"Queen & Bowie Together" - Italian review of "Under Pressure", October 1981
Feb 10, 2024 16:13:49 GMT
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Post by fabiogminero on Feb 10, 2024 16:13:49 GMT
Hi everyone.
Today's article is a review of the single 'Under Pressure' (and its B-side 'Soul Brother') published in an Italian music magazine in October 1981; unfortunately I was unable to find the name of the magazine and the journalist who wrote this article, titled Queen & Bowie Insieme (translated as Queen & Bowie Together).
The single was received well; however, it is erroneously indicated that 'Under Pressure' will be included in Bowie's new album, when instead it ended up on Queen's new album ('Hot Space' in 1982).
Here's the scan and the translation from Italian to English. Enjoy!
Today's article is a review of the single 'Under Pressure' (and its B-side 'Soul Brother') published in an Italian music magazine in October 1981; unfortunately I was unable to find the name of the magazine and the journalist who wrote this article, titled Queen & Bowie Insieme (translated as Queen & Bowie Together).
The single was received well; however, it is erroneously indicated that 'Under Pressure' will be included in Bowie's new album, when instead it ended up on Queen's new album ('Hot Space' in 1982).
Here's the scan and the translation from Italian to English. Enjoy!
QUEEN & BOWIE TOGETHER
How the idea of such a strange collaboration was born at first glance is still a mystery: David Bowie fans will be grimacing, Queen fans will be wondering why Mercury chose David for the first duo project of his career. . Yet "Under Pressure" is not as anomalous as it may seem at first glance.
How the idea of such a strange collaboration was born at first glance is still a mystery: David Bowie fans will be grimacing, Queen fans will be wondering why Mercury chose David for the first duo project of his career. . Yet "Under Pressure" is not as anomalous as it may seem at first glance.
Both singers have a strong tendency towards slightly epic melody, very much imbued with decadent romanticism or triumphal (puffuous) aestheticism. Mercury can be considered a disciple of Bowie: in 1973 Bowie was at the top and Mercury also looked to Ziggy Stardust in taking his first steps on the English stages.
What is perhaps most surprising is Bowie's consensus, which has always been rather reluctant to work on an equal footing with other artists, and was more in favor of musical production work for or with other names. The case of Lou Reed and Iggy Pop on the one hand, that of Eno and Fripp on the other are the best-known examples.
But let's get to the single in common. It is known that the song "Under Pressure" will be included by Bowie on his next new album, while today it is released as Queen's 45rpm together with the B-side "Soul Brother".
"Under Pressure" is a work halfway between Mercury and Bowie. A slightly melancholy song, rather romantic, but with electronic undertones here and there, sung one verse at a time by the two. It is not a Queen-style piece, but not even David Bowie-style: the two managed to find a balance between their strong personalities, although perhaps Bowie's, upon closer listening, prevails. From a vocal point of view, the two styles are distant: the Queen singer contrasts Bowie's warm, intense feeling with an enthralling but also slightly out of place voice every now and then, with slightly out-of-measure high notes and falsettos.
The other side is all Queen: "Soul Brother" is a typical, epic, romantic Queen song, with a good compressed solo by Brian May. It is Mercury's voice and piano that create those atmospheres known to millions of fans today.
But let's get to the single in common. It is known that the song "Under Pressure" will be included by Bowie on his next new album, while today it is released as Queen's 45rpm together with the B-side "Soul Brother".
"Under Pressure" is a work halfway between Mercury and Bowie. A slightly melancholy song, rather romantic, but with electronic undertones here and there, sung one verse at a time by the two. It is not a Queen-style piece, but not even David Bowie-style: the two managed to find a balance between their strong personalities, although perhaps Bowie's, upon closer listening, prevails. From a vocal point of view, the two styles are distant: the Queen singer contrasts Bowie's warm, intense feeling with an enthralling but also slightly out of place voice every now and then, with slightly out-of-measure high notes and falsettos.
The other side is all Queen: "Soul Brother" is a typical, epic, romantic Queen song, with a good compressed solo by Brian May. It is Mercury's voice and piano that create those atmospheres known to millions of fans today.