Willie Nelson and Karen O have launched a canopy of Queen and David Bowie‘s traditional “Under Pressure.”
“A good friend on the board of NIVA requested if I knew of any nation artists who might signal a letter to Congress asking them to assist save impartial venues from going extinct resulting from COVID,” O defined in a press launch saying the track. “I recalled my buddy Johnny Knoxville being pals with Willie, so I requested to see if he might test in with Willie about it, after which out of sheer audacity I added, ‘And if he ever desires to do a duet, I’m prepared and keen!’”
To the Yeah Yeah Yeahs frontwoman’s shock, Nelson was open to the concept.
“Willie’s daughter Amy very supportively mentioned, ‘Have her ship him the track and he’ll sing on it!’” O recalled. “At this level, my thoughts was melting, however I needed to focus and pull a track out of the ether that was worthy of a residing legend and spoke to the folks in troubled instances – not a straightforward project. Then, like a bolt out of the blue, ‘Underneath Stress’ got here to thoughts—I’ve heard this track numerous instances with out processing the gravity of what Bowie and Freddie [Mercury] have been singing about, perhaps as a result of their performances are so exhilarating, you get swept away within the excessive of that duet.”
In contrast to the bombastic unique, the brand new rendition is a sparse, extra subdued model of the rock traditional. Impressed by the gravity of the upcoming presidential election, O and Nelson ship poignant vocals, with twangy guitar including gentle highlights to the well-known tune.
“Our cowl was meant to be extra intimate however simply as saturated with the facility of affection,” O defined. “I can’t take heed to this track with out tearing up each time Willie is available in – one of many purest voices, which, after all, displays a pure coronary heart, and I get to sing alongside it. I by no means knew if it was really going to occur, however you could dare to dream. I hope the track brings as a lot mild to the listener because it has to me in darkish instances.”
The brand new track arrives simply two days after the thirty ninth anniversary of the unique monitor’s launch.
You may take heed to Nelson and Karen O’s cowl of “Underneath Stress” beneath.
This isn’t the primary time O has delved into the world of classic-rock covers. The singer teamed with Trent Reznor in 2011 for a rendition of the Led Zeppelin traditional “Immigrant Track,” which was featured on the soundtrack to the movie The Lady With the Dragon Tattoo.
