Not unlike the Manhattan, N.Y., populace facing Godzilla in the new movie of

the same name, Jakob Dylan's rock outfit the Wallflowers and producer Andrew

Slater were a touch nervous about attempting to rework the classic David Bowie

song "Heroes" for the Godzilla soundtrack.

"Very nervous," Slater said.

"We proceeded with great humility, because we knew we were on sacred

ground."

Bowie issued the original

HREF="http://www.addict.com/music/Bowie,_David/Heroes.ram">"Heroes"

(RealAudio excerpt of original) -- a collaboration with ambient

audiomeister Brian Eno -- back in 1977.

Now, nervousness has been replaced by relief -- and surprise. The Wallflowers'

HREF="http://www.addict.com/music/Wallflowers,_The/Heroes.ram">"Heroes"

(RealAudio excerpt) was chosen as the first single off Godzilla: The

Album, an album that includes tracks by such hit acts as Jamiroquai, Rage

Against The Machine and Green Day, in addition to a collaboration between

hip-hop monarch Puff Daddy and former Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page. And the song is already a Top 10 hit at modern rock radio.

No way were the Wallflowers expecting the song to be chosen as a single at all,

much less the lead-off single. "We figured they'd have an original song for the

first single, and 'Heroes' would be buried on the soundtrack," Slater said.

Slater -- who also produced Fiona

Apple's debut, Tidal -- said he's heard indirectly through Bowie's label that the

veteran rocker approves of the Wallflowers' interpretation of the song. "If the

guy who wrote it says we've done it justice, that's definitely a relief," Slater said.

"But you've still got everyone in general -- you hope you don't offend the big

fans of the original."

At the alt.fan.david-bowie newsgroup, fans of the glam-rock singer expressed

mixed sentiments about the Wallflowers' cover. While some argued that the

rendition should be seen as a flattering tribute to Bowie that will only widen his

fanbase, others said the song is too close to the original and lacks its own flare.

The Wallflowers' decision to record the song was a lot easier than awaiting the

reaction to the finished recording. "We love this song, so let's just do it and

have fun," Slater said of the consensus reached by the bandmembers.

In deciding on the track's arrangement, the group opted to preserve the basic

components of Bowie's original, including the guitar and basslines. "I don't think

it's such a good idea to perform surgery on something that's been done before

and done well," Slater said, "but you still want it to sound like the Wallflowers."

There was one necessary change, however: The remake trades in the choir

accompaniment of the original for a string arrangement. "The choir didn't seem

right for an American rock band," Slater said.