You Need to Hear These 10 Covers of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’

Oct. 31, 2015, is the 40th anniversary of the 1975 release of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” a track that remains one of the band’s most popular hits and is considered by many to be among the greatest songs of all time.

To commemorate the occasion, “Bohemian Rhapsody” will be released on 12 inch black vinyl with the original B-side “I’m In Love With My Car” on Nov. 27, 2015, according to Queen’s official website. But for now, check out our roundup of the best covers and parodies of the iconic tune.

Wayne’s World

The 1992 Saturday Night Live sketch-based comedy provided “Bo Rhap” with a renewed surge in popularity in America. The Wayne’s World version sent the song back to the top of the U.S. charts and won Queen its only MTV Video Music Award, “Best Video from a Film.” Turns out, producers of the cult classic originally didn’t even want to use Queen for the singalong scene, but Mike Myers, who plays the titular Wayne, insisted.

Adam Lambert

Adam Lambert auditioned for the eighth season of American Idol by singing “Bohemian Rhapsody.” He then performed with Queen in 2009 when the active members of the group, Brian May and Roger Taylor, appeared on the show with him. Lambert went on to serve as the lead singer of the U.K. band for two world tours. On British comedian Alan Carr’s show Chatty Man, Carr and Lambert recreated the song’s original music video.

Star Wars

With the premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens fast approaching, the series is on almost everyone’s minds. And what’s better than combining two of the greatest pop culture achievements to come out of the 1970s into one? We can thank the students in the Digital Video Program at Arizona’s University of Advancing Technology for this masterpiece.

Kanye West

After nearly 150,000 people signed a petition demanding Glastonbury organizers “cancel Kanye West’s headline slot and get a rock band,” the rapper decided to meet festivalgoers halfway. During his set he performed a few minutes of the Freddie Mercury anthem as a lead-in to his own song, “Can’t Tell Me Nothing.” West referred to the track in his lineup as “Bohemian Rhapsod’Ye.”

P!nk

Known for her outsize live performances, P!nk did not disappoint with the version of “Bo Rhap” she performed during her 2009 Funhouse Tour. Female covers of the ballad are a much rarer occurrence, and this rendition showcases the singer’s vocal talent.

Old Computer

Finally, the remix we’ve all been waiting for: Queen’s magnum opus covered by…an old computer? Don’t be fooled by the name, this version of the song — produced by YouTube user bd594 without any effects or sampling — is still pretty awesome.

Weird Al Yankovic

Known for his parodies of popular songs, Yankovic satirized “Bohemian Rhapsody” by turning it into a polka medley. The track, “Bohemian Polka,” was released in 1993 on Alapalooza, the singer’s eighth studio album.

Beyoncé

Taking a page out of Queen’s playbook, Bey belted out a rendition of the group’s rock opera during a 2011 concert in Nice, France. Accompanied by her backup singers, she sang the first portion of “Bohemian Rhapsody” as part of an arrangement that included segments of Prince’s “The Beautiful Ones” and Kings of Leon’s “Sex on Fire.”

The Forest Rangers featuring White Buffalo, Billy Valentine and Franky Perez

The final moments of the season seven premiere of Sons of Anarchy end with an epic montage set to a cover of “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Performed by The Forest Rangers, the group known for accompanying pivotal moments of the biker saga, the song perfectly captures the dramatic mood of the closing minutes of the episode.

Elton John and Axl Rose

The pair performed “Bohemian Rhapsody” in 1992 at London’s Wembley Stadium for the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS Awareness. They were joined by the remaining members of Queen, Brian May, John Deacon and Roger Taylor, to honor the late singer with a powerful rendition of his greatest hit.