Tuesday 15 September 2009

"Heroes" - David Bowie

The title of the song "Heroes" is a reference to the 1975 track "Hero" by the German band Neu!, whom Bowie and Eno admired. It was one of the first tracks to be recorded for Bowie's album of the same name, but it was instrumental until the last sessions for the album. Producer Tony Visconti inspired the image in the lyric of the lovers kissing 'by the wall', when he and backing vocalist Antonia 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 song was 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. 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 composed the lyric.

My collection: 7" single no. 4011
Found: Vinylfabriek, Haaksbergen, September 14, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: '"Heroes"' / 'V-2 Schneider'

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