DIAMOND: A song with which most are familiar achieved a huge milestone this week.
Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” has achieved diamond status — 10 times platinum — for 10 million or more sales and stream equivalents in the U.S.
Queen is the first British band in music history to earn the Diamond song award.
“The iconic song has been officially certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA),” reads a release on the band’s website. The bands’ reactions were, too.
“This is incredible news. At times like this I have to pinch myself to be sure it’s real,” said Brian May, lead guitarist of Queen — and astrophysicist. “All those wild dreams we had — this is beyond any of them. Huge thanks to all who have believed in us over the years.”
Drummer Roger Taylor said, “It’s a wonderful and gratifying thought to know the song has reached out and connected with so many people!” said Roger Taylor. “We thank you all…onwards.”
The band’s website noted that the iconic song was Queen’s first Top 10 hit in the U.S. In the U.K., it went to number one for nine consecutive weeks before returning to the charts in 1991.
“It was named the most-streamed song of the 20th century and its companion video recently passed one billion views on YouTube, making history as the first pre-1990s video to reach one billion views on the platform. In 2004, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and Freddie Mercury’s vocal performance was named by the readers of Rolling Stone magazine as the best in rock history.”
Perhaps the song “We Will Rock You” was prophetic.
