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Bohemian Rhapsody becomes first pre-1990s song to rack up billion hits on YouTube, site announces

Queen - the British rock band - in the 1975 iconic music video for their song 'Bohemian Rhapsody' - Landmark Media
Queen - the British rock band - in the 1975 iconic music video for their song 'Bohemian Rhapsody' - Landmark Media

Queen’s 1975 hit Bohemian Rhapsody has become the first pre-1990s music video to get more than one billion hits on YouTube, it was revealed yesterday.

The song, which cost just £4,500 to make in just three hours has beaten the 1987 Guns N' Roses hit Sweet Child O' Mine which has 965 million views and the 1985 single Take On Me by a-ha at 915 million views.

It joins the ranks of more recent hits including the most viewed music video of all time 2017 hit Despacito by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, which has racked up 6.3 billion views. British artist Ed Sheeran comes in second for this 2015 hit Shape of You with 4.3 billion views.

Other songs in the top ten include Wiz Khalifa See You Again ft. Charlie Puth which was released as part of the soundtrack for Fast & Furious Seven, Justin Bieber’s Sorry and the infamous Baby Shark Dance. 

Speaking yesterday after the announcement by YouTube, founding Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor issued a joint statement to celebrate the achievement.

Brian May and Roger Taylor said: "We are honoured that Bohemian Rhapsody has just hit one billion views on YouTube.

"We want to thank you all and celebrate with our amazing fans all around the world by creating three new music videos to our songs, all featuring you.”

The founding members have launched a competition for fans to celebrate with winners to star in new music videos for three of the band's biggest hits: A Kind of Magic, Don't Stop Me Now and Bohemian Rhapsody.

Queen fans can also watch a newly restored video of the hit song on the band's YouTube channel.

Freddie Mercury, lead singer of Queen during a concert at the Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy - Credit: AFP
Freddie Mercury, lead singer of Queen during a concert at the Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy Credit: AFP

Lyor Cohen, Global Head of Music for YouTube, said: "Bohemian Rhapsody is a sonic and cinematic masterpiece that's one of the most enduring songs of all time.

"The newly remastered video on YouTube will ensure the song continues to be rediscovered, embraced and beloved by old and new generations of music fans around the world."

Celine Joshua, General Manager, Commercial, Content and Artist Strategy at Universal Music Group, said: "We are thrilled that Queen's iconic Bohemian Rhapsody video has reached a historic one billion views on YouTube.”

Fans can visit youarethechampions.com to enter the competition, with the finished videos to be published later this year on the band's official YouTube channel.