Understanding Bohemian Rhapsody

[@12tone]

Some additional thoughts/corrections: 1) Thanks to Rohin from Medlife Crisis and Henry from minutephysics for lending me their voices as Freddie Mercury and Brian May respectively! Check out their work if you haven't, it's very good: Medlife Crisis: kzbin.info minutephysics: kzbin.info 2) On the intro, I just had to pick one voice to notate as the lead 'cause doing all four notes in every voicing with a sharpie would've been extremely hard to read. I went with the second voice from the top, the one that starts on G, mostly because that's the one I tend to naturally sing to when I listen to this song, but as I mentioned it's kinda arbitrary. Any of them would've worked. 3) One cool thing about the intro that I didn't really have enough to say about but wanted to mention somewhere is that, because the texture is so sparse, they can get away with just adding in extra beats whenever they want to to make the lines fit. If you count carefully, you'll find a couple random bars of 5/4 in there, but they really don't stick out unless you go digging for them. 4) The rhythm I notated on the "doesn't really matter" might seem wrong, but actually Mercury's lead part sings it like that, it's just the choir hangs on "matter" for longer. No idea why but having listened to the stems it's definitely true. 5) One thing I forgot to mention about that Cmi in the Eb section is it's also where the "any way the wind blows" counterline comes in. Wish I'd remembered that, but anyway it does kinda the same thing, tying back to the gentler intro. 6) On the solo, to be clear, I don't believe May wrote it note-for-note in advance. He may have, but the interviews I've seen imply that he went in with a clear shape in mind. The details were likely ad libbed, It's just the specific ideas were already there, but those specific ideas are the parts that interest me most.

[@akkmedia6578]

Awesome analysis. Strong request: Do "Tout Petit Moineau" By Igorrr. Link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3zTZGN5aLKqjM0 This track is super complex sonically and has a ton of stuff going on, and is also really beautiful and ugly at the same time. If you're not familiar with their work, as a someone who is into music nerdiness you really should get familiar. Try to imagine Mr Bungle/Captain Beefheart with modern music tech but also the ability to construct through lines and pretty sounding and ultra aggressive stuff with modern tech. I don't think this is their best song but it's one of the most accessible.

[@MedlifeCrisis]

Thanks for having me! Fun to contribute to and learn so much from this video. Freddie is a real hero of mine...and randomly I was at school with Brian May's son! (we didn't know each other)

[@kjl3080]

That’s a collab I would’ve never expected

[@Aphelia.]

@@kjl3080 ikr

[@aldude9511]

I recognized Rohin immediately, but it took a few times for me to catch on to Henry. Nice crossovers!

[@Rapidashisaunicorn]

Me when I clicked on the video: A 12tone video about bohemian rhapsody that’s only 22 minutes long? Me 21 minutes in: Ahhh, that makes sense.

[@possible-realities]

It does make sense to be his first two part analysis video, doesn't it?

[@nugboy420]

@@possible-realities lol I’d say

[@SomniRespiratoryFlux]

One tiiiiny detail I really like about the "open your eyes" line that you didn't quite mention... The lead vocal line that emerges on that line still feels like part of the choir on those words specifically, and over the course of the words "look up to the skies and see", it almost blends out of the choir and gradually comes into prominence. I couldn't have told you that the "open your eyes" part of that line was descending like that without the stems, but as the line progresses, you as the listener open your metaphorical "eyes" (...ears?), and gradually become more aware of the lead line until on the word "see", it's very clearly the most prominent line. And the whole thing is so smooth and gradual that it adds to the dreamlike quality of the section. Very cool detail I wouldn't have noticed without this video! Congratulations on 500k, can't wait for the second half!

[@robnewhouse5995]

I had this exact revelation listening to this!

[@secularZoo]

Yes I never noticed that until this video as well. I always perceived the melody line of "open your eyes" as three D notes, not D-Eb-D-Bb like Mercury actually does in the lead vocal here.

[@macronencer]

Yep, me too. I had NEVER heard that "open your eyes" melody clearly before, and just heard it as staying on the the D.

[@petersilktube]

Yes, came here to comment on the same thing. Perhaps I won't be able to unhear the descending melody now I've heard it, but I just hear the melody as staying on D, and would never have sung along in that descending way.

[@ericherde1]

I also always heard it as a drone in “open your eyes”.

[@RubyRoks]

This seems like a contender for "most paper used in a 12tone video" Fantastic analysis. I appreciate the commitment to not sticking to one interpretation.

[@lynx8779]

Worth

[@Producelikeapro]

Unbelievable breakdown of my favourite song! True masterpiece! Thanks for making this great video!

[@reidflemingworldstoughestm1394]

Hey, you're that famous person!

[@josephbeamon8132]

I just want to recognize your really amazing talent with a sharpie, (without diminishing any part of your amazing analysis of course).

[@prapanthebachelorette6803]

Yes, he’s good with both 😍

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

12tone can do with a sharpie what most people couldn't do with professional editing software.

[@1oolabob]

I was a 1970s fan of Queen through A Night at the Opera before I was a 1990s Queen fan via Wayne's World, and this was all before I was a 2010s fan of Bohemian Rhapsody because of the movie. I have enjoyed this song many times, and very thoroughly, through car stereo speakers, through headphones and with movie theater surround sound. I was quite sure I had squeezed every possible drop of enjoyment from the song into my ears, mind, and soul. Your analysis somehow brought me to an even deeper appreciation of it. It's like seeing magic done in slow motion, and realizing that it's actual magic. Thank you for what you do here 12Tone. I genuinely didn't know how much fun music analysis could be until I discovered your channel.

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

Huh, I guess that song really comes around every two decades. Wonder what'll happen in the 2030s.

[@jakemauger8377]

"like seeing magic done in slow motion, and realizing that it's actual magic." Well said, sir.

[@reidflemingworldstoughestm1394]

Good songs never stop giving.

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

*beings unconsciously headbanging in car while my friend is about to spew in the back*

[@hairutheninja]

I dont think ive ever been so glad a video got split i looked at the time after the solo breakdown and im like... ummm theres not enough time left I look forward to part 2 love this channel its fun and i learn cool things about music

[@leahness1121]

As someone who is tone deaf (I sing like a cat in heat being put in a blender) I love your channel because it helps me appreciate music more than I already do. Can you do one on hip hop? Kendrick Lamar and MF Doom have very interesting sounds and it would be amazing to learn about the musicality behind hip-hop/rap.

[@AmandaKaymusic]

There are a few clips up on 12 Tones channel. Well worth watching them being turned into elephants and learning more about rhyming structures.

[@alicec1533]

16:52 Always love your style of analysis; outlining what an artist or musical moment makes you feel in broad strokes where it's important, and bringing in detail where necessary.

[@cardinalslover09]

Love these breakdowns. One song I'd love to see broken down is Rush's Spirit of Radio. One of their most iconic songs.

[@MrCrompz]

AMAZING! This is exactly how music should be analyzed - looking at interpretating possible meaning, allegory, all whilst looking at techniques/devices used.

[@singerofsongss]

unfortunately, I learned the soprano line to this entire song in my high school choir, so when I’m singing this song at max volume in my car, I’m singing the top line. great video - it’s hard to say just how much this song means to all the musicians out there. thanks for adding to my understanding of it, and HOLY HELL CONGRATS ON 500k.

[@thegoatriderfromthesands2646]

If Queen tried to explain what Bohemian Rhapsody was about, it would loose it's ability to tie us all together on to common emotion of struggle. Because we don't have a clear explanation, we all feel we can be apart of it. A serious emotional song that doesn't care to have a specific audience, is something revolutionary and powerful, Bohemian Rhapsody succeeded at that!

[@Inverse_to_Chaos]

“True poetry is for the listener.” Rami Malek - 2018

[@SIC647]

The best explanation I have heard is that it is about Freddy coming to terms with being gay. Then everything about the song makes sense ( "killed a man" is his own old self, the man he was expected to be).

[@awookieandagerman]

This became my favorite song of all time in about 7th or 8th grade and has stayed that way ever since. I'm 23 now. The thing that's so interesting to me is the song, the band, and Freddie all seem to have absolutely ballooned in popularity since I discovered them and decided they were my favorites all those years ago. Of course they were never unpopular--how obscure of a favorite song could middle class 12 year old possibly choose?--but even before the movie a few years ago, I was noticing more and more instances of people paying Queen, and Freddie, and especially Bohemian Rhapsody the kind of unparalleled respect I thought most people only reserved for The Beatles. I think we've finally reached the point in the past few years where it's not just another great song from a great period of music, but truly one of the primary defining works of the art form. It's not even just that Mercury was a supernatural talent and a musical genius, there are plenty of those out there if you know where to look. It's that, shock and awe at the complexity and difficulty aside, the music fundamentally connects with people, regardless of any boundaries. It's dressed up in the most brilliant colors imaginable in 1975, but at the heart of it it's one of those very rare and honest works that seem to scoff at analysis. Excellent video.

[@wiesorix]

Great video! This is one of those songs that I've heard so many times that all of it feels very obvious and I don't notice any of the nuances anymore. Listening back to the song while watching this video makes me appreciate all the subtleties again. Thanks 12tone, can't wait till next week!

[@MindLaboratory]

12:05 12: This becomes easier to explain if we just listen to John Deacon's bass My laptop speakers: (nothing at all)

[@DJCosmicLatte]

I've been waiting for this and feared it may never come due to the size of the project lol Congrats on 500k! 💖

[@emmbeesea]

I was wondering how you could analyze Bohemian Rhapaody in just 20 minutes. This song is so much packed into so much into a mere 6 minutes. It's timeless, it's legendary, it's everything that can be remembered long after the original artists have left us. Can't wait for Part 2!

[@thnecromaniac]

same reaction, I was expecting a video almost an hour long, so seeing the timestamp I'm just like "wa, how?"

[@Aphelia.]

This video is great on multiple levels, thank you

[@BubbaBearGames]

One of my favorite songs of all time!!! You are awesome!

[@JennyEverywhere]

This song really touched me deeply when I first heard it. I even remember where I was: 8th grade history class. The teacher was very odd, compared to the other teachers. He had a radio in the classroom, and it we did good work and we're done before the end of the period, he'd put on music. That day, it was WLS music radio in Chicago, probably Larry Lujack's show. That song started, and the whole class went silent. We were all rapt, totally enthralled by that song. A lot of copies of "A Night At The Opera" were sold that weekend by nearly everyone in the class, including me

[@noterix1164]

oooohh I've been hoping to see you cover this song since I started watching you !! VERY excited for part II :D

[@Henrix1998]

6:00 I'd say most sing the hybrid of two, starting with the first and then continuing the second. I have never heard anyone sing D-Eb-D

[@pinkajou656]

I agree, I was actually surprised to hear the main line go so low in the first bar.

[@abridge2]

i definitely sing it static before going up high, i never really noticed that dip down before watching this

[@valerynorth]

Mercury's writing in this song is incredible. I've watched several videos breaking it down and analysing it (each with their own perspective, of course) and STILL there are points that are entirely new to me. The depth and complexity he and the band put into it is outstanding. Thank you so much for covering the song. can't wait to find out what new points I learn in the second half!

[@vwm8885]

Never been more excited for a video

[@bdoeden64]

You are so far beyond me, I understand about one percent of what you talk about, and still love your content.

[@damndaniel605]

Ive been WAITING for this thank you so much!

[@cadrian]

I've known this song for… ages… and still I learned a lot. Thanks for that. Looking forward to the next episode!

[@Painted_Owl]

6:37 “To create something far more than the sum of its parts” *draws Voltron* I appreciate you, 12tone

[@IanDunbar1]

I liked the "A lot of notes" during the solo breakdown, lol

[@oscargill423]

Because really, that's probably all it is, even with May's preparation.

[@AGenericMoron]

I saw him write that and went ah, yes, I too have used guitar tab websites.

[@oscargill423]

Hot take on the opening: I've always heard it as a Gm7/D, purely because it creates the familiar V-I with the C7 that follows and sets up a nice circle of fifths progression ultimately ending on Bb. Edit: Huh, I never noticed that "Open your eyes" moved around so much. I always thought it just chilled on the D until the second bit. The more you know.

[@weepingscorpion8739]

Oh, good, I thought I was the only one who sang the first line from the chorus and the second from the lead. Apparently (and thankfully?), I'm not.

[@oscargill423]

@@weepingscorpion8739 The thankfulness? is mutual, my friend

[@insertchannelnamehere632]

I thought it was D Eb D D lol

[@oscargill423]

@@insertchannelnamehere632 Man music really is subjective huh haha

[@Envy_May]

i thought that was the chord too and i also thought open your eyes was just D D D D

[@nugboy420]

Goratsulatuib on 500k. And doing this song lol I love this. I’m in for a great time hearing this.

[@chilecayenne]

UGH....I gotta wait another week!!! ;) Hey, this is great....thank you. While the next week will seem a month....I'm glad you're doing this song justice. This is just SO entertaining.....thank you!

[@hysterikole1]

Your videos fascinate me (i write/play songs in a punk band, so have not reached this level of insight, but still find it interesting). I approached this video with reticence expecting it to be rather complicated, but you did a fabulous job breaking it down. But still, I feel overwhelmed and might need a day or two before watching the second part, lol. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@blackheartfarming]

Ah, I'm so excited to see part 2 of this! I was so zoned into the explanation that I didn't even realize the video was almost over

[@Ice_Karma]

0:55 Congratulations!

[@boomerboi9642]

needed this in my life, very cool, thanks! Also congrats on 500k subs! Also also can't wait for the next parts!

[@jamiechesnut6110]

This just popped in my recommendations. Now I'm upset that it took me this long to find this channel. Incredible video.

[@mLynx24]

2:38 "cryptic..." I love the sheer number of different things, people, and ideas the sketches reference

[@wheelsofmercury]

Thank you for analyzing one of the greatest songs of all time!

[@sweeetjuicetv]

here early for 12tone’s first ever two-parter 💖 fantastic analysis so far!!!

[@jackthesmoltangerine]

:0 I’ve been waiting for this Thanks dude, you’re a legend :D

[@ickysan]

I can't believe you did this. Thank you.👏👏👏👏👏💜👑

[@MrAskaric]

Amazing analysis! Synchronization of your drawing and audio must be very very tough. Thanks for bringing this quality content to KZbin!

[@HowardAltEisen]

Congrats on the 500k!!

[@drummermomcjs]

Thanks for this analysis, this is really useful. I grew up listening to this song and it has been a favorite for as long as I can remember. I look forward to the second part of this analysis.

[@lilybeejones]

Recently I've really been loving your short history bits at the start of the episodes! Love these.

[@kathrynleannazuck9305]

Thank you, for your videos.

[@LisaSmith-yb2uz]

So Happy to see this Analysis!!! 🙌😚💓🎼 Beautiful!! 🙏thank you

[@calyodelphi124]

I am extremely content (get it? ;D) that you made the choice to do this song justice with a two-parter. Looking forward to next week, indeed! :D Fun fact: I used to absolutely despise this song because, when I was younger and still in university, I worked front desk and equipment rentals for a summer at the fitness center, and the music there was the same 1-2 hour long playlist featuring this song I had no clue what it was but could only ever hear "MAMAAAAAAA, OOOO-OO-OO-OOOOOO!!!!" and it became SO GRATING by the end of that summer I couldn't stand to hear it anymore for years thereafter. . . . That playlist also had Green Day's "Holiday" which was a song that I absolutely LOVED at the time because I'd just discovered Green Day, and didn't get sick of it. Funny how weird that works. I've since fallen back in love with what is quite honestly one of the absolute greatest songs ever in the entirety of rock and roll canon.

[@giovadesign]

Well done drawing Hollow Knight on the word “hard” 🥳

[@happycamperds9917]

He got tired of drawing battletoads and wanted to mix things up.

[@SkaMasta097]

9:08

[@Seren_Moth]

was about to comment that

[@-Scrapper-]

Noob

[@neversalty]

The suspense is killing me! I wasn't ready for a to be continued!

[@danielbuchanan1564]

Look at you! 500M+ subs! You chose to break down THIS song like a GOAT! And I'm anticipating PART TWO of this! Congratulations! I have enough understanding in music theory to not be totally lost on you, enough to follow along. And enough to be thrilled when your notepad goes into another musical universe that I don't know about. Thank you so much from a good musician that needs a poke from people like you to keep me playin.

[@ZeroMod]

Thanks for this! Never seems to stop. The exploration and revelations in this song. Had it in my 67 Thunderbird on cassette and spent many hours blasting the album in the later 70s. Just notice you are a lefty ! LEFT ON brother!

[@nikolasschodl2610]

I really love your Videos!

[@rickhenson660]

Queen is one of my all time favorites! And I love Bohemian Rapsody my favorite by them, well, and Somebody to Love! Great video, and I subbed.

[@PowerRedBullTypology]

When I was a kid me and my sister made characters from paper one day when we were on vacation cause somehow we did not take much toys with us. At that time period we were watching thundercats on tv, so with thick paper, felt tip pens and we made the characters from Thundercats, which were basically 2 dimensional flat characters. In the years that followed me started making characters from all our favourite cartoons and video games in such a way, because it was very cheap we could have them all interact together in one big story when we played. We played with like this for years. However, when she was 15 she got health issues which progressed so badly that a few years ago she took her own life. Today I went to our basement to find something and I found the Snarf character from thundercats which was in some storage box, and it reminded me of the good times we had together as a kid. However, then i got up and saw this video where in 5:37 he draws Snarf from Thundercats (or at least, I think it is). I had not thought about Snarf for ages and suddenly I randomly see him 2 totally unrelated times on the same day!

[@RangeWilson]

6:00 My singalong line is much closer to the choir than to the "lead" you've described.

[@JustinBA007]

Yeah, I sing a combination of the two. I have never noticed that step down he does in the beginning of that melody.

[@caseyhamm8822]

i am SO ready for the first ever 12tone two-parter. this song definitely deserves it

[@johnallegood4469]

I love your little Entrapta representing deconstruction :))) I love She-Ra

[@NikkiLayne]

I couldn't think of a more fitting song to make the first two-parter of the channel.

[@scottschauer7088]

Can’t wait for part 2

[@baylinkdashyt]

18:51 - Two notes: First, that's the first hammer-on I remember from rock music (though it's probably not the first one ever, and I didn't even notice it until I saw the music video, which shows him doing it) and second, it's sort of a bookend to the piano crosshand Freddie does early in the piece, since (IIRC) Brian does it with his *pick* hand.

[@mcswordfish]

6:10 - That's not the vocal melody I attempt when I sing along with this record. I aim for the high notes, because I seem to enjoy writing cheques I can't cash. Dr Brian May's solo in this song really encapsulates what I love about his playing. Of the guitarists I love and admire, he has the most melodic and lyrical solos (Dave Gilmour is another who does this brilliantly) - they're the perfect match for one of the greatest singers of the 20th century. Looking forward to part 2

[@gonzalozamora5715]

damn man. im so hyped for part 2!!!!!!

[@SuperElo2008]

I'm so relieved this is gonna be a two parter. I was watching the time stamp thinking "WHAT ARE THEY DOING THERE'S SO MUCH MORE TO COME!"

[@adamheywood113]

Gotta say I loved the little flair of pointing the direction of panning on-screen

[@LocrianDorian]

I very much see the intro as an Overture of sorts. It is not complete but it does foreshadow some parts that come later. Anyways, brilliant video, this song will never lose its relevance. It's an absolute masterpiece

[@MintyCoffee]

Also, if you haven't already, PLEASE try a video on March of the Black Queen. It is more than just a precursor to Bohemian Rhapsody. Or even, do a video on either: Innuendo or The Miracle, two very complex late Queen songs that are wholly underrated today.

[@luukipuuk3537]

Loved the video and I'm amazed by the theory! one suggestion though, I feel like the music was a little softer than your voice, so I kept having to turn up the volume for the music bits, only to be blasted by your voice when you started talking. Not trying to tell you what to do, but it's something I noticed :)

[@StewartUSAF]

This is a truly awesome song, and you are excellent at making sophisticated music theory accessible to laymen like me. Have you considered turning your eye at any Steely Dan? The chord structures are rich and complex, the songs are smooth and slick, and the lyrics describe some of the most epic scumbags imaginable. Don't Take Me Alive (about a hostage situation), Kid Charlemagne (about Grateful Dead sound engineer and LSD chef Owsley Stanley), Black Friday (about an economic collapse), and many more.

[@ssisk87]

Plot twist: Saves the second half for when they get 1,000,000 subs...

[@satvrne]

Came to your channel wondering if you ever talked about this song and saw you just posted a video about it. Thanks KZbin for telepathic notifications.

[@mikegodoy6288]

Can't wait for part 2!!!!!!🤘🙂😁

[@psionichelmsman]

The little knight looks so cute how you draw them... good video!

[@TheBawss90]

Congrats on the half mil you deserve it!

[@zepmarq]

This was awesome... Thank you! 🙌

[@AtomizedSound]

Smart to break this beast up. You could go deeper with this on analyzing it, but that would be a long video. I don’t agree with some light points on the video but overall it’s good and this song leaves some things open to interpretation as you’ve said before, I think both musically and definitely lyrically. Looking forward to part 2

[@jteichma]

Really great analysis. I learned a lot.

[@Madshadowgolem]

Sub earned. Wonderful work! Thank you for doing this evaluation. I have been digging into theory more lately and this makes it so much more interesting and relatable than just a list of rules.

[@philipclifford2314]

This is kind of manic and hard to follow, but extremely exciting. I feel I am going to have to watch this a couple times. Probably need to follow the complete score. This is important work, 12-Tone.

[@wesley907]

Your videos are so detailed it's crazy. I don't know if it's been mentioned before. But I'd love to see how you make these videos. What is the process? I think that would be fascinating.

[@kaustik185]

He pulls away his arm after each drawing, so he can pretty much cut there. You just have to make sure it's only artificial lamps. But it's still very impressive

[@Hollower_]

Really good video as always, and I didn’t know that you played hollow knight 9:10

[@dasraffnix9471]

9:11 Didn't expect the knight to show up

[@maxdobasquete]

Eagerly waiting!!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🤝🏼👍🏼

[@abitdazedd]

Thanks for mentioning John Deacon's bass line (even if you were only referencing 6 notes specifically in 2 bars)

[@sandybarnes887]

Wow. That was quite enjoyable. I liked the take Rick Beato had but he came at it through a producers and teachers eyes. It was nice to see it from an artists and music theorists point of view. Thank you.

[@SingularlyNaked]

Yeah, if Beato and 12tone both analyze a song they'll be two completely different videos, both worth watching. (Though TBH I typically enjoy 12tone more. YMMV.)

[@fishingwithlogi9858]

Wow, what a great video! Four of the greatest musicians ever 👏🙌

[@JelMain]

I was their host SM at Loughborough Uni the Saturday it hit. 500 in the gig, 10 000 outside, and we still got them away unnoticed afterwards. Their rig was modular, in four trucks - all we did was supply the power. Textually, I see a lot to connect to Sabatini's Scaramouche, set in the French Revolution to the background of a Commedia del'Arte troup. Or is it the 1952 Stewart Grainger film, moving into camp heroicism? Men In Tights?

[@Inverse_to_Chaos]

I love this analysis! It was really fun to take in the musical structure while I learned this on a piano. Should you revisit Queen, I recommend either The Show Must Go On or Another One Bites the Dust.

[@jeanflora4356]

Very interesting. Looking forward to part 2

[@TimBitten]

What a damn legend you are! Keep it up.

[@TheNumberScott]

This is my first video from your channel and I’m pretty impressed. Good mix of theory and layman’s terms. Loved the strong bad doodle. My only sticking point is that I disagree with the premise that guitar solos are assumed to be improvised.

[@kvk1]

Love it, thank you.

[@Chrischi3TutorialLPs]

What i find interesting about Bohemian Rhapsody is how it sounds incredible even when you invert the harmonies completely.

[@liamday453]

Was that a cracking the cryptic logo?? lets go 12tone

[@giddyaunt9953]

Oh yes - loved that - I guess there are at least 2 people subscribed to both channels :) Didn't a puzzle from Polyphonic appear on CtC a while back??

[@rbrwr]

Yep, loved that.

[@kostaskotoulas6542]

I was wondering why you never did Bohemian Rhapsody. It was worth the wait. Honestly even 2 parts might not be enough to analyze this masterpiece.

[@MrGanso-wh1dk]

THE DAY HAS COME!!