In honor of the life and legacy of Freddie Mercury and Queen, and celebrating the upcoming biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody (20th Century Fox), singer-songwriter and musician, Shawn Mendes, has released an acoustic interpretation of the iconic 1981 number one hit, “Under Pressure,” available below.
The song, which was produced by Teddy Geiger and includes her guest vocals, was recorded as the first of an upcoming series of artist covers in support of the Mercury Phoenix Trust (MPT). Mendes and Geiger’s emotional performance pays homage, not only to Queen, but to the work that they continue to do in honor of Mercury through the MPT – Fighting AIDS Worldwide. Mendes, together with Universal Music Group (UMG) and Queen, will donate net profits of the track to the MPT.
“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.’ 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,” said Shawn Mendes.
“Shawn is a hugely talented artist and he and Teddy have given us a stunning version of this Queen and David Bowie classic. All of us at The Mercury Phoenix Trust are eternally grateful to Shawn and UMG for helping us in this way in the ongoing fight to conquer the global AIDS epidemic,” said Queen’s manager, Jim Beach.
The MPT is an organization founded in 1992 by Brian May, Roger Taylor and Jim Beach to support the global fight against HIV/AIDS. For more information on the organization please visit:
Following the moving and hugely successful Tribute Concert in 1992, Brian May, Roger Taylor and Jim Beach set up The Mercury Phoenix Trust (MPT) in memory of the iconic Freddie Mercury who died from AIDS-related causes in 1991. The Trust is a core part of rock band Queen and Freddie’s legacy, with the passion and power behind the music forming the bedrock of the MPT. The MPT has reached millions in the fight against HIV/AIDS worldwide, providing USD17 million to over 1,000 projects in 56 countries. The MPT predominantly funds smaller organizations it assesses and vets as they effectively work at grassroots level, where governments, larger NGOs and markets don’t often reach. Through grassroots movements, events and social media, the MPT provides a platform for the voice of youth to be heard. It also provides a way in which Freddie’s devoted followers and new generations of fans can celebrate his life, keeping Freddie’s memory powerfully alive. With an estimated 36.9 million people living with HIV/AIDS and 1.8 million more becoming newly infected with HIV in 2017 alone, the battle is far from over making the work of the MPT and its global partners all the more essential.
SHAWNMENDES.LNK.TO/UNDERPRESSURE
SOURCE UNIVERSAL MUSIC US
