Google has created a new, interactive, animated Doodle that celebrates the life of one of rock’s greatest performers, Queen’s Freddie Mercury. The Doodle features a large play button that kicks off Don’t Stop Me Now as the animation cycles through iconic photos and moments of Mercury’s career.
The Doodle then launches a Google search for ‘Freddie Mercury’, bringing up websites, wikis and photos of the Queen frontman’s career and achievements.
Born on 5 September 1946 to Indian parents in the British Protectorate of Zanzibar, Mercury has continually been celebrated as one of the greatest singers of all time, as well as one of rock’s most flamboyant performers. What mesmerised people most was his incredible vocal range.
Major hits with Queen included Bohemian Rhapsody, Somebody to Love, We Are The Champions, Killer Queen and Crazy Little Thing Called Love.
Freddie died in 1991 after a four-year battle with AIDS.
Queen guitarist Brian May wrote a personal note on the official Google blog in which he remembers first meeting Mercury whom he describes at the time being “a frail but energised dandy, with seemingly impossible dreams and a wicked twinkle in his eye. Awhile later we had the opportunity to actually see him sing … and it was scary! He was wild and untutored, but massively charismatic. Soon, he began his evolution into a world-class vocal talent, right in front of our eyes.
“Freddie was fully focused, never allowing anything or anyone to get in the way of his vision for the future. He was truly a free spirit. There are not many of these in the world. To achieve this, you have to be, like Freddie, fearless – unafraid of upsetting anyone’s apple cart.”
The Freddie Mercury creative process, described by Brian May
May described the creative process he and his bandmates enjoyed with Mercury.
“To create with Freddie was always stimulating to the max. He was daring, always sensing a way to get outside the box. Sometimes he was too far out … and he’d usually be the first to realise it. With a conspiratorial smile he would say ‘Oh … did I lose it, dears?!’
“But usually there was sense in his nonsense – art in his madness. It was liberating. I think he encouraged us all in his way, to believe in our own madness, and the collective mad power of the group Queen.”
May said Mercury 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.”
