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Genre
Rock
Era
80s
Mood
Intense
Tempo
Mid-tempo
Key
Major
Texture
Full Band
Sound
Vocal-focused
Feel
Groovy
David Bowie
David Bowie, John Deacon, Roger Taylor +2
Originally a 1981 collaboration between David Bowie and Queen, 'Under Pressure' is a masterclass in tension and release that explores the crushing weight of modern existence. This 1996 live performance from the Loreley Festival showcases the song's enduring power as an anthemic call for love and empathy.
The song is harmonically distinctive for its use of a persistent D pedal point in the bass which creates cognitive dissonance against the moving triads above. The bridge is the most sophisticated section, employing a series of 'backdoor' resolutions or modal i…
The song evolved from a jam session between Queen and David Bowie at Mountain Studios. Originally based on a Queen demo titled 'Feel Like' written by Roger Taylor, the collaboration began when Bowie stopped by the studio to contribute backing vocals to another…
“The iconic bassline is famously attributed to John Deacon, though Brian May later recalled that Bowie insisted on changing the riff slightly during the session.”
The song is harmonically distinctive for its use of a persistent D pedal point in the bass which creates cognitive dissonance against the moving triads above. The bridge is the most sophisticated section, employing a series of 'backdoor' resolutions or modal interchange chords (C, F, Bb) borrowed from the parallel minor (D minor) to create a sense of rising urgency and 'pressure' before resolving back to the diatonic D major for the finale.
The song evolved from a jam session between Queen and David Bowie at Mountain Studios. Originally based on a Queen demo titled 'Feel Like' written by Roger Taylor, the collaboration began when Bowie stopped by the studio to contribute backing vocals to another track, 'Cool Cat.' The session turned into a 24-hour marathon of improvisation, songwriting, and recording.
Originally a 1981 collaboration between David Bowie and Queen, 'Under Pressure' is a masterclass in tension and release that explores the crushing weight of modern existence. This 1996 live performance from the Loreley Festival showcases the song's enduring power as an anthemic call for love and empathy.
Detailed analysis of this section is not yet available for this song.
Genre
Rock
Era
80s
Mood
Intense
Tempo
Mid-tempo
Key
Major
Texture
Full Band
Sound
Vocal-focused
Feel
Groovy
1.4M
Plays
347K
Listeners
45K
Genius Views
100%
Popularity
4:18
Duration
4/4
Time
Chords G A ✕ D ✕ ✕ Bm ✕ F Bb ✕ C ✕ A/D N/A G/D N/A Harmony The song is harmonically distinctive for its use of a persistent D pedal point in the bass which creates cognitive dissonance against the moving triads above. The bridge is the most sophisticated section, employing a series of 'backdoor' resolutions or modal interchange chords (C, F, Bb) borrowed from the parallel minor (D minor) to create a sense of rising urgency and 'pressure' before resolving back to the diatonic D major for the finale. Deep Analysis Available Detailed analysis of this section is not yet available for this song. Notify me when it's ready Request Full Analysis
No musician information available for this song yet.
Composition The song evolved from a jam session between Queen and David Bowie at Mountain Studios. Originally based on a Queen demo titled 'Feel Like' written by Roger Taylor, the collaboration began when Bowie stopped by the studio to contribute backing vocals to another track, 'Cool Cat.' The session turned into a 24-hour marathon of improvisation, songwriting, and recording. Inspiration: The lyrics reflect the social and economic pressures of the early 1980s, emphasizing the need for love and humanity in a high-stress world. Recording Studio: Mountain Studios Producer: Queen, David Bowie The iconic bassline is famously attributed to John Deacon, though Brian May later recalled that Bowie insisted on changing the riff slightly during the session. David Bowie did not perform the song live until the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in 1992, where he sang it with Annie Lennox. The finger-snaps heard at the beginning of the song were a spontaneous addition during the recording session. The 'Loreley Festival 1996' version features bassist Gail Ann Dorsey performing Freddie Mercury's vocal parts.
Chord Sheet Transpose 0 Capo 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Auto-scroll Print Reset Chords Used Hide functions D I T A V D G IV P A V D Progression by Section Bridge G IV P A V D D I T G IV A V Bm vi G IV A V Bridge 2 F bIII Bb bVI F bIII Bb bVI Bridge 1 G IV P C bVII G IV P C bVII Chorus G IV P D I T A V D G IV D I A V Verse D I T A/D V/I D G/D IV/I P A/D V/I D Chord Diagrams G A ✕ D ✕ ✕ Bm ✕ F Bb ✕ C ✕ A/D N/A G/D N/A Harmony Analysis The song is harmonically distinctive for its use of a persistent D pedal point in the bass which creates cognitive dissonance against the moving triads above. The bridge is the most sophisticated section, employing a series of 'backdoor' resolutions or modal interchange chords (C, F, Bb) borrowed from the parallel minor (D minor) to create a sense of rising urgency and 'pressure' before resolving back to the diatonic D major for the finale. Find Tabs & Chords Songsterr Interactive tabs Ultimate Guitar Chords & tabs Cifra Club Chords
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FameDavid BowieRebel RebelDavid BowieUnder PressureQueenAnother One Bites the DustQueenLivin' on a PrayerBon JoviMoney for NothingDire StraitsStarman - 2012 Remaster13.6M playsHeroes - 2017 Remaster8.6M playsSpace Oddity5.7M playsZiggy Stardust5.5M playsSpace Oddity - 2015 Remaster6.4M playsChanges4.7M playsView all David Bowie songs →