The problem with a lot of these “superstar” duets is that the songs just aren’t very good.
The music in “Under Pressure” is uninteresting and formulaic. The lyrics are something Barry Manilow might have come up with on a bad hair day.
Think of the other duets: “Ebony and Ivory”, “State of Shock”, “The Girl is Mine”. Heck, the best of the lot might be “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” (Elton John/Kiki Dee) and Kiki wasn’t a superstar. Yes, it’s kitsch, but it is a well executed pop ditty with no pretensions of being more.
“Under Pressure” had those pretensions.
It would have been better with just David singing it, Freddie's vocals I found annoying.
However, you'd be better served by admiring this piece of art for what it is: original, melodic and catchy.
I agree with you on your assessment of the other 3, though. Worse than that, though, was the duet of Natalie Cole with her deceased father. That was kitschy, exploitive and stupidly sentimental, IMHO. Uggh!
“Ebony and Ivory” - no.
Speaking of Elton John, he had some good duets with Neil Sedaka (”Bad Blood”), Kiki Dee (”Snow Queen”) and John Lennon (”I Saw Her Standing There” and “One Day at a Time”).
“Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” with Elton John and George Michael - no.