# Bohemian Rhapsody - Greatest Rock Song? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 10, 2006, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bohemian-rhapsody-greatest-rock-song/356262 "2006-05-10T19:43:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bohemian-rhapsody-greatest-rock-song/356262/1 "2006-05-10T19:43:49Z")
This might find it’s way to GD, but I’ll start it here. So what do you guys think? Is it the best? Did **Freddie Mercury** create the Rock masterpiece? Or do you have something you consider better? If so, what? And if anyone mentions anything by **Creed** , death will soon follow. That’s a promise. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bohemian-rhapsody-greatest-rock-song/356262/2 "2006-05-10T19:50:37Z")
I don’t know about “best” but it’s certainly up there. So is “We Will Rock You”, a perfect arena rock song. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bohemian-rhapsody-greatest-rock-song/356262/3 "2006-05-10T19:51:22Z")
But how can Bohemian Rhapsody compare to **With Arms Wide Open**? Hmmm, no lightning, no bullet through the window, so I’ll continue… IMNSHO, Bohemian Rhapsody’s major rival is **Stairway to Heaven**. I’ll give Stairway the edge. ---
**Author:** ![ddgryphon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bohemian-rhapsody-greatest-rock-song/356262/4 "2006-05-10T19:52:55Z")
> [@ronincyberpunk](#): > > This might find it’s way to GD, but I’ll start it here. > > So what do you guys think? Is it the best? Did **Freddie Mercury** create the Rock masterpiece? Or do you have something you consider better? If so, what? > > And if anyone mentions anything by **Creed** , death will soon follow. That’s a promise. I’d think “Whole Lotta Lovin’” or “Rock and Roll” would easily trump Bohemian Rhapsody as greatest Rock song. There are probably a few other candidates – then you have to talk criteria. By what criteria? Coolness, I’ll give BR that, but it really doesn’t rock very well. In fact “We Will Rock You” probably beats it on the “rock you” criteria alone. My Generation has a lot going for it. What are we looking for in terms of Greatest Rock Song? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bohemian-rhapsody-greatest-rock-song/356262/5 "2006-05-10T19:58:20Z")
Not even in the Top 50. Depending on how loosely you define “Rock,” I would place Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” in the Top 10. Others might be “Heartbreak Hotel” - Elvis; “Stairway To Heaven” Led Zep; “Born To Run” - Springsteen; and others depending on my mood. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bohemian-rhapsody-greatest-rock-song/356262/6 "2006-05-10T20:02:10Z")
> [@ddgryphon](#): > > I’d think “Whole Lotta Lovin’” or “Rock and Roll” would easily trump Bohemian Rhapsody as greatest Rock song. There are probably a few other candidates – then you have to talk criteria. > > By what criteria? Coolness, I’ll give BR that, but it really doesn’t rock very well. In fact “We Will Rock You” probably beats it on the “rock you” criteria alone. > > My Generation has a lot going for it. > > What are we looking for in terms of Greatest Rock Song? I’d put BR more in line with Wangerian Rock than Rock & Roll. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bohemian-rhapsody-greatest-rock-song/356262/7 "2006-05-10T20:03:23Z")
Er, _Wagnerian_ rock. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bohemian-rhapsody-greatest-rock-song/356262/8 "2006-05-10T20:04:06Z")
Not a great song, not THE greatest, just “that song from Wayne’s World” for me. It’s that funny WW scene and MTV that gave BR the reputation it seems to have. Like Stairway and, to a lesser degree, Freebird, I think people say “it’s the best rock song ever!” because it’s a long song with multiple sections. That doesn’t even make it interesting, let alone great. I’ll try to come up with some other nominees in a minute. ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bohemian-rhapsody-greatest-rock-song/356262/9 "2006-05-10T20:05:16Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > Er, _Wagnerian_ rock. How many songs did BR defeat to win this category? ---
**Author:** ![some\_white\_dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b487fb/32.png) [@some\_white\_dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/some_white_dude)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bohemian-rhapsody-greatest-rock-song/356262/10 "2006-05-10T20:05:26Z")
All the technical aspects of Bohemian Rhapsody aside, I find it too unfocused. Give me something crispt and tight, like “You Really Got Me,” by **The Kinks**. Not that that’s the greatest song in rock history, but it’s just an example of the type of song I’d nominate. Of course, this kind of debate is pointless without some sort of system that allows us to objectively determine the greatest song ever. Something like album sales. But then a rigid rule like that pretty much defies the very essence of Rock ‘n’ Roll. What are we to do? Well, I have no answer to that question, but I just came up with my nominee: “Lovefool,” by **The Cardigans**. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bohemian-rhapsody-greatest-rock-song/356262/11 "2006-05-10T20:12:01Z")
> [@Ol'Gaffer](#): > > How many songs did BR defeat to win this category? Pretty much anything written by Jim Steinman. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bohemian-rhapsody-greatest-rock-song/356262/12 "2006-05-10T20:21:30Z")
Well, I’ll give you that. ---
**Author:** ![DfrntBreign](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@DfrntBreign](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DfrntBreign)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bohemian-rhapsody-greatest-rock-song/356262/13 "2006-05-10T20:43:23Z")
I’ll go with “All Along The Watchtower”. It’s Dylan It’s Hendrix It’s Dave Mason It’s Stevie Ray Vaughan It’s poetry and madness It’s powerful and glorious It’s mocking and stone serious It’s style and substance It’s passion and grace It’s got a good beat and you can dance to it It’s life It’s death It’s Rock And Roll Or maybe “Radar Love” ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bohemian-rhapsody-greatest-rock-song/356262/14 "2006-05-10T20:43:46Z")
Nah - I wouldn’t even nominate it (or [especially] “We Will Rock You”) as the greatest _Queen_ song - that honor would go to “Somebody To Love”. I pretty much hate all “classic” rock (Led Zep, Pink Floyd, Hendrix, anything involving Eric Clapton, any post-60s Who or Stones - although, oddly, I always liked Queen), so my pick would probably be something more punk or post-punk-oriented, but I doubt it would be what the OP’s looking for, so I’ll refrain. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bohemian-rhapsody-greatest-rock-song/356262/15 "2006-05-10T20:50:42Z")
Almost any song you can nominate has been played so many millions of times that it loses the edge that makes for great rock. If **woodstockbirdybird** was thinking of nominating Holiday in Cambodia, I’d say go for it. 😉 Or even Maggie’s Farm, although I’m sure many people have heard it to death. I just haven’t. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bohemian-rhapsody-greatest-rock-song/356262/16 "2006-05-10T20:50:48Z")
I love BR, but I can’t say that it is the greatest rock song ever. By any qualification I can think of, there are other songs that I think surpass it’s greatness. In terms of Operatic grandeur I think that the Who and Jethro Tull have it beat hands down. It terms of sheer rockinness I don’t think it is even the best queen song. In terms of musical complexity within the Pop song format (i.e. multiple interlocking parts, and under 5 minutes long) I think that Radiohead have gone one step further with _Paranoid Android_ (which would be my nomination for possibly the greatest rock song ever). The Beach Boys had more intricate harmonies, Pink Floyd has better guitar solos, every song the Beatles wrote was more influential. The only thing that BR has going for it that is arguably better than anything anyone else has done is Freddy’s lead vocal. But I don’t think a lead vocal is enough to qualify it as the greatest rock song ever. Normally this is the point in the post where I would make the case that \*\*Radiohead \*\* wrote the greatest rock song ever, and that it is a crime that people only look to the 70’s to find these songs. But after reading > [@D\_Odds](#): > > But how can Bohemian Rhapsody compare to With Arms Wide Open? I think I have to agree…Creed are the forgotten rock heroes, and **With Arms Wide Open** is the greatest rock song ever. Truely **Creed** are gods among rock stars. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bohemian-rhapsody-greatest-rock-song/356262/17 "2006-05-10T20:53:09Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > > [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > > > I’d put BR more in line with Wangerian Rock than Rock & Roll. > > Er, _Wagnerian_ rock. If you ask me, you had it right the first time. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bohemian-rhapsody-greatest-rock-song/356262/18 "2006-05-10T20:53:29Z")
> [@DfrntBreign](#): > > Or maybe “Radar Love” whoa, I was thinking the same think. When it comes to a straight forward band’s band hard rocking rock song without any gimicks “Radar Love” is pretty good. “Bohemian Rhapsody” while still a great song doesn’t really fit my criteria for “Rock” song. It’s too gimicky with the quirky mid-song chant-a-long and acapella singing. A “Rock” song is one drummer, a bass guitar, one or two other guitars, and one lead vocalist jamming their hearts out. No gimmicks, just rock. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bohemian-rhapsody-greatest-rock-song/356262/19 "2006-05-10T20:56:19Z")
> [@Team of Scientists](#): > > All the technical aspects of Bohemian Rhapsody aside, I find it too unfocused. Right you are. It’s a bunch of bits and bobs stuck together without even an attempt at cohesion. Give me “Killer Queen” over the “Rhapsody” any day. ---
**Author:** ![ddgryphon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bohemian-rhapsody-greatest-rock-song/356262/20 "2006-05-10T21:04:31Z")
> [@Biffy the Elephant Shrew](#): > > Right you are. It’s a bunch of bits and bobs stuck together without even an attempt at cohesion. Give me “Killer Queen” over the “Rhapsody” any day. And that (“Killer Queen”) is likely my favorite song by Queen. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bohemian-rhapsody-greatest-rock-song/356262.md?page=2)