Willie Nelson And Karen O Release Cover Of “Under Pressure”

A Refreshing Version

Karen O and Willie Nelson teamed up to cover the Queen + David Bowie classic hit “Under Pressure.” It’s a beautiful and refreshing reimagining of this timeless track. They completely overhauled it into a country-tinged ballad highlighting both of their vocals.

According to Karen O, she initially reached out to Nelson with the help of Johnny Knoxville to ask Nelson to sign a National Independent Venue Association letter to Congress. And one thing led to another when “out of sheer audacity I added, ‘And if he ever wants to do a duet, I’m ready and willing!’”

And then Knoxville told her that Nelson was definitely interested in a musical collaboration.

She said in a press release, “At this point my mind was melting but I had to focus and pull a song out of the ether that was worthy of a living legend and spoke to the people in troubled times, not an easy assignment. Then like a bolt out of the blue ‘Under Pressure’ came to mind — I’ve heard this song countless times without processing the gravity of what Bowie and Freddie were singing about, maybe because their performances are so exhilarating you get swept away in the high of that duet.”

She also explained that their rendition was “meant to be more intimate but just as saturated with the power of love” and added that she “can’t listen to this song without tearing up every time Willie comes in, one of the purest voices which of course reflects a pure heart, and I get to sing alongside it. I never knew if it was actually going to happen but you must dare to dream. I hope the song brings as much light to the listener as it has to me in dark times.”

Check it out below.