Bohemian Rhapsody Flash Mob Takes Over Paris in Epic Queen Tribute”

A quiet Parisian street was transformed into a stage recently as 30 musicians surprised locals with an elaborate flash mob performance of Queen’s iconic hit, “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

Captured on video and shared by pianist Julien Cohen on his YouTube channel, the performance begins unassumingly. Onlookers are seen enjoying a sunny day, strolling through the square or dining at nearby cafés. Then, without warning, three women appear in a window overlooking the plaza and begin singing the legendary opening lines: “Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?”

From there, the performance quickly escalates. Pianist Cohen is joined by lead vocalist Mickey Castillo, followed by an array of singers and instrumentalists emerging from windows, vehicles, and corners of the street. The growing ensemble soon includes 11-year-old guitar prodigy Olly Pearson and a full opera choir, culminating in a rousing rendition of Queen’s 1975 epic.

The spontaneous concert earned thunderous applause from the crowd that gathered, drawn in by the unexpected musical spectacle.

A Timely Tribute to a Rock Milestone

The flash mob coincided with a significant date in Queen’s history: August 24th marked the 50th anniversary of the start of recording sessions for “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The band famously spent weeks layering over 200 vocal tracks to create the operatic centerpiece of the song—a grueling process that had their record label doubting its commercial potential due to its six-minute runtime.

Nevertheless, Queen stood by their vision. The song was released in late 1975 and went on to dominate the charts by Christmas. Today, it remains one of rock music’s most celebrated and best-selling singles.