10 Greatest Duets In Rock History
2. Under Pressure - Queen (Feat. David Bowie)
Queen were looking to spice up their sound even further once the '80s rolled around. Since they had become gods of the rock genre thanks to Bohemian Rhapsody, these rock monarchs were ready to take the world by storm all over again with songs like Crazy Little Thing Called Love and Another One Bites the Dust. However, it wasn't until their next record that they fully refined their pop edge.
As the band went into the studio to cut their latest single, they decided to improvise on the spot with David Bowie, which became the basis for Under Pressure. Centered around a dead simple bassline, this song has enough impassioned joy in it to cheer up the most downtrodden of rock fans. Even though the members have talked about how hard it was to get this song off the ground, the end result is absolutely breathtaking, with Freddie Mercury's high harmony blending perfectly with the off-kilter weirdness of Bowie's vocal timbre.
By the time Mercury finally expounds to "give ourselves one more chance," the music opens up even more to create one of the sunniest sections in any rock song ever. Many bands can try their entire career to achieve something that will stand the test of time, but the vocal chemistry you get with a song like Under Pressure is about as close to perfect as the rock genre ever got.