It happened again. You were scrolling through Netflix, or maybe just humming a tune while doing the dishes, and suddenly that rhythmic, infectious vocal harmony from Robert Rodriguez's 2020 hit We Can Be Heroes started looping in your brain. It's not just a song. Honestly, it's a whole vibe. The we can be heroes acapella moment—specifically that "Heroes" cover originally by David Bowie—became a breakout cultural touchpoint that outlasted the movie’s initial release window.
Music matters in kids' movies. Usually, it's overproduced pop. But here, they went stripped back.
The Bowie Connection and Why It Works
Let's be real: covering David Bowie is a massive risk. You’re dealing with an anthem that defined a generation. When the kids in the movie start layering their voices to perform the we can be heroes acapella version, it shouldn't work as well as it does. But it hits because of the arrangement. The track isn't trying to be "Space Oddity" or some high-art glam rock experiment. It’s grounded.
The film, which serves as a spiritual successor to The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl, relies heavily on the theme of legacy. Having a group of children—the "Heroics"—sing a song about being heroes "just for one day" carries a weight that a standard orchestral score just can't touch. Most people forget that the vocal arrangement was handled with a specific intent to sound like actual kids singing, rather than a polished studio choir from a Broadway pit.
It feels human.
Who Is Actually Singing?
There’s often a lot of confusion about whether the actors are actually the ones providing those harmonies. In many modern films, "ghost singers" do the heavy lifting. However, for the we can be heroes acapella sequences, the production leaned into the talents of its young cast. You have Lyon Daniels, Nathan Blair, and the powerhouse vocals of Lotus Blossom and others contributing to the layered sound.
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The music department, led by composer Robert Rodriguez (who wears about ten different hats on every film he makes), wanted a DIY aesthetic. He’s known for his "Rebel Without a Crew" mentality. If he can do it himself in his garage, he will. That translated to the music. The acapella style removes the safety net of a heavy bassline or a distracting drum kit.
Why Acapella Tracks Blow Up on Social Media
TikTok loves a good vocal stack. You’ve probably seen the "Heroes" trend pop up every few months since the film debuted.
The reason the we can be heroes acapella version specifically trends is because it’s "stich-able." Creators love to add their own bass notes or soprano trills over the existing melody. It’s basically an open-source invitation for collaboration. While the original 1977 Bowie version is a masterpiece of production—featuring Brian Eno’s synthesizers and Robert Fripp’s feedback-laden guitar—the acapella version strips it down to its skeletal structure.
This makes it accessible.
Kids can mimic it. Amateur singers can practice their intervals with it. It’s a pedagogical tool disguised as a movie soundtrack.
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The Technical Magic Behind the Sound
How do you make a group of kids sound like a professional vocal ensemble without losing the "kid" quality?
It's all in the mixing. If you listen closely to the we can be heroes acapella track, the EQ (equalization) isn't perfectly flat. There’s a bit of raw texture left in the breaths and the hard "s" sounds. In professional recording, these are often "de-essed" or edited out entirely. By leaving them in, the track feels like it’s happening in the room with you.
- Layering: They used multiple takes of the same singers to create a "wall of sound" effect.
- Harmonic Intervals: The arrangement mostly sticks to thirds and fifths, which are the most pleasing to the human ear and the easiest for a general audience to hum along to.
- Rhythmic Percussion: Much of the "beat" is actually created through vocal plosives—p's, t's, and b's—acting as a makeshift drum set.
Beyond the Movie: The Lasting Impact
It’s rare for a Netflix kids' movie to have a soundtrack element that people discuss years later. Usually, these films are "one and done" experiences. But the we can be heroes acapella rendition tapped into a specific nostalgia. It bridged the gap between Gen Alpha (the kids watching the movie) and Gen X or Millennials (the parents who grew up with Bowie).
It’s a rare moment of cross-generational synergy.
Music critics have pointed out that acapella music often surges in popularity during times of digital fatigue. When everything is autotuned and AI-generated, hearing the slight imperfections of a human voice is refreshing. It’s why groups like Pentatonix or the Pitch Perfect franchise became juggernauts.
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How to Master the "Heroes" Vocal Style
If you're a singer or a content creator looking to recreate the we can be heroes acapella sound, you need to focus on the "stack."
Start with the melody line. Keep it straight, almost folk-like. Don’t add too many riffs or runs; Bowie’s writing is about the power of the long, sustained note. Then, add a low harmony—a "drone" that sits under the melody. Finally, add the rhythmic breathing. That’s the "secret sauce" of the Rodriguez version. It’s the percussive "huff" that gives the song its drive.
Most people try to over-sing it. Don't. The beauty is in the simplicity.
Actionable Insights for Aspiring Vocalists:
- Record your parts separately: Even if you’re singing solo, record four different tracks of yourself to mimic the movie’s "gang vocal" feel.
- Focus on the "H" sounds: In the phrase "We can be heroes," the aspiration on the "H" is what provides the rhythmic anchor.
- Minimize Reverb: The movie's version is relatively "dry." Avoid washing out the vocals with too much echo; keep it tight and intimate.
- Study the 1977 Original: To understand why the acapella version works, you have to understand the bones of the song. Listen to the way Bowie builds tension in the second verse.
The we can be heroes acapella phenomenon proves that you don’t need a hundred-piece orchestra to create an epic feeling. Sometimes, all you need is a few voices and a legendary melody. It’s a testament to the fact that while heroes might be for just one day, a good vocal arrangement lives forever on the internet.