That's My Song: Under Pressure

That's My Song: Under Pressure

Hi, my name is Max Hsing. I am a twelfth grader at George Washington High School and I am a youth outreach worker and a member of our Gay Straight Alliance at George Washington High School.

My song, my favorite song, oh God... Well, right now, it would probably have to be David Bowie's "Under Pressure." with Queen, Freddie Mercury. {laughs}

[Pressure! Pushin' down on me, pressin' down on you; Under pressure, that burns a building down; Splits a family in two, puts people on streets]

I--I don't know, it's just, whenever I hear that song, it reminds me that the human race is in this world together.

[What this world is about... watchin' some good friends; Screamin' let me out; Pray tomorrow takes me higher]

And it kind of reminds me of like the AIDS crisis, and what happened to Freddie Mercury...he died of AIDS.

[Day day day... Umm... Buh da bah bah bah O-kay!; Chippin' around, kick my brains 'round the floor; These are the days It never rains but it pours]

And it also reminds me of my cousin's father who was a gay man in the 1970s and he wasn't out. When he did come out around that time, he was still a good father, but he was like a kid in the candy store kind of, in the Castro, and not a lot of info was out about AIDS. I mean, it was considered the Gay Cancer, but they didn't necessarily know what caused AIDS. And so, he was having a lot of fun, and he contracted it. And he died later...and my cousin grew up without a father.

{singer & drum solo}

[Insanity laughs under pressure we're cracking; Can't we give ourselves one more chance?; Why can't we give love that one more chance?; Why can't we give love give love give love?; Cause love's such an old fashioned word]

I always, you know, I always thought that if more people, at that time cared about each other even the Queer community...I just think if they sooner had informed the public... that maybe, my cousin would still have her father here today.

And, that's what David Bowie's song reminds me of. Don't let our differences separate us, but unite us. You know, give love one more chance. {laughs}

[finger snapping]