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Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now" on Google Japan

google.co.jp

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Re: Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now" on Google Japan

#11

Post by m0nastic »

jamesgagan wrote: post #4

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?

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?").

Re: Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now" on Google Japan

#12

Post by atypicaluser »

jamesgagan wrote: post #4

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?

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 ) yeah, he'd/they'd shill.

Re: Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now" on Google Japan

#13

Post by michaelschade »

jamesgagan wrote: post #8
chao- wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 sea…

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.

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.

Re: Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now" on Google Japan

#14

Post by spiralganglion »

thristian wrote: post #7

On the subject of Japan and Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now", here's another curiousity: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTo-wFfIXKo Somebody took a copy of Super Mario World for the Super Nintendo and hex-edited the levels so that instead of requiring a human player, the game's built-in physics propels Mario through the level. And, the levels were designed so that the various sound effects caused by Mario stomping on and…

It never ceases to amaze me what people are doing with these "classic" video games. I have immense hope that the current generation of video games, ten or twenty years on, will have fostered the same degree of love and devotion in their fans, leading to such astounding mods. I can't wait to see how the more advanced physics and rendering technologies in recent games are twisted by the brilliant and insane minds of hackers and digital circuit-benders.

There are some good examples already (the GTA4 negative wheel friction hack (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0cUkU9rZyE) or some of the Mario64 Tool-Asisted-Speedruns come to mind), but we're not yet anywhere near these beautifully orchestrated sublimations of classic Mario, Zelda and Super Metriod.

Re: Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now" on Google Japan

#15

Post by jamesgagan »

atypicaluser wrote: post #12
jamesgagan wrote: post #4

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?

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 ) yeah, he'd/they'd shill.

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.

Re: Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now" on Google Japan

#16

Post by jamesgagan »

michaelschade wrote: post #13
jamesgagan wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

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…

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.

Re: Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now" on Google Japan

#17

Post by atypicaluser »

jamesgagan wrote: post #15
atypicaluser wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 ) yeah, he'd/they'd shill.

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.

My apologies. Would a spot from 1980 suffice? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9KDXJ2AlKQ

Re: Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now" on Google Japan

#19

Post by jmillikin »

thristian wrote: post #7

On the subject of Japan and Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now", here's another curiousity: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTo-wFfIXKo Somebody took a copy of Super Mario World for the Super Nintendo and hex-edited the levels so that instead of requiring a human player, the game's built-in physics propels Mario through the level. And, the levels were designed so that the various sound effects caused by Mario stomping on and…

This is called "automatic mario", and is very popular on Japanese social video sites like Nico Nico Douga.

One of the most impressive examples is an 11-minute medley of video game and cartoon themes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz0PaPpmGa8

Re: Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now" on Google Japan

#20

Post by michaelschade »

jamesgagan wrote: post #16
michaelschade wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

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.

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.

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