In 1975, Queen took a bold step that most bands wouldn’t dare to take. They released “Bohemian Rhapsody,” a nearly six-minute song that defied convention. It moved from a piano ballad to operatic drama and then to heavy rock, all without a chorus. Most record labels would have cut it down or even scrapped it, but Queen stood their ground, and it paid off.
At that time, radio stations preferred singles around three minutes long. Anything longer was a hassle. But Queen didn’t create “Bohemian Rhapsody” to fit those limits, and they refused to shorten it. DJ Kenny Everett was so impressed that he played the full version on London’s Capital Radio, despite being told not to. The response was overwhelming, with listeners calling in to hear it again. That was the spark that launched the song into the spotlight. In the UK, it topped the charts for nine weeks straight. After Freddie Mercury’s death in 1991, it returned to No. 1 for another five weeks, making history once again.
In the U.S., it initially peaked at No. 9 but climbed to No. 2 in 1992 after its memorable feature in Wayne’s World. The scene, where four guys sing along in a car, introduced the song to a new generation. For many, it was their first encounter with Queen, while others were reminded of Mercury’s legacy.
The song surged again after the 2018 biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody, reaching a younger audience. It became the most-streamed song from the 20th century, with over 1.6 billion plays and diamond certification in the U.S. Its original music video is now the most-watched from the 1970s on YouTube. Despite its length, “Bohemian Rhapsody” continues to captivate listeners.
