Written by Freddie Mercury for the band’s 1975 album A Night at the Opera. It is a six-minute suite, consisting of several sections without a chorus: an intro, a ballad segment, an operatic passage, a hard rock part and a reflective coda.
The song is a more accessible take on the 1970s progressive rock genre. It was reportedly the most expensive single ever made at the time of its release, although the exact cost of production cannot be determined.
When it was released as a single, “Bohemian Rhapsody” became a commercial success, staying at the top of the UK Singles Chart for nine weeks and selling more than a million copies by the end of January 1976.
It reached number one again in 1991 for another five weeks when the same version was re-released following Freddie’s death, eventually becoming the UK’s third-best-selling single of all time.
It is also the only song to be the UK Christmas number one twice by the same artist. It topped the charts in several other markets as well, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and The Netherlands, later becoming one of the best-selling singles of all time selling over 6 million copies worldwide. In the United States, the song originally peaked at number nine in 1976.
It returned to the chart at number two in 1992, and also appeared in the film Wayne’s World, which contributed to the revival of its American popularity.
Although critical reaction was initially mixed, “Bohemian Rhapsody” remains one of Queen’s most popular songs and is frequently considered one of the greatest rock songs of all time.
The single was accompanied by a promotional video, which many scholars consider ground-breaking. Rolling Stone stated that its influence can’t be overstated, practically inventing the music video seven years before MTV went on the air.
The Guardian ranked the music video number 31 on their list of the 50 key events in rock music history, adding it ensured videos would be a mandatory tool in the marketing of music.
In 2004, Bohemian Rhapsody was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 2012, the song topped the list on an ITV nationwide poll in the UK to find “The Nation’s Favourite Number One” over 60 years of music, while Mercury’s vocal performance was chosen as the greatest in rock history by readers of Rolling Stone.
For more details about the song, please see addition information on Wikipedia.
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- Queen - The Miracle Collector's Edition - Deluxe LP/5CD/Blu-Ray/DVD - Sealed - UK - box set - £169.99, $214.19, €198.89 (New Item) (arrived 28-Mar-2024 10:40)
QUEEN The Miracle Collector's Edition (2022 UK/EU limited edition Deluxe Multi-Format Box Set containing the Long Lost Original Cut LP including for the first time Too Much Love Will Kill You, pressed on 180-gram black vinyl inside a gatefold picture sleeve. The five CDs fetaure the Bob Ludwig Remaster of the original album, 16 previously unreleased session recordings, Extended Mixes and non-album B-sides, Instrumentals and backing tracks, plus Radio Interviews including the very last interview with all four band memebrs. The Blu-ray & DVD contain promo videos, Making Of videos and interviews. Completing the package is a 76-page book with previously unseen photos and extensive liner notes, plus bonus postcards, photographic prints and fold-out posters. All housed inside a deluxe lift-off lid picture box, hype sticker & factory sealed. Recommended)
- Queen - Queen - Blair - EX - UK - vinyl LP - £30.00, $37.80, €35.10 (New Item) (arrived 26-Mar-2024 10:03)
QUEEN Queen (1973 UK 10-track vinyl LP with 'BLAIR'/'BLAIR RULES' etched in the run-outs, the band's debut album including Keep Yourself Alive, Son And Daughter and a short instrumental version of Seven Seas Of Rhye. The matt picture sleeve displays some minor edgewear, whilst the vinyl has only light signs of play, overall an Excellent example EMC3006)
- Queen - News Of The World - 3rd - UK - vinyl LP - £20.00, $25.20, €23.40 (New Item) (arrived 19-Mar-2024 11:35)
QUEEN News Of The World (Late 80s UK issue of the 1977 11-track vinyl LP including the classics We Are The Champions and We Will Rock You. Complete with the red lyric inner, the gatefold picture sleeve shows some minor shelf wear, whilst the vinyl remains in EX condition EMA784)
- Queen - Live - stickered label - Japanese - vinyl LP - £75.00, $94.50, €87.75 (New Item) (arrived 19-Mar-2024 17:40)
QUEEN Live (Rare 1985 Japanese 12-track vinyl LP - a single disc abbreviated version of the 'Live Killers' double album, recorded on the Queen European Tour during January-March 1979. With control sticker on side 1 label, housed in a picture sleeve with fold-out lyric insert. The sleeve has some light edgewear and ringwear, but the vinyl looks barely played P-13117)
- Queen - Body Language - Japanese - 7" vinyl - £50.00, $63.00, €58.50 (New Item) (arrived 20-Mar-2024 12:44)
QUEEN Body Language (1982 Japanese wide centred 7" vinyl single, also including Life Is Real, unique picture insert with lyrics on the reverse. The insert displays minimal wear and the vinyl looks barely played P-1650)
- Queen - Live Killers - EX - UK - 2-LP vinyl set - £35.00, $44.10, €40.95 (New Item) (arrived 20-Mar-2024 12:59)
QUEEN Live Killers (1979 UK 22-track double LP, featuring a brilliant collection of tracks recorded live during the European leg of Queen's 'Jazz' world tour between January & March 1979. Comes housed in the original non-barcoded gatefold sleeve with colour coded album note inners. The sleeve is Excellent with some minor shelf wear [small dent on spine] & the vinyl is clean & in Excellent condition with minimal play EMSP330)
- Queen - Flash Gordon - UK - vinyl LP - £20.00, $25.20, €23.40 (New Item) (arrived 22-Mar-2024 10:19)
QUEEN Flash Gordon (1980 UK 18-track LP, featuring the music from the soundtrack to the cult movie, housed in a picture sleeve with the non-die-cut credits inner. The sleeve & vinyl remain in superb Excellent condition EMC3351)
- Queen - News Of The World - 1st + Die-Cut Inner - EX - UK - vinyl LP - £35.00, $44.10, €40.95 (New Item) (arrived 23-Mar-2024 11:42)
QUEEN News Of The World (1977 UK first press 11-track LP, their classic sixth album including the singles We Are The Champions/ We Will Rock You & Spread Your Wings, complete with the original die-cut lyric inner. The gatefold picture sleeve is Excellent with only minor shelf wear & the vinyl is Excellent with just a few faint signs of play EMA784)
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