" Under Pressure " has received critical acclaim since its release , with multiple publications ranking it among Queen and Bowie 's best songs and among the greatest songs of all time . In a review for '' Hot Space '' , Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic called " Under Pressure " as the album 's " undeniable saving grace " and " the only reason most listeners remember this album . " He described the song as " an utterly majestic , otherworldly duet ... that recaptures the effortless grace of Queen 's mid - '70s peak , but is underscored with a truly affecting melancholy heart that gives it a genuine human warmth unheard in much of their music . " Similarly , Ned Raggett of AllMusic described the song as " anthemic , showy and warm-hearted , and a clear standout for both acts . " Following Bowie 's death in 2016 , Jack Hamilton of '' Slate '' called " Under Pressure " a " masterpiece " and is a reminder to the public that Bowie could be " wonderfully , powerfully human . " The September 2005 edition of online music magazine '' Stylus '' singled out the bassline as the best in popular music history . In November 2004 , '' Stylus '' music critic Anthony Miccio commented that " Under Pressure " " is the best song of all time " and described it as Queen 's " opus " . In 2012 , '' Slant Magazine '' listed " Under Pressure " as the 21st best single of the 1980s
Bowie 's death
Death of David Bowie
Under Pressure