Queen's bestselling singles on the Official UK Singles Chart
Thanks to new Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, a new generation are discovering Queen. But which songs are their most popular?
When Queen emerged in 1973 with their debut album, they immediately stood out from the pack of British rock bands.
Songs with infectious pomp, ear-catching lyrics and operatic harmonies proved there was more to them that your average rock band. Over the course of 14 albums (until Freddie Mercury's death in 1991) Queen delivered a near-impeccable run of hits on the Official Chart: 53 Top 40 singles, six of which went to Number 1. Look at Queen's complete Official Chart history here.
New Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody - released in October - not only reminds longtime fans of the band's impact, but also showcases Queen's music to a new generation. The band's 1981 Greatest Hits is the UK's bestselling album of all time, but which of their songs finish top of the pile? Before we reveal Queen's Top 20 bestsellers, some highlights:
You're My Best Friend
Released: 1976
Official Chart peak: Number 7
This fairly straightforward love song was written by bass guitarist John Deacon for his wife and served as the yang to the yin of previous single Bohemian Rhapsody. The track was composed on an electric piano, when Freddie described as "tinny and horrible", but it nonetheless has "the desired effect". You're My Best Friend places 19th in their Top 20 bestsellers.
We Will Rock You
Released: 1977, 2000 (with Five)
Official Chart peak: Number 1 (Five version)
A song so powerful it features twice in their all-time Top 20, three times if you count its original release as the B-side to We Are The Champions. The two songs were designed to be performed together, and usually were, as demonstrated in their iconic 1985 Live Aid performance. In 2000 it was covered by Five, featuring Brian May on guitar and Roger Taylor on drums, and went all the way to Number 1. The original has never charted in its own right but has 262,000 download sales since 2004.
Queen performing in 1984 (Rex/Shutterstock)
Under Pressure
Released: 1981
Official Chart peak: Number 1
Queen's lead single from their Hot Space album came about from a random jam session with David Bowie. Although it was a joint project in terms of co-writing and producing, Bowie didn't perform the song until after Mercury's death, at a tribute concert in 1992. The song places third on their Top 20 bestsellers with 828,000 sales.
Bohemian Rhapsody
Released: 1975
Official Chart peak: Number 1
The only song to have made it to Christmas Number 1 twice. It first topped the Christmas charts in 1975 and pulled it off again 16 years later, after Freddie's death. As a result, it is one of the longest-reigning Number 1 hits of all-time. As well as being Queen's best seller, it's also one of the UK's biggest singles of all time, with 2.6 million pure sales. For comparison, We Are The Champions - their second best-seller - is on 962,000 sales.
Queen's Top 20 bestselling singles on the Official UK Chart
POS | TITLE | ARTIST | PEAK | YEAR |
1 | BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY | QUEEN | 1 | 1975 |
2 | WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS | QUEEN | 2 | 1977 |
3 | UNDER PRESSURE | QUEEN & DAVID BOWIE | 1 | 1981 |
4 | DON'T STOP ME NOW | QUEEN | 9 | 1979 |
5 | CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE | QUEEN | 2 | 1979 |
6 | RADIO GA GA | QUEEN | 2 | 1984 |
7 | I WANT TO BREAK FREE | QUEEN | 3 | 1984 |
8 | SOMEBODY TO LOVE | QUEEN | 2 | 1976 |
9 | KILLER QUEEN | QUEEN | 2 | 1974 |
10 | A KIND OF MAGIC | QUEEN | 3 | 1986 |
11 | FIVE LIVE EP | GEORGE MICHAEL & QUEEN WITH LISA STANSFIELD | 1 | 1993 |
12 | ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST | QUEEN | 7 | 1980 |
13 | HEAVEN FOR EVERYONE | QUEEN | 2 | 1995 |
14 | WE WILL ROCK YOU | FIVE & QUEEN | 1 | 2000 |
15 | WE WILL ROCK YOU | QUEEN | N/A | 1977 |
16 | ONE VISION | QUEEN | 7 | 1985 |
17 | I WANT IT ALL | QUEEN | 3 | 1989 |
18 | BICYCLE RACE / FAT BOTTOMED GIRLS | QUEEN | 11 | 1978 |
19 | YOU'RE MY BEST FRIEND | QUEEN | 7 | 1976 |
20 | IT'S A HARD LIFE | QUEEN | 6 | 1984 |
©2018 Official Charts Company. All rights reserved.
The release of the Bohemian Rhapsody biopic has also given a healthy boost to Queen's music on streaming services. Rhapsody remains their most popular, with 50.4 million streams, followed by Don't Stop Me Now on 46.1 million plays.
Queen's Top 20 most streamed songs in the UK
POS | TITLE | ARTIST |
1 | BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY | QUEEN |
2 | DON'T STOP ME NOW | QUEEN |
3 | UNDER PRESSURE | QUEEN & DAVID BOWIE |
4 | ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST | QUEEN |
5 | WE WILL ROCK YOU | QUEEN |
6 | I WANT TO BREAK FREE | QUEEN |
7 | SOMEBODY TO LOVE | QUEEN |
8 | WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS | QUEEN |
9 | KILLER QUEEN | QUEEN |
10 | YOU'RE MY BEST FRIEND | QUEEN |
11 | CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE | QUEEN |
12 | FAT BOTTOMED GIRLS | QUEEN |
13 | RADIO GA GA | QUEEN |
14 | A KIND OF MAGIC | QUEEN |
15 | THE SHOW MUST GO ON | QUEEN |
16 | WHO WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER | QUEEN |
17 | I WANT IT ALL | QUEEN |
18 | BICYCLE RACE | QUEEN |
19 | ONE VISION | QUEEN |
20 | HAMMER TO FALL | QUEEN |
©2018 Official Charts Company. All rights reserved.
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GR
Gareth Rees
Seven Seas of Rye is still their best track ans doesn't even make the download list. Or Flash.
ML
Mick Lynch
I wouldnt agree with Bo Rhap being the only SONG to be a Christmas no. 1 twice. Do they know its christmas done it several times....and not sure about marys boy child?
L
Louise
Maybe they mean the only same version of a song to get to Christmas number one twice.
ML
Mick Lynch
Ah yeah louise i was thinking that but it was the way they worded it with 'song'. It was only a double a sided second time round and i do feel these are the days of my life was really the main song
LM
Lee Moore
Does this list include streaming sales?
Official Charts
Hi Lee, no this list is pure sales.
LM
Lee Moore
For such a legendary act, its a real shame we couldn't have the same amount of detailed sales information you included in the recent Little Mix all time list...also, why don't all the best seller lists you publish include streaming sales now?
skaschep
if you want some great numbers on Queen check this: https://chartmasters.org/2017/10/cspc-queen-popularity-analysis/
It's from last year and now of course already long outdated as the current popularity in streaming (they are the #1 artist on Spotify in streams at the moment with 22-24 million streams per day) is pumping up their numbers big time. With these figures from 2017 Queen is the #5 artist in the world however. See: https://chartmasters.org/2017/10/best-selling-artists-albums-and-singles-of-all-time/24/, but I bet they passed Madonna by now.
David Eve
perhaps because streaming sales are a meaningless artificial metric? Typically the 1:100 ratio has been used for total sales, whereas a multitude of different ratios are now used to calculate the charts......
LM
Lee Moore
I agree with the complicated lack of continuity in streaming ratios but whether anyone likes it or not, streaming is a major component of the charts and barometer of consumption and has to be recognised as such, and all time lists need to reflect that going forward.