Bohemian Rhapsody – Zulu Version

I am pretty sure that were Freddie Mercury alive to watch this video, and experience the Zulu version of his band Queen’s masterpiece, Bohemian Rhapsody, he would be absolutely thrilled, darling. I think one of the main aims of a cover version – to make it stand up for itself – is for the new artist (or artists) to take possession of the song and make it their own.  This does it magnificently (and whether its campness is a deliberate homage to the late, great Freddie, who can say?).

Enter the Ndlovu Youth Choir from Limpopo, South Africa, who bring a refreshing new dimension to Queen’s best-known song. Their isiZulu (the prefix isi is used in Zulu to indicate a language) version of Bohemian Rhapsody is not an exercise in mimicry but a gentle reclaiming of the piece, blending choral traditions with one of rock’s most recognisable epics. The result is surprisingly natural: the harmonies sit comfortably within the framework of the song, while the language shift gives familiar lines a different kind of texture. It feels at once respectful to the original and quietly confident in its own identity, which is exactly what makes it stand out. You don’t need to know a word of isiZulu to feel its spirit – though the translation adds another layer of richness and some lines are retained in their original English  – and you leave with the sense that this is a song that still has plenty of room to travel.

Watch the video below. Prepare to smile,