Bohemian Rhapsody

song by Mercury

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

"Bohemian Rhapsody" is a renowned song by the British rock band Queen, with Freddie Mercury as its chief songwriter and vocalist. The song is known for its complex, mock-operatic structure and its lyrics, which describe a young man confessing to a killing. The title itself offers a comment on the rock lifestyle.123

The term "bohemian" describes someone, often an artist or writer, who lives an unconventional lifestyle. This usage has roots in the French perception of Roma people as originating from Bohemia, and their embrace of the arts without concern for appearances. The song's title plays on this meaning, reflecting the unconventional nature of the rock music scene. "Bohemian Rhapsody" was added to the National Recording Registry by the U.S. Library of Congress in 2022 for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance.32

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

music video
…created by Queen’s clip for “Bohemian Rhapsody” showed how video could augment if not outright define a song’s qualities (whether they were virtues or vices was up to the listener-viewer). In the late 1970s key videos by Devo and other new wave artists crystallized the nature of the form—including an…
Read More
…created by Queen’s clip for “Bohemian Rhapsody” showed how video could augment if not outright define a song’s qualities (whether they were virtues or vices was up to the listener-viewer). In the late 1970s key videos by Devo and other new wave artists crystallized the nature of the form—including an…
Read More

Freddie Mercury
The flamboyant front man of Queen
…latter album’s mock-operatic single “Bohemian Rhapsody,” one of a number of Queen compositions written principally by Mercury.
Read More
…latter album’s mock-operatic single “Bohemian Rhapsody,” one of a number of Queen compositions written principally by Mercury.
Read More

Queen
Formation and first successful albums
…epitomized by the mock-operatic “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Britain’s top single for nine weeks. The song’s accompanying promotional film helped the music industry recognize its future in video.
Read More
…epitomized by the mock-operatic “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Britain’s top single for nine weeks. The song’s accompanying promotional film helped the music industry recognize its future in video.
Read More