Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" Is the Most-Streamed Song From the 20th Century

Some things dull with age. Queen is not one of them.

Specifically, the band's signature operatic heavy rock masterpiece "Bohemian Rhapsody" is the most-streamed song of its century. 

On Monday, Universal Music Group announced that the song had surpassed more than 1.6 billion global streams, the most of any song from the 20th century. 

The 1975 hit from Queen's A Night at the Opera album has been streamed more thanNirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit," Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child O' Mine" and "November Rain" and a-ah's "Take on Me," Billboard reports.  

"So the River of Rock Music has metamorphosed into streams!" guitarist Brian May wise-quipped in a statement. "Very happy that our music is still flowing to the max!"

UMG chairman and CEO added that "'Bohemian Rhapsody' is one of the greatest songs by one of the greatest bands in history." We are so proud to represent Queen and are thrilled to see the song still inspiring new fans around the world more than four decades after its release."

"Bohemian Rhapsody" has had several resurgences since its initial release. The song featured prominently in 1992's Wayne's World and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2004.

But no pop culture event was more significant for bringing Queen back to the fore than the Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody that was released last month.

The film recently became the top-earning music biopic of all-time, and hype over the film rocketed Queen back up the charts on the strength of its soundtrack.

The band is further capitalizing on its Bohemian bump by announcing its North American Rhapsody tour coming next summer. 

Even guitar virtuoso Steve Vai is paying tribute to Queen this fall on his Generation Axe tour with Nuno Bettencourt, Zakk Wylde, Yngwie Malmsteen and Tosin Abasi, performing a five guitar instrumental rendition of "Bohemian Rhapsody." 


Photo: Getty Images


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