I can’t stop listening to Nicole Atkins’ cover of David Bowie’s ‘Heroes’

by JAY LUSTIG
Nicole Atkins has recorded a transcendent version of David Bowie's "Heroes" with Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox.

Nicole Atkins has recorded a transcendent version of David Bowie’s “Heroes” with Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox.

Since hearing, earlier today, Nicole Atkins’ transcendent new cover of David Bowie’s “Heroes,” recorded with Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, I’ve been playing it over and over again. I’ve heard countless Bowie covers since he died of cancer last month, and this one is easily the best.

Proceeds from the single will go to the Cancer Research Institute.

Bradlee explained how the single came about this way, on postmodernjukebox.com:

I received a number of requests to do a Postmodern Jukebox cover by the late David Bowie in these last few weeks, and to be honest, I wasn’t sure how best to honor his incredible legacy. As fate would have it, a received a phone call from my friend Nicole Atkins, who happened to be traveling to Los Angeles. Nicole has the kind of voice that expresses pure emotion in every note, and I knew instantly that I had found the voice for this tribute. As we discussed song choices, we talked about Bowie’s fight with cancer, and how cancer has affected the lives of so many around us. So, this performance of David Bowie’s “Heroes” is dedicated not only to Bowie, but to all the heroes out there — whether family, friend, or stranger – that have battled cancer.

Meanwhile, New Jersey native Atkins wrote the following on nicoleatkins.com:

Scott and I used to sing jazz standards together back in the days when we were in Sleep No More in NYC, and we’ve been waiting for the right time to record something together. We each have a parent that are cancer survivors and have so many friends that have been similarly affected by this disease. After David Bowie’s passing it seemed a fitting tribute and the right time to come together and record one of his songs and help raise money for cancer research.

Here’s the video for the song. Check it out:

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