Jim,

Why is it people always have to bring up one of the ten or so songs that have ever gone past that time constraints and they are all between 20 and 30 years old? Those are abberations. You can't do those anymore and expect any kind of mainstream success. And even Bohemian Rhapsody was on the heels of dozens of Queen songs that had been hits, in an era where the 10 minute disco dance mix was a standard. Again, for about 10 years.
That was a ten year abberation period in a new format with less constraints than have developed. Before the drug phase of music hit around 1967 Summer of Love to about 1977 where Disco took over, into the dance era of Urban Cowby days, ending not much longer, the format's went back to the three minute songs.

So pulling out exceptions rather than rules really don't help, especially to most people who are trying to find ways into today's music market. The modern world of the Internet have actually made those time constraints tighter, not looser, with people now giving attention closer to two minutes than three minutes.

We all have favorites from that era but that era has gone. Time to try at least to intereact with the modern public.Of course, writers all have the right and obligations to say anything they want, any way they want it, and can be as long or short as they want. But there is no right to be heard. And in the ears of the general music consumer, less is more.

MAB