3 ms·

Cool as Freddy was, let's not forget these are ads for google - would he have wanted his image used to shill for a giant corporation?

chao- 15y ago
Versus a small corporation? Or versus his image not being used at all? It is a tribute, with at least some degree of creativity and effort put into making the video. I don't see this being exploited to gain Google any more users than, let's be honest, they would have anyway. Especially since it is on Google Japan, I would anticipate people going to the main page, watching the video, and then not even performing a search. And in instances where that does occur, Google is gaining nothing financially from something which, again, is a creative tribute. I don't really see it as shilling at all.
- jamesgagan 15y ago
  How many times does the google logo appear in various forms during the "tribute"? If you don't think google gains anything financially from this, then you don't understand how advertising works.
  - mung 15y ago
    Some how I just can't imagine that a meeting took place "now, how can we capitalise on this"...
    - becomevocal 15y ago
      They at least had a "how will the Google logo fit in" moment. I do wonder how far ahead they plan these and what the process looks like.
      - shabble 15y ago
        Not hugely informative, but has a bit of a description: http://www.google.com/doodle4google/history.html http://www.google.com/doodle4google/history.html
  - yurisagalov 15y ago
    Given that Brian May wrote a guest blog post on Google's official blog today (http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/happy-birthday-freddie-mercury.html http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/happy-birthday-freddi...), I think that at least Brian May thinks that Freddie would've been ok with it. Yes, this "advertises" Google, but why can't it also be a celebration of Freddie Mercury's life? I really dislike the idea that every corporate gesture should have a sinister undertone...
  - michaelschade 15y ago
    The Google Doodles have historically intertwined Google and whatever the day's message was. Just as in pre-interactive Doodle days where they would morph images into the Google name, here they are extending that into their new style of logos. Plus, keep in mind that Google created the video. As a photographer and someone who enjoys art in general, I can tell you that it's not uncommon for artists to incorporate their name (or, in this case, their company's name) into a piece of work. It's a nice way to make the art something with which one can personally connect.
    - jamesgagan 15y ago
      You are joking right? You think google inserts their logo into this video three or four times so they can "personally connect" with it? It is so when you watch it, you associate google with the "fun" feeling you are getting from watching the video.
      - michaelschade 15y ago
        I never said that was the entire reason, but if I were one of the artists involved (not that I'm any good with video), that would be part of my reason. When I take or edit a photo, although representing myself individually, I incorporate a part of me or my family in it–my name, somewhere, or sometimes even something that alludes to my company. Now, I'm not saying that you are incorrect in what you perceive to be some of their reasoning for this. Of course Google wants to associate the work they do with their brand identity, and this video is indeed advertising. Anything a company does is advertising, to be fair. That said, I don't personally believe that advertising and showing support for something are mutually exclusive. Just as a company is able to get their name out there while also donating to charity, Google is capable of spreading the Google name while also paying tribute to Freddie.
  - nl 15y ago
    I suspect that people visiting Google.co.jp might already be familiar with the Google brand.
m0nastic 15y ago
I don't think Google posting a Google Doodle tribute is akin to shilling (is it shilling when they have doodles for other world figures?). I will agree that there is some commercial benefit to Google for this sort of thing, but even I'm not cynical enough to think that's their rationale for doing this. Freddie Mercury was one of my biggest heroes growing up, and I thought this was really nice (and maybe will cause a whole bunch of young people to ask "Who the hell is Freddie Mercury?").
- Teeooe 15y ago
  It's a Google Ad! Are you blind?
atypicaluser 15y ago
I don't think you know Freddy Mercury or Queen all that well. Considering they provided the score for two films (Flash Gordon, Highlander) and allowed their music on scores of commercials (e.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Zr5lZWx9X0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Zr5lZWx9X0 ) yeah, he'd/they'd shill.
- jamesgagan 15y ago
  I know them well enough to know that commerical features Dwight Yoakum's version of the song and it aired many years after Freddy Mercury died.
  - atypicaluser 15y ago
    My apologies. Would a spot from 1980 suffice? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9KDXJ2AlKQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9KDXJ2AlKQ
- philwelch 15y ago
  Highlander still had a traditional orchestral score alongside the Queen songs. The Highlander TV series also liberally used some of the songs, most prominently the album recording of the title song "Princes of the Universe" as the theme song, but also variations on "Who Wants To Live Forever" in the score. There's no question Queen was a fully-sold-out pop band at the end. With their talent they could have easily pursued a less commercial path--and in their early albums, had a fair deal of influence from heavy metal and progressive rock--but for whatever reasons, they didn't. Not a criticism, just a fact.
toyg 15y ago
Yes he would. Queen was one of the most "commercial" bands ever, constantly rehashing their music to sound like the mainstream-of-the-day and selling out to the highest bidder. They knew that being a pop band is just an act, and what matters is how many records and tickets you sell. Freddie was quite happy to get money to be a showman, and would probably laugh at modern "indie" sensibilities like you wouldn't believe. Hell, they happily sold "We are the Champions" to any sport organization willing to pony up some cash.

chao- 15y ago

Versus a small corporation? Or versus his image not being used at all? It is a tribute, with at least some degree of creativity and effort put into making the video. I don't see this being exploited to gain Google any more users than, let's be honest, they would have anyway. Especially since it is on Google Japan, I would anticipate people going to the main page, watching the video, and then not even performing a search. And in instances where that does occur, Google is gaining nothing financially from something which, again, is a creative tribute. I don't really see it as shilling at all.

jamesgagan 15y ago
How many times does the google logo appear in various forms during the "tribute"? If you don't think google gains anything financially from this, then you don't understand how advertising works.
- mung 15y ago
  Some how I just can't imagine that a meeting took place "now, how can we capitalise on this"...
  - becomevocal 15y ago
    They at least had a "how will the Google logo fit in" moment. I do wonder how far ahead they plan these and what the process looks like.
    - shabble 15y ago
      Not hugely informative, but has a bit of a description: http://www.google.com/doodle4google/history.html http://www.google.com/doodle4google/history.html
- yurisagalov 15y ago
  Given that Brian May wrote a guest blog post on Google's official blog today (http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/happy-birthday-freddie-mercury.html http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/happy-birthday-freddi...), I think that at least Brian May thinks that Freddie would've been ok with it. Yes, this "advertises" Google, but why can't it also be a celebration of Freddie Mercury's life? I really dislike the idea that every corporate gesture should have a sinister undertone...
- michaelschade 15y ago
  The Google Doodles have historically intertwined Google and whatever the day's message was. Just as in pre-interactive Doodle days where they would morph images into the Google name, here they are extending that into their new style of logos. Plus, keep in mind that Google created the video. As a photographer and someone who enjoys art in general, I can tell you that it's not uncommon for artists to incorporate their name (or, in this case, their company's name) into a piece of work. It's a nice way to make the art something with which one can personally connect.
  - jamesgagan 15y ago
    You are joking right? You think google inserts their logo into this video three or four times so they can "personally connect" with it? It is so when you watch it, you associate google with the "fun" feeling you are getting from watching the video.
    - michaelschade 15y ago
      I never said that was the entire reason, but if I were one of the artists involved (not that I'm any good with video), that would be part of my reason. When I take or edit a photo, although representing myself individually, I incorporate a part of me or my family in it–my name, somewhere, or sometimes even something that alludes to my company. Now, I'm not saying that you are incorrect in what you perceive to be some of their reasoning for this. Of course Google wants to associate the work they do with their brand identity, and this video is indeed advertising. Anything a company does is advertising, to be fair. That said, I don't personally believe that advertising and showing support for something are mutually exclusive. Just as a company is able to get their name out there while also donating to charity, Google is capable of spreading the Google name while also paying tribute to Freddie.
- nl 15y ago
  I suspect that people visiting Google.co.jp might already be familiar with the Google brand.

m0nastic 15y ago

I don't think Google posting a Google Doodle tribute is akin to shilling (is it shilling when they have doodles for other world figures?). I will agree that there is some commercial benefit to Google for this sort of thing, but even I'm not cynical enough to think that's their rationale for doing this. Freddie Mercury was one of my biggest heroes growing up, and I thought this was really nice (and maybe will cause a whole bunch of young people to ask "Who the hell is Freddie Mercury?").

Teeooe 15y ago
It's a Google Ad! Are you blind?

atypicaluser 15y ago

I don't think you know Freddy Mercury or Queen all that well. Considering they provided the score for two films (Flash Gordon, Highlander) and allowed their music on scores of commercials (e.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Zr5lZWx9X0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Zr5lZWx9X0 ) yeah, he'd/they'd shill.

jamesgagan 15y ago
I know them well enough to know that commerical features Dwight Yoakum's version of the song and it aired many years after Freddy Mercury died.
- atypicaluser 15y ago
  My apologies. Would a spot from 1980 suffice? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9KDXJ2AlKQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9KDXJ2AlKQ
philwelch 15y ago
Highlander still had a traditional orchestral score alongside the Queen songs. The Highlander TV series also liberally used some of the songs, most prominently the album recording of the title song "Princes of the Universe" as the theme song, but also variations on "Who Wants To Live Forever" in the score. There's no question Queen was a fully-sold-out pop band at the end. With their talent they could have easily pursued a less commercial path--and in their early albums, had a fair deal of influence from heavy metal and progressive rock--but for whatever reasons, they didn't. Not a criticism, just a fact.

toyg 15y ago

Yes he would. Queen was one of the most "commercial" bands ever, constantly rehashing their music to sound like the mainstream-of-the-day and selling out to the highest bidder. They knew that being a pop band is just an act, and what matters is how many records and tickets you sell. Freddie was quite happy to get money to be a showman, and would probably laugh at modern "indie" sensibilities like you wouldn't believe. Hell, they happily sold "We are the Champions" to any sport organization willing to pony up some cash.