Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ Hits No. 1, 50 Years After Its Release

“Bohemian Rhapsody” is surely one of the oddest songs to become a true global phenomenon. The track, which blends many styles, is a standout within Queen’s discography, which is packed with popular tunes and bestselling albums.

Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” — which also lent its name to the Freddie Mercury biopic, that’s how famous it is — has stood the test of time and influenced countless musicians across a variety of genres. It’s widely regarded as not just another smash, but a true masterpiece.

Half a century after its release, “Bohemian Rhapsody” becomes a bestseller in the United Kingdom once more, where Queen remains one of the most beloved musical acts ever. The tune manages to find its way back to several tallies and becomes another No. 1 for the rock outfit across multiple lists.

“Bohemian Rhapsody” Hits No. 1 for the First Time

Queen’s classic hits No. 1 for the first time on both the Official Singles Sales and Official Physical Singles charts this week. The track has already spent more than a year on both of those rankings, but has never before managed to lead the charge until this frame, as it returns in the highest position.

Queen Doubles Its No. 1 Total on the Sales Chart

Queen doubles its total number of leaders on the Official Singles Sales chart. The group first ruled with the decidedly-less-famous “Face It Alone,” even though “Bohemian Rhapsody” debuted on the sales tally more than a decade ago and marked the group’s second hit on the roster.

On the Official Physical Singles ranking, which looks only at purchases on vinyl, CD, and cassette, “Bohemian Rhapsody” becomes Queen’s fifth No. 1. The rockers have previously commanded the tally with “We Will Rock You” (the version featuring boy band Five), “Keep Yourself Alive,” “Face It Alone,” and “You Are the Champions,” which also credits American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert.

“Bohemian Rhapsody” Returns to No. 1

“Bohemian Rhapsody” also sits in first place on the Official Vinyl Singles chart, as it reappears out of nowhere at No. 1. The tune launched in that position back in December 2015, and now, almost a decade later, it’s back in the driver’s seat.

Queen Nearly Charts a New No. 1 – Who Beats The Rockers?

Queen almost manages to also find its way back to the summit on the Official Rock & Metal Singles chart as well, but narrowly misses out on doing so. “Bohemian Rhapsody” is a fixture on that genre-specific list, as it’s nearing 900 weeks as a rock bestseller.

“Bohemian Rhapsody” sat just outside the top 10 only days ago at No. 11, and this time around pushes to the runner-up spot. Only “Iris” by Goo Goo Dolls — which typically runs the show — blocks it from earning another turn in first place.

“Bohemian Rhapsody” Reenters the Main Songs Chart in the U.K.

Impressively, “Bohemian Rhapsody” is once again counted as one of the 100 most successful songs of any style in the U.K. Queen rocks back onto the Official Singles chart at No. 72. If “Bohemian Rhapsody” can hold on for one more frame, or if it disappears and soon returns at some other point, the song will reach a full year on the competitive roster, where it has already spent nine stints at No. 1 when it was brand new.

Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” Re-Released on Collectible Vinyl

To celebrate its half-century birthday, “Bohemian Rhapsody” was recently reissued on blue vinyl. Fans could purchase the track on both 7-inch and 12-inch formats, and it became available on Halloween.

Queen’s Album A Night at the Opera Becomes a Top 40 Bestseller

“Bohemian Rhapsody” served as a single from Queen’s album A Night at the Opera. Thanks to all the attention being paid to the pioneering cut, the full-length improves by more than 30 spaces on both the Official Albums Sales and Official Physical Albums charts. A Night at the Opera performs best on the Official Vinyl Albums ranking, where it reenters at No. 40, becoming a top 40 bestseller again 50 years after it was initially shared with the public.