Google Doodle Pays Tribute To Freddie Mercury (VIDEO)

This post has been updated.

The latest Google Doodle, which went live for some on September 4, pays tribute to Freddie Mercury, who would have celebrated his 65th birthday on September 5. (According to the Google Blog, the Doodle won't roll out to U.S. users until September 6, "out of respect for Labor Day.")

In June, Google wowed the web with their interactive tribute to master guitarist Les Paul and inspired countless Google guitar tutorials.

This time around, they've honored the rock band Queen's lead vocalist, who battled HIV for years before dying on November 24th, 1991 at the age of 45.

A video, which appears over the Google logo, features an animated tribute to Mercury, highlighting Queen's 1978 hit "Don't Stop Me Now."

Queen guitarist and songwriter Brian May wrote a post about Freddie Mercury for the Google Blog.

From May's post:

"Freddie would have been 65 this year, and even though physically he is not here, his presence seems more potent than ever. Freddie made the last person at the back of the furthest stand in a stadium feel that he was connected. He gave people proof that a man could achieve his dreams—made them feel that through him they were overcoming their own shyness, and becoming the powerful figure of their ambitions. And he lived life to the full. He devoured life. He celebrated every minute. And, like a great comet, he left a luminous trail which will sparkle for many a generation to come."

The song lyrics featured in the Google Doodle seem to echo May's thoughts:

"I'm a shooting star leaping through the sky/Like a tiger defying the laws of gravity/I'm a racing car passing by like Lady Godiva/I'm gonna go go go there's no stopping me"

Check out the September 5 video doodle (below).

WATCH:

Comments

[jukesgrrl]

07:05 PM on 09/06/2011

I was never a Queen fan, but will always acknowledge Mercury for his unique talent and true star power. RIP, Freddy, knowing you left behind a memorable legacy.

[mrm3]

03:33 PM on 09/06/2011

I don't 'get' Freddie but Brian's guitar is from the Gods!

[mrm3]

03:31 PM on 09/06/2011

THis is the ONLY captioned YouTube video I've ever seen that is accurate.

The rest are just hilarious.

[wilray]

03:24 PM on 09/06/2011

By almost every measure of conventional wisdom there is no way that a song like "Bohemian Rhapsody" would succeed, but defying the laws of gravity it is one of the most requested and best beloved songs of all time.

The following clip is from an opening segment of the tv show "Cheers." As such, it is also a fitting tribute to Freddy Mercury and the power and influence of Queen.
http://youtu.be/iR6ICOyOnEY

[Carbon Forteetoo]

12:42 PM on 09/06/2011

That dude sure could sing. Especially rare in this depressing age of autotuning.

[SevenUPtheUNCOOLA]

01:02 AM on 09/06/2011

its on now, i just clicked on google and watched it. its a touching tribute, cant believe he's been gone for 20 years now, and 41 he was such a young man to leave so tragically. he was a phenomenal talent and a real showman, i still listen to him almost every day now that i think about it, his music is timeless and ageless and well, i hope you are resting in peace freddy.

[Veronica Cerf]

03:21 AM on 09/06/2011

I was only 5 when he died. Freddie has become immortal through his music. I love his voice and he really has this exceptional singing talent being able to sing across 4 octaves with still a pleasant timbre. Radio Gaga! We love you! I made a t-shirt to his tribute:
http://www.zazzle.com/freddie_mercury_rocks_tshirt-235422405673005619

[WhippetGood]

03:29 AM on 09/06/2011

Finally our turn to smile for 24 hours!

[Ellamenta]

11:21 PM on 09/05/2011

We U.S. Googlers really missed out, not getting to see this--can we have it on another day?

[nishioka]

12:14 AM on 09/06/2011

I heard we're getting it tomorrow.

[ComedyFan]

08:57 PM on 09/05/2011

I was lucky enough to see Queen perform at Live Aid, where over 70,000 people stomped their feet and sang along to "We Will Rock You." I'll never forget it.

Happy Birthday, Freddie. Wish you were still here.

[Jeany]

08:09 PM on 09/05/2011

I am a shameless Freddie Mercury & Queen fan. His voice - and Brian's guitar - never fail to make me smile. His voice had qualities of light and color unequalled outside of the world of opera, in my opinion.

If time travel were possible, my chosen destination would be the 1986 Wembley Stadium Queen concert.

[COPESTIR3]

08:21 PM on 09/06/2011

You can never second guess what could have been. But I felt great loss at the prospect of some one like Freddy being able to blend the vocals of opera, in a modern rock presentation. That would have been awesome. He did so in Barcelona. I would have like to see more. But AIDS closed the book on that.

[bobbyO]

07:27 PM on 09/05/2011

This is a great tribute for a great singer. He would have loved it.

[whodo1952]

05:42 PM on 09/05/2011

I was and still am a "singing it out loud for fun" fan, Freddie gave that gift to many eras.

[Kittyburger]

05:23 PM on 09/05/2011

... that is the most awesome thing EVER.

[napoleon68]

04:10 PM on 09/05/2011

happy birthday freddy! you are missed! you will ALWAYS be one of the greatest voices and showmen. have a great day, prince of the universe with all the other voices who were taken from us to soon!

[Barbara Darlin]

04:09 PM on 09/05/2011

I hope Freddie would love it! Great salute!!!

[Momcatusa]

04:06 PM on 09/05/2011

Still missin' you, Freddie, after all these years...