Listening to David Bowie on Radio Paradise

David Bowie — Helden

Album: Sound + Vision
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Total ratings: 591

Released: 0
Length: 3:33
Plays (last 30 days): 0

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Du
Könntest Du schwimmen
Wie Delphine
Delphine es tun
Niemand gibt uns eine Chance
Doch können wir siegen
Für immer und immer
Und wir sind dann Helden
Für einen Tag
Ich
Ich bin dann König
Und Du
Du Königin
Obwohl sie
Unschlagbar scheinen
Werden wir Helden
Für einen Tag
Wir sind dann wir
An diesem Tag
Ich
Ich glaub' das zu träumen
Die Mauer
Im Rcken war kalt
Die Schüsse reissen die Luft
Doch wir küssen
Als ob nichts geschieht
Und die Scham fiel auf ihre Seite
Oh, wir können sie schlagen
Für alle Zeiten
Dann sind wir Helden
Nur diesen Tag
Dann sind wir Helden
Dann sind wir Helden
Dann sind wir Helden
Nur diesen Tag
Dann sind wir Helden

Comments (238)add comment

joe-1 wrote:

This is great! Anyone know why David made this song in German?

Maybe because it was recorded in Berlin? The story behind the song was that he was inspired to write it after watching two people kissing in the shadow of the Berlin Wall.

I prefer the German version (and no, I don't speak it). Amazingly, there was a time when classic rock stations here in the good ol' USA played this version.

Posted 6 years ago by phlattop [ Reply ]

Simply ausgezeichnet!

Posted 13 years ago by R7-12 [ Reply ]

Yes!!!!

Posted 13 years ago by bluecshells [ Reply ]

joe-1 wrote:

This is great! Anyone know why David made this song in German?

Same reason why the Beatles performed some songs in German (it f***ng sells). And I think the Christiane F.-movie was an additional factor..

Posted 13 years ago by andiman [ Reply ]

chamrousse1450 wrote:

Sounds like his lederhosen are a bit tight.

Haaaa...! FUNNY!

Posted 13 years ago by Stingray [ Reply ]

Somehow it always reminds me of the fabulous Karel Gott ("und diese Biene, die iccchhh meine die heißt Maja"). Nice accent, echt!

Posted 13 years ago by andiman [ Reply ]

I prefer Bowie's version in HASSANIYA!

Posted 13 years ago by Stingray [ Reply ]

Was singing along we can be heroes...when i realised es war auf Deutsch

Posted 13 years ago by Sloggydog [ Reply ]

This is great! Anyone know why David made this song in German?

Posted 13 years ago by joe-1 [ Reply ]

olivertwist wrote:

jjtwister wrote: Don't understand a word of German and did not know this song from Bowie...gotta find the translation to make it complete. Any ideas?

cosmiclint wrote:

Maybe Stringray could help?

People, people... This is the German-language version of Heroes. If you check out the more well-known English version, you'll learn the lyrics.

I think I just heard a German airliner go whooshing overhead ;)

Posted 13 years ago by cosmiclint [ Reply ]

jjtwister wrote: Don't understand a word of German and did not know this song from Bowie...gotta find the translation to make it complete. Any ideas?

cosmiclint wrote:

Maybe Stringray could help?

People, people... This is the German-language version of Heroes. If you check out the more well-known English version, you'll learn the lyrics.

Posted 13 years ago by olivertwist [ Reply ]

jjtwister wrote:

Don't understand a word of German and did not know this song from Bowie...gotta find the translation to make it complete. Any ideas?

Maybe Stringray could help?

Posted 13 years ago by cosmiclint [ Reply ]

Don't understand a word of German and did not know this song from Bowie...gotta find the translation to make it complete. Any ideas?

Posted 13 years ago by jjtwister [ Reply ]

CoYoT51 wrote:

Does anyone know what 's going on with David Bowie, now?

Go here: https://www.davidbowie.com/

Posted 13 years ago by sharkey [ Reply ]

Teutontastic!

Posted 13 years ago by GuiltyFeat [ Reply ]

oldman wrote:

Personally, I never really thought of German as a language that lends it's self to great vocal melodies.

lmic wrote:

Curious, given that German is rhythmically so close to English.

On the other hand, perhaps those of the Latinate persuasion find English unmelodious, as well. I will admit that French (far from my favorite language) is awesomely mellifluous.

After all, English is THE language for modern popular music.

And Bowie's Helden is one of the few songs I'm able to enjoy in my native tongue.

Posted 14 years ago by Bleyfusz [ Reply ]

CoYoT51 wrote:

Does anyone know what 's going on with David Bowie, now?

Has anyone ever?

Posted 14 years ago by forge [ Reply ]

Sounds like his lederhosen are a bit tight.

Posted 14 years ago by chamrousse1450 [ Reply ]

Great segue from Secret Machines, loved that

Posted 14 years ago by SmileOnADog [ Reply ]

I lived in Berlin at those times - a divided city.
"Helden" reflects nearly perfectly the tendency of its youth..
I still like this song.

Posted 14 years ago by Ingenieur [ Reply ]

I wish you wouldn't keep doing this RP. I bath between 8 & 9 each evening and sure enough each time the ''Moaner'' comes on I have to jump out of the bath to switch volume off. Please Bill if you must play ''The Moaner'' can you make it before 8.

Posted 14 years ago by Toke [ Reply ]

burdell wrote:

This is terrible, I can barely understand a word he is singing.

He is speaking German....haha

Posted 14 years ago by martinc [ Reply ]

giodiberlino wrote:

immer wieder schön von seinen berliner Zeiten zu hören - leider viel zu selten...

Er sieht ganz wie ein junger Bursche Berliner Kabarett.

Posted 14 years ago by wycado [ Reply ]

oldman wrote:

Personally, I never really thought of German as a language that lends it's self to great vocal melodies.

Posted 14 years ago by lmic [ Reply ]

This is terrible, I can barely understand a word he is singing.

Posted 14 years ago by burdell [ Reply ]

bump

xenothaulus wrote:

You haven't actually heard Heroes until you've listened to it in the original Klingon...

Posted 14 years ago by apd [ Reply ]

The translation to German completely ruins the "just one day" line..

Posted 14 years ago by cambraca [ Reply ]

Does anyone know what 's going on with David Bowie, now?

Posted 14 years ago by CoYoT51 [ Reply ]

This is one of those songs where Eno's influence really shines.

Posted 14 years ago by alvarorb [ Reply ]

I think it's really cool.

Posted 14 years ago by musickat [ Reply ]

Dillinquent wrote:

I'm a long time Bowie fan but I'd never heard this before. From the Berlin sessions with Eno on the knobs, sounds excellent im Deutsch.

Posted 14 years ago by Dillinquent [ Reply ]

a_genuine_find wrote:

Corn Alert
corn

I like it, guess I will rate it a 'nein'

Meintest du "neun"?

Posted 14 years ago by Bleyfusz [ Reply ]

Das ist gut.

Posted 14 years ago by Dillinquent [ Reply ]

immer wieder schön von seinen berliner Zeiten zu hören - leider viel zu selten...

Posted 14 years ago by giodiberlino [ Reply ]

HarrO wrote:

That British accent just comes screaming out, don't it.

That's OK. Most Germans learn to speak English with a British accent anyway.

Posted 14 years ago by colt4x5 [ Reply ]

Personally, I never really thought of German as a language that lends it's self to great vocal melodies.

Posted 14 years ago by oldman [ Reply ]

This song sounds like a bad version of Heroes which I also don't like, so it really sucks!

BTW, I like Bowie, I am no Bowie hater, this is just a bad song.

Posted 14 years ago by sirdroseph [ Reply ]

Sprechen sie Deutsch?

Posted 14 years ago by RedGuitar [ Reply ]

Corn Alert
corn

I like it, guess I will rate it a 'nein'

Posted 14 years ago by a_genuine_find [ Reply ]

lmic wrote:

Ich hatte nie dieses Lied auf Deutsch vorher gehört! Warum nicht? Es ist ausgezeichnet!

Ist das nicht auf dem Soundtrack zu "Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo" drauf? Ich glaub, daher kenne ich es. Super

Posted 14 years ago by chris-cologne [ Reply ]

EssexTex wrote:

In other words, I've crawled out from under my bridge and I'm leaving those poor goats alone.

That's awesome!

Posted 14 years ago by ziggytrix [ Reply ]

Ich hatte nie dieses Lied auf Deutsch vorher gehört! Warum nicht? Es ist ausgezeichnet!

Posted 14 years ago by lmic [ Reply ]

lemmoth wrote:

ET

Looking at your 10 through 8s I find lots of great artists I love - Beatles, Zeppelin, Neil etc.

Looking at your 1 through 3s I find two great artists I love - Bowie and U2, and some very good artists I like a lot - Police (not Sting solo) , Roxy Music - sure I'm missing a few.

My point is obviously either I have two broad a range of musical styles I like or your range of approved styles is too narrow..

We should continue this discourse in a civilised fashion from here on in.

I agree lem,

I was going to comment that in this song, with the levels of passionate screaming he does it reminds me of a podium speech in Munich
during the lead up to WW2.

But you'll be glad to know I thought better.

Nowadays I'm of the opinion that a light hearted insult's better than a mean one. (regarding the artists and songs)

In other words, I've crawled out from under my bridge and I'm leaving those poor goats alone.

Posted 15 years ago by EssexTex [ Reply ]

diazo wrote:

This here's Amurrica. Sing in Amurrican, dammit.

This is an Brit singing about a couple trying to escape East Berlin and running the gauntlet of the guards at the Berlin Wall.
Maybe it's not perfect German, but he sings it with the same passion and a reasonably correct pronunciation, especially for a non-native speaker. I am impressed with the passion.
I think this song is one of the most stirring and real of any of Bowie's songs, and I intend to purchase this version.
I didn't know it existed. It's wonderful.
Thank you again Bill. Wunderbar.

Posted 15 years ago by reindeer [ Reply ]

xenothaulus wrote:

You haven't actually heard Heroes until you've listened to it in the original Vulcan...

OMG this is so bad! But the beauty of RP is we get to express how much we love and dislike a song, and by the time we finish with our pithy little comments, the song invariably is over!..SING IT SPOCK!

Posted 15 years ago by redstorm [ Reply ]

xenothaulus wrote:

You haven't actually heard Heroes until you've listened to it in the original Klingon...

Posted 15 years ago by robco1 [ Reply ]

We can beat them !

Posted 15 years ago by 1wolfy [ Reply ]

a_genuine_find wrote:

SO much better in German ....

No. This is awful, really really awful.

Posted 15 years ago by Verpeiler [ Reply ]

diazo wrote:

This here's Amurrica. Sing in Amurrican, dammit.

Red-neck

Posted 15 years ago by darrenwwwa [ Reply ]

You haven't actually heard Heroes until you've listened to it in the original Klingon...

Posted 15 years ago by xenothaulus [ Reply ]

SO much better in German ....

Posted 15 years ago by a_genuine_find [ Reply ]

Reminds me of my teen years.... Christiane F...

Posted 15 years ago by FLOJO [ Reply ]

radiojunkie wrote:

Komme, gib mir Deine hand

Posted 15 years ago by von_Hayek [ Reply ]

na, kann doch wohl nich sein, oder !!!!!

>^..^<

Posted 15 years ago by arissimo [ Reply ]

Baum74 wrote:

Ha ha ...

He sure enjoyed his basic German course, and of course you have to practice!

That British accent just comes screaming out, don't it.

Posted 15 years ago by HarrO [ Reply ]

spaceman wrote:

Bleh. This just sounds weird, and not in a good way.
Let's hear the original, please. Danke.

I have trouble with the translated versions too. It's fun to hear here every now and then for a change.

A big part of music is the sound of the words. I think also, a big part of why songs hit are the choice of words. It's very difficult to ever capture the original spirit of the song in a translation. It's just not the same, no matter how hard they try.

Posted 15 years ago by supremo [ Reply ]

Very, Very cool Version.... somehow this translates really well in German.
Thx Bill..

Posted 15 years ago by slickdh [ Reply ]

Papernapkin wrote:

I'd give it a nine. Ya, I'd have to say, 'Nine.'

...or would that be "nein"

I don't quite know what to make of it...interesting...worth hearing...

Posted 15 years ago by denmom [ Reply ]

This here's Amurrica. Sing in Amurrican, dammit.

Posted 15 years ago by diazo [ Reply ]

Ha ha ...

He sure enjoyed his basic German course, and of course you have to practice!

Posted 15 years ago by Baum74 [ Reply ]

I've heard enough Bowie to last the rest of my life, and this is just annoying.

Posted 15 years ago by hippiechick [ Reply ]

Wannsinn!!

Ich weiss nicht warum...
...aber es gefaellt mir.

Posted 15 years ago by bc [ Reply ]

You have got to be kidding me.

Posted 15 years ago by Shimmer [ Reply ]

I'd respond with more detail except I suspect that was why this was crafted this way. I see what you tried to do there... and I refuse to bite.

MartinBremer wrote:

Please stop! Can't stand this! All this cameleon of rock crap is to disguise his lack of personality (and maybe personal greed... He's only in it for the money. If that wasn't true he would have settled at ONE style, or at least line of music). I think it's not versatility, it's (sorry) prostitution in form of music.

Posted 15 years ago by greyfin10 [ Reply ]

Komme, gib mir Deine hand

Posted 15 years ago by radiojunkie [ Reply ]

MartinBremer wrote:

He's only in it for the money. If that wasn't true he would have settled at ONE style

Wow. This may be the most poorly-formed thought I've ever read here at RP and I ought to know.

Posted 15 years ago by ScottFromWyoming [ Reply ]

EssexTex wrote:

.....flatulence sounds better.

You otta know!

Posted 16 years ago by horstman [ Reply ]

Posted 16 years ago by MartinBremer [ Reply ]

Bowie is "one of those" artists; either he hit's or he misses really big time.

This song is one of his few that just seems to catch my ear.

Or is it the martini's with the olives stuffed with roasted almonds and gorgonzola that I'm "hearing" on this beautiful Sunday evening.

Whatever. Hey, Bill.....nice playlist.

Thanks.

Posted 16 years ago by lwilkinson [ Reply ]

EssexTex wrote:

.....flatulence sounds better.

Posted 16 years ago by lemmoth [ Reply ]

.....flatulence sounds better.

Posted 16 years ago by EssexTex [ Reply ]

dniederb wrote:

No one who speaks German could be an evil man...
...before anyone gets too excited, click here and scroll down a bit https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Simpsons/Season_5#Cape_Feare_.5B5.02.5D

Dann sind wir Helden
Nur diesen Tag

Posted 16 years ago by cosmiclint [ Reply ]

Bleh. This just sounds weird, and not in a good way.
Let's hear the original, please. Danke.

Posted 16 years ago by spaceman [ Reply ]

No one who speaks German could be an evil man...
...before anyone gets too excited, click here and scroll down a bit https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Simpsons/Season_5#Cape_Feare_.5B5.02.5D

Posted 16 years ago by dniederb [ Reply ]

I like this version better than the english version. But then I don't like the song very much. meh

Posted 16 years ago by rowdydaisy [ Reply ]

Wait, what?
Scheiße

Posted 16 years ago by ArbiterOfGoodTaste [ Reply ]

Ich bin dein KÃ¶nig... Ok, this is just strange. Still on the fence if it is a good thing or not.

Posted 16 years ago by Darkmatter [ Reply ]

Ha! I heard the beginning, thinking it was the original, and was just rushing in to comment on how cool the German version of Heroes is. Synchronicity...

Posted 16 years ago by quatsch [ Reply ]

I'd give it a nine. Ya, I'd have to say, 'Nine.'

Posted 16 years ago by Papernapkin [ Reply ]

Bowie is awesome, and German is my second language... and their are PLENTY of brilliant songs in German, but this is just horrible!

Posted 16 years ago by elfeux [ Reply ]

Ein unheimlich schoenes Lied, in englischer und in deutscher Sprache, und vor Allem in

gemischter Version beider Sprachen.

Posted 16 years ago by Beinte [ Reply ]

laozilover wrote:

Bill doesn't play this version very often, but when he does, stand back! That "hurling" emoticon is only a click away!!!

I LIKE both versions, so I am glad that the ratings distribution acts as a counterbalance to these negative posts! Note: the statistical MODE is '8 - Most Excellent'!

it seems like this is the only version I ever hear here.

Posted 16 years ago by dogpound [ Reply ]

Bill doesn't play this version very often, but when he does, stand back! That "hurling" emoticon is only a click away!!!

I LIKE both versions, so I am glad that the ratings distribution acts as a counterbalance to these negative posts! Note: the statistical MODE is '8 - Most Excellent'!

Posted 16 years ago by laozilover [ Reply ]

i like bowie and i'm german but this version =

Posted 16 years ago by popChar [ Reply ]

boontonite wrote:

This is of interest as a novelty only

Why? Is German a "novelty" language?

Posted 16 years ago by Cruithne3753 [ Reply ]

This is of interest as a novelty only, just like the early Beatle's German versions, with no improvement on the original. With so much fantastic Bowie to choose from, why play the same stuff over and over? How about Sons of the Silent Age or The Dreamers for a change of pace.

Posted 16 years ago by boontonite [ Reply ]

I'm sorry if I step on people's toes here.. but, eww.. no, not working..this is ugly. Rate: 0

Posted 16 years ago by Candela [ Reply ]

Ich verstande Deutch nur wenn es sehr laud ist!

Posted 16 years ago by Taraincognito [ Reply ]

anniebear wrote:

OK, fine, he recorded "Heroes" in German, big whoop! The novelty wore off the FIRST time ya played this Bill. Hows about you give this a REST and play the original, English language version??

Actually this version and the English version were recoded during the same sessions and released at the same time. The German version was done because the album was written & recorded in Berlin, not as a novelty.

Posted 17 years ago by Hairfarmer [ Reply ]

anniebear wrote:

OK, fine, he recorded "Heroes" in German, big whoop! The novelty wore off the FIRST time ya played this Bill. Hows about you give this a REST and play the original, English language version??

Don't you have volume control in North Carolina?

That's what I use when I don't like something, besides, this is a great piece.

Posted 17 years ago by a_genuine_find [ Reply ]

is this German? Mein Gott indeed!

Posted 17 years ago by Burg [ Reply ]

This is a great version, but I think that Apocalyptica's version is even better. ...... Forgive me Dave.

Posted 17 years ago by firerytrigon [ Reply ]

Danke. Wundervolles Lied!

Posted 17 years ago by smehan55 [ Reply ]

mein Got!!!

Posted 17 years ago by exciter76 [ Reply ]

oh... and I am a jelly donut.

Posted 17 years ago by a_genuine_find [ Reply ]

Never heard this version. Love it. Love the Eno/Bowie collaborations...

Posted 17 years ago by Waybo [ Reply ]

OK, fine, he recorded "Heroes" in German, big whoop! The novelty wore off the FIRST time ya played this Bill. Hows about you give this a REST and play the original, English language version??

Posted 17 years ago by anniebear [ Reply ]

ah, another scary Halloween song! rock on, Bill!

Posted 17 years ago by ziggytrix [ Reply ]

GanjaGood wrote:

Terrible, Terrible, TERRIBLE!!! This sucks Donkey D@ck!!!

I feel that this is THE PERFECT language for the tone of this song, I love it.

Posted 17 years ago by a_genuine_find [ Reply ]

Helfen mir....turn it off!

Posted 17 years ago by TobiMc3 [ Reply ]

Terrible, Terrible, TERRIBLE!!! This sucks Donkey D@ck!!!

Posted 17 years ago by GanjaGood [ Reply ]

Traurig, spreche ich nicht Deutsches

Posted 17 years ago by jpfueler [ Reply ]

ACH!

Posted 17 years ago by CoYoT51 [ Reply ]

yet another reason why this station is so damn good. Been an avid listener for 6 weeks--where has this station been all my life? there was a time when you\'d occaisionally hear this version on the big commercial stations. it\'s so good to hear it again. the story behind the song is good: Bowie was in the studio in Berlin when he looked outside to notice a couple kissing passionately in the shadow of the Berlin wall and was inspired.

Posted 17 years ago by phlattop [ Reply ]

rolf wrote:

No, not at all! BTW, WE call that type of doughnuts "Kreppel".

Thanks Rolf I never knew that

Posted 17 years ago by Paul_in_Australia [ Reply ]

tapatia wrote:

Can't hurt as bad as it did when a famous president proclaimed to a German audience "I am a doughnut, we are all doughnuts!"

No, not at all! BTW, WE call that type of doughnuts "Kreppel".

Posted 17 years ago by rolf [ Reply ]

I thought I had the wrong radio-station running... that was fun! It's hard to recognize your own language if you don't expect it

"We could be heroes", maybe Bowie is an early fan of "Wir sind Helden"

Posted 17 years ago by TeleFrank [ Reply ]

waggpj wrote:

is his german good?

Not too bad anyway. :) Never heard this before and found it highly enjoyable. Thanks, Bill, for another surprise.

Posted 17 years ago by sjuttiosju [ Reply ]

This is at least more bearable than my mother-in-law's German marching music. Val-deri val-dera! (Sie kommt aus Nurnberg, wissen sie.)

Posted 17 years ago by Hannio [ Reply ]

Woah. Didn't know there was a german version. Its pretty good german actually and the lyrics make total sense ;D

Posted 17 years ago by Atombender [ Reply ]

jmsmy wrote:

I've heard this song hundreds of times - but never like this - Good Job - Thanks, Bill

I've heard this song hundreds of times - but never liked this.

Posted 17 years ago by mfassett [ Reply ]

MountainGirl wrote:

Bill, you rock! I haven't heard this played in the States...awesome version! I heard this version years ago on a german movie - with a bunch of Bowie. Thanks!

Christiane F about a teenager addicted to drugs at the Bahnhoff Zoo in West Berlin. True story, check out the entry at wikipeddia

Posted 17 years ago by meower [ Reply ]

is his german good?

Posted 17 years ago by waggpj [ Reply ]

I've heard this song hundreds of times - but never like this - Good Job - Thanks, Bill

Posted 17 years ago by jmsmy [ Reply ]

Bill, you rock! I haven't heard this played in the States...awesome version! I heard this version years ago on a german movie - with a bunch of Bowie. Thanks!

Posted 17 years ago by MountainGirl [ Reply ]

Bill, you're on a serious roll today... This song's better in English, at least when Bowie is singing, but given the song's meaning German is appropriate. Amazing that the Berlin Wall seemed such a permanent, harsh reality until '89--and now it's an odd, dream-like memory.

Posted 17 years ago by kcar [ Reply ]

Das Goot!

Posted 17 years ago by More_Cowbell [ Reply ]

I bought the German-language version of Peter Gabriel's "Melt" CD by mistake a few years ago. Made for a few head-scratching moments when I played it, until I noticed the word Deutsch on the cover. Anyhow, Heroes is a ten in any language.

Posted 17 years ago by cosmiclint [ Reply ]

Not being a German speaker and not ever hearing this version before, I sudddenly thought that I had been transported to a parallel universe. Wow Bowie's great even in a parallel universe :)

Posted 17 years ago by firerytrigon [ Reply ]