Bohemian Rhapsody

Written by	Freddie Mercury
Date	1975
Source	A Night at the Opera (album)
Publisher	B. Feldman and Company

"Bohemian Rhapsody" is a song by the British rock band Queen, which has been performed a few times by the Muppets.

2005 MDA Labor Day Telethon

Johnny Fiama and Sal Minella performed a parody rendition of the song during the 2005 Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon. Sal spills the marinara sauce that Johnny's ma FedExed to the studio, and Johnny and Sal sing a heartfelt apology to Mama Fiama to the tune of "Bohemian Rhapsody."

The Muppets - Bohemian Rhaspody (2005) - MDA Telethon-0

2009 Viral Video & Single

On November 23, 2009, the Muppets released a rendition of "Bohemian Rhapsody" as an online video on YouTube. The video became a viral hit and received over 10-million views within its first two weeks online. The video was mistakenly removed from YouTube on December 15 "due to a copyright claim by EMI Publishing Scandinavia AB" but returned on the 16th.

The recording used the original instrumental tracks recorded by Queen in 1975, as such the release has been billed as being recorded by "Queen + The Muppets." Brian May, lead guitarist of Queen, responded to questions of Queen's involvement in the video on his website in December 2009, stating:

“Once the idea for this recording came up, we did supply 'stems' of our own original backing track to the Muppets, so that they could effectively 'sing' with Queen. We don't often do this - it's only because of our respect for these people as artists that we'd do this. I'm sure Freddie would feel the same way ... some projects are just worthy of a proper collaboration. So .. yes .. you are hearing us play on this track - including Freddie's magnificent piano track, of course. I think it makes it all the more funny! After they'd done their bits we got the track back to OK ... I immediately thought it was brilliantly done, but I had no idea it would light such a huge bush fire. Amazing.”

In a 2010 interview with The Washington Post, director Kirk Thatcher said the video was "very much a group effort," and was shot in a single day on a soundstage in North Hollywood with a troupe of about 20 people.

The 2009 cast rendition of the song was released as a single on Amazon.com and the iTunes Store in mid-December 2009. The single was released internationally on December 14, and in the US on December 15th. The online video was also released as a music video for purchase as well.

Additionally, the video for the song received airplay as a music video on Disney Channel, both within the U.S. and internationally. It was later re-released on YouTube with Kermit and the Muppets providing an audio commentary on the video.

On December 31, 2011/January 1, 2012, the video was projected onto the mist screens along the Rivers of America at Disneyland as one of the "Random Acts of Disney" during the park's New Year's Eve party. (YouTube)

The Muppets sing Bohemian Rhapsody 2009

Music Video

The Muppets Bohemian Rhapsody - Kermit's Commentary

Commentary

digital single artwork (US)

digital single artwork (international)

Cast

The 2009 YouTube video features a full cast of Muppets, including (in order of appearance):

Gonzo and chickens
Clockwise from top: Stephanie, Ethel, Gonzo, and Camilla

Rowlf the Dog

Animal

Pepe the King Prawn

A chorus of characters
Clockwise from top: Angel Marie, Mo Frackle, Old Tom and Purple Frackle, plus a bunny

Bobo the Bear

Beaker

Penguins

Dr. Bunsen Honeydew

Rizzo the Rat and two rats,
plus Big Mean Carl

Mahna Mahna and the Snowths

Lew Zealand and his boomerang fish

Beauregard

Crazy Harry

Fozzie Bear

Waldorf and Statler

Sam the Eagle

The Swedish Chef and a turkey

A chorus of characters
Clockwise from top: The Barbershop Cactus Quartet, flowers, prairie dogs, bunnies, bananas, and monkeys (with Sal Minella)

Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem

Janice and Floyd Pepper

Zoot

Dr. Julius Strangepork

The Newsman

Sal Minella and Johnny Fiama

Miss Piggy

Scooter and Kermit the Frog

The Muppet Performers: Steve Whitmire, Dave Goelz, Eric Jacobson, Bill Barretta, David Rudman, Matt Vogel

Musicians: Freddie Mercury (piano), Brian May (guitar), John Deacon (bass), Roger Taylor (drums)

The Muppets Take the Bowl (2017) and the O2 (2018)

The Muppets performed a variation of their 2009 version of the song to open the second act of the concert. Gonzo, the chickens, Animal, Beaker, Dr. Teeth and Miss Piggy all retain their solos, some with new lyrics. Bobby Moynihan, Sweetums, and Fred Martin and the Levite Camp Choir accompany. This version, with some additional lyrical changes, was reprised again as the act two opener for The Muppets Take the O2.

References

• In The Muppet Show Comic Book: Family Reunion, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew hooks Beaker up to the Genebuster to discover one of Beaker's unknown relatives. As the Genebuster starts to work, Bunsen says, "I see a little silhouette, it's of a man..." Beaker chimes in, crying out a rhythmic "Meep meep meep! Meep meep meep! Meep meep meep meep meep meep meep..." Bunsen: "Thunderbolts and lightning! Very very frightening..." "Meep!" Bunsen: "Gary Mayo! Gary Mayo!" "Meep meep meep meep! Meep meep meep meep!" "Gary Mayo!" "Meep meep meep meep?" "Magnifico!" Following the departure of Gary Mayo, Bunsen shrugs and says, "Ah well. Easy come, easy go."

• A sample of Queen's recording was briefly used in a pre-taped segment featured in the Electric Mayhem's performance at the 2016 Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival.

External links

• Time Magazine