Tune In, Get Shocked: Iconic Songs With Surprising Backstories

9. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen

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To most, this song sounds like a made-up story delivered via a dramatic ballad; one of the most famous songs ever composed is far more to the late Freddie Mercury. Before he was really ready to be forthcoming about his sexuality, it was his coming out song. Mercury was really singing about killing his former life when he left his then-girlfriend to be with a man when he sung about killing a man in the song. Jim Hutton, Freddie's long-time friend, said that the song was his confessional and a contemplation on what his life could have been had he been able to just be himself. Is this just us, or does this make the song even more of a masterwork? This reading gives a song already complicated and dear dimensions of personal relevance and depth. "Bohemian Rhapsody" turns from a mere display of Queen's musical brilliance into a very intimate story of Mercury's struggle with his sexuality and identity. When one considers the song as a statement of the inner turmoil and drama Mercury was going through, its operatic and dramatic character gains fresh relevance. One could argue that the several parts of the song reflect several facets of his personality or phases of development on his path of self-awareness. Lines like "Mama, just killed a man" from confusing images become moving parables about the death of one identity and the birth of another with this reading of the songs Mercury's ability as a songwriter and performer is demonstrated by the song's ongoing appeal and resonance with listeners who might not have recognized its emotional meaning. He produced a work that was both very personal and generally appealing, therefore establishing "Bohemian Rhapsody" as not only a rock classic but also a potent comment on the difficulties of human identity and the fight for self-acceptance.