Brian May of Queen Celebrates “Bohemian Rhapsody” and Reveals Favorite Songs
Brian May, the celebrated guitarist and backing vocalist for the iconic rock band Queen, has undeniably forged a lasting legacy within the music industry.
Queen’s impact on music and subsequent generations of artists is undeniable, marked by enduring hits such as “Under Pressure,” “Don’t Stop Me Now,” “We Will Rock You,” and the globally recognized “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
“Bohemian Rhapsody” Nears 50th Anniversary
Queen’s legacy endures, with “Bohemian Rhapsody” holding its position as the most streamed song from the 20th century. As the track approaches its 50th anniversary, anticipation builds for potential celebratory plans from the band.
May recently shared a video on social media offering a fitting homage to “Bohemian Rhapsody.” In the video, Sir Brian winds up a Queen music box playing the famous song, expressing his delight by exclaiming, “This is a gem! Perfect!”
He captioned the video, stating: “What a difference a semitone makes !!! This makes me giggle every time. Maybe Freddie should have written his melody line this way in the first place ! ha ha ! Fabulous ! Bri.”
“We Will Rock You” Remains Live Performance Favorite
Reflecting on Queen’s extensive catalog, Brian May has previously stated that “We Will Rock You” is his preferred song to perform live. During an interview on The One Show, May explained, “I still love playing them all, I have to be honest. I would have to say We Will Rock You. Especially as this is the moment when we’re relaunching the musical that is named after that song. It always gives me a good feeling.”
“The Miracle” Holds Special Significance
Despite his enjoyment of performing “We Will Rock You” live, May revealed that his personal favorite Queen song is the lesser-known “The Miracle.” This track was penned by Freddie Mercury, Queen’s legendary frontman, shortly before his passing. Queen has never performed “The Miracle” live, perhaps out of respect for their late bandmate and the song’s personal nature.
In a Q&A session on Queen’s official YouTube channel, Brian elaborated on his choice: “I’m going to pick a song that not everybody knows out there, which is called The Miracle, which Freddie wrote that I always thought has a strange, unique magic to it. Especially because Freddie wrote it at a time when it was very hard for him to be optimistic, and it’s just very beautiful. I’ll go for that.”
Brian May’s Eclectic Musical Taste Revealed
Brian May’s musical appreciation extends beyond Queen’s discography. In 2019, he curated a playlist of his all-time favorite songs on Queen’s official Spotify profile. The selection features both popular hits and overlooked gems, showcasing his diverse musical preferences.
From Doris Day’s heartfelt “Secret Love” and John Lennon’s introspective “Jealous Guy” to Led Zeppelin’s iconic “Kashmir” and Foreigner’s timeless “I Want To Know What Love Is,” May openly shares his wide-ranging musical palette with fans.
Brian May’s Favorite Songs Playlist:
- Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
- Love Kills (The Ballad) – Queen
- Bold as Love – Jimi Hendrix
- My Generation (Mono Version) – The Who
- Jealous Guy – John Lennon
- Secret Love – Doris Day
- Maybe Baby – The Crickets
- Kashmir – Led Zeppelin
- Back On My Feet Again – The Babys
- The Tracks Of My Tears – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
- Stand By Me – Ben E. King
- When a Man Loves a Woman – Percy Sledge
- I Want to Know What Love Is – Foreigner
- Where Were You – Jeff Beck, Alice Cooper
- Shapes Of Things – The Yardbirds
- Key To Love (Mono) – John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Eric Clapton