Janelle Monae Pays Homage To David Bowie

Janelle Monae paid homage to David Bowie in a new Pepsi MAX advert and said it was “truly a dream,” reports Contactmusic.com.

Monae, an R&B singer, appears in the Pepsi MAX commercial as a busker singing Bowie’s famous track ‘Heroes’ for small change. This is a scene Monae can understand as she began her career in Atlanta, Georgia walking around college campuses with a guitar in hand and playing in dorm lounges and on library steps for whoever would listen.

Monae said that she was beyond thrilled to be a part of the commercial. This is what she had to say, “‘Heroes’ is one of my favorite David Bowie songs, he’s just the coolest artist out there, so to be able to cover the song and to pay homage to him is truly a dream.”

The Pepsi MAX commercial Monae took part in is a part of the brand’s ‘Now Is What You Make It’ campaign. The commercial ties in with the World Cup and it was filmed in the streets of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where this years competition will be taking place.

Rolling Stone reports that despite a basic adherence to ‘Heroes’ chord changes and gradual, grand buildup, Monae along with her production team radically updated Bowie’s 1977 classic. The original version’s slow-burn guitar was switched out for warbled dub step-friendly synths. The track was transformed by Monae into an EDM/New Wave hybrid.

Also featured in the Pepsi MAX commercial alongside Monae, are soccer stars Robin van Persie, David Luiz, Sergio Ramos Aguero, Jack Wilshere and Leo Messi; all of whom perform tricks with a football for the video.

Monae, who has been nominated for International Female Solo Artist at this year’s BRIT Awards, also had this to say of filming the commercial, “I love everything the film stands for. To me, it is all about that extraordinary burst of courage and passion which can embolden everyday people in a moment of spontaneity, which is also the message of David Bowie’s venerable song. I was honored to join Pepsi for this campaign and remind people that now more than ever, we can all be heroes.”

The Pepsi MAX commercial featuring Janelle Monae singing David Bowie’s ‘Heroes’ will air during the 2014 World Cup.

[Image Via Google]