Song War 1 Bohemian Rhapsody Vs Stairway to Heaven

Riddle101

Saw this on another music forum so I thought I'd try it here. Which do you prefer? Boh Rhap by Queen or Stairway by Led Zeppelin. Both songs are world renowned with a lot of critical acclaim. I really can't think of any two songs that would be perfect to put against each other. By anyway what do you think?

As a Queen fan, my bias is towards Queen so out instinct I would go with Boh Rhap but further more, I just like Boh Rhap more anyway. It's one of my favorite songs ever where as Stairway isn't really. Nothing against Stairway either, but Boh Rhap just gets me all the time..

triggermortis

No contest. Queen every time

Jemmaa

Cough.

Fi H

Bohemian Rhapsody

nyarlothothep

Hmm, Stairway is a masterpiece, but I'll go with Bo-Rhap as its more innovative and original. Stairway is an example of the classic 70s epic rock song done to perfection, but there are many other classic 70s rock songs simliar to it where Bo-Rhap was a classic epic 70s rock song, but much more.

icarus86

Bohemian Rhapsody for me, but im not a big stairway fan so it was a fairly easy choice:P

delbertgrady

I even prefer Bohemian Rhapsody's b-side to Stairway to Heaven.

Max Power1

They are both overplayed to fcuk but I prefer Zep any day

Nailz

I prefer Stairway, but for feck sake, will people please stop playing it as soon as they pick up a guitar?! It's nicer to hear than fucking "Wonderwall", yes, but don't ruin a good song for a dude. Bohemian Rhapsody is a great tune too.

Malice

Gratuitous typos fixed in thread title and poll.

Now, as for the songs themselves I voted for Stairway to Heaven. The Queen song reminds me of Graham Norton or that scene from Wayne's World where the lads are in the car singing along. I don't particularly like Norton or the movie so the song is kind of tainted by association.

Nailz wrote:

will people please stop playing it as soon as they pick up a guitar?

Does that really happen much? It's quite a difficult song for a beginner as I recall so surely anyone able to play it after they've just picked up their instrument is a virtuoso!

cml387

They are perfectly matched, both with pretentious lyrics that initially seem profound but are actually very silly,both with memorable instrumental hooks that define the song.
I'd give it to Freddy only because he was aware of the silliness, I rather suspect Zep were a bit more po-faced.

Wereghost

Bo Rhap, but both songs are great, having both been recognised by the godlike genius that is Rolf Harris.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONrIByBGW_M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPOIy4Kb9M4

cml387

Some would say Rolfs cover of Stairway is the definitive version.

nungesser

Here is my Bohemian Rhapsody vote!http://deadspin.com/5897507/arrested-drunk-man-sings-bohemian-rhapsody-in-its-entirety-in-back-of-police-car

Mushy

I eventually went with Stairway. Tough pick!

lord lucan

Malice wrote: »

Does that really happen much? It's quite a difficult song for a beginner as I recall so surely anyone able to play it after they've just picked up their instrument is a virtuoso!

Happened to these poor bastards!:pac:

As to the thread question,Bohemian Rhapsody all the way.

Bluefoam

Atari Jaguar

Somnus

I went for Stairway. Despite the fact they're both brilliant songs, Stairway is a masterpiece. The music and mood flows so well and it's just timeless in my opinion.

And while I would be like most others and think it can be overplayed, whenever I actually listen to it I just think: That is an amazing song.

Riddle101

In fairness, most main stream songs are overplayed. I guess in their mind, if they played something like Black Dog(Which is actually my favourite Led Zep song) then that wouldn't be cool. Stupid money spoiled music industry.

Spudman_20000

Has to be Bohemian Rhapsody for me.

Better song my miles in my opinion.

Also, Led Zepplin were rip off merchants.
http://www.cracked.com/article_18500_the-5-most-famous-musicians-who-are-thieving-bastards.html#ixzz1qzMfekEH

The opening notes of "Stairway" were taken almost note-for-note from a song called "Taurus" by Spirit.

But for the record, Led Zeppelin opened for Spirit on their first U.S. tour, so it's safe to assume they were familiar with the band. Repaying an opening spot on a tour of the States by stealing a guitar riff is sad, but what's even sadder is that Spirit's guitarist, the awesomely named Randy California, knew exactly where "Stairway to Heaven" came from but was too nice of a guy to say anything - he just wanted them to say "Thank you."
They never did."

nyarlothothep

I had a dream last night in which I was playing with Robert Plant and Jimmy Page and harmonising with Page on guitar. Someone told me to play with Page and I said don't be silly, he's a god descended from the pantheon, I can't play over his solos, but then I did. I know it has nothing to do with this thread but it was just such an awesome dream and I felt like telling everyone.

Stormageddon

I thought most people would vote Stairway but yeah, Bohemian Rhapsody all the way

Spudman_20000 wrote: »

Also, Led Zepplin were rip off merchants.
http://www.cracked.com/article_18500_the-5-most-famous-musicians-who-are-thieving-bastards.html#ixzz1qzMfekEH

I never knew that! Bastards! You hear similarities in songs all the time that can be put down to coincidence/simple chord structure/homage but that just sounds like taking the piss.

Stormageddon

nyarlothothep wrote: »

I had a dream last night in which I was playing with Robert Plant and Jimmy Page and harmonising with Page on guitar. Someone told me to play with Page and I said don't be silly, he's a god descended from the pantheon, I can't play over his solos, but then I did. I know it has nothing to do with this thread but it was just such an awesome dream and I felt like telling everyone.

That's a fantastic dream. I once dreamt I was at a Queen concert and got pulled on stage for what I thought was a big Bruce Springsteen 'dancing in the dark' moment but turned out to be a Crystal Maze type game show presented by Freddie that involved me stuffing gold and silver foil in my pants. No one ever told me if it was for survival or cash prizes. So..yeah. I like your dream better.

Anyway....

sham69

Spudman_20000 wrote: »

Has to be Bohemian Rhapsody for me.

Better song my miles in my opinion.

Also, Led Zepplin were rip off merchants.
http://www.cracked.com/article_18500_the-5-most-famous-musicians-who-are-thieving-bastards.html#ixzz1qzMfekEH

Wow just had a listen to taurus, stairway is a blatent rip off.
I had never heard of spirit before or the song?

Anyway even before i knew this it would be Queen all the way for me...

hidinginthebush

Stairway for me! I'm just not really that much of a Queen fan. They have some great tunes like Under Pressure and Somebody to love, but I find that if I hear too much Queen it just really grates on me, though I do love the production on a lot of Queen stuff. I hate the middle opera section of BR too, so Stairway was an easy choice, plus Wayne's World kinda ruined BR for me too.

I don't think StH gets overplayed by guitarists that much, and sure even if it does, if someone can play it all the way through i'll give them the nod too. If you want to really hear a Zeppelin epic, check out Achilles Last Stand, now there's a song to lose yourself to

nyarlothothep

Stormageddon wrote: »

That's a fantastic dream. I once dreamt I was at a Queen concert and got pulled on stage for what I thought was a big Bruce Springsteen 'dancing in the dark' moment but turned out to be a Crystal Maze type game show presented by Freddie that involved me stuffing gold and silver foil in my pants. No one ever told me if it was for survival or cash prizes. So..yeah. I like your dream better.

Anyway....

That's an awesome dream in itself, especially the Freddie presenting the Crystal Maze bit, he would have been the perfect successor for Richard O' Brien.

TheStickyBandit

Firstly, could people stop saying "Boh-Rhap"!

For me, both songs are riciculously cheesy and overplayed to death! However when I hear stairway I just tut and roll my eyes but, when I hear bohemian rhapsody I tend to not change the radio station as it's more of a diverse song. So oweing to this I'll vote for Queen!

Nailz

Malice wrote: »

Does that really happen much? It's quite a difficult song for a beginner as I recall so surely anyone able to play it after they've just picked up their instrument is a virtuoso!

I don't mean it in that sense, what I mean is whenever someone is in a music shop and there's a guitar there, a lot of people — who knows what they're doing — tend to play Stairway. I noticed it a lot anyway...

Riddle101

TheStickyBandit wrote: »

Firstly, could people stop saying "Boh-Rhap"!

For me, both songs are riciculously cheesy and overplayed to death! However when I hear stairway I just tut and roll my eyes but, when I hear bohemian rhapsody I tend to not change the radio station as it's more of a diverse song. So oweing to this I'll vote for Queen!

Why?

I don't mean it in that sense, what I mean is whenever someone is in a music shop and there's a guitar there, a lot of people — who knows what they're doing — tend to play Stairway. I noticed it a lot anyway...

Is that because of Wayne's World? or was it done even before Wayne World did that scene in the music shop, where there's a sign in it saying "No Stairway" the Mike says "No Stairway, Denied"?

TheStickyBandit

Riddle101 wrote: »

Why?

Nevermind, feel free to continue to sound like the subject of a Ross O Carrol Kelly book!

jaspertheghost

no contest...bohemian rhapsody is the best song ever!!

Riddle101

TheStickyBandit wrote: »

Nevermind, feel free to continue to sound like the subject of a Ross O Carrol Kelly book!

But Boh Rhap is just short for Bohemian Rhapsody. What's so wrong about saying that way? I also said Stairway instead of Stairway to Heaven as well. Should I not have said that either?

dcr22B

Bohemian Rhapsody for me. sang it with my three groomsmen (wigs and all) on my wedding day!

Malice

Riddle101 wrote: »

But Boh Rhap is just short for Bohemian Rhapsordy. What's so wrong about saying that way? I also said Stairway instead of Stairway to Heaven as well. Should I not have said that either?

Stairway is still a recognisable and readable word. "Boh Rhap" on the other hand is nt 2 fr awy frm rtrd spk .

And there's no second 'r' in rhapsody either ffs!

Riddle101

Malice wrote: »

Stairway is still a recognisable and readable word. "Boh Rhap" on the other hand is nt 2 fr awy frm rtrd spk .

And there's no second 'r' in rhapsody either ffs!

But Boh Rhap is reconisable in this case because everyone knows what i'm talking about when I said Boh Rhap, the thread title has Bohemian Rhapsody in it. I just shortened the word, just like I shortened Stairway to Heaven to just Stairway.

I could understand if there wasn't a topic on Queen and the word Boh Rhap was just thrown without any context, that would make it unrecognisable. But if people know what you mean, then it shouldn't really be a problem whether you say Bohemian Rhapsody or Boh Rhap. It just seem like a ridiculous thing to get fussy over. Also saying that that it's not too far away from retard speak is a bit harsh. It's not as if the entire post was written in text speak or something. It's a shortened name like saying John instead of Johnny.

But anyway, I don't think anything else needs to be said on this. It's better to get back on topic. Looks like Bohemian Rhapsody is winning this thing. Just thinking now, of other songs that I can put against each other.

Tarkus

Stairway without a doubt...

Malice

Riddle101 wrote:

It's a shortened name like saying John instead of Johnny.

To paraphrase what I already wrote, Stairway and John are still recognisable and readable words. Boh and rhap aren't. There is a crucial difference.

Riddle101 wrote:

saying that that it's not too far away from retard speak is a bit harsh. It's not as if the entire post was written in text speak or something

No it's not harsh at all. I detest txt spk and needlessly abbreviating words is just one aspect of that. What next? Are you going to start calling it Bhmn Rhpsdy and then abbreviating that to Bh Rhp? Everyone should know what you mean because the thread title has Bohemian Rhapsody in it right?

cournioni

Stairway to Heaven for me.

Joe_Dull

I was agonising over this for ages and went with Stairway. The entire of Bohemian Rhapsody can't compare to the last verse/solo in Stairway.

TheStickyBandit

Riddle101 wrote: »

Just thinking now, of other songs that I can put against each other.

Master of Puppets Vs Raining Blood

Riddle101

Malice wrote: »

To paraphrase what I already wrote, Stairway and John are still recognisable and readable words. Boh and rhap aren't. There is a crucial difference.

How is Boh Rhap not recognisable when it's in context with this thread? Also how many songs do you know that could be called Boh Rhap? It's simple enough to recognise, especially since as I said it was by Queen, and the thread title says it. If I was talking in a normal conversation, I wouldn't say Boh Rhap but I wrote Boh Rhap to shorten to the name of the song, for the thread because I was under the impression that people would be more interested in discussing the thread topic then ranting about how write Bohemian Rhapsody.

No it's not harsh at all. I detest txt spk and needlessly abbreviating words is just one aspect of that. What next? Are you going to start calling it Bhmn Rhpsdy and then abbreviating that to Bh Rhp? Everyone should know what you mean because the thread title has Bohemian Rhapsody in it right?

If you detest txt speak then fair enough, but Boh Rhap is not txt speak. If I abbreviated it like Bhmn Rhpsdy or Bh Rhp, then that would be different because that dosen't work as well as Boh Rhap, Boh Rhap does as it's simly the first two syllables of both words.

Master of Puppets Vs Raining Blood

Good idea.

dcr22B

TheStickyBandit wrote: »

Master of Puppets Vs Raining Blood

Angel of Death v Master of Puppets would be interesting instead of Raining Blood (that song simply has no equal)

Joe_Dull

Tornado of Souls/Hangar 18 versus Enter Sandman?

acidskiffle

Great question.
Stairway just edges it
for me.

waltersobchak

Never really got Stairway always considered it way too overrated. so Bohemian Rhapsody is the clear winner for me..

Max Power1

Joe_Dull wrote: »

Tornado of Souls/Hangar 18 versus Enter Sandman?

As in a popularity contest or a technical prowess?

There would be two differing answers im sure.

Joe_Dull

Max Power1 wrote: »

As in a popularity contest or a technical prowess?

There would be two differing answers im sure.

Ah now, Max, if there's one thing that doesn't hold much sway in the Rock & Metal forum it's how popular something is... :rolleyes:

Malice

Riddle101 wrote: »

I wrote Boh Rhap to shorten to the name of the song, for the thread because I was under the impression that people would be more interested in discussing the thread topic then ranting about how write Bohemian Rhapsody.

Who's ranting? If you feel justified in adding unnecessary abbreviations and thereby having your posts read like a Ross O'Carroll Kelly book then you go ahead and use them.

unkel

Bohemian Rhapsody is art, it's opera & rock. Depressive lyrics, psychedelic video. It's mad, it's entertaining. It's everything!

But Stairway to heaven for me is the number one song of all time. It has been ever since I heard the long version on my best mates older brother's stereo back in the 70s

blastman

This poll boiled down to which song am I least sick of hearing, as both suffer from massive overexposure, IMHO.

Stairway To Heaven FTNW, then....

Malice

blastman wrote: »

This poll boiled down to which song am I least sick of hearing

That's a very good way of putting it .