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David Bowie — Heroes (live)
Album: Live at L'Olympia - Paris
Avg rating:
8.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1991









Released: 2002
Length: 5:39
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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

And you, you can be mean
And I, I'll drink all the time

'Cause we're lovers, and that is a fact
Yes we're lovers, and that is that
Though nothing will keep us together
We could steal time just for one day
We can be heroes forever and ever
What'd you say?

I, I wish you could swim
Like the dolphins, like dolphins can swim
Though nothing, nothing will keep us together
We can beat them, for ever and ever
Oh we can be heroes, just for one day

I, I will be king
And you, you will be queen
Though nothing will drive them away
We can be heroes, just for one day
We can be us, just for one day

I, I can remember (I remember)
Standing, by the wall (by the wall)
And the guns, shot above our heads (over our heads)
And we kissed, as though nothing could fall (nothing could fall)
And the shame, was on the other side
Oh we can beat them, for ever and ever
Then we could be heroes, just for one day

We can be heroes
We can be heroes
We can be heroes
Just for one day
We can be heroes

We're nothing, and nothing will help us
Maybe we're lying, then you better not stay
But we could be safer, just for one day

Oh-oh-oh-ohh, oh-oh-oh-ohh, just for one day
Comments (167)add comment
here is the link to the bookleg - it is not from the Stage LP.
https://www.discogs.com/releas...
 philip1 wrote:

I love Bowie, love this song, but this version I really hate. They all sound so bored.



As do you.  

Wake up, get a clue.  This is a masterpiece.
Phrasing master class!  What they tried to teach at Berklee.  Casual laid back precision.  You either got it or you didn't but it can be learned.  Well worth the effort.
 freddo wrote:

Hi,
I'm the one who uploaded this song several years ago on Radioparadise website.
You can't buy it because it's a bootleg and I'm the only one person to get this. Actually I worked on the 2002 concert in Paris and I edited the film aired on ARTE, a French network.
And of course, I never shared the entire concert despite the original and lossless audio files are on my computer...

Fred


Nothing on you Fred and I am a huge RP fan but it would be fair to give a heads up that it's a different version.   It's still great though, of course : >.  Damn I miss that man.
Still one of the outstanding performances at Live Aid - this made people sit up and take notice. This man was a genius!
Bravo.  Exquisite.
 aspicer wrote:

Freddo:
So there is no better time than now to release this posthumously! What does Bowie's management say about it? Have you approached them?


You're right, there's no best time to release this. I didn't approached Bowie's management, but after all that's would be a nice tribute to share all the bootleg to fan's ears. Is there a dedicated website for that ? 
I always associated the studio version with Berlin and the wall, but this bootleg from Paris is brand new to my ears. For me it will be associated with our friends in Ukraine 🇺🇦 fighting for their lives.
 slaskey wrote:

I think i like this better than the original,  



I was thinking the same thing, and I'm a "studio version is the best version" kind of guy (with few exceptions). This is one of those exceptions. It's riveting!
 freddo wrote:

Hi,
I'm the one who uploaded this song several years ago on Radioparadise website.
You can't buy it because it's a bootleg and I'm the only one person to get this. Actually I worked on the 2002 concert in Paris and I edited the film aired on ARTE, a French network.
And of course, I never shared the entire concert despite the original and lossless audio files are on my computer...

Fred

Freddo:
So there is no better time than now to release this posthumously! What does Bowie's management say about it? Have you approached them?
I think i like this better than the original,  
 philip1 wrote:

I love Bowie, love this song, but this version I really hate. They all sound so bored.



There are no bad versions for this song, only some you like more than others. Depeche Mode has an interesting version.
 quigui wrote:
David Bowie did a german version of this one, check it out its called. Helden
 He did the french version too :)
This will forever bring back memories of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

It makes an amazing song even more special.
 freddo wrote:

Hi,
I'm the one who uploaded this song several years ago on Radioparadise website.
You can't buy it because it's a bootleg and I'm the only one person to get this. Actually I worked on the 2002 concert in Paris and I edited the film aired on ARTE, a French network.
And of course, I never shared the entire concert despite the original and lossless audio files are on my computer...

Fred
 
Thanks for the share, Freddy.  My dad was named Fred - you're not his reincarnation, are you?
I love Bowie, love this song, but this version I really hate. They all sound so bored.
Quite boring version. Sounds like everybody was tired...
10!!   
You're definitely on a roll, Bill! {#Dancingbanana}
There must be a problem, Bowie is not on this track!
Wow, my ears pricked up on this one. Thought ...I haven't heard this version before ! looked up RP and it said it was from Stage - huh? no it aint, spinning the vinyl copy of Stage and it is definitely isn't. Comments suggest it is from a 2002 French gig, the sound quality is vastly improved and his voice is so much better !. Am loving RP on my NAIM player. Thanks Bill
 freddo wrote:

Hi,
I'm the one who uploaded this song several years ago on Radioparadise website.
You can't buy it because it's a bootleg and I'm the only one person to get this. Actually I worked on the 2002 concert in Paris and I edited the film aired on ARTE, a French network.
And of course, I never shared the entire concert despite the original and lossless audio files are on my computer...

Fred

 
now it all makes sense!
youtube has the video of this performance
i think it's his BEST performance
you lucky dog!

Not sure if anyone has already posted on the bass-line similarity to the "old Memphis song" "Tryin to Live My Life without You" that Bob Seger sang, and was copied nearly exactly by the Eagles in "the Long Run" - anyways, I like this live track and rated it an 8.

Which reminds me that I'd like to hear BillG play some "song A vs song B" comparisons, like "He's So Fine" vs. "My Sweet Lord" etc. Long Live RP!! 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tryin%27_to_Live_My_Life_Without_You

 LaurieinTucson wrote:
how can I get THIS version?
when I click on Amazon or iTunes above to buy it, they don't have the same version.
anyone know?

 
The Amazon link is okay. This is from a 1978 live album called Stage. It has been re-released several times with album tracks re-ordered, mainly in an attempt to reflect the actual live performance better than the original release did.

If you search Youtube for David Bowie Stage you will find links to most of the songs, including this one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL49Aahl18Q

 rtrt wrote:
 freddo wrote:

Hi,
I'm the one who uploaded this song several years ago on Radioparadise website.
You can't buy it because it's a bootleg and I'm the only one person to get this. Actually I worked on the 2002 concert in Paris and I edited the film aired on ARTE, a French network.
And of course, I never shared the entire concert despite the original and lossless audio files are on my computer...

Fred


Seem to be a lot of versions out there on the internet or are they from a different concert?

I found both audio and video versions - an example
 here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA8FZWOfB0Y 

 
This is THE concert !
 freddo wrote:

Hi,
I'm the one who uploaded this song several years ago on Radioparadise website.
You can't buy it because it's a bootleg and I'm the only one person to get this. Actually I worked on the 2002 concert in Paris and I edited the film aired on ARTE, a French network.
And of course, I never shared the entire concert despite the original and lossless audio files are on my computer...

Fred


Seem to be a lot of versions out there on the internet or are they from a different concert?

I found both audio and video versions - an example
 here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA8FZWOfB0Y 


 Skydog wrote:
David Bowie - vocals, guitar, saxophone, harmonica, stylophone
Earl Slick - guitar
Gerry Leonard - guitar
Mark Plati - rhythm guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
Gail Ann Dorsey - bass guitar, backing vocals
Sterling Campbell - drums
Mike Garson - keyboards
Catherine Russell - keyboards, percussion, backing vocals

 
Of course, that's not the band for the Stage tour, which included Roger Powell, Simon House, Adrian Belew, Carlos Alomar, and more.
 LaurieinTucson wrote:
how can I get THIS version?
when I click on Amazon or iTunes above to buy it, they don't have the same version.
anyone know?

 
Hi,
I'm the one who uploaded this song several years ago on Radioparadise website.
You can't buy it because it's a bootleg and I'm the only one person to get this. Actually I worked on the 2002 concert in Paris and I edited the film aired on ARTE, a French network.
And of course, I never shared the entire concert despite the original and lossless audio files are on my computer...

Fred
Mick Ronson had died.
RIP Mick Ronson. 
Fabulous Voice  : )  fabulous spirit
 LaurieinTucson wrote:
how can I get THIS version?
when I click on Amazon or iTunes above to buy it, they don't have the same version.
anyone know?. 

  IDK why you can't find it. Both Amazon & eBay offer multiple formats of this album. Anything from original pressing LP's to remastered CD's. On Amazon you can even download the complete album as an MP3


how can I get THIS version?
when I click on Amazon or iTunes above to buy it, they don't have the same version.
anyone know?
Timeless
 donmonty wrote:
Top 10 desert island song for me - always!!
 

 
I totally agree !
12 people gave this a one? Fuckin' world.
Top 10 desert island song for me - always!!
 
David Bowie did a german version of this one, check it out its called. Helden
A strong 10 to 10 !!!
 drews wrote:
Daayyyvid Boweee, you are sorely missed, you made the world so much more interesting
 
Indeed. I just watched “The Man Who Fell to Earth” and it left a strange and unique impression on me. Not an easy movie to watch, mind you, but interesting, most certainly.
 drews wrote:
Daayyyvid Boweee, you are sorely missed, you made the world so much more interesting

 
Understatement of the century.


 1wolfy wrote:
 The French and the German versions rock as well. 

 
French also? Holy shit, had no idea....
OH MY GOD!! I love this song!!!!!  Play it again, and again.  Please, until I am completely satiated with David (which is impossible)!!!  We love you David.  Thank you for being in our lives.
 1wolfy wrote:
 The French and the German versions rock as well.  
Skydog wrote:
Bill hit the sweet spot
i like this version better than the studio one 

 

 
You mean Bowie put out versions in the French and German languages?
Madonna got it right the other day. Let 2016 get the fuck out of here at once.
Daayyyvid Boweee, you are sorely missed, you made the world so much more interesting
His voice had a chameleon quality to it. He wrote some good shit.
David, you are a hero
Marvellous version - love it :)
Just took this up a notch to a NINE.

Incredible version !! 
{#Notworthy}  Rest in Peace David Bowie - you blessed the world with your creative genius! Amen.
 Kaisersosay wrote:
What a fantastic version.

 
Just finished listening to "Heathen" from this tour: definitely worth playing on RP. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOFgSxJ8SoY 
 Kaisersosay wrote:
What a fantastic version.

 
{#Notworthy}{#Clap}{#Good-vibes}{#Yes}
What a fantastic version.
I ask who plays on this tour 

and

Skydog wrote:
 .
.the band for this tour;
.

David Bowie - vocals, guitar, saxophone, harmonica, stylophone
Earl Slick - guitar
Gerry Leonard - guitar
Mark Plati - rhythm guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
Gail Ann Dorsey - bass guitar, backing vocals
Sterling Campbell - drums
Mike Garson - keyboards
Catherine Russell - keyboards, percussion, backing vocals

 

Earl does a great job of spicing up the guitar on this.  Great version.   Some classic guitarist have played with Bowie on this song, Adrian Belew, Robert Fripp...  As someone said about one of Queens songs:  This tune will ring in the halls of Valhalla until the end of time.
 SECA_Alan wrote:
A fabulous way to remember him. He seemed to get the voice he always wanted as he aged.

 
indeed :)
A fabulous way to remember him. He seemed to get the voice he always wanted as he aged.
 jbuhl wrote:
Who plays the guitar on this version?

  .
.the band for this tour;
.

David Bowie - vocals, guitar, saxophone, harmonica, stylophone
Earl Slick - guitar
Gerry Leonard - guitar
Mark Plati - rhythm guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
Gail Ann Dorsey - bass guitar, backing vocals
Sterling Campbell - drums
Mike Garson - keyboards
Catherine Russell - keyboards, percussion, backing vocals
Here it is live.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9rFDt4ODqo

 
This is a wonderful version.  It is one if my great disappointments in life that I never saw him live.
Who plays the guitar on this version?
Yay!  This just makes me happy!!  Thank you Mr. Bowie. 
PERFECT!!!!!!
 The French and the German versions rock as well.  Skydog wrote:
Bill hit the sweet spot
i like this version better than the studio one 

 


Bill hit the sweet spot
i like this version better than the studio one 
I've never heard this version. Thank you for playing it RP. BOWIE forever. 
bravo..
10+
thank you David - blessings to you, for all you did, for all you were.
Really an excellent groove.  I'd forgotten about this recording.
Never realized how much he was a part of my everyday listening of life.... there are so many awesome renditions of his mainstream and weird stuff popping up since his death...
where is this song from?
damn, it's awesome...
 
Goodbye David.  Thank you for the joy and wonderment you brought to my life.
{#Heartkiss}
happy birthday david ! 69 years young
 kcar wrote:

Wrong album cover, perhaps. The album on the RP song info spot is listed as "Live at L'Olympia - Paris"...which doesn't appear to be a David Bowie album. 

Here's the YouTube link to the L'Olympia 2002 performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeCMkyP-aMk 

Sounds the same to me. RPers, you be the judge. 

 

 
Thanks for the clarification. - This sure ain't the Stage version.
8 》9

nice crescendo
Giving this a Godlike to balance the bloody clueless whinging. Bowie "phoning it in" with rockstar/songwriter ennui/gonads escapes them.
The Slim White Duke sounds like he phoned this one in. 
Great song, but studio version is far superior😄
 garyalex wrote:
I like this better than the original.

 
I concur.
I like this better than the original.
Bowie sounds bored with his own song... hoping no one will notice.
Tight.  Lovely guitar.
Better than the version I paid for on ITunes a few years ago.  9 for me
 oldfart48 wrote:
PERSONALLY I THINK THIS GUY IS TOTALY OVER RATED, HOWEVER,  I ACTULLY LIKE THIS TUNE.

 

Funny, I feel the opposite.  I think Bowie is great, but have always hated this song.  Shows you how subjective musical opinions can be.
 lemmoth wrote:
This is not the version from the Stage live album.

 
Wrong album cover, perhaps. The album on the RP song info spot is listed as "Live at L'Olympia - Paris"...which doesn't appear to be a David Bowie album. 

Here's the YouTube link to the L'Olympia 2002 performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeCMkyP-aMk 

Sounds the same to me. RPers, you be the judge. 

 
this version is SOoooo cool :-)
Yeah, me likey like, very much!
{#Dancingbanana_2} 
such a voice.
 kurtster wrote:
8 to 9.

Interesting listening to this and watching the ambulance with the doctor with Ebola driving down the freeways in Atlanta on the way to Emory U.    
 
Yeah, I laughed with family, telling them I was moving back to the only city in the Western Hemisphere with active Ebola cases.  ('Twas before Omaha.)  Walking Dead is about to become non-fiction.

Wherever it's from, I like it.  A subdued atmosphere with insistent percussion is a schtick I love, love, love.  Allows for crescendos that don't cause bleeding from the ears.

Signed: unclehud, grouchy old man


 scraig wrote:
Sounds like a Future Islands cover.

 
Ha!
This is not the version from the Stage live album.
Sounds like a Future Islands cover.
8 to 9.

Interesting listening to this and watching the ambulance with the doctor with Ebola driving down the freeways in Atlanta on the way to Emory U.    
 cebadores wrote:
ОЎМа Оз лучшОх песеМ ДэвОЎа!

 
For the many(?) Russian-readers in the audience...
For the rest of us, it translates loosely to "One of the best songs of David!"


i was not around when this man peaked but he is real artist and a class act.
 
i am so glad he did not die of a drug overdose. 
ОЎМа Оз лучшОх песеМ ДэвОЎа!
                    This can only be a 10
                                  {#Wave}
 moodfood wrote:
if you've not had the occasion to see him live, gotta go, mesmerizing show {#Cheers}

 
I completely agree and......time is running out quickly to do that, if you can at all! He didn't tour for his recent album. bummer, AND he is getting up there in years!
if you've not had the occasion to see him live, gotta go, mesmerizing show {#Cheers}
This song rocks it, even though it was an AT&T commercial, just for one day, or week, or years...
My wife had the pleasure of seeing Bowie's Art Exhibit at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto last week.

His show won't be back to North America for about one year.  Apparently it was very crowded even though she went during membership hours.  They have extended the hours for it.  Not sure about the run.  But if you are near Toronto and you are a fan tjen this is something very unique!

 

msymmes wrote:
Not too often that I really, really like a live version of anything.  This is good!

 


 kingart wrote:
Wow. I love it. This is certainly an evolution from Eno's synthesized classic wall of sound. And a backup chorus. Bowie is not among my favorite vocalists, but I've seldom or never heard him sing any better. That said, this is such an elemental, essential, eternal piece of music it would be difficult to step all over it. A club and frat party piece par excellence. 
 
I'm a singer.....and he's not singing.....at least not in the first 3 minutes.
Don't get me wrong.....love Bowie.
He "cha cha cha changed things  around for me in 1971"  
 oldfart48 wrote:
PERSONALLY I THINK THIS GUY IS TOTALY OVER RATED, HOWEVER,  I ACTULLY LIKE THIS TUNE.

 
Funny, I thought that Bowie was always one of the great innovators in pop music - one that others chased. in the top 5-10. And he still creates great stuff. Underrated if anything.
Love this live set, Bill. I had this Bowie album, which features great versions of Fame, TVC15, Soul Love and Station to Station. Hearing this brings back good memories for me.

Edit -- Actually, the album I had was Stage. It had the same cover photo, was from the same era and had most of the same tracks that are on this one, but in a different order.
holee

this blows
PERSONALLY I THINK THIS GUY IS TOTALY OVER RATED, HOWEVER,  I ACTULLY LIKE THIS TUNE.
 Cynaera wrote:

I hope neither of you buckets too soon - it's fun having you around! {#Yes}  I agree about Bowie - when he first came onto the scene, I didn't know what to make of him, but I was inexplicably drawn to his music.  I still don't know what to make of him, but now I know that's part of what makes him so amazing...

 

Miss you so much, Cynaera...  love this song...
 
 freddo wrote:

it's a "bootleg", this track came from a DAT mixed for French Television in 2002. It has never been edited and you only can hear it on RP. 

 
This is SO good - yet another example of why RP is so excellent and worth supporting with your hard earned cash!
 aspicer wrote:
GREAT take on a legendary song!  What album is this from or where can it be accessed?! Is it only the DVD?


 
it's a "bootleg", this track came from a DAT mixed for French Television in 2002. It has never been edited and you only can hear it on RP. 
 kingart wrote:
Wow. I love it. This is certainly an evolution from Eno's synthesized classic wall of sound. And a backup chorus. Bowie is not among my favorite vocalists, but I've seldom or never heard him sing any better. That said, this is such an elemental, essential, eternal piece of music it would be difficult to step all over it. A club and frat party piece par excellence. 
 
Dito to all the above...{#Dance}
Wow. I love it. This is certainly an evolution from Eno's synthesized classic wall of sound. And a backup chorus. Bowie is not among my favorite vocalists, but I've seldom or never heard him sing any better. That said, this is such an elemental, essential, eternal piece of music it would be difficult to step all over it. A club and frat party piece par excellence. 
 msymmes wrote:
Not too often that I really, really like a live version of anything.  This is good!
 
With me it had the opposite effect. Stoped RP for a while to listen to the original full version. Coming back in 6min.

— Edit — That being said, I don't dislike this version. But right now it made me want to listen to the original.
Not too often that I really, really like a live version of anything.  This is good!
I am so psyched that he finally has a new album coming out.  I thought he was done.

Now I can hope to see him live again........for the 25th time :-)
 kcar wrote:

But that studio recording you liked so much can turn into a cage for a musician. Music is supposed to change from one performance to the next—no points given for plonking out the same version over and over. Classical and jazz music would have ground to a complete halt without improvisation and alteration.  
 

Couldn't agree more ; sometimes the song can evolve as the musician finds new elements of change. For a musician to play the same song without this freedom must be extremely boring and in the end they would be just going through the motions.


The art work and track list are from "Stage" a live album that came out after the 78 tour.

Don't know this Paris concert and where it is available.


Good version !!!
Wow...nice groovy version I've never heard...another thanks!
elegant version.. fine..