‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ came out 50 years ago today. Euronews Culture picks its favourite and most surprising renditions of Queen's legendary single.
On 31 October 1975, British rock band Queen released what would become their career-defining and most-successful song, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’,the lead single to their fourth studio album ‘A Night at the Opera.’
The song was the brainchild of legendary band leader Freddie Mercury. Sometimes described as progressive rock, the six-minute suit is a piece like no other and a true rollercoaster of genres.
It includes a ballad, an iconic guitar solo by Brian May, a hard rock part and even an opera section. The whole thing had to be recorded over several weeks.
In 2018, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ was named the most-streamed song from the 20th century according to Universal Music Group, with more than 1.6 billion streams.
It is now widely considered to be one of the greatest songs of all time
Over the years, listeners around the world have made the song their own, providing our ears with a formidable diversity of versions.
Here are some of our favourites in honour of the song’s 50th anniversary.
Bohemian Rhapsody (Flashmob in Paris Version)
Imagine being a tourist peacefully walking in the postcard-like streets of Paris’ 5th arrondissement when suddenly, a voice starts singing from a window. You attempt to locate the source of the music but before you know it, 30 musicians and singers pop out of nowhere and engage in a joyful rendition of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody.’
Pianist Julien Cohen is behind this Paris flashmob organised in July to celebrate the song’s 50 years. The YouTube video of this stunt currently has more than 17.6 million views.
Bohemian Rhapsody (Zulu Version)
The South African Ndlovu Youth Choir was created in 2009 to give “talented, underprivileged teenagers and young adults the opportunity to perform locally and abroad.” The ensemble became known for its covers of famous anthems from Ed Sheeran’s ‘Shape of You’ to Dolly Parton’s ‘Jolene.’ In 2025, surviving Queen band members and the Mercury Phoenix Trust authorised the first ever translation of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’ giving way to the Choir’s Zulu-language version.
Bohemian Rhapsody (A Cappella Version)
One of the song’s most iconic features is its a cappella opening, which was known to be too complex to perform live. But American vocal band Pentatonix is not afraid of a challenge. In 2017, they released a full a cappella version of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody.’ Yes, including Brian May’s guitar solo. The result is impressive. How a person's vocal cords can imitate the sounds of drums and electric guitar with such precision remains a mystery.
Bohemian Rhapsody (Young Prodigy Version)
Norwegian singer Angelina Jordan won the 2014 season of Norway’s Got Talent at just eight years old. Six years later, she competed in the talent show’s US version and blew the jury and the audience away with her first performance. Backed only by a piano and a soft electric guitar, she offered a delicate version of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and showed incredible mastery of her voice. She later released a studio version of the same arrangement.
Bohemian Rhapsody (Muppet Version)
Far from the delicacy of Angelina Jordan, the Muppets have also covered Queen’s hit single. Their 2009 video features dozens of Muppets characters, including Kermit the Frog, Gonzo and Miss Piggy. It even mimics the style of the original ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ music video and now has over 192 million views on YouTube. This version might not be one you want to add to your playlist though.
Bonus: Bohemian Rhapsody (Slightly Unusual Percussion Version)
Isn't the definition of talent to be able to play Brian May's guitar solo with wrenches and plastic bottles?
