In an interview with Total Guitar, legendary Queen guitarist Brian May opened up about his complex relationship with the hit song 'Under Pressure.' The iconic track, a collaboration between Queen and David Bowie, was a massive success, but May revealed that he was never quite pleased with how the recording turned out.
The idea for 'Under Pressure' came about during a late-night studio session after a meal and a few drinks. May explained that the early version of the song had a 'massively chord-driven' sound reminiscent of The Who, which he enjoyed. However, Bowie had different ideas for the direction of the track.
May recalled that Bowie distinctively stated, 'It's not going to sound like The Who by the time I’ve finished with it!' This marked the beginning of a challenging collaboration, as each musician had their own vision of how the song should be mixed.
The guitar maestro shared that the mixing process was difficult, and ultimately, most of his heavy guitar parts were removed from the final product. May revealed that the electric guitar riff he played, similar to the arpeggiated style heard in Queen's live shows today, was omitted from the mix. Instead, the acoustic parts, which were initially recorded as a demo, took precedence.
Despite his personal reservations about the song's mix, May acknowledged its impact and popularity among listeners. He admitted, 'I never liked it, to be honest, the way it was mixed. But I do recognize that it works. It’s a point of view, and it’s done very well. And people love it.'
Looking back, May attributed the difficulties to having too many 'awesome creative forces' in the same room. He emphasized that while David Bowie was an incredible creative force, having multiple strong personalities clashed during the collaboration.
'Under Pressure' was originally released as a single in 1981 and went on to be included on Queen's 1982 album, Hot Space. The song topped the charts in the United Kingdom, Canada, and the Netherlands, while also achieving significant success worldwide.
Over the years, 'Under Pressure' has become an influential classic, inspiring cover versions by artists such as My Chemical Romance and Shawn Mendes. It even made waves when Vanilla Ice sampled the song for his 1990 hit 'Ice Ice Baby,' generating controversy along the way. Following Bowie's passing in 2016, the song experienced a resurgence in popularity, returning to the charts in multiple countries.
Brian May's candid reflections about 'Under Pressure' offer a fascinating insight into the creative process behind a timeless hit. Despite his reservations about the mix, the song continues to captivate audiences, showcasing the power of artistic collaboration and the lasting impact of musical legends like Queen and David Bowie.
