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Janelle Monae Exalts David Bowie’s ‘Heroes’ on ‘Letterman’

Janelle Monae, "Heroes," David Bowie, David Letterman, video

We can be “Heroes”? Yes, she can. Janelle Monáe’s almost-too-fitting cover of David Bowie’s 1977 classic surfaced this spring in conjunction with a Pepsi ad campaign. The Electric Lady singer and a full, white-clad band brought it to beaming, dancing, post-LCD Soundsystem life last night on Late Show With David Letterman, dedicating the song “to all the young heroes in the world” and promising to “take you somewhere tonight.” By the time she’s jumping up and down, asking us to “sing it if you believe it,” sure, it’s show biz, but you just might believe that’s an art-pop Hercules up there.

For more of Monae’s epic feats, check out our Governors Ball 2014 coverage (and photos), catch her live in New York with Dave Chappelle later this month, and revisit her livewire performance on The Maya Rudolph Show