There are many beloved artists from throughout music history who have found great inspiration from cities all around the world. Who knows how many songs have been inspired by places like New York, Paris, or London. However, there is one city in Europe that feels utterly defined by a song written there, and that is the 1977 David Bowie classic “Heroes.”
Maybe Bowie’s most defining track, “Heroes” is an iconic song that surely everyone has heard at some point in their lives. It is a massive, soaring composition that details two lovers longing for freedom from the divide of Berlin. Bowie was living in Berlin at the time during one of his most intense creative periods, and the hours spent working on the album of the same name beneath the wall shaped a unique sound that would be most prominently featured in this track.
Though the song wasn’t an instant hit for Bowie, it has received massive reappraisal in the years since it released, with it being featured at the 23rd spot on Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” list.
From its opening moments, “Heroes” washes over you with its stunning warmth. The synths and guitar work at the beginning feel like a golden ray of light bathing your ears. It’s after this intro that Bowie hits us with some of the most beautiful and idealistic lyrics ever penned.
I, I will be king
And you, you will be queen
Though nothing will drive them away
We can beat them, just for one day
We can be heroes, just for one day
The writing lies a lot more in the abstract, but the emotions and the sparing words we get paint a gorgeous picture of a pair of people longing for something beyond the wall. Bowie gives maybe his greatest vocal performance on this song as well. His wailing scream in the final moments of the track are stunning to listen to. It’s a song that really showcases Bowie at the height of his powers.
“Heroes” is absolutely deserving of its reputation as one of the greatest songs of all time. It is a majestic, stunning work of art that has never failed to make me emotional.
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This story was originally published by Parade on Sep 6, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.