Karen O and Willie Nelson put an acoustic spin on “Under Pressure,” the classic song by Queen and David Bowie.
Karen O and Willie Nelson recently recorded a cover of “Under Pressure,” originally written and performed by Queen and David Bowie. Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs wrote Nelson seeking his help for a letter seeking funding for independent music venues during the COVID-19 pandemic. In her letter, she also raised the possibility of working together. And out of that contact came this collaboration.
Through Nelson’s daughter, Nelson responded to Karen O asking for a suggested song. And Karen O came up with the idea for a new interpretation of the Bowie-Queen classic.
This new version begins with the famous bass line, but it remains quieter and acoustic, focusing on the lyrics for our troubled times. Check out Karen O and Willie Nelson on “Under Pressure.”
And that is our Pandemic Song of the Day. Leave your two cents in the comments.
For Valentine’s Day, consider two lessons one may eventually learn about love. First, love is finite. Second, “love” is a verb.
First, remember that all love is finite. No matter how much you and your partner love each other, there is a good chance that one day you will lose that living connection to that person. Maybe your lover will leave you. Maybe you will leave your lover. But even if you both stay devoted to each other for the rest of your lives — unless you both happen to die in your sleep on the same night next to each other — one of you will go first, leaving the other alone.
All love is eventually lost. That is true whether we are talking about an amorous partnership, a family member, or a pet. We eventually lose all of our loves.
I know you are thinking, “Hey, it is Valentine’s Day, why are you being so depressing?” Well, one reason to recognize the limits on our love is so every day we prepare ourselves a little for that day when the end comes. You will never be prepared, but if you believe love is infinite, then the heartbreak, when it is sure to come, may be worse.
More importantly, another reason you need to remember that love is finite is so you will appreciate it when you have it. If you take a moment every day to remember that every day will not be like today, you will enjoy today and your love a little more.
The second lesson is to remember that “love” is a verb. This lesson comes from the singer Dion.
In his memoir Dion: The Wanderer Talks Truth, singer-songwriter Dion DiMucci recalled one day when he was young and facing marital difficulties, he ran into the priest from his neighborhood. The priest asked how he was doing. The troubled Dion responded that he thought he was no longer in love with his wife. The priest replied something to the effect, “Then love her. Love is a verb.”
We too often think of “love” as a noun, as in, “I’m in love with this person.” If you look at “love” as a noun, you see it is a magical thing that happened and is beyond your control. That may be fine, but if you see it as a magic potion, then some day you will be surprised to discover that magic potions fade.
As Gretchen Wilson has told us, sometimes there are days when one may not feel like loving the person they love.
If instead of thinking of yourself as “being in love,” you recognize “love” is a verb, you may see the world in a different way. Then, you see love as a choice and obligation. Every day, “I choose to love you,” not “I happen to be in love with you.” It is that choice we make to love others that gives hope to the human race.
Thus, when things get rough, remember that you can still love that person even if you don’t feel like it in the moment. And if you are lucky enough to have somebody or something to love, treasure each finite moment. Happy Valentine’s Day.
Photo by Chimesfreedom (at the British Museum). Leave your two cents in the comments.
We were sad to hear of the passing of David Bowie. Much will be written about his extraordinary contributions to music, pop culture, art, and other areas. He inspired many artists both on earth and in space. And the man could sing, including on one of my favorites, his collaboration with Queen on “Under Pressure.”
“Under Pressure” appeared on Queen’s 1982 album Hot Space, as well as later collections. The song was created by Bowie and Queen jamming together, and of course it went on to become a classic. In 2014, Rolling Stone magazine readers named it the greatest duet of all time.
In the audio below, the vocals are isolated. So you may hear Bowie’s and Freddie Mercury’s voices without the music, or even that memorable riff. Incredible.
If the isolated vocals made you want to hear the full recording, below is the original release of “Under Pressure.” In the song, Bowie and Mercury remind us (in lyrics written by Bowie), “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.”
Somewhere, I hope Freddie and David are singing to the angels. RIP.
Country music group Zac Brown Band has been performing Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” on their current tour. They stay faithful to the original recording, and not surprisingly, it is a big crowd pleaser.
Of course, nobody can match Freddy Mercury and the original band on the epic song. But Zac Brown Band has been getting rave reviews for their cover, as fans eat it up too, such as when the group played the song recently at the CMA Music Fest 2015. Below, check out Zac Brown Band playing “Bohemian Rhapsody” at the 2014 iHeartradio Music Festival in Las Vegas.
Bonus Trivia: The “Scaramouche” referenced in the song is a buffoonish clown character from the Italian commedia dell’arte.
What do you think of the Zac Brown Band cover? Leave your two cents in the comments.
This Tuesday, Adam Lambert began his short tour with Queen in at Independence Square in Kiev, Ukraine. Among the songs was the Queen classic, “Bohemian Rhapsody.” While nobody can replace the great singer Freddie Mercury, Lambert has the singing chops to pull off the songs. I am glad that Queen can still tour with a worthy front man, although some may complain that Lambert got his start as a runner up on the reality TV show American Idol. The performance remains a tribute to Mercury, though, as his voice and images appear during the performance, haunting the song and making us miss him even more.
Should Queen have stopped touring or do you agree they were right to go on with Adam Lambert? Leave your two cents in the comments.
For Valentine’s Day, consider two lessons one may eventually learn about love. First, love is finite. Second, “love” is a verb.
We were sad to hear of the 
