Queen’s 1975 classic “Bohemian Rhapsody” still sounds like a song from another era. Blending classical and modern elements, the song was composed in six parts, from its intro and ballad, guitar to opera parts, harder rock break, and a melodic outro.
Videos by American Songwriter
Written by singer Freddie Mercury and released on the band’s fourth album, A Night at the Opera, in 1975, the original version is a blend of rock guitar, opera, and other modern instrumentation, most of which were not in existence during the 19th century.
But what would the Queen masterpiece sound like if it were written a century or more earlier? Perhaps, if the likes of Frédéric François Chopin, Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, or Franz Schubert would have taken a more classical, instrumental crack at it, sans lyrics.
“Bohemian Rhapsody” could also have been alongside some of the opera greats like Gioachino Rossini’s The Barber of Seville or Georges Bizet’s Carmen.
“If ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ had been written in the 19th century, it would likely have been quite different in terms of style and composition,” according to ChapGPT. Below is a “speculative” breakdown of how a 19th century “Bohemian Rhapsody” may sound.
Structure
The song might have followed a more traditional structure commonly used in classical and operatic music. It could have featured distinct sections, such as an overture, recitative, arias, and a coda. These sections would have provided a narrative flow to the piece.
Orchestration
Instead of a rock band instrumentation, a 19th-century version might have been orchestrated for a symphony orchestra, including string, woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments. The orchestration would have been lush and elaborate, highlighting the dramatic elements of the music.
Vocal Style
The vocal parts would have been sung in a classical style, resembling the operatic techniques popular during the 19th century. The vocal lines might have been divided among different voice types, such as tenor, baritone, and soprano, to portray different characters or emotions.
Harmonies and Melodies
The harmonies would have been more in line with the tonal language of the time, incorporating lush romantic-era chords and progressions. The melodies might have drawn inspiration from operatic motifs and folk melodies, showcasing a blend of dramatic and lyrical elements.
Lyrics
The lyrics would likely have told a story or conveyed a theme in a more classical or poetic manner, exploring themes of love, longing, and introspection commonly found in 19th-century literature and opera.
The A.I.-generated lyrics of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” from the 19th century might have read something like this:
Verse 1
In a realm of audial fantasy
An observer of celestial symphony
An artful wanderer, at his own behest
Inquireth his soul, with great unrest
Chorus
Mama, just killed a man
Delivered him of his mortal span
Thou shouldst have seen my visage alight
Twas an act committed in shadows of night
Verse 2
Trouble brews, conscience is stirred
For what future lies henceforth
Pondering the path that leads astray
Aimlessly wandering, night and day
Chorus
Mama, life had just begun
But now I’ve gone and thrown it all asunder
Mama, ooh, Did not intend to make thee cry
If I’m not home tomorrow, carry on, carry on, as if nothing really matters
Verse 3
A dandy, a rogue, a troubled soul
Innocence lost, and virtues extolled
Beelzebub, hath a devil put aside for me
Forsooth, forsooth, shall I be set free?
Bridge
So you think you can stone me and spit in my eye?
So you think you can love me and leave me to die?
Oh, baby, can’t do this to me, baby
Just gotta get out, just gotta get right outta here
Verse 4
Visions of an afterlife unfold
The scales of justice, behold
The echoes of past deeds resound
Heaven or hell, where shall I be bound?
Chorus
Nothing really matters, anyone can see
Nothing really matters
Nothing really matters to me
Any way the wind blows…
Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images
