Bohemian Rhapsody video

this may sound like a stupid question but what exactly happens in the bohemian rhapsody video, i have seen clips but never seen aything else other than the kaleidoscope effect of the lads.what happens other than this?

Other than that, it's really just a performance video. You can watch it here.

http://search.launch.yahoo.com/search/lsearch/video?p=queen

I too always wonder why this is considered to be the first real videoclip. Aren't there any other videoclips that have special effects or something in it before Bohemian Rhapsody?

KJ wrote:

I too always wonder why this is considered to be the first real videoclip. Aren't there any other videoclips that have special effects or something in it before Bohemian Rhapsody?

I don't know whether there were any vids with special effects before BohRap.

There were indeed some videos before BohRap, but they were either performed or mimed songs, recorded just for promotion, so they weren't proper music videos, in reality. The Beatles were the first to film promo videos for their songs because they couldn't show up for so many performances at times. Even then, only a handful of their promotional videos, which were only promotional and nothing else, or their performance films, exist. Some have been lost, or are only available on private multi-gen copies (which we only know too well).

It's also considered being the first videoclip because it was filmed on videotape as far as I know.
I have a clip of Userbits on my site in which this is explained in short.

It depends what you mean by effects, but certainly the promo film for "Whiter Shade Of Pale" by "Procul Harum" uses bits of electronic synth soundwaves and vietnam newsreel intercut with a performance of the band performing on a lawn, while "The Beatles" "Strawberry Fields" features many time distortion techniques, both of which must be classified as effects.

For those interested in early UK videos (NOT "Top Of The Pops" or "Beatclub" performances - but actual promo videos), try these links. They should cost no more than £6.00 - and are excellent.

The Best Of Beat
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2303&item=6314497749&rd=1

The Beat Goes On
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2303&item=6314497750&rd=1

The Beat Era
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=41569&item=6315408455&rd=1

Finally; doesn't "The Beatles" promo "Your Mother Should Know", use the same "honeycomb" effect as the "Bo Rhap" video?

Well don't forget a lot of the '60s performance videos (Jefferson Airplane, etc.) had psychadelic colors keyed in the background too...

I think The Kinks also have a video before Bo Rhap (I might be wrong). But, more examples: Pink Floyd, John Lennon, David Bowie...