Through all the let downs of 2020 - there have been some silver linings musically ... and they have been coming in the form of unlikely duets lately.  

 

First we got Kurt Vile and John Prine's rendition of 'How Lucky' from Vile's EP 'Speed, Sound and Lonely KV' 

 

And now - we have another unlikely duet - with Willie Nelson pairing up with Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs for a transformative cover of the Queen / David Bowie classic 'Under Pressure'. 

 

The two came together via a long shot - with KO asking Willie through a mutual friend if he'd ever be willing to collaborate.  To her surprise - Willie agreed.  

 

Karen O went on to say: 

“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."

 

 

"Our cover was meant to be more intimate but just as saturated with the power of love.  I 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.”