Queen‘s music video for “Bohemian Rhapsody,” originally released in promotion of the band’s single in 1975, has officially surpassed one billion views on YouTube. It is the first pre-1990s music video to reach that milestone on the streaming platform, according to YouTube.
To celebrate, the band is releasing a newly remastered HD version of the “Bohemian Rhapsody” video on its YouTube channel Monday (July 22). In partnership with YouTube Music, Universal Music Group and Hollywood Records, Queen is also launching its “You Are the Champions” project, which gives fans the opportunity to take part in three new user-generated videos.
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“We are honored that ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ has just hit one billion views on YouTube,” bandmates Brian May and Roger Taylor said in a statement, adding: “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! Whether you are a musician, singer, dancer, visual artist or you just want to have some fun. Go to www.youarethechampions.com to find out more and we’ll see you on the road somewhere.”
With “You Are the Champions,” singers and instrumentalists can submit their take on “Bohemian Rhapsody,” while dancers will get to work on a rendition of “Don’t Stop Me Now” and visual artists are asked to design any word or phrase from the “A Kind of Magic” lyrics. Queen’s YouTube channel will feature the finished videos later this year.
Lyor Cohen, YouTube’s global head of music, calls the newly remastered “Bohemian Rhapsody” video, which is out today, “a sonic and cinematic masterpiece” for “one of the most enduring songs of all time.” He adds, “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; it’s incredible to help change the way fans experience music and provide a place for artist and fan connections worldwide.”
“We are thrilled that Queen’s iconic ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ video has reached a historic one billion views on YouTube,” says Celine Joshua, general manager, commercial, content and artist strategy at Universal Music Group. “Now, together with Queen, YouTube and Hollywood Records, we are excited to launch ‘You Are The Champions,’ an innovative new user generated video campaign with Queen’s incredible fans around the world at its core. This will be the first of a series of custom initiatives we have planned in the coming months on the official Queen channel.”