The music of Queen (formerly, briefly known as Smile) is timeless , with hits spanning over four decades that reach audiences of all ages and demographics. Now, as reported by Billboard, Universal has named Queen‘s “Bohemian Rhapsody” the most-streamed song of the 20th century, with approximately 1.6 billion global streams. The song overtook Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, Guns ‘N’ Roses’ “November Rain” and “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” and A-ha’s “Take On Me” to win the title.
This news comes only one month after the music charter announced that “Bohemian Rhapsody” had entered the Billboard Hot 100 for a rare third time, joining Prince’s “1999.” How did the iconic rock band manage to achieve all of this? Aside from the musicianship and talent from Freddie Mercury, guitarist Brian May, drummer Roger Taylor, and bassist John Deacon, Queen has had its signal boosted a number of times thanks to films that have had their own impact on the zeitgeist. The most recent example of this is the biopic Bohemian Rhapsody; after its debut on November 2, the film became a worldwide hit, garnering over $164 million at the domestic box office and $539 million at the global box office—which may explain the song’s resurgence on the charts.
Another, earlier rise in streams can be attributed to Penelope Spheeris’ Wayne’s World (1992). Based on the Saturday Night Live skit, in one of the film’s most iconic moments, Wayne, Garth, and company head bang to “Bohemian Rhapsody” while driving around town. The guys get lost in the song’s swells and guitar riffs, and it just makes for a fun viewing experience. Initially, back in 1976, “Bohemian Rhapsody” hit the Billboard charts at No. 9. But after the premiere of Wayne’s World in 1992, the song received a bump, and was propelled to No. 2.
After 48 years and the death of frontman Freddie Mercury, Queen is far from out of the music scene. The band has been touring with Adam Lambert (of American Idol fame) since 2011, and recently announced its Queen + Adam Lambert 2019 Tour.
44 Comments
“Most streamed song of the 20th century” confused me as a phrase.My brain immediately went to “it’s what everyone was streaming back in the C20th!”They would have been streaming it over the wireless, I’m guessing…or later, terrible RealAudio online radio.“Most streamed song FROM the 20th century”There, that’s better.
Woo hoo turn it up!
Someone warn the llamas! Their asses are about to get whipped!
Most streamed 20th century song.
There you go! You got it!
Yeah, I don’t think streaming was even a thing in the 20th century.
Yeah, I was kind of baffled as well for a couple. >_<
Oh right, I totally thought it was “most streamed song DURING the 20th century” and I was going to say thank God it beat the dancing baby,
I wasn’t aware that music streaming was a thing in the 20th century.
It took me a minute to realize that was Actual Queen in that photo, after seeming months of Movie Queen on my screen every damn day.
Wouldn’t this have been decided by Jan 1, 2001?
Yes, but they apparently had to spend the last ~18 years counting all the streams by hand, I guess?
The Republicans were challenging the results, saying there was no way it wasn’t “Proud to be an American”.
Where were you, when the Republicans stopped the world from turning?
Florida held things up for the rest of us.
At first glance I honestly thought that was a photo of Spinal Tarp. Sorry, Spinal Tap.
Spinal Tarp—the world’s laziest Spinal Tap tribute band—is still playing clubs and puppet show venues in the greater Orlando area.
Is this the real life?
Is this just fantasy?
I don’t think the release of Wayne’s World caused a spike in streams of the song.
bacdafucup
Now, as reported by Billboard, Universal has named Queen‘s “Bohemian Rhapsody” the most-streamed song of the 20th century, with approximately 1.6 billion global streams.
First, that linked article says nothing about “the most-streamed song of the 20th century”.Second, why would Universal be in any position to make this pronouncement? Wouldn’t that be the purview of Nielsen Soundscan or RIAA?
If it weren’t for the byline, I’d swear this was a Purdom or Hughes article.
Apparently there are a lot of people who have yet to hear the song.
Hot take:
So hot you deserve the bore worms!
No! Not the Bore Worms!
The best Queen song is obviously Ogre Battle:
Never heard this before. And for the first 45 seconds I wasn’t 100% sure it wasn’t just the rockin’ bit of Bohemian Rhapsody played in reverse…
Your ideas are intriguing to me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.
Queen has so many stellar hits. It annoys me that Rhapsody gets so much love, yet the dozens of other incredible songs get nothing…
The song overtook Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, Guns ‘N’ Roses’ “November Rain” and “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” Sounds like my playlist circa 1992 in seventh grade(including Bohemian Rhapsody via the Wayne’s World soundtrack). I guess my age group’s nostalgia translates to heavy streaming.
So…how come we don’t get more artists doing thoughtful, BIG rock, but we get 40,000 people with names like Lil’ Gizza or Chari Ceee or Chance the Rapper (obviously fake) per year?
…I mean, aside from how hard it is to do something like Queen and how easy it is to rhyme over beats…
Sounding a little grumpy there, uncle grandpa. Is your American flag bandana on too tight?
Huh? Queen is from the UK.
Of course! That is the only possible reason.
Pull up your pants and learn some respect!
With their hippity hoppity jungle bunny music!
Gettin’ a real problematic Peter Rabbit vibe here…
Prog rock don’t sell. I mean look at the history of hits that everyone has still heard of in 2018. You’ve got Bohemian Rhapsody… Stairway to Heaven… uh…
I think the difficult part is why. Not just any asshole can create something like Layla or More Than A Feeling or Stairway to Heaven.
Wow, it’s great to see that Suicide Squad was able to skyrocket this little indie band’s song to fame.
Hope Queen enjoys their $600 dollars in streaming royalties! Congrats, guys!
I hate to nitpick, but does “with hits spanning over four decades that reach audiences of all ages and demographics” really apply to a band that was formed in 1970, put out their first record in 1973, and was active to about the mid 1980s before Freddie passed away in 1991? From first record to Freddie’s death is only 18 years, first record to 1995’s “Made in Heaven” is 22 years. Which new hits in the last 25+ years am I unaware of? Are you seriously putting Queen + Paul Rodgers and the recent Adam Lambert cash grab on the same level as the Mercury years?I love me some Queen but “The Works” in 1984 was the last real Queen album. They had a phenomenal decade-plus of original work. Live Aid was fun too. RIP Freddie, Queen died with you despite what Brian May’s bank account’s needs may dictate.
“Another, earlier rise in streams can be attributed to Penelope Spheeris’ Wayne’s World (1992).”A feat made more impressive when you can consider that in 1992, it took 10 hours to stream a song.
Those guys look like the 1970’s, even though they were in their late 20’s.