List of Bohemian Rhapsody cover versions#The Muppets version

{{Infobox song

| name = Bohemian Rhapsody

| cover = The_Braids_Bohemian_Rhapsody.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = the Braids

| album = The Braids

| B-side =

| released = {{start date|1996|10|1|df=y}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = R&B

| length = 4:00

| label =

• Big Beat
• Atlantic
• TriStar Music

| writer = Freddie Mercury

| producer =

• Stephan Jenkins
• Eric Valentine

| chronology = The Braids

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title = Young Americans

| next_year = 1998

}}

San Francisco Bay Area duo the Braids recorded an R&B version of "Bohemian Rhapsody" for the soundtrack to the Jon Lovitz movie High School High. It was released as their debut single in October 1996 and became a hit in Europe and New Zealand.

The song was produced by Third Eye Blind's lead singer Stephan Jenkins with Eric Valentine and was released as a single in October 1996. It peaked at number 21 in United Kingdom and number 42 on the US Billboard Hot 100, staying on the latter chart for 17 weeks. In New Zealand, the song reached number two for four nonconsecutive weeks and achieved platinum status for sales of over 10,000. In Europe, the song was a top-20 hit in several regions, including Scandinavia, Italy and the Netherlands.

Larry Flick from Billboard described the Braid's version as a "surprisingly potent jeep-funk rendition of the Queen classic", and stated further that "if you let go of everything connected to the original recording and give yourself to this interpretation, you will discover an often poignant street commentary as told from the viewpoint of a young woman." He also added that "the problem is that many may have a difficult time digesting the new concepts tied to this well-worn rocker."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1996/BB-1996-09-28.pdf|first=Larry|last=Flick|title=Single Reviews|magazine=Billboard|date=28 September 1996|access-date=5 February 2020|page=86}} Jeremy Helligar from Entertainment Weekly wrote that "stripping ”Bohemian Rhapsody” down to an insistent shuffle beat, assorted piano fills, and soulful vocals, they create a sound so moving that you might want to reach out and hug the speakers."{{cite magazine|first=Jeremy|last=Helligar|title=Music Single Review: Bohemian Rhapsody|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=15 November 1996|access-date=28 October 2018|url=https://ew.com/article/1996/11/15/music-single-review-bohemian-rhapsody/}} Alan Jones from Music Week deemed it "the most obvious contender" from the High School High soundtrack. He noted that "attacking it from a wholly different angle to Rolf Harris, they give it the kind of makeover that wouldn't disgrace Fugees. Likely to attract a lot of attention."{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1996/Music-Week-1996-09-28.pdf|first=Alan|last=Jones|title=Talking Music|magazine=Music Week|date=28 September 1996|page=24|accessdate=5 September 2021}} Bönz Malone for Vibe called it a "soaring" remake.{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4SsEAAAAMBAJ|first=Bönz|last=Malone|title=Various Artists - High School High Sountrack|magazine=Vibe|date=1 October 1996|access-date=2 March 2020}}

The music video for "Bohemian Rhapsody" was directed by German director Marcus Nispel.{{cite web|url=https://imvdb.com/video/the-braids/bohemian-rhapsody|title=Bohemian Rhapsody (1996) by The Braids|publisher=IMVDb.com|access-date=18 October 2018}}

{{Track listing

| headline = CD single, UK and Europe (1996)

| title1 = Bohemian Rhapsody

| note1 = Radio Mix

| length1 = 4:00

| title2 = Bohemian Rhapsody

| note2 = Stripped-Down Mix

| length2 = 3:57

| title3 = Bohemian Rhapsody

| note3 = Instrumental

| length3 = 4:01

| title4 = Bohemian Rhapsody

| note4 = A Cappella

| length4 = 3:51

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = CD single, Japan (1996)

| title1 = Bohemian Rhapsody

| note1 = Original Version

| length1 = 3:55

| title2 = Bohemian Rhapsody

| note2 = Remix Version

| length2 = 3:26

| title3 = Bohemian Rhapsody

| note3 = Acoustic Version

| length3 = 3:12

| title4 = Bohemian Rhapsody

| note4 = Stripped-Down Mix

| length4 = 3:57

| title5 = Bohemian Rhapsody

| note5 = Instrumental

| length5 = 4:01

| title6 = Bohemian Rhapsody

| note6 = A Cappella

| length6 = 3:47

}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|type=single|artist=The Braids|title=Bohemian Rhapsody|award=Gold|relyear=1996|certyear=1997|access-date=16 August 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=The Braids|title=Bohemian Rhapsody|award=Platinum|relyear=1996|id=1997-01-17|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|certyear=1997}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1996|certyear=1997|nosales=true|access-date=16 August 2019}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Bohemian Rhapsody (Muppets Version)

| cover = BohRhapMuppets.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Queen and the Muppets

| album =

| released = 23 November 2009

| recorded = 2009

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Rock, comedy rock

| length = 4:46

| label = Walt Disney

| writer = Freddie Mercury

| producer = Roy Thomas Baker, Queen

| chronology = Queen

| prev_title = Another One Bites the Dust (The Miami Project Remixes)

| prev_year = 2006

| next_title = Keep Yourself Alive (Long-Lost Retake)

| next_year = 2011

| misc = {{External music video|

{{YouTube|tgbNymZ7vqY|"Bohemian Rhapsody - Muppet Music Video"}}

}}

}}

The song was covered by the Muppets characters in 2009. A music video was posted on YouTube on 23 November 2009, before the release of the track, and features Muppets characters singing partially modified lyrics of the original song.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgbNymZ7vqY|title=Bohemian Rhapsody - Muppet Music Video - The Muppets|last=The Muppets|date=23 November 2009|via=YouTube}} It garnered over seven million hits within its first week of release. Unlike other cover versions, the Muppets' single features the final master of Queen's original 1975 recording.{{cite news|last=Robinson|first=Joanna|title=Where Does This New Muppets Most Wanted Song Rank in the History of Muppet Musical Numbers?|url=http://www.vanityfair.com/vf-hollywood/muppets-musical-number|access-date=13 May 2014|newspaper=Vanity Fair|date=27 February 2014}}

The video and song is an official production of The Muppets Studio. After the viral success of the video, Walt Disney Records released the cover as a single on 13 December 2009, where it peaked at #32 on the UK Singles Chart.{{cite web |last=Colothan |first=Scott |date=8 December 2009 |title=The Muppets' 'Bohemian Rhapsody' To Battle X Factor Winner For Christmas No.1 |url=http://www.gigwise.com/news/53783/The-Muppets-Bohemian-Rhapsody-To-Battle-X-Factor-Winner-For-Christmas-No1 |access-date=28 October 2011 |publisher=Gigwise}}{{Cite web |date=26 December 2009 |title=Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20091220/7501/ |access-date=13 July 2010 |publisher=Official Charts Company}}{{cite web |last=Brew |first=Simon |date=9 December 2009 |title=The Muppets Bohemian Rhapsody to be released as single |url=http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/377914/the_muppets_bohemian_rhapsody_to_be_released_as_single.html |access-date=13 July 2010 |publisher=Den of Geek}}

The Muppets' version of "Bohemian Rhapsody" was directed by Kirk Thatcher, who has been involved with several other Muppets videos.{{cite news |url =http://voices.washingtonpost.com/comic-riffs/2010/02/meta-post_the_muppets_near_ano.html |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20121003200850/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/comic-riffs/2010/02/meta-post_the_muppets_near_ano.html |url-status =dead |archive-date =3 October 2012 | title = Meta-Post: The Muppets near another million-view viral success | first = Michael | last= Cavna | date = 10 February 2010 | access-date= 13 July 2010 | newspaper = The Washington Post }} According to studio manager Lylle Breier, the idea of the Muppets singing "Bohemian Rhapsody" had long been an idea that they wanted to do, but only was able to bring the project together within a short time before the video's release. Thatcher noted they had a long list of possible songs they wanted to do with a large group of Muppets, including Don McLean's "American Pie", but "Bohemian Rhapsody" was their ultimate selection. Filming was completed within a day by 20 staffers; Thatcher considered the task to be "epic in scale" considering they normally only use half a dozen Muppets for a single scene. Breier stated that this and other videos that Disney released to YouTube are part of a promotional push for the Muppets; Breier likened outlets on the Internet like YouTube to the variety shows of the 1970s, and felt that the Muppets easily fit into that culture.{{cite web | url = http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/34244192 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100925043848/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/34244192 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 25 September 2010 | title = Muppets making a comeback online and off | date = 2 December 2009 |access-date = 13 July 2010 | agency = Associated Press }}

The video is a montage by about 70 different Muppets characters singing their part of the lyrics against a black screen, in the same style used by Queen for portions of their promotion video{{Citation|last=Queen Official|title=Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody (Official Video)|date=1 August 2008|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ9rUzIMcZQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/fJ9rUzIMcZQ |archive-date=20 December 2021 |url-status=live|access-date=18 November 2017}}{{cbignore}} of the song as well as mimicking the four-person layout used for the cover of Queen's second album. After completing the song, which ends up with mosaic of all the characters singing, it is revealed that this was one side of a computer video conference with Kermit the Frog, who laments his decision for that type of meeting to Scooter.

The video presents an abridged version of Queen's song with some lyric alterations to retain the appropriateness of the characters for a family audience.{{cite magazine | url = http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1943327,00.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091201200835/http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1943327,00.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 1 December 2009 |title = 'Bohemian Rhapsody,' Muppet-Style | first = Dan | last = Fletcher | date= 30 November 2009 | access-date= 13 July 2010 | magazine = Time }} For example, within the first stanza of the ballad portion of the song, the lyrics where the singer laments to his mother that he "just killed a man" are replaced by Animal calling out repeatedly for "mama".{{cite news | url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/6714562/Muppets-Bohemian-Rhapsody-takes-YouTube-by-storm.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091206050704/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/6714562/Muppets-Bohemian-Rhapsody-takes-YouTube-by-storm.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 6 December 2009 | title= Muppets' Bohemian Rhapsody takes YouTube by storm | first = Nick | last = Allen | date = 3 December 2009 | access-date = 13 July 2010 | work = The Telegraph | location=London}} Other aspects of the lyrics are changed for humorous purposes surrounding the Muppets characters. Pepe the King Prawn starts the opera portion of the song stating that he sees "a little silhouetto of a clam". The back-and-forth lyrics, "Bismillah! No! We will not let you go...let him go!", are replaced with Fozzie Bear begging "Let me joke" to Statler and Waldorf, who state "[We] do not like your jokes". The line "Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me" is replaced with the remaining Muppets who have not been in the video singing "Does anyone know if there is a part for me?" The first two lines of the hard rock section, here performed by Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, have been replaced with "So they tell us this video's going to fly, all I know is we're not getting paid tonight!" The song ends with Miss Piggy, lounging on Rowlf the Dog's piano, singing "Nothing really matters but moi!"

The video premiered on YouTube on 23 November 2009. Within a week, the video had accrued over 7 million views, and has nearly 15 million views within the following five months.{{cite news | url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newsvideo/weirdnewsvideo/7558462/The-Muppets-perform-Stand-by-Me-on-YouTube.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100409061659/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newsvideo/weirdnewsvideo/7558462/The-Muppets-perform-Stand-by-Me-on-YouTube.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 9 April 2010 | title = The Muppets perform Stand by Me on YouTube | work = The Telegraph | date = 6 April 2010 | access-date= 13 July 2010 | location=London}} The video was nominated and won the "Viral Video" category in the 14th Annual Webby Awards.{{cite news | url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/webby-awards-honour-ebert-twitter-times-1.878348 | title= Webby Awards honour Ebert, Twitter, Times | work = CBC | date = 4 May 2010 | access-date = 13 July 2010 }} For New Year's Eve at Disneyland, the video was projected onto the Fantasmic! mist screens in-between performances, and in place of an extra midnight performance. The performance also utilized the show's various laser effects and lighting towers working in tandem with the video.

• Freddie Mercury — piano, occasional backing vocals
• Brian May — electric guitar
• Roger Taylor — drums, percussion
• John Deacon — bass guitar

• Steve Whitmire — Kermit the Frog, Rizzo the Rat, Beaker, Statler, The Newsman, Chicken, Bunny, Penguin, Snowth, Turkey, Flowers, Cactus, Monkey
• Dave Goelz — The Great Gonzo, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Waldorf, Zoot, Beauregard, Frackle, Penguins, Rat, Cactus, Monkey
• Eric Jacobson — Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Sam the Eagle, Snowth, Chicken, Frackle, Penguin, Prairie Dog
• Bill Barretta — Pepé the King Prawn, Rowlf the Dog, Dr. Teeth, Swedish Chef, Old Tom, Bobo the Bear, Johnny Fiama, Mahna Mahna, Big Mean Carl, Rat, Flowers, Cactus, Monkey, Prairie Dog
• David Rudman — Scooter, Janice, Yolanda the Rat, Rat, Penguins, Monkey, Prairie Dog
• Matt Vogel — Camilla the Chicken, Floyd Pepper, Angel Marie, Crazy Harry, Sal Minella, Dr. Julius Strangepork, Lew Zealand, Rat, Flowers, Cactus, Monkey, Prairie Dog

{{Infobox song

| name = Bohemian Rhapsody

| cover =

| alt =

| type = song

| artist = Panic! at the Disco

| album = Suicide Squad: The Album

| released = {{Start date|2016|08|04|df=y}}

| recorded =

| studio = Abbey Road Studios

| venue =

| genre =

| length = {{Duration|m=6|s=01}}

| label = {{hlist|Atlantic|Warner Bros.}}

| writer = Freddie Mercury

| producer = Butch Walker

| tracks = {{Hidden

| title = 14 tracks

| text =

1. "Purple Lamborghini"
2. "Sucker for Pain"
3. "Heathens"
4. "Standing in the Rain"
5. "Gangsta"
6. "Know Better"
7. "You Don't Own Me"
8. "Without Me"
9. "Wreak Havoc"
10. "Medieval Warfare"
11. "Bohemian Rhapsody"
12. "Slippin' into Darkness"
13. "Fortunate Son"
14. "I Started a Joke"

}}

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|irK0Su5SE2Y|"Bohemian Rhapsody" (live from the Death of a Bachelor Tour)}}|type=song}}

}}

American band Panic! at the Disco covered the song as part of their set list for several concert tours,{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7461657/panic-at-the-disco-bohemian-rhapsody-suicide-squad-soundtrack|title=Panic! at the Disco Shares 'Bohemian Rhapsody' Cover From 'Suicide Squad' Soundtrack|date=4 August 2016|first=Chris|last=Payne|magazine=Billboard|access-date=4 November 2018}} including The Gospel Tour, Summer Tour 2016, the Death of a Bachelor Tour, and the Pray for the Wicked Tour. The song was officially recorded for Suicide Squad: The Album (2016),{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/events/amas/8479116/panic-at-the-disco-bohemian-rhapsody-queen-cover-amas-2018|title=Panic! at the Disco Channels Queen on 'Bohemian Rhapsody' Cover at 2018 AMAs|date=9 October 2018|magazine=Billboard|access-date=4 November 2018}} the soundtrack album for the 2016 film, and premiered on 4 August 2016 on the Beats 1 radio station. In addition, a recording of the song performed on tour was included on the track listing of the live album All My Friends We're Glorious (2017). The band performed "Bohemian Rhapsody" at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia, during the American Music Awards of 2018 in promotion of the 2018 biopic.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/panic-at-disco-performs-queen-bohemian-rhapsody-at-amas-2018-1151042|title=AMAs: Panic! At the Disco Pays Tribute to Queen With "Bohemian Rhapsody" Performance|first=Hilary|last=Lewis|date=9 September 2018|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=4 November 2018}} The cover was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on 12 June 2018.

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|award=Gold|artist=Panic! at the Disco|title=Bohemian Rhapsody|relyear=2016|certyear=2018|digital=true|refname=RIAA}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{cite journal |author=McLeod, Kenneth|date=May 2001 |title=Bohemian Rhapsodies: Operatic influences on rock music |journal=Popular Music |volume=20 |issue=2 |pages=189–203 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge |doi=10.1017/S0261143001001404 |s2cid=162432547 |issn=0261-1430 }}

• {{YouTube|id=tgbNymZ7vqY|title=Muppets Bohemian Rhapsody video}}
• [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/soldonsong/songlibrary/covers/bohemianrhapsody.shtml "Bohemian Rhapsody" cover versions] BBC
• {{YouTube|id=nqXfGGVx6rs|title=Bohemian Rhapsody - Edgar Cruz}}
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALJpFANB__Q&list=RDGMEMJQXQAmqrnmK1SEjY_rKBGA&start_radio=1&rv=98XqT4kBWT4 Marimba performance of Bohemian rhapsody on YouTube]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_LFsnK7LDg European Space-ody, hommage to both Queen and spaceflight including a Brian May cameo on YouTube]

{{Queen}}

{{The Muppets}}

{{Panic! at the Disco}}

Bohemian Rhapsody

Bohemian Rhapsody