` ' Heroes ' '' One of A-side labels of UK vinyl single Single by David Bowie from the album `` Heroes '' B - side `` V - 2 Schneider '' Released 23 September 1977 ( 1977 - 09 - 23 ) Format 7 '' 12 '' Recorded July and August 1977 at Hansa Studio by the Wall, West Berlin Genre Art rock Length 6 : 07 ( album version ) 3 : 32 ( single version ) Label RCA Songwriter ( s ) David Bowie Brian Eno Producer ( s ) David Bowie Tony Visconti David Bowie singles chronology `` Be My Wife '' ( 1977 ) `` ' Heroes ' '' ( 1977 ) `` Beauty and the Beast '' ( 1978 ) `` Be My Wife '' ( 1977 ) `` ' Heroes ' '' ( 1977 ) `` Beauty and the Beast '' ( 1978 ) Alternative release `` Heroes '' track listing `` Joe the Lion '' ( 2 ) `` ' Heroes ' '' ( 3 ) `` Sons of the Silent Age '' ( 4 ) Music video `` Heroes '' on YouTube `` ' Heroes ' '' is a song recorded by the English musician David Bowie, written by Brian Eno and Bowie. Produced by Bowie and Tony Visconti, it was recorded in July and August 1977, and released on 23 September 1977. A product of Bowie 's `` Berlin '' period, the track was not a huge hit in the UK or US at the time, but has gone on to become one of Bowie 's signature songs. In January 2016, following Bowie 's death, the song reached a new peak of number 12 in the UK Singles Chart. `` ' Heroes ' '' has been cited as Bowie 's second-most covered song after `` Rebel Rebel ''. Inspired by the sight of Bowie 's producer / engineer Tony Visconti embracing his girlfriend by the Berlin Wall, the song tells the story of two lovers, one from East and one from West Berlin. Bowie 's performance of `` Heroes '' on June 6, 1987 at the German Reichstag in West Berlin was considered a catalyst to the eventual fall of the Berlin Wall. Following Bowie 's death in January 2016, the German government thanked Bowie for `` helping to bring down the Wall '', adding `` you are now among Heroes ''. `` ' Heroes ' '' has received numerous accolades since its release, as seen with its inclusion on lists ranking the ' greatest songs of all time ' compiled by the music publications ; Rolling Stone named the song the 46th greatest ever, and NME named it the 15th greatest. Bowie scholar David Buckley has written that `` Heroes '' `` is perhaps pop 's definitive statement of the potential triumph of the human spirit over adversity ''. Contents 1 Inspiration and recording 2 Release and aftermath 3 Accolades 4 Track listing 4.1 7 '' vinyl 4.2 12 '' vinyls 5 Production credits 6 Charts and certifications 6.1 Charts 6.2 Certifications 7 Live versions 8 Other releases 9 Cover versions 10 References 11 External links Inspiration and recording The title of the song is a reference to the 1975 track `` Hero '' by German krautrock band Neu !, whom Bowie and Eno admired. It was one of the early tracks recorded during the album sessions, but remained an instrumental until towards the end of production. The quotation marks in the title of the song, a deliberate affectation, were designed to impart an ironic quality on the otherwise highly romantic, even triumphant, words and music. Producer Tony Visconti took credit for inspiring the image of the lovers kissing `` by the wall '', when he and backing vocalist Antonia Maass ( Maaß ) embraced in front of Bowie as he looked out of the Hansa Studio window. Bowie 's habit in the period following the song 's release was to say that the protagonists were based on an anonymous young couple but Visconti, who was married to Mary Hopkin at the time, contends that Bowie was protecting him and his affair with Maass. Bowie confirmed this in 2003. The music, co-written by Bowie and Eno, has been likened to a Wall of Sound production, an undulating juggernaut of guitars, percussion and synthesizers. Eno has said that musically the piece always `` sounded grand and heroic '' and that he had `` that very word -- heroes -- in my mind '' even before Bowie wrote the lyrics. The basic backing track on the recording consists of a conventional arrangement of piano, bass guitar, rhythm guitar and drums. However the remaining instrumental additions are highly distinctive. These largely consist of synthesizer parts by Eno using an EMS VCS3 to produce detuned low - frequency drones, with the beat frequencies from the three oscillators producing a juddering effect. In addition, King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp generated an unusual sustained sound by allowing his guitar to feed back and sitting at different positions in the room to alter the pitch of the feedback ( pitched feedback ). Tony Visconti rigged up a system, a creative misuse of gating that may be termed `` multi-latch gating '', of three microphones to capture the vocal, with one microphone nine inches from Bowie, one 20 feet away and one 50 feet away. As the music built, Bowie was forced to sing at increased volumes to overcome the gating effect, leading to an increasingly unhinged vocal performance as the song progresses Each microphone is muted as the next one is triggered. `` Bowie 's performance thus grows in intensity precisely as ever more ambience infuses his delivery until, by the final verse, he has to shout just to be heard... The more Bowie shouts just to be heard, in fact, the further back in the mix Visconti 's multi-latch system pushes his vocal tracks, creating a stark metaphor for the situation of Bowie 's doomed lovers ''. Release and aftermath `` '' Heroes `` '' was released in a variety of languages and lengths ( `` a collector 's wet dream '' in the words of NME editors Roy Carr and Charles Shaar Murray ). In contrast to the bewildering audio situation, the video ( directed by Stanley Dorfman ) was a stark and simple affair, the singer captured performing the song in what appeared to be a single take with multiple cameras, swaying in front of a spotlight that created a monotone and near - silhouette effect. Despite a large promotional push, including Bowie 's first live Top of the Pops appearance since 1973, `` '' Heroes `` '' only reached number 24 in the UK charts, and failed to make the US Billboard Hot 100. In Italy, the song was certified gold by the Federation of the Italian Music Industry. Writing for NME on its release, Charlie Gillett slated the record saying : `` Well he had a pretty good run for our money, for a guy who was no singer. But I think his time has been and gone, and this just sounds weary. Then again, maybe the ponderous heavy riff will be absorbed on the radio, and the monotonous feel may just be hypnotic enough to drag people into buying it. I hope not. '' Despite the poor review it featured at number 6 in the NME 's end of year critics poll for 1977. Later assessments were more favourable. In February 1999, Q Magazine listed `` '' Heroes `` '' as one of the 100 greatest singles of all time as voted by the readers. In March 2005, the same magazine placed it at number 56 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. In 2004, Rolling Stone rated `` '' Heroes `` '' number 46 in its list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It was included in 2008 's The Pitchfork Media 500 : Our Guide to the Greatest Songs from Punk to the Present. John J. Miller of National Review rated `` '' Heroes `` '' number 21 on a list of `` the 50 greatest conservative rock songs '' due to its anti-Soviet political context, despite its status as a gay anthem. Uncut placed `` '' Heroes `` '' as number 1 in its 30 greatest Bowie songs in 2008. Moby has said that `` '' Heroes `` '' is one of his favourite songs ever written, calling it `` inevitable '' that his music would be influenced by the song, and Dave Gahan, the lead singer of Depeche Mode, was hired into the band when band founder Vince Clarke heard him singing `` '' Heroes `` '' at a jam session. Bowie regularly performed the song in concert. It was used in Chris Petit 's film Radio On two years after its release. The song has become a mainstay of advertising in recent years, gracing efforts by Microsoft, Kodak, CGU Insurance, HBO Olé ( HBO Latin America ) and various sporting promoters throughout the world. It was also used as the intro to the video game NHL 99, released in 1998. `` '' Heroes `` '' also appears as downloadable content in the music video game series Rock Band in a three - song pack along with other Bowie songs `` Moonage Daydream '' and `` Queen Bitch ''. The Australian television mockumentary We Can Be Heroes : Finding The Australian of the Year ( title outside Australia : The Nominees ) took its title from `` '' Heroes `` ''. A cover of the single was used as ITV 's theme song for its coverage of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The song was played during the party scene in the 2001 film Antitrust. In 2009, the song was played over the closing credits of both the documentary The Cove, and What Goes Up, and also featured in that film, important to the plot 's message. In May 2010, the song was played over the extended closing credits of the final episode of Ashes to Ashes, in keeping with the various David Bowie allusions throughout that series ( and its predecessor Life on Mars ). In 2012 the track was played as athletes from Great Britain entered the Olympic Stadium during the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, and after medal ceremonies during the Olympics. It was also used as the Great Britain Paralympic team entered the stadium during the opening ceremony on 29 August 2012. The same year, it was featured in the film The Perks of Being a Wallflower. First heard on a pick - up truck radio by the main characters, the song is important to both `` flying through the tunnel '' scenes and played over the closing credits. In 2013, the song was featured in the Daniel Radcliffe horror fantasy film, Horns. In 2014, the song was featured in the premiere trailer for the Brazilian film Praia do Futuro. The song was also played in `` You Do n't Have to Live Like a Referee '', an episode of The Simpsons as Lisa is trying to figure out how to make Homer into a hero for a speech contest at school. In the days following Bowie 's death in January 2016, the song was streamed on Spotify more than any other Bowie song. On Twitter the German Foreign Office paid homage to Bowie for `` helping to bring down the wall. '' It reached a new peak of number 12 in the UK after Bowie 's death. The song was played at the end of the series finale of animated television series Regular Show. Accolades Publication Country Accolade Year Rank TIME United States `` All - Time 100 Songs '' 2011 * Rolling Stone United States `` The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time '' 2003 46 NME United Kingdom `` 100 Greatest Singles of All Time '' 2002 5 NME United Kingdom `` 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time '' 2014 15 NME United Kingdom `` 100 Greatest Songs Of NME 's Lifetime... So Far '' 2012 NME United Kingdom `` NME Readers Best Tracks Of The Last 60 Years '' 2012 16 NME United Kingdom `` Best tracks of the 1970s '' 2014 NME United Kingdom `` David Bowie 's 40 Greatest Songs '' 2014 Mojo Magazine United Kingdom `` The 100 Greatest Singles Of All Time '' 34 Sounds United Kingdom `` All Time Top 100 Singles '' 1985 Q United Kingdom `` Q Readers Top 100 Singles Of All Time '' 1999 36 Pitchfork United States `` The Pitchfork 500 '' 2008 * Pitchfork United States `` The 200 Best Songs of the 1970s '' 2016 6 Radio X United Kingdom `` The Top 1,000 Songs Of All Time '' 24 Radio X United Kingdom `` Best of British '' 2016 7 Uncut United Kingdom `` David Bowie 's 30 best songs '' 2008 ( * ) designates unordered lists. Track listing 7 '' vinyl RCA / PB 11121 Side A No. Title Writer ( s ) Length 1. `` '' Heroes `` '' David Bowie Brian Eno 3 : 38 Side B No. Title Writer ( s ) Length 1. `` V - 2 Schneider '' Bowie 3 : 10 12 '' vinyls RCA / JD - 11151 ( US promo ) Side A No. Title Writer ( s ) Length 1. `` '' Heroes `` '' ( Album version ) David Bowie Brian Eno 6 : 07 Side B No. Title Writer ( s ) Length 1. `` '' Heroes `` '' ( Single version ) Bowie Eno 3 : 29 RCA / PC - 9821 ( Germany ) Side A No. Title Writer ( s ) Length 1. `` '' Heroes `` '' / `` '' Helden `` '' ( English / German version ) David Bowie Brian Eno 6 : 09 Side B No. Title Writer ( s ) Length 1. `` '' Heroes `` '' / `` '' Héros `` '' ( English / French version ) Bowie Eno 6 : 09 Production credits Producers : Tony Visconti David Bowie Musicians : David Bowie : vocals, piano, ARP Solina String Ensemble, Chamberlin, percussion Robert Fripp : lead guitar Carlos Alomar : rhythm guitar George Murray : bass guitar Dennis Davis : drums Brian Eno : synthesizer, guitar treatments Tony Visconti : backing vocals, tambourine, tape reel as percussion Charts and certifications Charts Chart ( 1977 -- 78 ) Peak position Australia ( AMR ) 11 Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) 19 Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) 17 Germany ( Official German Charts ) 19 Ireland ( IRMA ) 8 Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) 9 New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) 35 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) 24 Chart ( 2016 ) Peak position Australia ( ARIA ) 36 Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) 14 Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) 47 Europe ( Euro Digital Songs ) France ( SNEP ) 9 Ireland ( IRMA ) 29 Italy ( FIMI ) 17 Japan Hot Overseas ( Billboard ) 18 New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) 34 Portugal ( Hung Medien ) 32 Sweden ( Sverigetopplistan ) 37 Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) 17 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) 12 US Hot Rock Songs ( Billboard ) 11 Certifications Region Certification Certified units / Sales Italy ( FIMI ) Gold 7,500 United Kingdom ( BPI ) Silver 200,000 sales + streaming figures based on certification alone Live versions Prior to the single release of `` '' Heroes `` '', Bowie first performed the song on the final episode of friend Marc Bolan 's Granada Television series Marc ( filmed 7 September 1977, broadcast 28 September 1977, after Bolan 's funeral ). This particular version, released as a 7 '' picture disc, on 22 September 2017, has an alternate backing track that was recorded with Bolan playing lead guitar and the T. Rex line up of Dino Dines on keyboards, and the rhythm section of Herbie Flowers on bass and Tony Newman on drums. Coincidentally, prior to joining T. Rex, Flowers and Newman were a part of Bowie 's rhythm section on the Diamond Dogs album and its tour, documented on the live album David Live. Bowie performed the song when he appeared on Bing Crosby 's 1977 Christmas TV special, Bing Crosby 's Merrie Olde Christmas. In the performance, filmed on 11 September 1977, Bowie sang over a prerecorded backing track. A concert performance recorded in the spring of 1978 was released on the live album Stage. Bowie performed the song live on his 1983 Serious Moonlight Tour, as seen in the 1984 concert video, Serious Moonlight. The rendition at Live Aid in 1985 has been described as `` the best version of `` '' Heroes `` '' ( Bowie ) had ever sung ``. This performance featured Thomas Dolby on keyboards. Bowie performed the song live on his 1987 Glass Spider Tour, as seen in the 1988 concert video, Glass Spider. The song was performed at The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in 1992 by Bowie, Mick Ronson and Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon -- the surviving members of Queen. An acoustic version of the song was played in 1996 at The Bridge School Benefit Concert at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California, and later released on The Bridge School Benefit Concert album. The song was performed by Bowie at The Concert for New York City on 20 October 2001. Bowie performed the song live during his 2003 Reality Tour, and a performance from November of that year was released on the A Reality Tour DVD in 2004, and included on the A Reality Tour album, released in 2010. When Bowie opened the post 9 / 11 `` Concert For New York City '' he was asked to perform `` Heroes. '' He said it was n't appropriate as it was a love song, so he opened with a solo version of Paul Simon 's `` America, '' and then performed `` Heroes '' with the house band led by Paul Shaffer. Other releases The edited 7 - inch single, running at 3 : 32 mins and backed with `` V - 2 Schneider '', was released separately in English, French ( `` '' Héros `` '' ) and German ( `` '' Helden `` '' ). All three of these cuts plus `` V - 2 Schneider '' were released together as an Australian 4 - track 7 - inch. The complete English version as it appeared on the album was released as a Spanish 12 - inch single. A version featuring the German single edit spliced into the second half of the full - length English track ( `` '' Heroes `` '' / `` '' Helden `` '' ) appeared on the German pressing of the LP and is also available on Bowie 's soundtrack to the film Christiane F. and on the Rare album. The song has appeared, almost invariably in single edit form, on numerous Bowie compilations : Chameleon ( Australia and New Zealand 1979 ) The Best of Bowie ( 1980 ) Fame and Fashion ( 1984 ) -- album version Sound + Vision ( 1989 ) -- `` '' Helden `` '' Changesbowie ( 1990 ) Bowie : The Singles 1969 - 1993 ( 1993 ) The Singles Collection ( 1993 ) The Best of David Bowie 1974 / 1979 ( 1998 ) Best of Bowie ( 2002 ) The Platinum Collection ( 2005 / 2006 ) Nothing Has Changed ( 2014 ) Bowie Legacy ( 2016 ) It was released as a picture disc in the RCA Life Time picture disc set. Cover versions The Wallflowers recorded a version of the song for the soundtrack to the 1998 film Godzilla. This version peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in 1998, as well as number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart, and number 23 on the Billboard Top 40 Mainstream charts. The X Factor finalists released a version for charity in 2010, which reached number - one in the UK Singles Chart. Depeche Mode released an official cover and video for the 40th anniversary of the song 's release, with lead singer Dave Gahan stating that `` Bowie is the one artist who I 've stuck with since I was in my early teens. His albums are always my go - to on tour and covering ' Heroes ' is paying homage to Bowie. '' King Crimson recorded a version for their five - track EP Heroes : Live in Europe 2016. It won `` Video of the Year '' at the 2017 Progressive Music Awards. References Notes Jump up ^ The quotation marks are part of the title. In certain single releases, the song is stylized without the quotes. Citations Jump up ^ `` With ' Heroes ', David Bowie pulled off the rare feat of having a major hit with a highly experimental piece of art - rock, which featured among other highlights live synth treatments from Brian Eno, pitched feedback from Robert Fripp and a lead vocal with level - triggered ambience. '' Buskin, Richard ( October 2004 ). `` Classic Tracks : Heroes ''. Sound on Sound. Retrieved 17 September 2015. ^ Jump up to : `` David Bowie -- Heroes ''. Discogs. Retrieved 19 January 2016. ^ Jump up to : Nicholas Pegg ( 2000 ). The Complete David Bowie : pp. 90 -- 92 Jump up ^ Ford, Matt ( 11 January 2016 ). `` Remembering David Bowie ''. The Atlantic. Retrieved 11 January 2016. Jump up ^ Fisher, Max ( 11 January 2016 ). `` David Bowie at the Berlin Wall : the incredible story of a concert and its role in history ''. Vox. Retrieved 11 January 2016. Jump up ^ `` The Berlin Wall -- A multimedia history : David Bowie plays Berlin ''. Rundfunk Berlin - Brandenburg. 9 November 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2016. Jump up ^ `` Germany to David Bowie : Thank You for Helping to Bring Down the Berlin Wall ''. Foreign Policy. 2016 - 01 - 11. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 12. Jump up ^ `` The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time -- November 2003 ''. Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 1 January 2005. Retrieved 26 September 2016. ^ Jump up to : `` NME The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, 2014 ''. NME. Retrieved 15 February 2016. ^ Jump up to : `` The Pitchfork 500 : Our Guide to the Greatest Songs from Punk to the Present ''. Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 15 January 2016. Jump up ^ David Buckley ( 2015 - 05 - 30 ). David Bowie : The Music and The Changes. Books.google.com.au. p. 63. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 12. Jump up ^ Mat Snow ( 2007 ). `` Making Heroes '', MOJO 60 Years of Bowie : p. 69 ^ Jump up to : Roy Carr & Charles Shaar Murray ( 1981 ). Bowie : An Illustrated Record : pp. 90 -- 92 Jump up ^ Robert Matthew - Walker David Bowie, theatre of music 1985 p46 `` The use of quotation marks possibly implies that the `` Heroes '' are not to be taken too seriously. '' Jump up ^ Chris Welch David Bowie : changes, 1970 -- 1980 1999 p116 `` The use of quotation marks around the title meant that Bowie felt there was something ironic about being a rock ' n ' roll hero to his fans, while he kept his own emotional life as far distant and remote and private as possible. '' Jump up ^ NME interview in 1977 with Charles Shaar Murray. Retrieved from Bowie : Golden Years 20 February 2007. ^ Jump up to : David Buckley ( 1999 ). Strange Fascination -- David Bowie : The Definitive Story : pp. 323 -- 326 Jump up ^ Hodgson, Jay ( 2010 ). Understanding, p. 88. ISBN 978 - 1 - 4411 - 5607 - 5. Jump up ^ Richard Buskin ( October 2004 ). `` Classic Tracks : Heroes '', Sound on Sound. Retrieved 20 February 2007. Jump up ^ Hodgson ( 2010 ), p. 89. Jump up ^ Gallo, Phil ( 12 November 2008 ). `` Bowie Videos Play MoMA ''. Variety.com : The Set List. Reed Elsevier. Retrieved 1 November 2009. Jump up ^ `` Certificazione Singoli Digitali dalla settimana 1 del 2009 alla settimana 2 del 2014 '' ( PDF ) ( in Italian ). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. Archived ( PDF ) from the original on 19 January 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2014. Jump up ^ Gillett, Charlie ( 15 October 1977 ). `` Singles reviews ''. NME : 12 -- 13. Jump up ^ `` NME Singles 1977 ''. Rocklistmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 21 September 2017. Jump up ^ John J. Miller ( 26 May 2006 ). `` Rockin ' the Right '', National Review Online. Retrieved 20 February 2007. Jump up ^ Eves, Natasha ( December 2015 ). `` I 'm Not Perfect : the role of Grace Jones and David Bowie in aiding the dissemination of queer subjectivities '' ( PDF ). Ephemeral Magazine. Goldsmiths, University of London. Retrieved 11 January 2016. Jump up ^ McDonald, Patrick Range ( 16 June 2008 ). `` Queer Town : The Gay Wedding in Beverly Hills ''. LA Weekly. Retrieved 11 January 2016. Jump up ^ `` David Bowie 's 30 best songs ''. Uncut. March 2008. Retrieved 11 January 2016. Jump up ^ Gordinier, Jeff ( 31 May 2002 ), `` Loving the Aliens '', Entertainment Weekly, no. 656, pp. 26 -- 34 Jump up ^ Shaw, William ( April 1993 ), `` In The Mode '', Details magazine : 90 -- 95, 168 Jump up ^ Sarah Lyall ( 27 July 2012 ). `` A Five - Ring Opening Circus, Weirdly and Unabashedly British ''. The New York Times. Retrieved 2012 - 07 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Various -- The Perks Of Being A Wallflower : Tracklist ''. Discogs. Retrieved 12 January 2016. Jump up ^ `` Berlin Film Review : ' Praia do Futuro ' ''. Variety. Retrieved 13 April 2014. Jump up ^ Quoctrung Bui ; Josh Katz ; Jasmine C. Lee ( January 12, 2016 ). `` The David Bowie Song That Fans Are Listening to Most : ' Heroes ' ''. The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Jump up ^ GermanForeignOffice @ GermanyDiplo ( 2016 - 01 - 11 ). `` GermanForeignOffice on Twitter ''. German Foreign Office. Twitter. Good - bye, David Bowie. You are now among # Heroes. Thank you for helping to bring down the # wall. youtu.be/YYjBQKIOb-w # RIPDavidBowie Jump up ^ Barbara Kollmeyer. `` David Bowie death triggers tributes from Iggy Pop, Madonna -- even the Vatican and the German government ''. MarketWatch. Retrieved 19 January 2016. Jump up ^ `` How the loss of David Bowie impacted the UK charts ''. Retrieved 19 January 2016. Jump up ^ Thurm, Eric ( 16 January 2017 ). `` The epic, emotional Regular Show finale is anything but ''. The A.V. Club. Retrieved 10 February 2017. Jump up ^ `` All - TIME 100 Songs ''. TIME. Retrieved 15 February 2016. Jump up ^ `` The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time -- November 2003 ''. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 15 February 2016. Jump up ^ `` 100 Greatest Singles of All Time ''. NME. Archived from the original on 27 April 2006. Retrieved 16 February 2016. ^ Jump up to : `` 60 Years Of The NME ''. NME. Retrieved 15 February 2016. Jump up ^ `` David Bowie 's 40 Greatest Songs ''. NME. Retrieved 18 February 2016. Jump up ^ `` Mojo 100 Greatest Singers Of All Time ''. Mojo. Retrieved 15 February 2016. Jump up ^ `` All Time Top 100 Singles ''. Sounds. Retrieved 16 February 2016. Jump up ^ `` Q Readers Top 100 Singles Of All Time ''. Q. Retrieved 15 January 2016. Jump up ^ http://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/9935-the-200-best-songs-of-the-1970s/?page=10 Jump up ^ `` The Top 1,000 Songs Of All Time ''. Radio X. Retrieved 15 January 2016. Jump up ^ `` Best of British ''. Radio X. Retrieved 31 March 2016. Jump up ^ `` David Bowie 's 30 best songs ''. Uncut. Retrieved 15 January 2016. Jump up ^ `` David Bowie -- `` Heroes '' ( Vinyl ) ``. Discogs. Retrieved 19 January 2016. Jump up ^ `` David Bowie -- Heroes ( Vinyl ) ''. Discogs. Retrieved 19 January 2016. Jump up ^ `` BBC Arts - BBC Arts, Breaking down David Bowie 's Heroes - track by track ''. Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 12. ^ Jump up to : `` Austriancharts.at -- David Bowie -- Heroes '' ( in German ). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 15 January 2016. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- David Bowie -- Heroes '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 17 January 2016. Jump up ^ `` Musicline.de -- David Bowie Single - Chartverfolgung '' ( in German ). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved 17 January 2016. Jump up ^ `` Chart Track : Week 46, 1977 ''. Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 January 2016. ^ Jump up to : `` Dutchcharts.nl -- David Bowie -- Heroes '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Retrieved 15 January 2016. ^ Jump up to : `` Charts.org.nz -- David Bowie -- Heroes ''. Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 21 January 2016. Jump up ^ `` Archive Chart : 1977 - 11 - 05 '' UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 January 2016. Jump up ^ `` Australian-charts.com -- David Bowie -- Heroes ''. ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 17 January 2016. Jump up ^ `` David Bowie -- Chart history '' Billboard Euro Digital Songs for David Bowie. Jump up ^ `` Lescharts.com -- David Bowie -- Heroes '' ( in French ). Les classement single. Retrieved 17 January 2016. Jump up ^ `` Chart Track : Week 2, 2016 ''. Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 January 2016. Jump up ^ `` Italiancharts.com -- David Bowie -- Heroes ''. Top Digital Download. Retrieved 16 January 2016. Jump up ^ `` Billboard Japan Hot Overseas '' ( in Japanese ). Billboard Japan. January 18, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Portuguesecharts - David Bowie - Heroes ''. portuguesecharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 February 2017. Jump up ^ `` Swedishcharts.com -- David Bowie -- Heroes ''. Singles Top 100. Retrieved 17 January 2016. Jump up ^ `` Swisscharts.com -- David Bowie -- Heroes ''. Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 January 2016. Jump up ^ `` Archive Chart : 2016 - 01 - 14 '' UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 January 2016. Jump up ^ `` David Bowie -- Chart history '' Billboard Hot Rock Songs for David Bowie. Retrieved 21 January 2016. Jump up ^ `` Certificazione Singoli Digitali dalla settimana 1 del 2010 alla settimana 1 del 2016 '' ( PDF ) ( in Italian ). Archived ( PDF ) from the original on 17 January 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2016. Jump up ^ `` British single certifications -- David Bowie -- Heroes ''. British Phonographic Industry. Enter Heroes in the search field and then press Enter. Jump up ^ `` '' Heroes '' single is forty years old today ``. Davidbowie.com. 23 September 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2017. Jump up ^ `` '' Heroes '' single is forty years old today ``. Davidbowie.com. 23 September 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2017. Jump up ^ Campbell, Irving ( 2007 ). A Guide to the Outtakes of Marc Bolan ( 1 ed. ). Wellington, New Zealand : Great Horse. p. 179. ISBN 978 - 0 - 473 - 12076 - 4. Jump up ^ David Buckley ( 1999 ). Op Cit : p. 424 Jump up ^ Alternative Songs. Billboard.com. Retrieved 11 August 2012. Jump up ^ Trendell, Andrew ( 22 September 2017 ). `` Depeche Mode share official cover of David Bowie 's `` Heroes '' to mark track 's 40th anniversary ``. NME. Jump up ^ `` King Crimson to release EP featuring David Bowie 's Heroes ''. teamrock.com. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2017. Jump up ^ `` Marillion, Anathema, Steve Hackett among Progressive Music Award winners ''. teamrock.com. 14 September 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2017. Sources Buckley, David ( 2000 ) ( 1999 ). Strange Fascination -- David Bowie : The Definitive Story. London : Virgin. ISBN 0 - 7535 - 0457 - X. Carr, Roy ; Murray, Charles Shaar ( 1981 ). David Bowie : An Illustrated Record. New York : Avon. ISBN 0 - 380 - 77966 - 8. Pegg, Nicholas ( 2004 ) ( 2000 ). The Complete David Bowie. London : Reynolds & Hearn. ISBN 1 - 903111 - 14 - 5. External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics David Bowie singles 1960s `` Liza Jane '' `` I Pity the Fool '' `` You 've Got a Habit of Leaving '' `` Ca n't Help Thinking About Me '' `` Do Anything You Say '' `` I Dig Everything '' `` Rubber Band '' `` The Laughing Gnome '' `` Love You till Tuesday '' `` Space Oddity '' `` Ragazzo solo, ragazza sola '' 1970s `` The Prettiest Star '' `` Memory of a Free Festival '' `` Holy Holy '' `` Moonage Daydream '' `` Hang On to Yourself '' `` Changes '' `` Starman '' `` John, I 'm Only Dancing '' `` The Jean Genie '' `` Drive - In Saturday '' `` Time '' `` Life on Mars '' `` Let 's Spend the Night Together '' `` Sorrow '' `` Rebel Rebel '' `` Rock ' n ' Roll Suicide '' `` Diamond Dogs '' `` 1984 '' `` Knock on Wood '' `` Rock ' n ' Roll with Me '' `` Young Americans '' `` Fame '' `` Golden Years '' `` TVC 15 '' `` Suffragette City '' `` Stay '' `` Sound and Vision '' `` Be My Wife '' `` ' Heroes ' '' `` Beauty and the Beast '' `` Breaking Glass '' `` Boys Keep Swinging '' `` DJ '' `` Yassassin '' `` Look Back in Anger '' `` John, I 'm Only Dancing ( Again ) '' 1980s `` Alabama Song '' `` Crystal Japan '' `` Ashes to Ashes '' `` Fashion '' `` Scary Monsters ( And Super Creeps ) '' `` Up the Hill Backwards '' `` Under Pressure '' `` Wild Is the Wind '' `` The Drowned Girl '' `` Cat People ( Putting Out Fire ) '' `` Peace on Earth / Little Drummer Boy '' `` Let 's Dance '' `` China Girl '' `` Modern Love '' `` Without You '' `` White Light / White Heat '' `` Blue Jean '' `` Tonight '' `` This Is Not America '' `` Loving the Alien '' `` Dancing in the Street '' `` Absolute Beginners '' `` Underground '' `` As the World Falls Down '' `` Magic Dance '' `` When the Wind Blows '' `` Day - In Day - Out '' `` Time Will Crawl '' `` Never Let Me Down '' `` Under the God '' `` Heaven 's in Here '' `` Tin Machine '' / `` Maggie 's Farm ( live ) '' `` Prisoner of Love '' 1990s `` Fame ' 90 '' `` You Belong in Rock n ' Roll '' `` Baby Universal '' `` One Shot '' `` Real Cool World '' `` Jump They Say '' `` Black Tie White Noise '' `` Miracle Goodnight '' `` The Buddha of Suburbia '' `` Ziggy Stardust '' `` The Hearts Filthy Lesson '' `` Strangers When We Meet '' / `` The Man Who Sold the World ( live ) '' `` Hallo Spaceboy '' `` Telling Lies '' `` Little Wonder '' `` Dead Man Walking '' `` Seven Years in Tibet '' `` Pallas Athena '' `` I 'm Afraid of Americans '' `` I Ca n't Read '' `` Without You I 'm Nothing '' `` Thursday 's Child '' `` The Pretty Things Are Going to Hell '' 2000s `` Survive '' `` Seven '' `` Slow Burn '' `` Everyone Says ' Hi ' '' `` I 've Been Waiting for You '' `` Shadow Man '' `` New Killer Star '' `` Just for One Day ( Heroes ) '' `` Never Get Old '' `` Rebel Never Gets Old '' 2010s `` Where Are We Now ? '' `` The Stars ( Are Out Tonight ) '' `` The Next Day '' `` Valentine 's Day '' `` Love Is Lost '' `` ' Tis a Pity She Was a Whore '' `` Sue ( Or in a Season of Crime ) '' `` Blackstar '' `` Lazarus '' `` I Ca n't Give Everything Away '' `` Life on Mars ? ( 2016 Mix ) '' Discography Book : David Bowie Book : Bowie singles and songs Category : David Bowie The Wallflowers Jakob Dylan Rami Jaffee Greg Richling Jack Irons Stuart Mathis Fred Eltringham Mario Calire Barrie Maguire Tobi Miller Jim Snider Michael Ward Peter Yanowitz Albums The Wallflowers Bringing Down the Horse ( Breach ) Red Letter Days Rebel, Sweetheart Glad All Over Singles `` 6th Avenue Heartache '' `` One Headlight '' `` The Difference '' `` Three Marlenas '' `` ' Heroes ' '' Related articles Discography Seeing Things Women + Country Children in Need Telethons 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Charity singles `` Almost Seems ( Too Late to Turn ) '' ( 1985 ) `` Heroes '' ( 1986 ) `` Perfect Day '' ( 1997 ) `` Especially for You '' ( 1998 ) `` Love Me '' ( 1999 ) `` Never Had a Dream Come True '' ( 2000 ) `` Have You Ever '' ( 2001 ) `` Do n't Let Me Down '' / `` You and I '' ( 2002 ) `` I 'm Your Man ( 2003 ) `` I 'll Stand by You '' ( 2004 ) `` A Night to Remember '' ( 2005 ) `` Downtown '' ( 2006 ) `` Headlines ( Friendship Never Ends ) '' ( 2007 ) `` Do Ya / Stay with Me '' ( 2008 ) `` The Official BBC Children in Need Medley '' ( 2009 ) `` Love You More '' ( 2010 ) `` Teardrop '' ( 2011 ) `` Something New '' ( 2012 ) `` How Long Will I Love You '' ( 2013 ) `` Wake Me Up '' ( 2014 ) `` Take Me Home '' ( 2015 ) `` All We Needed '' ( 2016 ) Related articles Pudsey Bear Children in Need Rocks the Royal Albert Hall Children in Need Rocks Manchester Children in Need Rocks 2013 Comic Relief The X Factor ( UK ) Discography Controversy and criticism Series Main 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Celebrity Battle of the Stars Finalists Series 1 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Winners Main series Steve Brookstein Shayne Ward Leona Lewis Leon Jackson Alexandra Burke Joe McElderry Matt Cardle Little Mix James Arthur Sam Bailey Ben Haenow Louisa Johnson Matt Terry Celebrity series Lucy Benjamin Singles Winners singles `` Against All Odds '' `` That 's My Goal '' `` A Moment Like This '' `` When You Believe '' `` Hallelujah '' `` The Climb '' `` When We Collide '' `` Cannonball '' `` Impossible '' `` Skyscraper '' `` Something I Need '' `` Forever Young '' `` When Christmas Comes Around '' Charity singles `` Hero '' `` You Are Not Alone '' `` Heroes '' `` Wishing on a Star '' Related articles The X Factor franchise I Ca n't Sing ! The X Factor Musical X Factor Around the World The X Factor artists templates Matt Cardle Discography Studio albums Letters The Fire Porcelain Singles `` When We Collide '' `` Run for Your Life '' `` Starlight '' `` Amazing '' `` It 's Only Love '' `` Anyone Else '' `` Loving You '' `` When You Were My Girl '' Featured singles `` Heroes '' Tours Letters Tour Matt Cardle Unplugged Tour Related articles The X Factor series 7 finalists Rebecca Ferguson Discography Studio albums Heaven Freedom Lady Sings the Blues Superwoman Singles `` Nothing 's Real but Love '' `` Too Good to Lose '' `` Glitter & Gold '' `` Backtrack '' `` Shoulder to Shoulder '' `` Teach Me How to Be Loved '' `` I Hope '' `` Light On '' `` All That I 've Got '' `` Bones '' Collaborations `` Heroes '' `` He Ai n't Heavy, He 's My Brother '' Related articles The X Factor series 7 finalists One Direction Niall Horan Liam Payne Harry Styles Louis Tomlinson Zayn Malik Discography Awards and nominations Songs Studio albums and singles Up All Night ( 2011 ) `` What Makes You Beautiful '' `` Gotta Be You '' `` One Thing '' `` More than This '' Take Me Home ( 2012 ) `` Live While We 're Young '' `` Little Things '' `` Kiss You '' Midnight Memories ( 2013 ) `` One Way or Another ( Teenage Kicks ) '' `` Best Song Ever '' `` Story of My Life '' `` Midnight Memories '' `` You & I '' Four ( 2014 ) `` Steal My Girl '' `` Night Changes '' Made in the A.M. ( 2015 ) `` Drag Me Down '' `` Perfect '' `` History '' Extended plays iTunes Festival : London 2012 Video albums Up All Night : The Live Tour Promotional singles `` Diana '' `` Strong '' `` Infinity '' `` Home '' `` What a Feeling '' Featured singles `` Heroes '' `` Wishing on a Star '' `` God Only Knows '' `` Do They Know It 's Christmas ? '' Other songs `` Moments '' `` Rock Me '' `` Happily '' Concert tours Up All Night Tour Take Me Home Tour Where We Are Tour On the Road Again Tour TV and film This Is Us Where We Are -- The Concert Film Merchandise Our Moment Related The X Factor series 7 finalists Cher Lloyd Discography Studio albums Sticks and Stones Sorry I 'm Late Singles `` Swagger Jagger '' `` With Ur Love '' `` Want U Back '' `` Oath '' `` I Wish '' `` Sirens '' `` Activated '' Featured singles `` Heroes '' `` Rum and Raybans '' `` Really Do n't Care '' Tours Sticks and Stones Tour I Wish Tour Related articles The X Factor series 7 finalists Mary Byrne Studio albums Mine & Yours ( 2011 )... with Love ( 2011 ) Singles `` I Just Call You Mine '' Featured singles `` Heroes '' Related articles The X Factor series 7 finalists Katie Waissel Studio albums Katie Waissel ( 2011 ) Extended plays Songs from Under the Covers ( 2009 ) Featured singles `` Heroes '' Related articles The X Factor series 7 finalists Aiden Grimshaw Studio albums Misty Eye ( 2012 ) Singles `` Is This Love '' `` Curtain Call '' Featured singles `` Heroes '' Related articles The X Factor series 7 finalists Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=%22Heroes%22_(David_Bowie_song)&oldid=802380878 '' Categories : 1977 singles 1970s ballads David Bowie songs Interscope Records singles Irish Singles Chart number - one singles Oasis ( band ) songs RCA Records singles Rock ballads Song recordings produced by David Bowie Song recordings produced by Tony Visconti Songs written by Brian Eno Songs written by David Bowie Songs about Berlin Berlin Wall in fiction The Wallflowers songs The X Factor ( UK TV series ) UK Singles Chart number - one singles Protest songs 1977 songs Hidden categories : CS1 Italian - language sources ( it ) CS1 Japanese - language sources ( ja ) Wikipedia indefinitely move - protected pages Use dmy dates from May 2013 Use British English from May 2013 Articles which use infobox templates with no data rows Music infoboxes with deprecated parameters Articles with hAudio microformats Track listings with deprecated parameters Singlechart usages for Austria Singlechart usages for Flanders Singlechart usages for Germany Singlechart usages for Ireland Singlechart making named ref Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart usages for New Zealand Singlechart usages for United Kingdom Singlechart usages for Australia Singlechart usages for Billboardeurodigital Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for France Singlechart usages for Italy Singlechart usages for Sweden Singlechart usages for Switzerland Singlechart usages for Billboardrocksongs Certification Table Entry usages for Italy Certification Table Entry usages for United Kingdom Talk Contents About Wikipedia Čeština Deutsch Español فارسی Français Italiano Nederlands Norsk nynorsk Polski Português Русский Svenska Türkçe Українська Edit links This page was last edited on 25 September 2017, at 20 : 28. 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Question: who sings the song we can be heroes
Answer: David Bowie