Pop Playlist: Queen: “Under Pressure”

David Bowie’s appearance on the 1981 Queen classic, “Under Pressure” was a match made in heaven. The pairing created a song with lasting resonance, thanks in part to its mesmerizing bass line, arguably one of the most recognizable in music. (The riff heavily inspired Vanilla Ice’s 1990 hit, “Ice Ice Baby.”) Freddie Mercury’s improvisational vocal runs and classical piano give it a slight operatic feel, with quieter moments leading to an explosive release of crescendo highs for an all-out rock sound. There’s never a dull moment in “Under Pressure”; how could there be with two of the most charismatic artists on one track.