Queen vs. David Bowie | The Making of Under Pressure

When David Bowie and Freddie Mercury came together to record "Under Pressure" in 1981, the result was one of the best duets of all time. Though the recording process managed to unite some of the most prolific musical geniuses of the 20th century, creating the masterpiece was no simple task.

"Under Pressure" was a song that, like its namesake implies, was produced under pressure. Performed alongside Queen creative masterpieces like "Bohemian Rhapsody," the song became a staple at concerts and appeared on Queen and Bowie albums alike. Creative differences and clashing personalities tested the limits of music-making, but the tension between the singers also made "Under Pressure" a landmark collaboration

[WeirdHistory]

What's your favorite Queen or Bowie song?

[AlexiasPlaylist]

It's funny because Under Pressure doesn't just SOUND like a queen song. You can tell the two artists influenced each other in the song to make something that sounds a little different than either of their songs at the time of releasing it

[moribund]

A session with Queen covering Bowie songs and Bowie covering Queen song...
Man I wish I were there, I would pay some serious money to see that!

[doogstar]

The egos and tensions made the artists reach beyond themselves to create something wonderful that neither of them could have achieved individually. A classic song.

[CGL]

BOWIE: "Okay, here's what I have so far:
'Pressure pushing down on me
Pressing down on you, no man ask for
Under pressure that burns a building down
Splits a family in two
Puts people on streets'

What have you got Freddie?"

FREDDIE: "Um ba ba be
Um ba ba be
De day da
Ee day da, that's okay"

[shaun]

The AIDS awareness concert was 1992 not 1982.

[JakeLovesSteak]

It sucks that Youtube has become so strict with copyright rules, that you couldn't even play small excerpts from the song in this video. Anyway, it's a great video nonetheless.

[ploppyjr]

Killer queen was their first hit not bohemian rhapsody

[itkojecockot]

John Deacon is a man behind some of the most iconic and recognizable basslines of all

[dwaynegoodin]

I remember when the song was released. Everyone was immediately hooked.

[arukyan]

One band, two iconic singers equals an epic and timeless song.

[Serai]

Um, I doubt that Freddie Mercury tribute concert happened in 1982, dude.

[natashiasmith]

The 7 seconds in the beginning with the bass and piano before you know for sure if it's Under Pressure, or it's going to veer off and become Ice Ice Baby and you're going to be let down by it...

[jtmichaelson]

It was a good song when it came out and highly overplayed on radio and MTV, but has truly stood the test of time, and has become a classic.

[gianfrancofronzi]

Most people don't know how a song is made,
It seems to be an accumulation of what fits the best and the ears of the artists .
But Under Pressure with Freddie and Bowie is a match, it gives and gives and will keep on giving, reminding us that we are going through the same existence and we should take everyone into consideration.
Bravo, and R.I.P. . My friends you have managed to take a part of us and show it to everyone.

[socrates]

First of all, this is one of my favorite songs. Secondly, that a masterpiece like this was produced with so much conflict and tension between Bowie and Queen shows you that tension and conflict can produce great art with each side pushing the other to the next level.

[LOCKEYJ]

Bowie using queen as instruments, a genius

[Steel_blade_alchemist]

This song doesn’t sound like either a Queen song or a Bowie song. It’s both

[jackhackett]

There may have never been Vanilla Ice without this track

[angelkat]

One of my very favorite Queen songs. For a long time I thought it was a David Bowie song and didn't know Queen was part of it. The movie Bohemian Rhapsody made me a Queen fan and I started watching all their videos and documentaries. Maybe the tension between all these genius musicians did make Under Pressure better. I do like the title of the song better than People on the Street. Thank you.