{"id":2220155,"date":"2026-01-02T18:13:25","date_gmt":"2026-01-02T18:13:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2220155"},"modified":"2026-01-02T18:13:25","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T18:13:25","slug":"how-david-bowies-iconic-heroes-became-the-last-song-of-the-stranger-things-finale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/how-david-bowies-iconic-heroes-became-the-last-song-of-the-stranger-things-finale\/","title":{"rendered":"How David Bowie&#8217;s iconic &#8216;Heroes&#8217; became the last song of the &#8216;Stranger Things&#8217; finale"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>The creators of <em><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/series\/stranger-things\">Stranger Things<\/a><\/em> have revealed how the iconic <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/david-bowie\">David Bowie<\/a> track \u2018Heroes\u2019 was chosen as the final song of the series.<\/p>\n<p>The fifth and final season of the hit <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/brands\/netflix\">Netflix<\/a> show was broadcast yesterday on New Years Day (Thursday January 1) and saw the heroic group of friends come together one last time, on the anniversary of Will Byers\u2019 disappearance, to battle Venca.<\/p>\n<p>Season five was <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/tv\/stranger-things-season-5-final-episodes-release-date-3912379\">split into three volumes<\/a>, with the first four episodes airing on November 27, and the remaining four episodes being broadcast across Boxing Day and New Years Day.<\/p>\n<p>Alongside the star-studded cast, including <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/finn-wolfhard\">Finn Wolfhard<\/a>, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/winona-ryder\">Winona Ryder<\/a>, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/david-harbour\">David Harbour<\/a>, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/joe-keery\">Joe Keery<\/a>, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/maya-hawke\">Maya Hawke<\/a>, and <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/millie-bobby-brown\">Millie Bobby Brown<\/a>, the series also came with <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/tv\/stranger-things-season-5-soundtrack-every-song-3913373\">an impressive soundtrack featuring \u201980s hits from<\/a> the likes of <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/kate-bush\">Kate Bush<\/a>, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/michael-jackson\">Michael Jackson<\/a>, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/diana-ross\">Diana Ross<\/a>, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/abba\">ABBA<\/a> and more.<\/p>\n<p>During the ending credits though, it was the classic Bowie single \u2018Heroes\u2019 that was played as the final song of the entire series.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jeg_video_container jeg_video_content\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Heroes\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/GdQpg--0H8w?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>Speaking to <em>Netflix Tudum<\/em>, show co-creator Ross Duffer revealed that the song was chosen after it was suggested by Joe Keery, who plays Steve Harrington on the show and also releases music under the alias <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/djo\">Djo<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOnce Joe said that, we immediately knew that was the right song to end the show on because it is, in some ways, an anthem for <em>Stranger Things<\/em>,\u201d he said. \u201cTo use the original Bowie version just felt right and fitting for the conclusion.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The track instantly became one of the music icon\u2019s signature songs after being released on the 1977 album of the same name. It is believed to have been inspired by an embrace under the Berlin Wall that Bowie witnessed, and recorded at the Hansa Studios in West Berlin, just 150metres away from the Berlin Wall.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DTAv2tHj7--\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Co-written with <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/brian-eno\">Brian Eno,<\/a> Bowie sang the song in English, German, and French, and it has since been covered by artists including <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/lady-gaga\">Lady Gaga<\/a>, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/oasis\">Oasis<\/a>, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/depeche-mode\">Depeche Mode<\/a>, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/yungblud\">Yungblud<\/a>, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/david-byrne\">David Byrne<\/a> and many more.<\/p>\n<p>In 1987, Bowie famously played the song live near the border as part of a series of shows at the Reichstag, and many residents of East Berlin gathered to listen and sparked chants for the fall of the Berlin wall. Bowie would later recall how many people showed up to listen to the performance, and said that it felt \u201clike a double concert where the wall was the division\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe would hear them cheering and singing along from the other side. God, even now I get choked up. It was breaking my heart. I\u2019d never done anything like that in my life, and I guess I never will again,\u201d he explained to Bill DeMain in 2003 (via <em><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/performingsongwriter.com\/david-bowie-songs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Performing Songwriter<\/a><\/em>).<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Good-bye, David Bowie. You are now among <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Heroes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Heroes<\/a>. Thank you for helping to bring down the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/wall?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#wall<\/a>. <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/soaOUWiyVl\">https:\/\/t.co\/soaOUWiyVl<\/a> <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/RIPDavidBowie?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#RIPDavidBowie<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 GermanForeignOffice (@GermanyDiplo) <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GermanyDiplo\/status\/686498183669743616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 11, 2016<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>When Bowie <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/david-bowie-165-1196261\">died in 2016 following a battle with cancer<\/a>, the German Foreign Office posted a live version of the song online and wrote: \u201cGood-bye David Bowie. You are now among #Heroes. Thank you for helping bring down the #wall\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>In 2024, the inspiration behind the song was thrown into question when<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/david-bowies-heroes-lyrics-inspired-by-day-with-girlfriend-clare-shenstone-new-documentary-claims-3791628\"> a documentary claimed that the lyrics were actually written by Bowie after spending a day in Berlin<\/a> with his then-girlfriend Clare Shenstone.<\/p>\n<p>Titled <em>Bowie In Berlin<\/em>, the show saw the model and actor \u2013 who was in a relationship with Bowie during the mid-70s \u2013 claim that the lyrics were written about \u201can extraordinary day\u201d the two had in the German capital. She also shared that she told the music icon about a dream she had where she was swimming with dolphins; something she says inspired the line: \u201c<em>I wish you could swim\/Like dolphins can swim<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/david-bowies-last-years-to-be-explored-in-new-channel-4-documentary-the-final-act-3903942\">Another documentary about Bowie is set to air later this week too<\/a>, and will centre around the final years of his life. Titled <em>The Final Act<\/em>, the show is set to be broadcast on Channel 4 on Sunday (January 4).<\/p>\n<p>As for <em>Stranger Things<\/em>, the final episode of the series debuted to 59.6million views, which was a new record for an English-language title on Netflix.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jeg_video_container jeg_video_content\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Stranger Things 5 | Finale Trailer | Netflix\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/AfQ13jsLDms?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>Speaking to <em><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hollywoodreporter.com\/tv\/tv-features\/stranger-things-series-finale-eleven-fate-duffers-interview-1236462569\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Hollywood Reporter<\/a><\/em> recently, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/tv\/stranger-things-characters-fate-addressed-by-duffer-brothers-3920618\">The Duffer Brothers addressed the ambiguity around the central character, Eleven<\/a>, and the theory that she faked her own death to keep herself and her friends safe.<\/p>\n<p>When asked if the character is alive at the end of the series, Ross Duffer responded: \u201cI don\u2019t know if we want to say. Obviously, we\u2019ve had these conversations with Millie too, and we all have our own interpretations. I worry if I say it, it might take away. We really want the audience to take from it what they want.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Not everyone was satisfied with the final season, however, with volume two\u2019s conclusion\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/tv\/strangers-things-latest-episode-one-of-the-worst-rated-by-fans-3920174\">having one of the worst fan ratings of the entire run<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/reviews\/tv-reviews\/stranger-things-season-5-volume-1-review-millie-bobby-brown-david-harbour-3912866\">In a four-star review of volume one, <em>NME<\/em> described the show as \u201cthe big, bold beginning of the end.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cPerhaps inevitably, volume one feels a lot like an appetiser for the rest of the season\u201d it read. \u201cBut even in piecemeal form, <em>Stranger Things<\/em> has a flair for epic and emotionally resonant storytelling. After all those years, this smart, big-hearted sci-fi show still has the power to turn your head upside down.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script>\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n  fbq('consent', 'revoke');\n  fbq('init', '370979561341328');\n  fbq('track', 'PageView');\n<\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.nme.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The creators of Stranger Things have revealed how the iconic David Bowie track \u2018Heroes\u2019 was chosen as the final song of the series. The fifth and final season of the hit Netflix show was broadcast yesterday on New Years Day (Thursday January 1) and saw the heroic group of friends come together one last time, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2220156,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25179],"tags":[21940,21939],"class_list":["post-2220155","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-music","tag-pop","tag-rock"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/How-David-Bowies-iconic-Heroes-became-the-last-song-of.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2220155","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2220155"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2220155\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2220157,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2220155\/revisions\/2220157"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2220156"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2220155"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2220155"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2220155"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}