A flash mob cover of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, featuring vocals from a Sunderland singer and filmed in Paris, has been viewed by over 500 million people on social media.
The stunt, which was filmed in July, shows people going about their to daily lives in the Place de la Contrescarpe before 30 musicians “surprise” locals with the song.
Singer Mickey Callisto, 28, said: “I can’t believe how many people have watched it, the video dropped last week and I’ve got hundreds of messages to respond to.”
Queen released Bohemian Rhapsody in October 1975 and it spent nine weeks at number one in the UK before topping the charts for five more weeks following Freddie Mercury’s death in 1991.
Callisto also scored a viral hit earlier this year when he auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent (BGT) and his vocal talents immediately drew comparisons to the Queen frontman.
“Julien [Cohen], who put the flash mob together had seen my BGT audition and asked me if I wanted to get involved,” Callisto said.
“It was nerve-racking though as there was so many musicians and we didn’t get a chance to rehearse.”
The video has been liked on Instagram by 12 million users and received praised from the surviving members of Queen.
“The official account commented on the video saying ‘we absolutely love this’, I couldn’t believe it.
“It felt like scoring a goal at the Stadium of Light for Sunderland.”
Musician and Youtuber Cohen, who directed and performed in the flash mob, is known for doing similar stunts which often pull in millions of viewers online.
Comments on the video include praise for Callisto’s vocals.
One Youtube viewer wrote: “This guy sounds exactly like Freddie, what a wonderful team of outstanding beautiful talented musicians.”
The singer said the video is helping him get requests to gig all over the world.
“This video has been huge, I mean Ruth Langsford got in touch. She said it made her cry.
“And I’ve also been asked to do a gig in Singapore and Amsterdam, it’s mental.”
