The song "Bohemian Rhapsody", written by Freddie Mercury and originally recorded by rock band Queen for their album A Night at the Opera, has been covered by many different artists.
List YearArtistNotes1987FuzzboxOn their 1987 single "What's The Point"Strong, Martin C (1999) The Great Alternative & Indie Discography, Canongate, 1987 Bad News This spoof rock band (created for the UK Channel 4 TV series The Comic Strip Presents...) also released "Bohemian Rhapsody" as a single. It reached number 44 in the UK Singles Chart. It featured on the album Bad News. The cover version was produced by Brian May. A 12-inch version was released as well ending completely different, when during the last guitar break a false chord is played and the song stops while someone shouts "fuck bastards, I played the wrong chord". The 12-inch version then continues with some studio chatter and a "bad news version" of "Pretty Woman".1988Elaine PaigeThe Queen album1990CudOn the anti-poll tax compilation album Alvin Lives (In Leeds).1992Queen + Elton John and Axl RoseElton John and Axl Rose performed "Bohemian Rhapsody" in The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert. This version showed John playing the first verse of the ballad section in keyboards, and later singing in the front stage accompanied by Brian May, John Deacon and Roger Taylor (Spike Edney plays the rest of the vamp until the operatic section). After the taped Opera section, Axl Rose appeared using a microphone similar that Mercury used in his live concerts; the Outro section was played in duet showing Rose's appreciation to John.1993"Weird Al" Yankovic A polka cover named "Bohemian Polka" on his album, Alapalooza.1993Comic ReliefA parody of the original video by celebrities from major UK TV networks on the BBC telethon1995The Cruel SeaFrom the album Rock'n Roll Duds.1995Dream TheaterThe album A Change of Seasons features the live track "The Big Medley", a cover song medley that includes a segment of "Bohemian Rhapsody."1996Rolf HarrisThis version reached the British charts for one week at #501996The BraidsHigh School High soundtrack album. See section1996Magic AffairReleased as a single and as part of the Queen Dance Traxx I compilation.1997 Montserrat Caballé with Bruce Dickinson On album Friends For Life1998Molotov As "Rap, Soda y Bohemia", on the album Molomix1998Faye Wong Performed the song on her concert - Faye Wong Scenic Tour 1998–99.2001Ours Released as a limited edition CD single 2001Paul de Leeuw Dutch singer and TV personality, performed the song during his live shows in Ahoy Stadium in Rotterdam in 2000, released on single and album (Zingen terwijl u wacht). The performance however was rather poor and falsely sung.2004Carolina Crown Drum & Bugle Corps performed as the closer for their "Bohemia!" show.2004Valensia Released his Queen Tribute album with "Bohemian Rhapsody" on it.2005Side ALive album Side A Gig (All Hits Live).2005Grey DeLisle Album Iron Flowers. A shortened rendition, covering only the ballad portion of the song to a much slower melody.2005The Flaming Lips Album Killer Queen. The cover was also performed live.2005Constantine Maroulis Album Killer Queen. With the cast of We Will Rock You.2005Edgar CruzDVD Arranging for Solo Guitar / The Queen Titles.2005G4First performed on first series of The X-Factor, released as a single which became #9 in the UK charts. It was included on their self-titled album2005Suzie McNeilOn the CBS reality show Rock Star: INXS2005Children in NeedA selection of BBC News presenters perform the song on the BBC telethon2007CollegeHumorA parody entitled, "Brohemian Rhapsody", set in a fraternity house2007Moymoy PalaboyA lip-syncing rendition of the song.2007Newton FaulknerAn acoustic cover of the song. YouTube.2008Emilie Autumn Recorded on the Girls Just Wanna Have Fun & Bohemian Rhapsody Double Feature EP and frequently performed live in concert.2008Rajaton Recorded on the Rajaton sings Queen with Lahti Symphony Orchestra and on several occasions performed live in concert.2009The Muppetssee section2009Pink Funhouse Tour, and subsequent DVD release2010 Prince Poppycock On America's Got Talent2010Jonathan Groff in GleeFeatured on the TV show in the episode "Journey", and released on the EP Glee: The Music, Journey to Regionals2010Never Shout NeverFrom the album Punk Goes Classic Rock2010Hayseed DixieFrom the album Killer Grass2010Jake ShimabukuroA ukulele instrumental version from the album Peace Love Ukulele2011William ShatnerFrom the album Seeking Major Tom2011Pato FuFrom the album Música de Brinquedo Ao Vivo2011Carolina Crown Drum & Bugle Corps reprised their 2004 performance for their "Rach Star" show.2012Jessica SanchezOn the American Idol season 11 Top 6 performance show2012DalagitaX Factor Indonesia audition2012The ProtomenFrom the album Present: A Night of Queen2012Between The Buried And MeAs part of an encore of their 2012 European tour with Periphery and The Safety Fire; the band played after the tapped operatic section to the end before playing "Mordecai"2013PusciferFrom the EP Donkey Punch the Night2013Florent MotheFrom the album Rock in Chair2014The Forest Rangers feat. The White Buffalo, Billy Valentine & Franky PerezA cover for the premiere episode of Season 7 of Sons of Anarchy, plays when the protagonist, Jax Teller tortures and kills an innocent man whom he believes is the murderer of his wife.2014Shun NgOn solo acoustic guitar in a fingerstyle arrangement released on YouTube that was tweeted out by Brian May.2015Kanye West Performed the song at the Glastonbury Festival.2015Lake Street Dive Performed the song for their annual Halloween video. They said "Happy HallowQueen!!!! Here's our version of BOOhemian Rhapsody!".2015-16Between the Buried and MePerformed the song as an encore at many shows on The Coma Ecliptic Tour and recorded the song for a 7-inch vinyl release which included Queen-inspired artwork on the sleeve.2016Billy WatmanSky Arts TV channel released a trailer for the 2nd series of Guitar Star of 14-year-old Billy Watman playing "Bohemian Rhapsody" on classical guitar - the video was an internet sensation with over 9 million views.2016Saara Aalto & Adam LambertPerformed as Aalto's celebrity duet choice during the first night of the two-part season finale of The X Factor UK.2016Panic! at the Disco see section2017PentatonixPerformed a capella for their extended play PTX, Vol. IV - ClassicsDate UnknownMnozil BrassPerformed live a mix of playing instruments and a cappella2017Eretz NehederetAs summarizing the Hebron shooting incident by the soldier El'or Azaria, the Israeli satire show made a parody cover on "Bohemian Rhapsody" starting with "mamma, I killed a man" in Hebrew. "Politicians" (actors) sing their opinions, as Binyamin Netanyahu, Zehava Gal'on, etc.2018Connie TalbotAn acoustic cover of the song, also piano accompaniment by the singer. YouTube.Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: 2018Marc MartelFrom the Queen covers album, Thunderbolt & Lightning. Martel also uploaded a live one-take piano performance to YouTube. Martel regularly covered "Bohemian Rhapsody" as the lead singer of the Queen Extravaganza from 2012 to 2016, and with The Ultimate Queen Celebration from 2016 to present. Martel's vocals can be heard during the composition of "Bohemian Rhapsody" during the 2018 biographical film Bohemian Rhapsody.2019ToshiOn his cover album, Im a Singer Vol. 2. Titled "ボヘミアン・ラプソディ".2019Forestella (포레스텔라)A cover of this song was released on their 2019 album, Mystique2019Adam Lambert & Dimitrius GrahamOn the American Idol season 17 finale performance.2020Angelina JordanIn her first appearance in the second season of America's Got Talent: The Champions, she was singing an original arrangement of the song. Besides stunning the judges, the performance also garnered praise from Queen's official Twitter account, after being aired in early January 2020. Jordan released two weeks later a studio version of the same arrangement under her own copyright.2020The PetersensBluegrass cover2022The WigglesFrom the album, ReWiggled2024Marco MisciagnaSingle: "Bohemian Rhapsody", Arranged for Viola Solo by Marco Misciagna (Live) - MM04, 20242025Sam RyderRecorded for BBC Radio 2's Piano Room on 30 October 2025 for the original song's 50th anniversary
The Braids version
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 accompanying music video was directed by Marcus Nispel.
Release 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.
Critical reception Larry Flick from Billboard magazine described The Braids' 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." 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." Alan Jones from Music Week named 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." Bönz Malone for Vibe called it a "soaring" remake.
Music video The music video for "Bohemian Rhapsody" was directed by German director Marcus Nispel.
Track listing
Charts
Weekly charts +Weekly chart performance for the Braids coverChart (1996–1997)PeakpositionAustralia (ARIA) 62Canada (Nielsen SoundScan) 12Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 18Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40) 9Italy (Musica e dischi) 3Italy (TV Sorrisi e Canzoni) 3Italian Airplay (Music & Media) 3UK Pop Tip Club Chart (Music Week) 39US Billboard Hot 100 42US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard) 45US Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard) 20US Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover (Billboard) 14US Cash Box Top 100Cash Box Chart Entries 1990-1996 47
Year-end charts +Annual chart rankings for the Braids coverChart (1996)PositionIceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40) 10Italy (Musica e dischi) 86New Zealand (RIANZ) 50Sweden (Topplistan) 61 US Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover (Billboard) 71 Chart (1997)PositionBelgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) 53Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 71France (SNEP) 65Italy (Musica e dischi) 37Sweden (Topplistan) 78
Certifications
Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United States17 September 19961 October 1996United Kingdom14 October 1996Japan21 December 1996CD
The Muppets version
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. 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. It was later followed with a commentary video, featuring Kermit the Frog and Gonzo, posted on 27 April 2010.