"Bohemian Rhapsody" Queen band members Freddie Mercury and Brian May.Image via Universal Music
By
Ryan Louis Mantilla
Published 44 minutes ago
Ryan is a lifestyle and culture journalist born and raised in the Philippines. He primarily covers film, television, music, and all things pop culture. Beyond writing, you can find him buried in thriller novels or off exploring the world on occasion. He deeply romanticizes a slow, peaceful life — even though he’s almost always drowning in deadlines (insert skull emoji here).
Sign in to your Collider account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recapHalf a century ago, in November 1975, Queen released an album that would forever change not only their lives but the rock music landscape at large: A Night at the Opera. When the British rock band first introduced themselves to the world, there’s no denying they were bound for greatness. However, while they have established a reputation as one of the biggest rock bands in music history, there was a time when they were just new artists trying to make their way to the top. That’s not to say their earlier albums weren’t successful; their self-titled debut album wasn’t an instant smash but managed to make a solid impression, while Queen II earned a loyal following over time. Sheer Heart Attack, on the other hand, was their first album to break into the U.S. Top 20, thanks largely to the hit single “Killer Queen.” But their true major international breakthrough was the classic 1975 album, which featured their most iconic song — arguably the greatest song of all time — “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
Queen's 'A Night at the Opera' Celebrates 50 Years of Rock Spectacle
Named after the Marx Brothers' 1935 movie of the same name, A Night at the Opera quickly transformed Queen from then-rising stars into the household name they are today. Over three decades after frontman Freddie Mercury met his demise on November 24, 1991, just four days before the album’s 16th anniversary, the band (composed of Mercury, Brian May, John Deacon, and Roger Taylor) has remained one of the most enduring and celebrated rock legends in history. And while their earlier work boasts some of the band’s beloved hits and gained significant traction, A Night at the Opera is that one album that propelled them into much greater stardom. Fifty years later, the record is still widely regarded as their definitive album — a record that’s ambitious, groundbreaking, and timeless altogether.
Queen treated the making of A Night at the Opera as if they had nothing left to lose. They went all out, spending at least £40,000 (equivalent to £357,000 in today’s money, according to Ultimate Classic Rock), making it their most expensive album ever recorded. But the investment paid off, as the record was a massive bestseller. In addition to receiving a positive critical reception, it became the band’s first-ever number-one album in the United Kingdom and topped charts globally. It was as if the band poured everything into a single album, and the payoff was more than double what they invested. The album isn’t just listed as one of the greatest albums of all time — and widely considered Queen’s best — but it also solidified their reputation as a legendary musical act. "Business-wise, we were in crisis," May said in a 2017 interview with Classic Rock. "There was that feeling that if it didn’t succeed we'd always be in the red, so we were fortunate that we did make the album of our lives...and I think it is, really."
"Bohemian Rhapsody" Stands as Queen’s Magnum Opus
It’s safe to say the massive success of A Night at the Opera wasn’t “just fantasy” — and the numbers weren’t lying. The album also featured some of the band’s greatest hits, including "You're My Best Friend," "The Prophet's Song," and the saddest love song of all time, "Love of My Life." But one track stands out the most, and for good reason: “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The track is a Queen classic that Mercury started developing in the late 1960s. Mercury’s theatricality shines the most with “Bohemian Rhapsody,” with its 6-minute fusion of opera, rock, and balladry, showcasing his ability to blend various genres.
Conceptualized in Mercury's mind long before the recording process even began, the track initially received mixed reviews (presumably because it combined multiple genres into a single piece and stretched to six minutes, a length that both listeners and radio stations were unaccustomed to at the time), but critics and Queen fans alike quickly recognized Mercury's vision and the song’s ambitious artistry. "Bohemian Rhapsody" stands out for its groundbreaking fusion of styles, seamlessly weaving together elements of hard rock, pop, opera, and progressive rock. With this track, Queen not only challenged the conventions of the genre but also redefined what a rock song could achieve.
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