What's the best track on "Heroes"?

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Poll Results

OptionVotes
"Heroes" 33
Sons of the Silent Age 8
Blackout 7
V-2 Schneider 6
Joe the Lion" 5
Beauty and the Beast 4
Neuköln 2
The Secret Life of Arabia2
Sense of Doubt 1
Moss Garden 0


Geir Hongro, Tuesday, 11 September 2007 11:39 (eighteen years ago)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0c/DavidBowieHeroesCover.jpg

My vote for "Sons Of The Silent Age", just to secure that the title track doesn't get every single vote.

Geir Hongro, Tuesday, 11 September 2007 11:40 (eighteen years ago)

This is my least favourite album of the Bowie/Eno trilogy

Tom D., Tuesday, 11 September 2007 11:43 (eighteen years ago)

The album that started me down this lonesome path of musical obsession.

zaxxon25, Tuesday, 11 September 2007 11:48 (eighteen years ago)

Title track, predictably. Joe The Lion is very cool, though.

Scik Mouthy, Tuesday, 11 September 2007 11:55 (eighteen years ago)

The title track really, but V-2 Schneider pushes it very close, so I voted for that.

Dr.C, Tuesday, 11 September 2007 11:57 (eighteen years ago)

whats the story behind the " " in "heroes"?

Zeno, Tuesday, 11 September 2007 12:36 (eighteen years ago)

The songs protagonists are not real heroes, nor are they likely to be

Tom D., Tuesday, 11 September 2007 12:37 (eighteen years ago)

"the quotation marks are part of the title, for reasons of irony"
wikipedia

Zeno, Tuesday, 11 September 2007 12:38 (eighteen years ago)

I voted with Geir

Billy Pilgrim, Tuesday, 11 September 2007 13:00 (eighteen years ago)

hey, i'm predictable. bite me.
title track still sends shivers down my spine despite having heard it literally 1000's of times.
though, i do prefer the german version of "Heroes" (Helden ??) that i used to have on the Rare collection that EMI released ages ago.

mark e, Tuesday, 11 September 2007 13:03 (eighteen years ago)

I saw a cassette copy of the "Rare" set.

Wonders if that is "Rare" nowadays, probably not.

Mark G, Tuesday, 11 September 2007 13:04 (eighteen years ago)

I can still remember the first time I heard "Beauty and the Beast" and how awesomesly scary it sounded.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Tuesday, 11 September 2007 13:07 (eighteen years ago)

Objectively "Heroes" but I've heard it too often, and Bowie also licensed it for Microsoft ads which spoilt it for me. So I'll go left-field and vote for Neuköln. I think the "Heroes" instrumentals are better than the Low ones.

Zelda Zonk, Tuesday, 11 September 2007 13:11 (eighteen years ago)

I think the "Heroes" instrumentals are better than the Low ones.

Oh no, not at all. We don't seem to agree on much when it comes to Bowie!

Tom D., Tuesday, 11 September 2007 13:12 (eighteen years ago)

Seems not! I just like the looser, deconstructed feel of them - they really are "ambient" pieces, more surprisingly different, whereas the instrumentals on Low are more structured, more like songs without words. Not that they're not great as well, of course.

Zelda Zonk, Tuesday, 11 September 2007 13:17 (eighteen years ago)

In fact on the Low poll I think I voted for Subterraneans...

Zelda Zonk, Tuesday, 11 September 2007 13:18 (eighteen years ago)

SECRET SECRETS NEVER SEEN
SECRET SECRETS EVER GREEN

ciderpress, Tuesday, 11 September 2007 15:41 (eighteen years ago)

hey, i'm predictable. bite me

me too.

title track still sends shivers down my spine despite having heard it literally 1000's of times

me too (qv the post on the "low" thread -- at least, i think that's where it is -- about listening to a six-minute mobile-phone version).

though, i do prefer the german version of "Heroes"

me too.

grimly fiendish, Tuesday, 11 September 2007 15:56 (eighteen years ago)

Obviously "Heroes" will win, but I voted for Blackout. Why does it get no love? I think it's Bowie's most amazing track - the fact that it hangs together is amazing, when there are a million different things going on in there. There's a brilliant live version on Stage too.

Ismael Klata, Tuesday, 11 September 2007 16:21 (eighteen years ago)

"Secret Life of Arabia"

It's like an early prediction of "New Gold Dream".

PhilK, Wednesday, 12 September 2007 12:20 (eighteen years ago)

I like 'em all better than the title track, but esp. "Sons of the Silent Age".

moley, Wednesday, 12 September 2007 13:51 (eighteen years ago)

V2-Schneider or "Heroes". Went for "Heroes" in the end since everyone else seems to be assuming someone else will vote for it.

caek, Wednesday, 12 September 2007 14:50 (eighteen years ago)

I voted for "Heroes". I like the whole album but for me this is the peak.

Euler, Wednesday, 12 September 2007 14:53 (eighteen years ago)

I voted for V2-Schneider as it captures the feeling of Berlin perfectly for me although the title track is one of my favourite songs of all time.

leigh, Wednesday, 12 September 2007 15:05 (eighteen years ago)

blackout

gff, Wednesday, 12 September 2007 15:25 (eighteen years ago)

Horrible choice between "Blackout" and "Secret Life of Arabia" for me. I'm going with "Blackout" but I'm sad about it.

Davey D, Wednesday, 12 September 2007 17:27 (eighteen years ago)

V2 for me too, thanks.

I eat cannibals, Wednesday, 12 September 2007 19:27 (eighteen years ago)

It was tough deciding between BLackout & V-2. Went with V-2 because I want to hear it more at the moment.

EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 12 September 2007 19:36 (eighteen years ago)

"Blackout" gets mine with "Beauty & the Beast" a very close 2nd though if I'd been asked during the full heat of first loving the album, title track all the way

J0hn D., Wednesday, 12 September 2007 19:42 (eighteen years ago)

In this poll, the lurkers will be right. Arguably the finest track in the Bowie oeuvre.

rogermexico., Wednesday, 12 September 2007 20:16 (eighteen years ago)

everytime i go back to listen to this album thinking i'm going to finally going to appreciate it.. nothing.

(except "heroes")

poortheatre, Wednesday, 12 September 2007 22:58 (eighteen years ago)

This is my least favourite album of the Bowie/Eno trilogy

TOM D. OTM

(though i like heroes very much, too! it's just my least favorite of the bowie/eno troika.)

Eisbaer, Thursday, 13 September 2007 07:04 (eighteen years ago)

if i didn't vote for the title track, then it would've been very close b/w "beauty and the beast," "v2-schneider," or "the secret life of arabia."

Eisbaer, Thursday, 13 September 2007 07:05 (eighteen years ago)

I voted for "Blackout", with "Sons of the Silent Age" a close second.

snoball, Thursday, 13 September 2007 07:42 (eighteen years ago)

a couple of drinks and HE WAS A FORTUNE TELLAH

If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Thursday, 13 September 2007 08:56 (eighteen years ago)

I'm amazed anyone would vote for "Blackout"

Tom D., Thursday, 13 September 2007 08:57 (eighteen years ago)

i am amazed @ all of the love for "sons of the silent age" -- it's actually one of my least favorite "classic" bowie songs, it always struck me as being kinda aimless.

Eisbaer, Thursday, 13 September 2007 09:08 (eighteen years ago)

This is my favorite album of the Berlin trilogy.

Davey D, Thursday, 13 September 2007 16:14 (eighteen years ago)

I went for Sense of Doubt, because, well I like it an awful lot.

And it goes 'dun dun dun-dun'

Sandy Blair, Thursday, 13 September 2007 16:43 (eighteen years ago)

"Beauty and the Beast," followed closely by "Heroes" and "Blackout."

But "Beauty" gets it not simply b/c it sounds scary, but b/c it announces itself so brilliantly, with the metallic piano followed by the all-time greatest Eno treatment ever (Fripp's guitar, which I've never been able to even remotely duplicate), which just propels the verse right into the shouty chorus.

Favorite track of the Berlin Trilogy.

Naive Teen Idol, Thursday, 13 September 2007 20:02 (eighteen years ago)

Sons Of the Silent Age for me.

Erroneous Botch, Thursday, 13 September 2007 22:22 (eighteen years ago)

v-2 schneider for fun

zeus, Thursday, 13 September 2007 22:53 (eighteen years ago)

Blackout for me--surprise silver for it, you heard it here first

iago g., Thursday, 13 September 2007 23:00 (eighteen years ago)

Title track -- every time.

Alex in NYC, Friday, 14 September 2007 13:28 (eighteen years ago)

TS: Fripp's shredding on Heroes vs. Fripp's shredding on Scary Monsters

Davey D, Friday, 14 September 2007 15:52 (eighteen years ago)

I would like go with "Sons of the Silent Age" because even with its avant/ futurist approach, still manages to reside firmly in the aire of his folky roots.

But, odd man out that i am, must place my vote for a write-in candidate in the form of "Helden", the German language version of Heroes.

christoff, Friday, 14 September 2007 18:50 (eighteen years ago)

I would like *to* go...

christoff, Friday, 14 September 2007 18:53 (eighteen years ago)

agreed with blackout. one of my favorite bowie tracks. nicely sums up the whole "berlin" vibe - desperation, sex, lotsa whooshing eno soundz.

Emily Bjurnhjam, Friday, 14 September 2007 19:53 (eighteen years ago)

Blackout is kind of New York-y too, with the chaos of the 77 blackout and everything

iago g., Friday, 14 September 2007 22:15 (eighteen years ago)

I'm not that into "'Heroes'". I love "Sons of the Silent Age" tho.

Noodle Vague, Friday, 14 September 2007 23:26 (eighteen years ago)

Sons of the Silent Age for me. But a tough choice.

Rock Hardy, Saturday, 15 September 2007 00:40 (eighteen years ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

ILX System, Saturday, 15 September 2007 23:01 (eighteen years ago)

TS: Fripp's shredding on Heroes vs. Fripp's shredding on Scary Monsters

Scary Monsters, easy. Fripp's pretty much the best thing on it.

Naive Teen Idol, Sunday, 16 September 2007 01:25 (eighteen years ago)

What's the point of these "The Beatles vs. L.A. Guns" threads? Yeesh

mitya, Sunday, 16 September 2007 19:01 (eighteen years ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

ILX System, Sunday, 16 September 2007 23:01 (eighteen years ago)

Nobody likes airy japonisme, I see.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Sunday, 16 September 2007 23:22 (eighteen years ago)

Sons of the Silent Age? You have got to be kidding me, that song is such an embarrasment!

iago g., Monday, 17 September 2007 00:29 (eighteen years ago)

Sons of the Silent Age? You have got to be kidding me, that song is such an embarrasment!

i heart you.

also, so little love for "secret life of arabia" ;_;

Eisbaer, Monday, 17 September 2007 00:41 (eighteen years ago)

i heart you too, buddy

iago g., Monday, 17 September 2007 01:40 (eighteen years ago)

Bit surprised nobody voted for "Moss Garden". I thought that one was sort of the most famous of the instrumentals on "Heroes" (Well, apart from "V-2 Schneider", but that one isn't really instrumental)

Geir Hongro, Monday, 17 September 2007 08:09 (eighteen years ago)

Ok, if I'm doing the maths right, and I think I am, ILM's top 20 Bowie songs based on the albums polled so far (Ziggy, Low, Heroes & Hunky Dory), looks like this:

1 Heroes
2 Life on Mars?
3 Moonage Daydream
4 Sound and Vision
5 Suffragette City
6 Five Years
7 Warszawa
8 Always Crashing in the Same Car
9 Quicksand
10 The Bewlay Brothers
11 Be My Wife
12 Sons of the Silent Age
13 Queen Bitch
14 Blackout
15 A New Career in a New Town
16 Oh! You Pretty Things
17 V-2 Schneider
18 Ziggy Stardust
19 Speed of Life
20 Changes

Which seems about right to me.

nate woolls, Monday, 17 September 2007 08:35 (eighteen years ago)

Except we haven't polled any of his best albums.

Noodle Vague, Monday, 17 September 2007 08:39 (eighteen years ago)

Well, maybe Low. But that list is unscientific until we do Aladdin Sane/Station to Station/Lodger. Diamond Dogs, even.

Noodle Vague, Monday, 17 September 2007 08:40 (eighteen years ago)

Well, one day we'll make the 'CHANGESNINETYNINEONETRACKPEREVERYALBMBOWIE' based upon these geirpolls.

Mark G, Monday, 17 September 2007 09:04 (eighteen years ago)

Suffragette City Bowie's fifth best song?! Surely not.

Zelda Zonk, Monday, 17 September 2007 09:06 (eighteen years ago)

Would've voted for Blackout. Side 1 of Heroes is my favourite side of Bowie music. When I put it on, I cannot believe how exciting the intros are.

Eyeball Kicks, Monday, 17 September 2007 09:54 (eighteen years ago)

nate's list implies that his polled albums are roughly the same quality. And maybe they are`

Geir Hongro, Monday, 17 September 2007 10:51 (eighteen years ago)


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