Music History

Fifty years after its release, Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” gets a new video

I vividly remember hearing “Bohemian Rhapsody” for the first time in November 1975. I was lying in my bedroom after supper, listening to my chosen Top 40 radio station (1470 CFRW/Winnipeg) when the DJ introduced the song. He said, “There’s this band from England called Queen and they have a new song called ‘Bohemian Rhapsody.’ I don’t know what to make of it, but here we go.”

This sort of pre-selling a song is radio blasphemy. You’re never EVER supposed to disparage a song that your station has chosen to play. Naturally, this caught my attention. And what came next blew my mind. Fifty years later, “Bohemian Rhapsody” is still blowing minds. Can you imagine something like this on Top 40 radio today?

Here’s the original video (a wild and crazy thing back then) followed by a new 50th anniversary 360 video. (Via Sean)

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

Alan Cross has 41670 posts and counting. See all posts by Alan Cross

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