Brian May, guitarist from the iconic rock band Queen, made a guest appearance at Coachella on April 11 during Benson Boone’s set. Boone performed “Bohemian Rhapsody,” one of Queen’s most famous songs.

In honor of May performing his iconic guitar solo at such a mainstream event, we are going to examine this incomparable song.

“Bohemian Rhapsody” is a musical rollercoaster from Queen’s “A Night at the Opera” album. It incorporates elements from various genres, ranging from glam rock to opera. The song features Freddie Mercury on vocals and piano, May on lead guitar, John Deacon on bass guitar and Roger Taylor on drums. The song tells the story of someone living an unconventional life, though its meaning remains open to interpretation. In an interview with the Library of Congress in 2024, May said, “I’m very happy to tell you that nobody knows what it means, and Freddie never explained it to us!”

The song begins with haunting vocals, then seamlessly transforms into a classical piano melody. The audio elements, particularly noticeable through headphones, bounce between speakers – creating an immersive experience. It shifts from classical to explode into a rock opera, with lyrics referencing “Galileo” and “Scaramouche.”

The song was revolutionary and rule-breaking, primarily because of its length. At 6 minutes, it’s double the typical radio time. Critics said “Bohemian Rhapsody” wouldn’t engage listeners because of its length, and Queen’s label advised against using it as their headlining song. The band proved them wrong, and the song has garnered billions of views.

“Bohemian Rhapsody” is emotionally driven and chaotic, a true rock classic that defies standards.