A 13-year-old's stunning version of 'Bohemian Rhapsody' left even Queen's members in total awe
There are catchy tunes that make listeners move for some time before another fresh track comes along, and then there are legendary songs that have the same appeal across generations. Artists who make that kind of music reinvent the genre and leave a lasting cultural impact on their audience. Queen is one such band that created 'Bohemian Rhapsody', one of the most iconic songs ever written. While the original is indestructible, Angelina Jordan's breathtakingly beautiful performance of the song at 'AGT: The Champions' demonstrated that true artistry can bring something fresh to a classic. Even Queen was in awe of her performance since it was so captivating.
In 2020, Jordan stepped onto the stage of 'AGT: The Champions' as the reigning winner of 'Norway’s Got Talent', a title that she earned in 2014 when she was just seven years old. This time, she performed Queen’s legendary 'Bohemian Rhapsody,' but not in the way everyone expected. With just a piano and guitar, she turned the rock song into a stunning, soul-stirring ballad while retaining its most emotional elements. The outcome was pure magic as Jordan, who was only 13 years old at the time, performed so amazingly that it not only stunned the judges but earned admiration from both the live audience and internet users.
One YouTube user, @jordiballera, commented, “She has a beautiful jazz background, amazing technique and good taste. An incredible vibrato, a soft tone, and brilliant volume control. Fantastic arrangements.” Another person, who goes by the username @khushimunka7935, chimed in with a beautiful comment stating, “This version of bohemian rhapsody brings back a memory that never even existed. I just want to cry myself to sleep listening to this. It's beautiful.” User @hatibudak3511 commented, “I love how hauntingly beautiful she managed to carry us all through the song from the smooth beginning and emotionally struck in the middle and sadness silence in the end. She’s a real talent.”
Another YouTube user, @jose09841, wrote, “Just speechless, this is not a child's voice, she sang like an old soul who was hurting, I felt that song!! May God bless this young girl, she is going places.” This is significant since it isn't easy to perform 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. However, Jordan came up with something genuinely unique and even members of Queen recognized her talent by retweeting her audition video. Jordan made it to the top 10 on the reality show, and while she didn't win, she made a lasting impression.
Fans of Queen know that the band has kept the meaning of 'Bohemian Rhapsody' for long, claiming that Mercury wrote the song's lyrics because they were very personal to him. Mercury was originally characterized by Brian May as being smart and exciting on the outside but privately dealing with insecurities and unresolved issues from his background. Though Mercury never explained the song’s meaning, he reportedly infused a great deal of himself into it. May and Roger Taylor have made it clear that the true story behind the lyrics remains a mystery, one that will most likely never be solved. As reported by Metro, May said, "What’s it about? None of us know. Freddie never talked about it to my knowledge and didn’t want to and that’s the way it should be."