Bohemian Rhapsody
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| Written by | Freddie Mercury |
| Date | 1975 |
| Source | A Night at the Opera (album) |
| Publisher | B. Feldman and Company |
Added by Toughpigs"Bohemian Rhapsody" is a song by the British rock band Queen, which has been performed twice by the Muppets.
Contents |
2005 MDA Labor Day Telethon
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Johnny Fiama and Sal Minella performed a parody rendition of the song during the 2005 Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon. Sal spills the marinara sauce that Johnny's ma FedExed to the studio, and Johnny and Sal sing a heartfelt apology to Mama Fiama to the tune of "Bohemian Rhapsody".
2009 Viral Video & SingleEdit
In November 2009, the Muppets released a rendition of "Bohemian Rhapsody" that was released as an online video on YouTube. The video became a viral hit and received over 10-million views within its first two weeks online. The video was mistakenly removed from YouTube on December 15 "due to a copyright claim by EMI Publishing Scandinavia AB" but returned on the 16th.
The recording used the original instrumental tracks recoded by Queen in 1975, as such the release has been billed as being recorded by "Queen + The Muppets." Brian May, lead guitarist of Queen, responded to questions of Queen's involvement in the video on his website in December 2009, stating:
| “ | Once the idea for this recording came up, we did supply 'stems' of our own original backing track to the Muppets, so that they could effectively 'sing' with Queen. We don't often do this - it's only because of our respect for these people as artists that we'd do this. I'm sure Freddie would feel the same way ... some projects are just worthy of a proper collaboration. So .. yes .. you are hearing us play on this track - including Freddie's magnificent piano track, of course. I think it makes it all the more funny! After they'd done their bits we got the track back to OK ... I immediately thought it was brilliantly done, but I had no idea it would light such a huge bush fire. Amazing. | ” |
In a 2010 interview with the Washington Post, director Kirk Thatcher said the video was "very much a group effort," and was shot in a single day on a soundstage in North Hollywood with a troupe of about 20 people. [1]
The 2009 cast rendition of the song was released as a single on Amazon.com and the iTunes Store in mid-December 2009. The single was released internationally on December 14th, and in the US on December 15th. The online video was also released as a music video for purchase as well.
Additionally, the video for the song received airplay as a music video on Disney Channel, both within the U.S. and internationally. It was later re-released on YouTube with Kermit and the Muppets providing an audio commentary on the video.
On December 31, 2011/Janurary 1, 2012, the video was projected onto the mist screens along the Rivers of America at Disneyland as one of the "Random Acts of Disney" during the park's New Years Eve party. (YouTube)
CastEdit
The 2009 YouTube video features a full cast of Muppets, including (in order of appearance):
Clockwise from top: Angel Marie, Mo Frackle, Old Tom and Purple Frackle, plus a bunny
plus Big Mean Carl
Clockwise from top: The Barbershop Cactus Quartet, flowers, prairie dogs, bunnies, bananas, and monkeys (with Sal Minella)
- The Muppet Performers: Steve Whitmire, Dave Goelz, Eric Jacobson, Bill Barretta, David Rudman, Matt Vogel
- Musicians: Freddie Mercury (piano), Brian May (guitar), John Deacon (bass), Roger Taylor (drums)
ReferencesEdit
- In The Muppet Show Comic Book: Family Reunion, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew hooks Beaker up to the Genebuster to discover one of Beaker's unkown relatives. As the Genebuster starts to work, Bunsen says, "I see a little silhouette, it's of a man..." Beaker chimes in, crying out a rhythmic "Meep meep meep! Meep meep meep! Meep meep meep meep meep meep meep..." Bunsen: "Thunderbolts and lightning! Very very frightening..." "Meep!" Bunsen: "Gary Mayo! Gary Mayo!" "Meep meep meep meep! Meep meep meep meep!" "Gary Mayo!" "Meep meep meep meep?" "Magnifico!" Following the departure of Gary Mayo, Bunsen shrugs and says, "Ah well. Easy come, easy go."
SourcesEdit
- ↑ Muppets go viral with projects such as 'Bohemian Rhapsody' video parody, Michael Cavna, Washington Post, February 21, 2010
External linksEdit
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