BBC TV & Radio

BBC Radio 2 listeners have spoken

BBC Radio 2 listeners crown “Bohemian Rhapsody” their favourite Queen song

BBC Radio 2, on Friday, 31 March 2023, revealed the 1975 released Bohemian Rhapsody is Your Ultimate Queen Song. The vote, determined by listeners, was a nationwide judgement.

Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, released in 1975, is considered one of the greatest songs of all time. The song, just under six minutes duration, was released as the lead single to the album A Night at the Opera. ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, written by Freddie Mercury, displayed Queen’s lead singer possessed an ineffable talent that surpassed words.

An aspect of the song, readily apparent to anyone familiar with song construction, is the lack of a refraining chorus. Curiously despite there being no refraining chorus, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ consists of several distinct sections: an intro, a ballad segment, an operatic passage, a hard rock part, and a reflective coda. The song, despite the length, achieved widespread commercial success. The appeal to mainstream audiences was phenomenal.

“Hello all you beautiful Radio 2 listeners. Thank you for voting for this song. I guess we’re very thrilled not only because you voted for that particular track, but because you voted at all and it means that we’re still in your hearts and your minds and we’re very grateful,” Sir Brian May says, “and I’m hoping that we’ll be out there doing our thing for you before too long. Bohemian Rhapsody, of course, is the greatest testament to the powers of our dear Freddie and I know he would be delighted to hear this news. What could be better. Thank you.”

The Top Five Queen songs, as voted by BBC Radio 2 listeners, are:

1. Bohemian Rhapsody (1975)
2. Don’t Stop Me Now (1979)
3. Somebody To Love (1976)
4. We Are The Champions / We Will Rock You (1977)
5. Radio Ga Ga (1984)

Don’t Stop Me Now is in second place, Somebody to Love in third place, We Are The Champions / We Will Rock You in fourth, and Radio Ga Ga rounded off the top five.

The full Top 40 countdown, hosted by Steve Wright, is available on BBC Sounds from Friday, 31 March 2023. Highlights from the Top 40, at 16:00 (4pm) on Monday, 10 April 2023, will be broadcast on BBC Radio 2.

“This is the real life, not just fantasy! The Radio 2 listeners have spoken and it’s clear that nothing can stop them now from loving Queen’s iconic hit Bohemian Rhapsody,” Steve Wright says. “I’m thrilled to crown this timeless hit the winner, proving that it still rocks the airwaves decades after its release.”

“Bohemian Rhapsody has undoubtedly stood the test of time and continues to captivate audiences with its power and truly innovative approach to songwriting,” Jeff Smith, Head of Music, Radio 2 and 6 Music, says.

“As a station committed to celebrating the very best in music from across the decades, we are proud to honour the enduring legacy of Queen and their staggering contribution to the world of rock and pop music 50 years on from the release of their debut album.”

The Top 40 Queen songs, as voted by BBC Radio 2 listeners, are:

1. Bohemian Rhapsody (1975)
2. Don’t Stop Me Now (1979)
3. Somebody To Love (1976)
4. We Are The Champions / We Will Rock You (1977)
5. Radio Ga Ga (1984)
6. Who Wants To Live Forever (1986)
7. Killer Queen (1974)
8. Under Pressure (1981)
9. Love Of My Life (1979)
10. These Are The Days Of Our Lives (1991)
11. I Want to Break Free (1984)
12. The Show Must Go On (1991)
13. Seven Seas Of Rhye (1974)
14. Hammer To Fall (1984)
15. You’re My Best Friend (1976)
16. A Kind Of Magic (1986)
17. Fat Bottomed Girls (1978)
18. Another One Bites The Dust (1980)
19. Crazy Little Thing Called Love (1979)
20. Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy (1977)
21. One Vision (1985)
22. Innuendo (1991)
23. Now I’m Here (1975)
24. Tie Your Mother Down (1977)
25. Spread Your Wings (1978)
26. Somebody To Love — Five Live EP (1992)
27. I Want It All (1989)
28. Breakthru (1989)
29. We Will Rock You (2000)
30. Flash (1980)
31. Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen & The Muppets, 2009)
32. Save Me (1980)
33. Bicycle Race (1978)
34. Too Much Love Will Kill You (1996)
35. It’s A Hard Life (1984)
36. I’m Going Slightly Mad (1991)
37. Friends Will Be Friends (1986)
38. No-One But You (Only the Good Die Young) (1998)
39. Las Palabras De Amor (1982)
40. Headlong (1991)

BBC Radio 2 listeners, from Monday, 20 February 2023, were asked to vote for up to three of their favourite songs from Queen’s Top 75 UK chart singles, including collaborations with the band following Freddie Mercury’s death. Voting closed on Wednesday, 8 March 2023, with the results compiled for this special show, Your Ultimate Queen Song.