20th Century Fox
October 31, 2020, marks the 45th Anniversary of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. It’s a classic appreciated by many. The song is an incredible epic poem that is rich in language and layers of meaning. It’s a remarkable and timeless piece.
The music is Rock/Classic Rock in combination with Opera and hard rock. Brian May’s guitar solo is incredible to hear. According to sources, the structure goes like this: Intro, Ballad, Opera, Hard Rock, Outro. Freddie Mercury playing the piano, is a classic. I remember that clip in the movie Bohemian Rhapsody where Freddie Mercury (Rami Malek) played the piano when the group created this classic hit. The composition is incredible, with impressive and gradual transitions of the different musical genres. Bohemian Rhapsody starts slow for two verses, then increases gradually to a faster tempo.
The instruments heard in Bohemian Rhapsody are the piano, the guitar, the drums, the bass, and others such as the wind chimes. When I heard “Sends shivers down my spine” with the wind chimes in the background, I felt chills for a moment. That’s how intense it can be. The structure of this epic is magnificent and unique.
The vocals of Bohemian Rhapsody are epic in this tune. Freddie Mercury has an impressive vocal range from soft to intense. He transitions smoothly in his singing. He sings with passion. Roger Taylor sings remarkably in the “Galileo” bit with Freddie Mercury. He hit the high notes in contrast to Mercury singing with a lower register.
The lyrics are poetic with magnificent freestyle writing, telling a story of a young man dealing with a lot. Bohemian Rhapsody is a song without a chorus, a rare and a trademark lyrical for the British Rock Band. There are so many references, such as Scaramouche and Galileo. The piece expresses intense emotions ranging from melancholy to sadness. Some say the words don’t make sense, while others have various interpretations of it. The “Bismillah” detail adds a poetic touch. The song has a lot of layers to it.
Personal perspective
Bohemian Rhapsody is my top favourite song from Queen. It has incredible rhythm. The words are easy to follow. I appreciate this tune so much after watching the movie with the same name. Learning how it came to exist was fascinating. This song is a classic among many generations! I imagine it will be for a long time.
