Janelle Monae Covers David Bowie’s “Heroes”: Listen
Janelle Monae has taken on one of her heroes, with a cover of David Bowie‘s “Heroes.” And it’s a daring modernization of the 1977 classic, built on undulating low-end synths instead of those soaring guitar lines. Over an ’80s pop beat, Monae’s reverberating, multi-tracked vocals jump in from all directions, giving the song a suitably space-y feel.
“Bowie is part of my musical DNA in so many ways. And ‘Heroes’ is one of my favorite Bowie songs,” Monae told Rolling Stone. “I hear from his wife Iman that he’s a huge supporter of me, the way I dress and my music. I just hope that we made him proud.” The song is part of a Pepsi campaign tied to this summer’s World Cup, and there’s a video on the way featuring Monae and a bunch of famous footballers. For now, stream the cover below.
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