Under Pressure
Adam Lambert, Queen
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Mm-noom-ba-deh Doom-boom-ba-beh Doo-boo-boom-ba-beh-beh Pressure pushin' down on me Pressin' down on you, no man ask for Under pressure that brings a building down Splits a family in two, puts people on streets Mm-ba-ba-beh, mm-ba-ba-beh Dee-day-da, ee-day-da That's okay That's the terror of knowing what this world is about Watchin' some good friends screamin', "Let me out" Pray tomorrow gets me higher Pressure on people, people on streets Da-da-da, mm-mm Da-da-da-ba-bum Okay Chippin' around, kick my brains 'round the floor These are the days it never rains but it pours Ee-doh-ba-buh, ee-da-ba-ba-bop Mm-bo-bop, beh-lup People on streets, ee-da-dee-da-day People on streets, ee-da-dee-da-dee-da-dee-da It's the terror of knowing what this world is about Watching some good friends screaming, "Let me out" Pray tomorrow gets me higher, higher, high Pressure on people, people on streets Turned away from it all like a blind man Sat on the fence but it don't work Keep comin' up with love but it's so slashed and torn Why, why, why? Love Insanity laughs under pressure we're breaking Can't we give ourselves one more chance? Why can't we give love that one more chance? Why can't we give love, give love, give love, give love Give love, give love, give love, give love? 'Cause love's such an old-fashioned word And love dares you to care for The people on the edge of the night And love dares you to change our way of Caring about ourselves This is our last dance This is ourselves Under pressure Under pressure Pressure
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80 fans
Written by: David Bowie, John Richard Deacon, Brian Harold May, Freddie Mercury, Roger Meddows Taylor
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
25 facts about this song
Release Date"Under Pressure" was released on 26 October 1981.
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Musical CollaborationThis song was an unusual collaboration between two major rock acts of the time - British rock band Queen and English singer-songwriter David Bowie.
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Accidental CreationIt was created during an impromptu jam session at Queen's recording studio in Montreux, Switzerland.
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Chart PerformanceThe song topped the UK Singles Chart and reached number 29 in the US Billboard Hot 100.
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Creative ClashDespite the song's success, Bowie and Queen's lead singer, Freddie Mercury, reportedly clashed over how it should be mixed.
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Sample UsageThe bassline from "Under Pressure" was used by Vanilla Ice for his 1990 hit "Ice Ice Baby," which led to copyright disputes.
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Live PerformanceThe song was performed live at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in 1992, with Annie Lennox filling in for Freddie Mercury and David Bowie singing his original parts.
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Album InclusionThough initially released as a standalone single, it was later included in Queen's 1982 album "Hot Space".
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Lyrics OriginBowie, according to band member Brian May, had a huge influence in the final version of the lyrics, which depict a world in crisis.
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Late PerformancesWhen Queen and Paul Rodgers performed the song, Bowie's lyrics were sung by drummer Roger Taylor, illustrating the song's continued legacy within the band's repertoire.
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Featured in Movies"Under Pressure" has been featured in several films, including "Grosse Pointe Blank," "Joker," and "Highlander II: The Quickening."
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Music VideoThe song's music video, directed by David Mallet, features a combination of footage from old black-and-white films, with neither Queen nor Bowie appearing in the video.
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Love for the SongIn several polls, fans have regularly voted "Under Pressure" as one of Queen’s greatest hits.
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Recorded In Multiple LocationsThe recording process for "Under Pressure" took place in different locations across three countries.
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Spontaneous TitleThe song was initially called "People on the Streets". The title "Under Pressure" came about spontaneously during the song's creation, when a high-pressure studio session led to the memorable hook line in the chorus.
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Composition"Under Pressure" was born from an impromptu jam session by David Bowie and Queen in the band's recording studio in Montreux, Switzerland in 1981.
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SongwritersAlthough the song is fronted by Freddie Mercury and David Bowie, all five of those present during the creation - including Queen's Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon - are credited as songwriters.
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Lyrics InspirationBowie is primarily responsible for the song's distinctive, evocative lyrics. Inspired by the pressure he felt in his own life at the time, the song lyrics explore the theme of life's pressures and how they can cause a breakdown of humanity and compassion.
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Chart Performance"Under Pressure" marked Queen's second UK number-one hit, but Bowie's first. Internationally, it reached the top 10 in several countries and was certified gold in the UK and Canada.
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Iconic BasslineThe song’s memorable bassline (often misattributed to Bowie) was created by Queen's bassist, John Deacon. This bassline has since become one of the most famous in pop music history.
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Sample ControversyThe song's distinctive bassline was famously sampled in Vanilla Ice's 1990 hit "Ice Ice Baby." However, Vanilla Ice initially did not credit Queen and Bowie, which led to a copyright infringement lawsuit and a settlement.
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Live PerformancesAfter the song's creation and initial release, it was primarily performed by Queen, with Roger Taylor taking Bowie's part. Though Bowie later included the song in his live performances, it was never performed live by both Queen and Bowie together.
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Song Meaning"Under Pressure" is often interpreted as an anthem for unity and compassion in the face of hardship and struggle, with the ending lyric reiterating the importance, "Love dares you to care for the people on the edge of the night, and love dares you to change our way of caring about ourselves. This is our last dance."
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Music VideoThe music video for "Under Pressure" is a montage of stock footage clips, reflecting the chaos and hardships referred to in the song. Neither Bowie nor members of Queen appear in the video.
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LegacyDespite its troubled origin and the controversy surrounding the use of its distinctive bassline, "Under Pressure" is now considered a classic, and it remains one of the most recognizable and beloved songs by both David Bowie and Queen. It has been used in numerous commercials, films, and TV shows and has been covered by many artists.
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"Under Pressure Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 31 Oct. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric-lf/7787973/Queen/Under+Pressure>.
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