Shawn Mendes Links Up With Teddy Geiger To Cover “Under Pressure”

Mike Nied | October 12, 2018 11:42 am

Well, this is a pleasant surprise! Yesterday Shawn Mendes revealed that he partnered with frequent collaborator Teddy Geiger (teddy<3) for a cover of Queen’s “Under Pressure.” The duet comes ahead of the release of next month’s biopic starring Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody, and it puts a fresh spin on the 1981 classic. Stripping back some of the production in favor of acoustic strings, they breathe new life into the timeless anthem. The “Lost In Japan” crooner’s vocals are particularly compelling as he channels Freddie Mercury and tackles some daunting high notes. It is nice to see him pushing his voice in new directions, and the end result is absolutely chill-inducing.

“I am so honored to be able to support the amazing legacy of Freddie and Queen by doing a cover of one of my favorite songs, ‘Under Pressure,'” Mendes explained in a statement shared with Billboard. “It was so exciting to me to be able to do this with my close collaborator and one of my best friends, Teddy Geiger, for a cause that is very close to our hearts.” What is that cause? I’m glad you asked. Proceeds from sales of the song will be donated to Mercury Phoenix Trust to assist with the worldwide battle against HIV/AIDS. According to Billboard, we should be getting several more Queen covers from Universal Music Group artists before Bohemian Rhapsody arrives in theaters November 2.

It will be interesting to see who else participates. In the meantime, give Shawn and Teddy’s take on the iconic track a listen below!

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