Drummer reacts to "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen (Original Demo)

[@Annie-hd3jx]

You really do have to watch Queen Live Aid 1985 really really really 😊👍👍👍

[@hkynuts11]

Somebody to Love is the best video ever recorded. Live in Montreal.

[@BettyArmitage]

Yes …Yes! More Queen please. Live performances are almost always much better than studio releases…..

[@Mr.Greeeeeen]

Queen in the 70s…best era! 🙏⭐️❤️

[@NigelOrmsvik]

The Red Special Brian plays is genuinely priceless, made from odd parts and usually played with a Sixpence piece, the instrument has a totally unique sound. Queen were themselves unique, no other like them, and just out of this World.

[@topmandog1]

and johns amp added to the sound

[@GYPSYG514]

"big sweaty dude hitting a gong" that's Drummer Roger Taylor....BEST Drummer in the Universe!!!

[@jeffmiller4832]

Given a choice between studio or live, pick live. Their set from Live Aid is a must see. Then their concert from Wembley in 1986 is even better and MUCH longer. Dude, I dare you to go down that rabbit hole. Almost forgot Somebody to Love, Montreal 1981. I saw them four times during the 70’s thru the 80’s. My ears rang for two days after each concert. So loud 😋So, PLEASE enjoy.

[@KimSimful]

Queen videos are a MUST.

[@scottyhotty1003]

Absolutely

[@L33Reacts]

@@KimSimful I see…. I will definitely be doing more! I think I have a couple requests for them this month. So you’ll be seeing plenty more this month :)

[@BriRog68]

The sweaty dude hitting the gong was the incomparable Roger Taylor was/is a beast in drums and vocals! Please react to Somebody To Love live Montreal 1981. Ranked as the second greatest live performance with Live Aid ranked as the greatest live performance in Rock history❤️👑🎸🎹🎤🥁

[@topmandog1]

Roger Meadows Taylor lol

[@cindydegraaff5083]

Dude! Queen can’t be categorized and they broke so many records and “rules” back in the 70’s. You really need to look into their catalog.

[@markmurphy558]

SOMEONE TO LOVE live in montreal

[@Gery_1402]

Somebody to Love 😉

[@markmurphy558]

@@Gery_1402 Thanx

[@scottyhotty1003]

The “original remaster mix is “Bohemian Rhapsody” from A Night At The Opera. It features the same piano and vocal performance with the same lyrics. But there are different effects on Freddie’s voice in the first section. The opera middle is the same except the effects and volume on the different voices. In the third part, one measure is omitted from May’s initial guitar solo and the volume is raise on the piano. There is incomprehensible studio chatter at the song’s end.❤

[@L33Reacts]

@@scottyhotty1003 you can hear the difference in Brian’s solo for sure. It was a great video!!

[@scottyhotty1003]

​@L33Reacts absolutely! Also his last line of "anyway the wind blows" and gong smash ending are much louder and clear in this version 💯🔥♥️🎶

[@GirlWithAnOpinion]

As I recall seeing a couple years ago, they did this "Demo" video to show on the British music show Midnight Special in place of them having them lip synching, which was what they were expected/required to do. I think it was Brian who most adamantly refused to do that, so they came up with this video to show in their place. P.S. Great reaction!! Most natural physical response I've ever seen! Now go watch the 1981 Montreal live performance of "Somebody to Love" *AFTER* you listen to the studio version. Prepare to be blown away!

[@Panda_man..]

And if I remember correctly, it was because of them wanting to do a video, that it became first ever *promotional* music video.

[@papercup2517]

@@Panda_man.. Well, except that the Beatles along with some other bands had been doing them for years in the 60s, just on film, not video, since video hadn't been invented!

[@papercup2517]

Top of the Pops, I think.. obligatory back then to have your song on TotP if you wanted it to do well in the UK charts. Midnight Special was a US TV show featuring mainly black artists, IIRC.

[@Panda_man..]

@@papercup2517 no yeah I know, The Beatles did ones on film for songs like Paperback Writer, Strawberry Fields Forever, and a few others I can’t remember at the moment.

[@visaman]

​@@papercup2517The Beatles made films.

[@CarolynWagner-wv5ww]

🎉Who Wants To Live Forever - is an amazing song. Make sure you watch the original official video because it will blow you away!!

[@lidiavilasecaperramon6983]

The live version, Budapest, 1986 is very good.

[@lyna4873]

Lots of great LIVE performances of Queen to choose from. Liar and Stone Cold Crazy at the Rainbow 1974, White Queen at the Hammersmith Odeon 1975, Somebody to Love, Save Me, We Are the Champions and Dragon Attack at Montreal 1981 and Now I'm Here, Love of My Life at Wembley 1986 and Who Wants to Live Forever at Budapest 1986. And what about their most famous live performance at Live Aid 1985--need to do the entire 20 minutes in one go for that. Their entire catalog is so diverse--they hit most every genre.

[@lidiavilasecaperramon6983]

I totally agree.

[@Coquinagirl]

So cute, Lee’s rockin’ to it! It sounds better to me, too, than the original release. Everything’s up front and crisp. It’s much more dramatic, especially with Roger’s prominent drumbeat punctuating everything. Culminating with the “big sweaty dude hitting a gong”. 😀 I had no longer cared much to listen to the original release and now I know why. It’s sound is fuzzy. I love this demo! Thank you for this pick, Scott! Thank you, Lee! More Queen that’s fresh like this would be wonderful.

[@scottyhotty1003]

💯🎶♥️🔥

[@edwardmeradith2419]

It sounds basically like an early mix, not a demo - Way too much compression, drums up, same gtr solos- but in the post-operatic section gtr section, the highest guitar part isn’t faded in fully til a few bars in. The (huge) compression brings up a lot of things - any instrumental or vocal decay swells - reverb on vocals, drums in general, piano in the last verse.

[@S0ldeed]

Agree. This is a remix, not a demo. Huge amounts of reverb and compression, but very noticeably the same performances

[@robinbeerman4726]

When musicians actually had to have talent. No autotune. Supposedly his coming song.

[@visaman]

For 1 Freddy Mercury's we have 100 William Hungs.

[@robinbeerman4726]

Don't understand what you are saying . Don't really care.

[@dropzone9639]

In the intro, that is all Freddie...he does all four parts.

[@arizrich]

Id call this the most unique rock song ever!

[@scottyhotty1003]

Maybe one of your most animated reactions I simply love it bro!!!💯🔥♥️🎶

[@L33Reacts]

@@scottyhotty1003 lol I really got into this one!! So good! Thank you Scott!

[@GreatestFrontman]

Yes definitely do more reactions to Queen. They have a real big variety of different styles of music, timeless, versatile… and all the songs mentioned in the comments are great. You truly cannot go wrong. 💯🎶

[@scottyhotty1003]

This is from the Rare Cuts Volume 1 C.D. track 17. Its listed as an original master remix. It sounds Incredible to me💯🎶🔥♥️!!!

[@aleclewis9123]

Have you seen the video of Brian May showing how this song was recorded? 🙂 If not, have a look for "Inside The Rhapsody Part 3". Definitely worth a watch. 😉

[@scottyhotty1003]

It sounds almost live this version I love it nice change❤💯🎶🔥

[@Jahbs]

Great to hear you reacting to a bit more Queen! Now that is a rabbit hole, hope it continues ☮️ ❤️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@nanlewis]

Sounded awesome to me!

[@scottyhotty1003]

Agreed... absolutely

[@joannparker1977]

OMG This is your first time reacting to THIS? Well, it is the so-called "official video", but it's crazy. It's a demo back from when it first came out. And it's pretty damned good for something back in the mid-70's

[@dgator3599]

"Death on Two Legs" opening song on their 4th album, A Night at the Opera. Written by Freddie about the band's fall-out with their original manager, Norman Sheffield. Though the song makes no direct reference to him, Sheffield sued both the band and the record label for defamation. This resulted in an out-of-court settlement, thus revealing to the public his connection with the song. It's a banger of a song and Freddie had some balls to get it on the album!!

[@kweile4339]

Thanks Scott and Lee!

[@slm_766]

I loved watching you (L33) 'singing' along, bouncing your head!

[@genegarrett3372]

Any record, no matter how pretentious, whit an astro physics PhD on guitar is worthy of a listen.

[@geob3963]

Dr. May

[@fineasfogg1461]

Not only that, but the astrophysics PhD, who worked on the Pluto New Horizon‘s project in 2015❤! And he looks more like Isaac Newton, than anybody else in the world today.

[@thomasmacdiarmid8251]

To be precise though, none of the Queen songs with Freddy Mercury include Dr. Brian May. He completed his doctorate after.

[@dantallman5345]

I have seen the Bohemian Rhapsody video on countless reactions but for some reason this time the head banging part in the Mirth Mobile came to mind.

[@elisabethaxelsson4736]

I love this song so much so wounderful music and Freddies voice, Queen one of my favorit groups.

[@corawheeler9355]

What a great video ... wow

[@scottyhotty1003]

Absolutely ❤

[@SnoopySnoops1]

Thanks, Scott! Never get tired of hearing this. I listened to Night at the Opera so many times when it came out. Wonderful album!

[@Linda-y9h]

It's absolutely necessary to do the head bang. ❤😂

[@L33Reacts]

@@Linda-y9h I couldn’t help it. It is absolutely demanded of the listener. 😁😁😁

[@genegarrett3372]

Well, we knew this was coming eventually. Composed of three pseudo-operatic Freddy Mercury songs, this six-minute opus used up to 200 overdubs, resulting in the tape nearly worn through. There were hundreds of hours of vocal recordings alone and Queen put four studios through their limits to accomplish this track. Is it great music? probably not in the classical sense, but it was fun. Hell, the Wayne's World video alone was justification enough. Anyway, I doubt the limitations of this space will be able to contain all the comments, You are opening a flood gate.

[@scottyhotty1003]

Great comment and analysis bro. I can't imagine the mixing and editing involved in this masterpiece. Let the comment begin...lol❤

[@Mikey-DiLo]

React to Now I’m Here live at Wembley 1986. All band members performing at their best. Freddie running around from one end of the stage to the other. There is also a Roger Taylor (drummer) multicam video of this same performance focused just on him. He said this is his hardest song to perform and you’ll see why. There is also a multicam of John Deacon, same song. Epic performance.

[@jome7382]

Putting Queen into a category is a bit like nailing jelly to a post.

[@thruppence-ys9zp]

Great to see the video cleaned up from the fuzzy mess we were used to seeing on TV

[@scottyhotty1003]

Absolutely

[@jimholt1888]

Thanks Lee! I've not listened for a long time. Had me driving and tearing up! Ahhhh....rock and roll! Try Dragon Attack next! Or, Don't Stop Mr Now for fun!

[@chrissyparx9472]

Take a listen to 'Mustapha' & 'I'm Going Slightly Mad'. Two really cool songs by Queen.You will be surprised too.

[@markwade2530]

I can still remember when I first heard this in October 1975 & it blew me away. I was already a Queen fan since '74 (Killer Queen started it for me)) but Bohemian Rhapsody was from a different planet at the time. Check out Brighton Rock, Killer Queen, Great King Rat, Liar for starters... oh, and you have to do Ogre Battle 😊

[@carolynschmidt5467]

Wonderful intelligent reaction. 39 was Brian May's song about time travel.

[@SonomaBill1]

another bucket list achieved. Queen in concert. At the age of 20 !! too bad that was 45 years ago . . .

[@papercup2517]

A couple of highly recommended songs I think you'd like, beyond the well-known hits: White Queen - Live at Hammersmith Odeon, 1975 - great Brian May-penned song with medieval, mystical vibes, includes a mind-bending, almost transcendental duet between Freddie on piano and Brian on guitar You Take My Beath Away - Live at Hyde Park, 1976 - just Freddie alone on piano in the green twilight, shushing a rowdy crowd at this free Queen concert with one thin finger and a stunningly executed, unembellished version of this tale of obsessive love. And, of course, if you haven't already seen/ heard it: Somebody to Love - Live in Montreal, 1981 - possibly one of the greatest, high energy vocal performances of any song, ever, Freddie's attempt to write a gospel influenced song in the Aretha Franklin style, it'll blow your socks off with superlative performances by every member of the band.

[@bonya4585]

If you are going to react to more Queen, most video reactions are better because Queen is so fun to watch. They’re just a treat for the eyes. Thank you L33

[@olias056]

The first 3 songs on Queen II, white side is right up there with anything Queen has done. Queen II had a white and black side. the white side was Brian May's side. He wrote everything but one song, I think, and he sung on at least one, and his guitar work was masterful. The Dark side was Freddie unleashed. And, in those days, Freddie wore black nail polish on his hand, and Brian wore white nail polish. But I really love Procession/Father to Son/White Queen. They all run into each other and make a glorious long song.

[@dustylane2898]

I was blessed to see them in concert 7 times, started when they played in Santa Monica supporting the Sheer Heart Attack album (with Mahogany Rush opening). Freddy was the best front man I ever saw and the band was so tight every time. I'd offer some suggestions but just dive in my friend, it's incredibly good.

[@fineasfogg1461]

I am not sure if anybody has said this or not yet probably they have because there’s so many more smart people than me here.. but Pentatonix does such a spectacular version of this ….takes your breath away

[@willfromyadkinville]

so special!

[@topmandog1]

the demo is different to the album, version, you should listen to both, this demo has some background bits missing

[@heero17v83]

I like your reaction very much, you're honest and fun, Bohemian Rhapsody is a real classic, my favourite band is muse, you can listen to them, very good, but considering your age you may have listened to them a lot. I have another advice, you can make a video about your favourite bands or favourite songs, that would be very fun

[@robrob7400]

Stone cold crazy from sheer heart attack - you’ll love it

[@scottyhotty1003]

26.7K🎉🎉🎉

[@MikeOstrowski-iq8wf]

……Love that J.Geils Band album in your background ❤️🔥🎸 “Full House” Live

[@GinMae]

Thanks.. L33.. yes, Freddie's vocals were so good, even when he re-recorded and layered them, they were almost always spot-on.. same with Brian's guitar... (mainly what I'm hearing is reverb here.. not necessary - lol) ... appreciate your reaction...

[@andrewcole3736]

There was a study done on exactly what men and women pay attention to when they listen to songs. The data shows that most men concentrate on the music and most women concentrate more on the lyrics. 🕊❤️🎼

[@L33Reacts]

@@andrewcole3736 well that makes me feel better haha 😆 I should try to focus on the lyrics too!!

[@SencoO0]

Wait... Am i a woman:O

[@papercup2517]

Meaning vs mechanics, perhaps??! (Or is that too sexist or something?) lol

[@TammyDenney]

Can you please do Another One Bites the Dust in Milton Keynes and get down make love in Milton Keynes. I think you'll really enjoy it. You've never heard these versions before.

[@realbser1956]

Very minor differences to me. Biggest one is Brian’s solo. Could have been the finished track as far as I’m concerned. Thanks Scott.

[@carolynschmidt5467]

Brian's ending solo and also Ashoken's Farewell....two instrumentals that need no lyrics to express profound emotion.

[@TammyDenney]

This was Freddie’s coming out song. It was 3 parts of his life at that time. The person he killed was Farrukh, Balsara , so that Freddie Mercury could live.

[@scottyhotty1003]

Wow!! I never thought of it that way. ❤

[@TammyDenney]

@@scottyhotty1003Freddie said it was 3 songs put together, because 4:37 he couldn't say otherwise in those times. But he told people in his inner circle .

[@scottyhotty1003]

@@TammyDenney very cool gives the song new meaning

[@TammyDenney]

@@scottyhotty1003yes❣️

[@brigidsingleton1596]

Have you reacted to the Green Day Hyde Park, London, UK, 2017 1st July concert and watched and heard _their_ Green Day fans audience_sing_ the entire Bohemian Rhapsody song ?

[@chrismorley5862]

March of the Black Queen - completely different song to BR, but in terms of a bonkers original, evolving song it is up there.

[@spooley]

Brian May doesn't like plastic guitar picks so he switched to using a sixpence coin. Last year he joked he was saving them because one day they may stop minting new ones.

[@Mikey-DiLo]

I saw an interview with Brian that he likes the sixpence minted 1956 or before because the metal makeup was different. This is a man that is a perfectionist! Love him.

[@papercup2517]

Goodness - I don't know what Brian could have meant because sixpences haven't been minted since Britain switched to decimal currency (from pounds, shillings and pence) in the early 70s!!

[@Mikey-DiLo]

@papercup2517 yeah I heard they haven't been minted since like 1974.

[@GYPSYG514]

If I'm not mistaken, they minted more just for him

[@papercup2517]

@@GYPSYG514 Ah, maybe that explains it then.

[@ittamandarano8262]

Freddie loved John Lennon, his idol. SAVE ME live at Montreal is a great performance, as well as DRAGON ATTACK same concert The meaning of BoRap is ....

[@carolynschmidt5467]

Still got a crush on Roger and his sizzling voice.

[@sherryheim5504]

It sounds to me like a lot of the background vocals are missing but this song was completedand getting airplay before the video was created.

[@judithermer7969]

Never liked this song until I heard Forestella’s cover. Never could and still can’t see the big deal with Freddie’s vocals, so many better singers out there.

[@lisannebaumholz5028]

Is there any Queen song that isn't made better with the 5th member of the band... which is their audience? Here is the audience at a Green Day concert (at Hyde Park, London in 2017) singing Bohemian Rhapsody before the concert they came to see even started: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYvRc4Grptata8ksi=hcH5Qwuw0rRvBFs2

[@jpmnewyork]

It sounded to me like the opening choral parts were a bit slower and with more space between the lines than on the final version.

[@L33Reacts]

I agree. It’s got some minor differences but Brian’s solo sounds a tad different in the beginning but that’s the only differences I noticed

[@Moz1011]

If you have time you shoulf do queen at Live Aid.

[@guinkoo]

Ever heard of PENTATONIX? They’re an acapella group and they do this and you should hear the guitar riff performed by a voice and megaphone!!! I PROMISE you’ll love it!! Something new to add to your channel 🙏🏽

[@leeanngeorge6707]

you should check out Marc Martel , he sang in the Queen movie

[@davidmacfarlane1763]

Basically sounds finished..... Bwhaaaaaaaa Queen did not half arse even demos.

[@kathleenmayhorne3183]

Watch the Green Day crowd singing it.

[@emerald1805]

The term you use -“I listen to the instrumental” is incorrect. You are listening to the music. An instrumental is a song without lyrics. Freddie’s religion was Zoroastrian. Thus the inclusion of “Bismillah” in the lyrics. The track “Prophet’s Song” from the same album is an even more elaborate, intricately produced song, and even more “radio friendly”. I believe you will really love it. It’s my personal favorite Queen song. Written by Brian. Everyone in the music business at the time was VERY surprised when “Bohemian Rhapsody” became a hit. Uncharted territory!

[@Moz1011]

Th Queen Bio wasnt the best. Quite cheesy i thought.

[@papercup2517]

About 50% fact, 50% fiction, I'd say. As I understand it, It was meant to be a bio of Freddie specifically, and Rami did a really good imitation of many of his mannerisms/ body language. But, perhaps due to the script not really addressing them, his portrayal completely missed all the fascinating layers of Freddie's multi-layered, often contradictory personality including his genuinely sweet and caring side with friends, and his tendency to shyness around strangers when not prancing about on stage in front of thousands..

[@kathleenmayhorne3183]

I like the forrest Gump line... found Jesus yet? Didn't know I was supposed to be looking for him.

[@hongfang2348]

True, the Bible contains some weird things which reflect the people who lived on earth several thousand years ago.

[@frankmcbride7051]

Calling this the demo version is wrong. It's a remix. Everything we hear here is on the original, but with some things pulled way back and tons of reverb on the vocals.

[@johnmullins9250]

I don't think this is a demo

[@scottyhotty1003]

This is from the Rare Cuts Volume 1 C.D. track 17. Its listed as an orighinal master remix.

[@papercup2517]

More like a discarded version, perhaps?

[@KevinPare]

Not a demo. That's somebody just taking the regular track and futzing with it on their PC, then releasing on a bootleg CD. Somebody else later puts it on KZbin.

[@rugbyfan460]

Bad mix and a lot of echo on Freddie's voice.

[@josephinemonahan915]

It sounds like it was recorded in a tunnel😂….the other version is better🤩

[@proofprof50]

After watching this for the 5,230,432nd time, I can just say I'm glad they eventually went for raw and got rid of the echoes and the flames at the beginning. Yuck.

[@papercup2517]

Yes, I definitely prefer the official version - visually and sonically it's just perfect! (Except perhaps for the final 'Anyway the wind blows' and gong being so faint - and these days obscured by YT's infuriating habit of plastering other videos they want you to watch all over the final minute or so of any video - which means many reactors and others don't even notice the wonderful coda, and think the song's already finished.)

[@proofprof50]

@@papercup2517 that pisses me off to no end.

[@papercup2517]

@@proofprof50 Yep...

[@lizholewa8881]

Why not just do the original video that sounds a lot better.

[@MJM1309]

all the harmonies are Freddie Mercury