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10 Best Duets Ever: No. 8

'Under Pressure'
--David Bowie and Freddie Mercury (Queen) (1981)

Bowie and Mercury: a collaboration so perfect not even Vanilla Ice could tarnish its legacy. Although that distinctive bass line has become deservedly famous, it's the pairing of two of rock's most dramatic voices that sets this song apart. Born out of an impromptu jam session, it evolved into one of the most inspiring musical moments of the 1980s.

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DB&Queenfan

it really makes me mad that Vanilla Ice ripped off this song. Under Pressure should always be #1!

February 07 2010 at 2:38 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
xXmcrrox101Xx

WTF? How is this only 8? Not #1?

January 16 2010 at 7:23 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
MsArmstrong

How could this not be number 1???

October 27 2009 at 3:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kathy

How is this not at #1? Fantastic song.

August 18 2009 at 3:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
leeloodallas31

oops,we speak in english here,i can see !so great,indeed

May 25 2009 at 10:32 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
leeloodallas31

trop excellent je confirme!!je l ecoute en boucle de tps en tps!les deux styles de voix font un duo d'enfer

May 25 2009 at 10:31 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jaggerandrea

This is a wonderful, powerful song....I finally agree with something from the 2 lists

October 21 2008 at 5:43 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
crammarc33

I love this song...and David Bowe made it on the 'Best' & 'Worst' Duets -- GO DAVID!

October 21 2008 at 9:18 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to crammarc33's comment
DB&Queenfan

where are the worst duets?!:)

February 07 2010 at 2:40 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
R. Roque De Leon

Man O man are we talking about the same song? the Song I remember was horrid. with David Bowie doing just fine. and Freddie just lamely adding vocals? or more like sounds that obscure David Bowie's fine voice. mind you I went to several Queen concerts back then and had a great time. but this was not Freddy Mercury's better efforts at a collaboration by a long shot. listen to it again and pay attention

October 20 2008 at 9:56 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to R. Roque De Leon's comment
jaq

"Lamely adding vocals"? Is that what you call the spontaneous musicality of scat singing? Under Pressure's main melody belongs to Mercury, with lyrics split between what Bowie/Mercury sang on their own. If you can't hear that it's a duel of two different worldviews: a romantic Mercury who pleads to "give love one more chance", while the cynic intellectual Bowie explains at length (yes Bowie's lyrics are his strongest point) why human nature is complex and jaded to make love a corrupted slogan IRL.
You're entitled to your opinion about the worth of this collaboration, but I've spent the last month combing through many Mercury interviews in print or on tape -- and he NEVER called it a "Bowie song" (again Mercury composed the music, Deacon the bassline, Bowie did his own vocals and lyrics ONLY) as it's copyrighted to both Queen and Bowie. The most Mercury has said is Bowie is a good friend, who didn't want to produce Queen's debut album but they did a spontaneous session in Montreux (where Queen owned a studio Bowie and others used often) on one evening - and here we are years later.

April 13 2011 at 11:29 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Wolfie

THE BEST!

October 20 2008 at 9:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply