Well, this was not what I expected at all. I thought it would talk more about the song but it seemed more about the world going on at the time of creation. The narrator was very passionate, putting emotions into everything. I like the idea of a song like this that talks about how much pressure the world is putting on us, while talking about what's happening in the world.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

Thank you to HighBridge Audio, the author and NetGalley for a LRC in exchange for an honest review

Is there anyone on the planet who ISN'T a Queen fan? I'm pretty sure it's universally accepted that EVERYONE is a fan of Queen - whether you say it out loud and proud or keep it to yourselves, we know you are, at the very least, tapping a toe when 'Don't stop me now' comes on the radio! Queen are recognized globally as one of the most iconic and versatile rock bands in music history, known for their flamboyant theatricality, genre-blending innovation and technical virtuosity. Even 34 years after the death of their frontman Freddie Mercury in 1991, Queen (Brian May and Roger Taylor) accompanied by Adam Lambert took their back catalogue on a world tour for 5 years. “The Rhapsody Tour” ran from July 2019 to February 2024, spanning 109 shows globally - there are only a handful of acts these days who can still sell out stadiums on a back catalogue alone! The Who, Guns 'n' Roses, AC/DC and The Rolling Stones are the only ones I can think of. Yes I know technically both Queen and The Rolling Stones have released new material intermittently over the last few years but we all know they are selling tickets on the backs of their classic hits.

Is there a more intriguing figure in music history than David Bowie? I don't think it's actually possible to not admire him — whether you’ve had a full-on Ziggy Stardust phase or you just nod solemnly when 'Heroes' plays in a movie trailer, Bowie has almost certainly slipped into your cultural bloodstream. Universally celebrated as the master of reinvention, Bowie didn’t just ride musical trends, he bent them to his will, from his beginnings in glam rock right through to his haunting final farewell in Blackstar. He was a shapeshifter, a provocateur, a performance artist and an actor wrapped in a pop star’s skin and somehow, he pulled it all off. Even now, nearly a decade after his death in 2016, Bowie remains a reference point across music, fashion and art and a true lodestar for anyone daring to do things differently.

The collaboration between Bowie and Queen, both known for pushing artistic boundaries, resulted in a song that not only captured the mood of 1981 but transcended it—offering a timeless reminder of our shared human vulnerability and the power of connection amidst crisis.

#UnderPressure #NetGalley

Thanks to NetGalley and Duke University Press for the digital copy of this audiobook.

Just okay. Didn't feel like I learned anything about the melding of Queen and David Bowie. For hardcore fans only.

The narrator did the best he could with the underwhelming material.

This was not at all what I was thinking it would be. I figured it would be a documentary of sorts, like a behind the scenes of the creation of the song. It was more of a dry bit of dictionary and encyclopedia research. There were moments that I found my mind wandering, as I waited for the chapter for the narrator to finally tell me something about the actual recording. Maybe an interview? Maybe a sound person who was there? This is about the merging of two rock stars to create an epic song. But the "story" fell pretty flat.

That being said, the narrator seemed to be doing his best to make it lively. For that, I am grateful.