Over the weekend, Benson Boone took the stage at Coachella for the first time with a set that built up to one firecracker moment: his surprise guest appearance from Brian May. It came towards the end of the set, with the Queen member emerging for an encore performance of “Bohemian Rhapsody” and sticking around for Boone’s own hit single “Beautiful Things.” It was a transcendent moment for the young musician, but less so for his crowd.
“Me trying to get the Coachella crowd to understand what an absolute legend Brian May is and the cultural impact he has on music and THE WORLD,” Boone wrote on TikTok. The accompanying post reenacted his efforts to get the audience excited about the special performance. It was mostly lighthearted with a banana standing in for his microphone before he gives up and throws it over his shoulder.
“@brianmayforreal I have no words,” he captioned an Instagram post from his set. “You are easily one of the most legendary musicians of all time and I cannot thank you enough for coming out.” May responded with his own Instagram post to the “truly golden 22 year old prodigy,” writing: “I’m still reeling from last night at Coachella. Thanks to all of you folks who made it feel so special — you know who you are !!!! And this particular way of concluding Bohemian Rhapsody will be hard to beat in the years to come !!! Thanks. And for Benson and his entire team, I have no words. I’m awestruck.”
Boone’s set spanned nine songs including the live debut of an unreleased track called “Mystical Magical.” “This show is by far and easily the biggest production I have ever been a part of. The work, dedication, and time to build and see out something like this is near unfathomable. So many people are behind the scenes making this dream happen. I am so proud to have been a part of this show,” he said. “I can’t wait to come back to Coachella next weekend, thank you for having me, and thank you for everything you do even if it’s just a simple stream. I love this job, I love this life, I love music, and I love the people I have around me. God bless you all.”
From Rolling Stone US
