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Song Parodies -> "Shakespearian Rhapsody"

Original Song Title:

"Bohemian Rhapsody"

 (MP3)
Original Performer:

Queen

Parody Song Title:

"Shakespearian Rhapsody"

Parody Written by:

The Comedian

The Lyrics

That is the question
To be or not to be
Caught in a crisis
No escape from soliloquy

Must exorcise
These demons inside
Of me...
I'm a Danish Prince, from aristocracy
And I had a most, chilling sight,
Father's ghost, such a fright!
To be, or not to, be -
It no longer matters to me,
To me...

Father, they killed you Dad
Grabbed your ear while you're in bed
Poured in poison, now you're dead
Now I'm, your avenging son!
And now the King is really going to pay!

Father, oooo
Didn't want to see you die,
I swear I will avenge your death of sorrow,
So move on, so move on - purgatory doesn't matter...

Such hate...revenge must come...
Sends shivers down my spine -
Must pretend I've lost my mind,
so that, everybody - won't know I know
Gotta make those bloody bastards face the truth!

Father, oooo - (to be, or not to, be)
I shall see them die!
I'll make them wish they'd never been born at all!

Let's do a little psychodrama for the King!
Scare him good! Scare him good! Make him show his guilt pangs, oh!

Reenact the murder, of poor Hamlet's father, please!

Do the play-oh! (Do the play-oh!)
Do the play-oh! (Do the play-oh!)
Do the play-oh! Do the show - see the King go!

I feel so guilty, my crime disturbs me!
I feel so guilty, I shall get, on my knees!
Spare me, dear Lord, from my monstrosity!

There's the King - see him bow - should I kill him now?
I could, but, no - to heaven he would go
(he would go!)
I could, but - to heaven he would go
(he would go!)
I could, but - to heaven he would go
(he would go!)
heaven he would go
(he would go!)
heaven he would go
(he would go!)
Mustn't let him go, ah oh oh - No, no, no, no, no, no, NO!

Oh harken to me, harken to me, harken to me, see my sword?

There's poison rubbed on the beveled underside you see, you see, YOU SEE?

So you think you'll dethrone me and spit in my eye?
So you think I won't cut you and leave you to die?
Ohhhh Hamlet, don't deceive yourself Hamlet!
Raise quickly your sword, Raise quickly your sword and fight ME!

Hamlet died for vengeance,
Vengeance full of woe,
Hamlet died for vengeance,
Hamlet died for vengeance, and woe...

...To be, or not to, be...

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 LittleLots
Matches Pace of
Original Song: 
How Funny: 
Overall Score: 



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Voting Results

 
Pacing: 5.0
How Funny: 5.0
Overall Rating: 5.0

Total Votes: 23

Voting Breakdown

The following represent how many people voted for each category.

    Pacing How Funny Overall Rating
 1   0
 0
 0
 
 2   0
 0
 0
 
 3   0
 0
 0
 
 4   0
 0
 0
 
 5   23
 23
 23
 

User Comments

Comments are subject to review, and can be removed by the administration of the site at any time and for any reason.

Guy - October 26, 2003 - Report this comment
This one really 'shakes rear'. Great job Johnny. Love your usage of 'To be or not to be' Excellent.
Claude Prez - October 26, 2003 - Report this comment
"There's poison rubbed on the beveled underside" is a killer line. But the whole thing rules.
Rick D - October 26, 2003 - Report this comment
Every time I think "There CAN'T be another one", someone like you comes up with a new angle. Clever.
Robert J. Pagliaro - October 26, 2003 - Report this comment
This is very good.
Adagio - October 26, 2003 - Report this comment
I ABSOLUTELY loved it!! Wish I could give you 10's, but guess you'll have to settle for 5's.
Johnny D - October 26, 2003 - Report this comment
Thanks soooo much!! It was such a gas writing "Space Alien Rhapsody" that I just HAD to give it another go. Come on, everybody! Let's all keep this crazy "Bohemian Rhapsody Parody Train" rolling! Write 'em and post 'em, write 'em and post 'em! Long live Queen!
John Jenkins - October 26, 2003 - Report this comment
There is nothing rotten in the mind of Johnny D - well done!
Phil Alexander - October 27, 2003 - Report this comment
...and it's completely different to "Space Alien Rhapsody", which in itself is a feat: to write two such distinct parodies to the same song in such a short space of time. This one's extremely good, though I think the Space Alien one was more inspired (but then, you didn't have the constraints of plot to sit within). I don't know: Homer and Shakespeare... we're getting remarkably cultured round here, don't you think?
Johnny D - October 27, 2003 - Report this comment
Phil - thanks very much for your positive feedback here - and thanks again to everybody else so far!
Phil Alexander - October 27, 2003 - Report this comment
Must say, you've made a pretty impressive start - tell me: have you just started writing parodies, or are you more of an old hand who's just found amiright (if not quite in the Rick D mould..)?
Johnny D - October 27, 2003 - Report this comment
I got my start doing parodies many years ago when I used to perform in musical theatre productions. Members of the cast would come up with parodies of the show's songs. In fact, back in the late 1970's, I was in Brigadoon at M.I.T. and we all re-wrote the show's songs as parodies and did a rehearsal of the parodied version - it was hysterically funny!
Wild Man - October 27, 2003 - Report this comment
You get the trifecta 555 Chalupas, Man!
Phil Alexander - October 28, 2003 - Report this comment
Johnny, I suspected as much...
Johnny D - October 28, 2003 - Report this comment
Yep, Phil, I'm an old musical theatre clown. I've decided it's time for me to give Bohemian Rhapsody a rest......a very LONG rest ! I have quickly learned that "Bohemian Rhapsody Parodology" is, shall we say, a much-trodden path.....muddy in some places and rocky in others. I've had a lot of fun with it - and now it's time to place it to one side and move on.......there's so much OTHER music out there that's worthy of a parody or two!
neminem - October 28, 2003 - Report this comment
Nice, as usual... though, having just done a paper last year on the character, I didn't quite agree with the characterization in this parody ;-). Doesn't stop it from being funny, of course. On a totally different note, I would really really like to see those Brigadoon parodies you mentioned, if you still have them... I have a half a parody of Into the Woods from last year's performance, but it unfortunately never got finished.
Lord Pacholek - October 29, 2003 - Report this comment
It is a tale told by a madman, full of sound and fury, signifying humor!
Johnny D - October 30, 2003 - Report this comment
Thank you, mi' Lord !
Rice Cube - October 30, 2003 - Report this comment
I'd like to see what ideas you come up with next for this one, after you are done with your break. One of those "wish I'd thought of it first" ideas :-) Excellent!
Johnny D - October 30, 2003 - Report this comment
Rice Cube, thanks very much! It was fun experimenting with Bohemian Rhapsody - it's a song with an intricate variety of rhythmic and lyrical structures, so it was a gas experimenting with it. I've really got to let it go for awhile, though. In the future sometime - someday - if an idea comes up that is just too hilariously funny to resist - perhaps I may have another go at it.
Spaff.com - November 04, 2003 - Report this comment
Best Hamlet musical since Gilligan's Island's version. Correction: Even better than that one.
Johnny D - November 04, 2003 - Report this comment
Thanks Spaff !
Smurf and Mr. Horse - November 08, 2003 - Report this comment
Love your style Johnny and went snooping thru some older parodies of yours and we really think this one's great...amongst many others you've done of course :-) gave it fivers even though it's goin' back a ways
Rick D - November 08, 2003 - Report this comment
I have a mould now? No wonder I itch! I did notice that between JD and me it seems to be contagious.
Johnny D - November 08, 2003 - Report this comment
Thank you, Smurf and Mister Horse. From time to time, I like to browse through the Amiright archives and look through older parodies posted many months ago, and I'm glad I do - I always come across lots of fun stuff. And I don't hesitate to vote and comment on parodies, even if they were posted a long time ago. Thank you for your kind consideration.
Johnny D - November 08, 2003 - Report this comment
Rick D - please elaborate on the nature of our shared contagion ( LOL! ).
Rick D - November 08, 2003 - Report this comment
I just meant jokingly that we seem to be getting infected with each others ideas, meaning we have similar warped minds. (Roundabout wasn't the only song I was gonna do that you got to first.)
Johnny D - November 08, 2003 - Report this comment
No kidding! Which other song(s) did I happen to get to first?
Rick D - November 09, 2003 - Report this comment
"The Boxer, for one, same dog theme. I I had also started "Uncle Albert", when I saw yours. And I already mentiond "Feed the Meter" as a pet theme. That's okay. I came in here thinking I was Weird Als' greatest unknown rival, and found out quickly that this world has gotten very small indeed. The small pond we all used to be a big fish in has turned into an ocean that Nemo wouldn't be found in. Fortunately, I found something just as good, and if you're even slightly competitive, it's very motivating. Almost everything I've done creatively was spurred on by someone else either thinking it was great, or it sucked. The worst thing of course, is being ignored. Getting in here, good or bad, has given me a creative kick in the butt. So I ain't gonna begrudge you or anyone else a few songs I get beat to. Even if I moan about it.
Greesha - November 13, 2003 - Report this comment
this was amazing! the pacing was great and it was hysterical! all 5's!
Johnny D - November 13, 2003 - Report this comment
Thank you very much, Greesha!
Suzie Cream Cheese - December 03, 2003 - Report this comment
Even though I don't know the original song very well, I still give this a perfect score.
Johnny D - December 03, 2003 - Report this comment
Thanks Suzie Cream Cheese !
David Chrenko - December 06, 2003 - Report this comment
One of your finest, Johnny - really first rate.
Johnny D - December 06, 2003 - Report this comment
Thank you, David.
Rock Princess - December 20, 2003 - Report this comment
OMG, this one ROCKS!!! I haven't laughted so hard in ages!!!
Johnny D - December 20, 2003 - Report this comment
Thank you, Rock Princess!
Martha - February 18, 2004 - Report this comment
Johnny D this is great I love it
Johnny D - February 20, 2004 - Report this comment
Thank you very much, Martha!
Guy - September 16, 2004 - Report this comment
(ABCs) For the record this song got 37 votes before the votes were wiped back in late July, 33 of which received 5s on pace, 35 5's for funny and 36 5's for overall. I'd like to restore my vote but I won't unless this one gets reset. JD - This is an excellent choice for the "S" round of the ABCs parody contest. I throughly enjoyed re-reading it. Again, well done, sir.
Johnny D - September 22, 2004 - Report this comment
Thanks very much, Guy.
Adagio - September 22, 2004 - Report this comment
Still magnificent, Johnny...restoring my vote for (ABC).
Agrimorfee - September 23, 2004 - Report this comment
(ABC)555 Johnny....one of the better Boho Rhaps.
Melhi - September 23, 2004 - Report this comment
S round - Great job!
Phil Nelson - September 24, 2004 - Report this comment
(ABC) Amazing one, Johnny.
Johnny D - September 25, 2004 - Report this comment
Thanks Adagio, Agrimorfee, Melhi, and Phil.
Peregrin - September 26, 2004 - Report this comment
Excellent work Johnny
Arwen - September 27, 2004 - Report this comment
ABCs...excellent, Johnny!
martha - September 28, 2004 - Report this comment
reads even better the second time around ... spot on Johnny gets my vote!
Meriadoc - September 28, 2004 - Report this comment
(ABC) Missed this the first time around. Good job!
Johnny D - September 28, 2004 - Report this comment
Thank you Peregrin, Arwen, Martha, and Meriadoc!
MysteryGoat - September 29, 2004 - Report this comment
Great parody, I didn't think it was very humorous but who cares it was a good read. Still gave you a 5 in funny so as to not break your streak :-).
The Invincible - September 29, 2004 - Report this comment
Yet another Shakespearian masterwork, and for this I applaud you. Having been required to read this play to graduate high school a couple years ago, I can easily say that your work is just as educational, and far more entertaining than the original play. I wouldn't go so far to say that it's better, what with all the historical significance, but I won't go on. Anyway, another great parody deserving of fives.
Jeff Reuben - September 29, 2004 - Report this comment
Hamletting it up! This was great, really enjoyed it Johnny!
Johnny D - September 30, 2004 - Report this comment
Thank you MysteryGoat, The Invincible, and Jeff.
ABC's OF PARODIES ROUND "S" GOLD MEDAL - September 30, 2004 - Report this comment
http://www.inthe00s.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=3010.0;id=1723;image
Spaff.com - March 30, 2005 - Report this comment
Fave lines this go-round: "To be or not to be" for "Any way the wind blows" and "Let's do a little psychodrama for the king." But, you being you, I can't believe you didn't do something with "Fortinbras." Heh heh. Great stuff.
Adagio - April 09, 2005 - Report this comment
( ABC 2004 Winners) Already commented.
2nz - April 21, 2005 - Report this comment
I have no good excuse for not commenting on this sooner. Excellent work, JD. Still one of your best. Especially liked the 'beveled underside' line and the 'harken to me's that precede it.
Scathe - April 25, 2005 - Report this comment
(SOTMfinals) Never enjoyed Shakesphere plays that much.
Johnny D - May 02, 2005 - Report this comment
Thanks Spaff, Adagio, 2nz, and Scathe.
princess reachina - November 23, 2005 - Report this comment
this is so funny. i love it. you have a knack for shakespearean song parodies. this kicks so much ass that you should definitely write others.
Johnny D - November 23, 2005 - Report this comment
Thanks, princess reachina.
paul robinson - September 21, 2018 - Report this comment
This oldie is a freakin' masterpiece. The Comedian rocks.
Callmelennie (CML) - September 21, 2018 - Report this comment
I covered the exact same territory with the exact same song, Paul. I entitled it "If Queen Had Performed Hamlet" See how I compare ..... Caveat: I have real knack for parodying this song
paul robinson - September 21, 2018 - Report this comment
CML - I will take a look.
Johnny D / The Comedian - January 31, 2019 - Report this comment
Thank you, paul robinson!
CML - January 31, 2019 - Report this comment
The parodist doth paceth well, Methinks
CML - January 31, 2019 - Report this comment
BTW, I saw the same Shakesperean quality In "Bo Rhap" that you did. I did a Bo Rhap parody on the scene where Hamlet talks to the skull of Yorick

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