Twaddle. Twaddle then, twaddle now, twaddle forever.

John, I presume you brought Ken Tucker on board for this discussion to play devil's advocate, but his contribution was cursory, and I'm not even much of a Queen fan.

He said "Bohemian Rhapsody" is "terribly overrated" and remarked that for this song to have been inducted into the "canon of great songs is... ridiculous."

Anyone with two ears can swiftly ascertain that Bohemian Rhapsody is, firstly, a production marvel. Even a remotely good set of speakers with just an mp3 sends the listener into aural bliss.

Ken then used the term "Pomp Rock" to describe "Rhapsody." This is Freddie Mercury we're talking about, here! At a time when homosexuality was viciously taboo, particularly in his native country, Farrokh Bulsara was an East Indian bisexual rock star frontman with controversial lyrical expression, a flamboyant stage presence, and a nearly four-octave vocal range that took the world by storm. I think "pomp" is par for the course.

What music would better garner Ken's canonical respect? "Everyday" by Buddy Holly?

Ken went on to described the lyrics to "Bohemian Rhapsody" as "nonsensical" and "adolescent," giving into the myth generated by the bands' own interview comments, where Queen members intentionally mask the metaphors Freddie was honing with this song, and songs like "Bicycle Race." Read the lyrics to "Don't Stop Me Now," Ken, and then try to scoff at Freddy Mercury's writing as the work of a child. Lyrics with this content, written in the 70's, required courage and cunning.

As with any good art, a journalist needs to do his homework, Ken. Maybe sit the next few "Smackdown" rounds out. You're toothless.

The gentleman who dislikes Bohemian Rhapsody makes the mistake of thinking that the Muppets achieve more humor with the song. They merely ham it up. We should appreciate the abundant humor in the original.

I don't think Ken knows what he is talking about. I would give anything to see Freddie live.

This is probably the funnest song I can think of singing. I was in college when it came out. It doesn't remind me of myself at that time - it's not something that stirs up old feelings - it's just outrageously wonderful.

Bohemian Rhapsody is exhilarating. Freddy Mercury sang out our angst, dreams and joy in all his glory and you can't help but feel a wonderful feeling of victory at the end. It was a wild, bold world of music. Perhaps some say it is schlocky because it has been poorly imitated by so many. No one can touch it.

Bohemian Rhapsody is an amazing song, from the complex vocals and intense chords. The lyrics give off a powerful message, which is lacking in pop music today.

There is no doubt that this song has withstood the test of time. Judging from the other comments and my own experience with Bohemian Rhapsody, it is constantly reaching newer and younger generations of listeners and fans. THAT is what makes this a classic.

Plus, there is no greater feeling than being in a room when the song comes on and everybody stops what they're doing to sing along.

Any debate over the legitimacy of this song is bogus, don't forget the Duke Ellington quote, "if it sounds good, it is good." Forming music opinions in any other way is simply pretentious.

I also love this song because it always makes me laugh when I am sad. It can really make me move!

Bohemian Rhapsody is the worst song ever.

Bottom line:

Rock n' Roll should be fun.
This song is great fun.

Queen is one of my favorite bands of all time. As a musician, I respect the achievement in recording. But Bo Rap isn't even the best track on A Night at The Opera.

Hi! I am 12 and I LOVE THIS SONG!!!! I first heard it on the muppets and looked up the orig. I love the organized randomness of the song and think it really embodies the spirit of rock and roll!

Mr. Tucker is a thoroughly wet blanket. He seems dead set against a song being just plain fun.

ken tucker, if you are bangn' your head to al green,much as i love al green,something is wrong.

BoRhap is RIGHTEOUS. I have emcee'd karaoke in NYC for 11 years and can attest that it has been the most consistently popular song in my 11 year career. It always makes the crowd move.

When this came on in Wayne's World, it was the first time I had heard the song and I was giddy with delight. It was perfect for the movie and an appropriate introduction for anyone! It was also a jolt when elder relatives sang along.

Schlock! I remember the first time I heard it I thought it was the most inane song I had ever heard. My feelings haven't changed. The most apropo presentation of it was in Wayne's World.

i grew up in bulgaria. this song was the height of subversive capitalistic/rock decadence. it was played at every party and i have fond memories of listening to it, air guitar included, in high school. when i got older, i'd blast it any time i had to do housework--so i can obliterate the boredom of dusting and vacuuming. the bulgarian secret service was not happy!

I love it! Much better than all the inane stuff you hear on the radio today.

Love, Love, Love It!!

And the Muppets version is totally hilarious :)

BoRhap is RIGHTEOUS. I have emcee'd karaoke in NYC for 11 years and can attest that it has been the most consistently popular song in my 11 year career. It always makes the crowd move.

My 15 year old daughter and I are listening and loving this and just did the head-bob. How can you pass on a parent-child bonding moment?

Bohemian Rhapsody's popularity speaks volumes. It does qualify, somehow, as good rock.

I doubt as many people hate it as much as "You Light Up My Life" (read "Dave Barry's Book of Bad Songs" for a good laugh).

Pretentious? Sure. So is "Stairway to Heaven". Get over it. <grin>

Oh yeah, Muppets - definitely the best version.

I love, love, love it. BUT, it is a silly song and that's why it is GREAT.

I think this song is a classic, in fact I am organizing the biggest mass choir in the world to sing this song and make it into the Guinness Book of World Records!

Lorraine

on a certain level this is about what you heard when you were fourteen [or close], is it not ? i understand the younger one's who don't like it. and the older one's who don't like it. if it came out now,i'd probably pay no attention to it.

Bohemian Rhapsody is still one of those great rock songs, that is a crossover for people who like mostly pop. Disregarding Queen's heavy rock or experimental, it's one of those songs that still has an anthemic quality of yes, a Wayne's World moment.

But we must not forget the great production and it's innovative techniques used at the time, that few artists have come to challenge.

A totally overwrought mess. If I didn't turn it off every time I hear the intro, I'm sure my ears would bleed.

I think your critic makes an excellent point - but I think you have to make the distinction between the song itself and the way people lit to portray it. As I said, I think on it's own, the song is fun (if a little silly). What gets me is when people take it as a profoundly serious piece of music - where did that come from?

As a cure for the even more over the top Glee version, I recommend the Muppets: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgbNymZ7vqY

i think the big deal, is that it was something different. and for the most part, you were on one side or the other. not many were on the fence with this song. i've always liked it,even though, it does not make complete sense,maybe, because of that in fact. the world does not make any sense,so what else is new ?

I grew up in England, and was 10 years old when this song first hit the radio. It was played all the time on the radio, and was completely unlike anything we had ever heard. But it definitely put Queen on the map. Those of us who were into the rock music of the day were aware of Queen, but this solidified them as England's band. The grafitti claiming "Clapton is God" and the stylized Status Quo grafitti (another very popular band at the time) that was so prevalent was quickly replaced with tributes to Queen. Brian May became the new guitar hero, and for good reason. His ambitious layering and incredible legato style pretty much redefined what role the guitar could play in rock music.

John, please ask Mr. Blake if there will be an audiobook version of his Queen biography, as well as his Pink Floyd biography.

My dad had 2 favorite albums in the 70s: Aqualung and Night at the Opera. I grew up on both, and Bohemian Rhapsody was a highlight for 4-9-year old me, and it's still one of my faves no matter how many times I've heard it.

(The fact that I ingested the song along with a Chinese coal plant's worth of 2nd-hand pot smoke had NOTHING to do with it!)

We can't forget to mention the fact that this music was utterly, quintessentially, deeply and irreducibly English. Only the English could have produced something like this. Wonderful.

I don't have anything against Queen or Bohemian Rhapsody, but I don't understand the popular reaction to the song at all. People treat it like an all time classic rock epic, which I don't see at all. I doubt that Queen took it anywhere near that seriously - it seems to me it was just having a bit of fun mashing up a bunch of different ideas and genres.

this was a song that a lot of us dudes, myself included, did not always feel comfortable saying that we liked. i remember playing pick-up basketball on the street,and silently running the tune in my head. i'd dribble,head fake,cross-over,then bang, the drum would explode, and i'd head for the basket with a reverse lay-up, that you had to be nine foot six inches tall, to be able to block. "oh mama mia!"

It's an OPERA, silly!

Captivting song no one can argue, albeit overplayed. Half the fun listening was trying to decifer the lyrics, the other half was singing along while air drumming. A song that has earned its place in rock history

Wont be available to hear the show, but if there's some "Kid" (20/30's) commenting on the song, the band or the Era, I hope someone pukes for me. Tired of these Kids making inane comments on a period of music they simply do not understand at all.

Those were THE Days. It was when music was still fun, not so serious, and not the commercial megalith it quickly became and is now. It was the waning days of the actual musician-artist who had something unique to say/perform.

Back in the '70's, I had the great joy of working with one of New Jersey's top groups at the time . . . Sam The Band. In order to put food on the table, Sam worked in bars and clubs and played a mix of original material, comedy skits, and cover songs but, when they did a cover . . . they customized it in to a "Sam Song" . . . if you know what I mean.

As a result, they often heard comments . . . from those who didn't yet "get' Sam . . . that when they did a cover, it "didn't sound like it does when we hear it on the radio."

So, they decided to pick one popular song of the day and do it exactly the way it "sounded on the radio."

What did they pick?

You guessed it: Bohemian Rhapsody . . . and they bloody well nailed it (complete with pyrotechnics, spectacular lighting, et al) . . . if anything, they out-Queened Queen.

It was a "so there" to the uninitiated.

God . . . we had fun!!!