No way! Wow if this is fo rilz.

His higher pitches sound even more like him.

I upvoted under the assumption that he was singing that himself -- but either A) he's really good at mimicking Mercury's voice, or B) he's really good at lip-synching it; so arguably either way is worth the upvote...

There are a few things that to me suggest that it might be faked though:
1) First, to my ear it is just so spot on that it seems almost unbelievable.
2) I'm not a huge Queen fan, so I can't compare in my memory to the studio recording of that song -- but again it sounds very "studio perfect" to me. I'd definitely trust the judgement of a Queen fan over my own on that though.
3) It would take some work to get a high quality (non-MIDI) recording of all of the song's tracks *minus* the vocal line (but including the backup vocals) for him to sing along to (ie. a karaoke version).
4) If you are *that* good, I think that you'd be likely to alter the lyrics slightly and/or mix up a medley that switches songs on the fly to show that you aren't just lip-synching. I don't know the original song well enough to say for certain that he isn't doing the first part of that, but it definitely isn't a medley.

Anyway, I don't want to be the "FAKE!" / "I've seen lots of Photoshops in my time...I can tell by the pixels" dude, but it does seem possible on this one. Enjoyed watching though, and that is what matters.

***
edit - OK, I listened to the studio recording and there are enough small (tiny!) differences in a few areas that I'm tending to think that this is for real, and he just really is that good... Impressive!

Tags for this video have been changed from 'singer, freddie mercury, queen' to 'singer, freddie mercury, queen, Somebody To Love' - edited by Grimm

Those were my thoughts exactly so I too went to find the studio version to compare to--and this is not that (http://youtu.be/aPMwMLS6zx4). One obvious place is during the guitar solo, which does not have a voice over in the original, but also there are many small phrasing differences and inhalations that are not the same. Very impressive. I do wonder where his backing track is coming from though; anybody who would pick this song to sing at a karaoke bar must have balls of steel (and a vice to clamp them in).
>> ^MilkmanDan:

I upvoted under the assumption that he was singing that himself ... ... ... ... edit - OK, I listened to the studio recording and there are enough small (tiny!) differences in a few areas that I'm tending to think that this is for real, and he just really is that good... Impressive!

Gotta wonder if him looking alike helps him sound more like him. Nasal structures, shape of the mouth, etc. I don't see the point in lip syncing something when you're trying to use it as an audition, if they believe it, you're SOL if they call you up.

Sounded awesome, and he's got a lot of natural personality

The background audio probably comes from the Queen Extravaganza website, which is the contest (being ran in part by Queen's drummer) he is entering.

Excellent job. He will probably win the contest.

If anyone deserves to be reincarnated, it's Freddie Mercury.

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag.(show it anyway)

Great stuff. My vote is this is for reals. People can and do make "perfect" covers. I give you exhibit a:

That's great! and to my ear, that sounded very obviously different from the studio version

I can't believe anyone would mistake this for the original. He is, indeed, very good but lacks the power and energy of Freddy Mercury. He is too mellow, especially at the beginning (it does pick up some). However, he is definitely damn good.

I've heard this song SO many times that every nuance of it is imprinted perfectly in my memory. This guy does a pretty decent job but, he still misses the mark for sounding like Freddie. There are parts where he's really close but, mostly his voice is too "breathy". Very good attempt though!

Get your ears checked, MilkmanDan

>> ^MilkmanDan:

1) First, to my ear it is just so spot on that it seems almost unbelievable.



Reference material:

>> ^schlub:

I've heard this song SO many times that every nuance of it is imprinted perfectly in my memory. This guy does a pretty decent job but, he still misses the mark for sounding like Freddie. There are parts where he's really close but, mostly his voice is too "breathy". Very good attempt though!
Get your ears checked, MilkmanDan
>> ^MilkmanDan:
1) First, to my ear it is just so spot on that it seems almost unbelievable.


Reference material:



There's nothing wrong with MilkmanDan's ears my friend. Being a singer who has had to cover many different vocal styles myself and has also heard this song as well as most other Queen song many, many times, I listened to the two comparatively and I'm sorry to tell you but he's about as spot on as you can get without being Freddy himself. The main difference that I can hear between this guy's recording and the video you submitted is studio effects/mix. I'm sure this guy doesn't know exactly what effects were used during the recording so he did the best he could. I think Queen should hire his ass pronto and start touring.

Tags for this video have been changed from 'singer, freddie mercury, queen, Somebody To Love' to 'singer, freddie mercury, queen, Somebody To Love, Marc Martell' - edited by laura

Tags for this video have been changed from 'singer, freddie mercury, queen, Somebody To Love, Marc Martell' to 'singer, freddie mercury, queen, Somebody To Love, Marc Martel' - edited by laura

Here he is doing Bohemian Rhapsody: http://youtu.be/wGcDpnxtqsc
He is in a Christian rock band named Downhere ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downhere ).

Phenomenal vocal control.

Part 1 makes me want to upvote your comment.
Part 2 makes me want to punch infants in the face.>> ^laura:

Here he is doing Bohemian Rhapsody: http://youtu.be/wGcDpnxtqsc
He is in a Christian rock band named Downhere ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downhere ).

I didn't say he didn't do a good job or that he didn't do the song justice. I just said he doesn't sound like Freddie. If I'd heard only the audio, I would've known it was NOT Freddie Mercury singing.
>> ^Duckman33:

>> There's nothing wrong with MilkmanDan's ears my friend. Being a singer who has had to cover many different vocal styles myself and has also heard this song as well as most other Queen song many, many times, I listened to the two comparatively and I'm sorry to tell you but he's about as spot on as you can get without being Freddy himself.

I bet this has something to do with http://www.queenextravaganza.com/

edit: yeah, considering his youtube name IS queenextravaganza. Thinking this may be viral.
edit2: Apparently his name is Mark Martel, and he submitted this entry to the contest, and THEY uploaded it to youtube under their name. >.> So... not viral, just amazing.

I agree...just thought you'd want to know before you go worshipping this guy...it's not his talent after all, it's his personal gift from the Almighty.
>> ^rottenseed:

Part 1 makes me want to upvote your comment.
Part 2 makes me want to punch infants in the face.>> ^laura:
Here he is doing Bohemian Rhapsody: http://youtu.be/wGcDpnxtqsc
He is in a Christian rock band named Downhere ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downhere ).

Ah thats a bit unfortunate. Hey look, get him on tour with queen, drugs and sex may be just what he needs to straighten out. I cant believe he doesnt worship freddie, singing like that so maybe hes not a lost cause.
>> ^laura:

I agree...just thought you'd want to know before you go worshipping this guy...it's not his talent after all, it's his personal gift from the Almighty.
>> ^rottenseed:
Part 1 makes me want to upvote your comment.
Part 2 makes me want to punch infants in the face.>> ^laura:
Here he is doing Bohemian Rhapsody: http://youtu.be/wGcDpnxtqsc
He is in a Christian rock band named Downhere ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downhere ).

FYI... This guy is 23 yrs old, google what happened to Mercury 24 yrs ago in Sao Paulo.
He was "assaulted" but the perps took only a lock of his hair and a vial of blood and let him go.

>> ^schlub:

I didn't say he didn't do a good job or that he didn't do the song justice. I just said he doesn't sound like Freddie. If I'd heard only the audio, I would've known it was NOT Freddie Mercury singing.
>> ^Duckman33:
>> There's nothing wrong with MilkmanDan's ears my friend. Being a singer who has had to cover many different vocal styles myself and has also heard this song as well as most other Queen song many, many times, I listened to the two comparatively and I'm sorry to tell you but he's about as spot on as you can get without being Freddy himself.



So we are all wrong and you are correct. OK you know better than the rest of us, even those of us who actually played covers for a living. I get it.

If anyone deserves to escape the cycles of reincarnation and live for eternity in bliss, it's Freddie.
>> ^braindonut:

If anyone deserves to be reincarnated, it's Freddie Mercury.

Yes, but how does he look in a black and white checker body suit?

He doesn't have anywhere near as severe an overbite as Freddie... but he's certainly got the pipes... wonder if he can write an amazing hit song (or 12!) like Freddie could..

>> ^Porksandwich:

Gotta wonder if him looking alike helps him sound more like him. Nasal structures, shape of the mouth, etc. I don't see the point in lip syncing something when you're trying to use it as an audition, if they believe it, you're SOL if they call you up.

Wow, you have an attitude problem... that's for sure. The fact that you've "played covers" means nothing. They sound different, get over it.
>> ^Duckman33:

>> ^schlub:
I didn't say he didn't do a good job or that he didn't do the song justice. I just said he doesn't sound like Freddie. If I'd heard only the audio, I would've known it was NOT Freddie Mercury singing.
>> ^Duckman33:
>> There's nothing wrong with MilkmanDan's ears my friend. Being a singer who has had to cover many different vocal styles myself and has also heard this song as well as most other Queen song many, many times, I listened to the two comparatively and I'm sorry to tell you but he's about as spot on as you can get without being Freddy himself.


So we are all wrong and you are correct. OK you know better than the rest of us, even those of us who actually played covers for a living. I get it.

schlub is right. I can hear the difference too, but it is very close.
>> ^Duckman33:

>> ^schlub:
I didn't say he didn't do a good job or that he didn't do the song justice. I just said he doesn't sound like Freddie. If I'd heard only the audio, I would've known it was NOT Freddie Mercury singing.
>> ^Duckman33:
>> There's nothing wrong with MilkmanDan's ears my friend. Being a singer who has had to cover many different vocal styles myself and has also heard this song as well as most other Queen song many, many times, I listened to the two comparatively and I'm sorry to tell you but he's about as spot on as you can get without being Freddy himself.


So we are all wrong and you are correct. OK you know better than the rest of us, even those of us who actually played covers for a living. I get it.

That's what I said, he's about as on spot as you can get without being Freddy himself. I would consider that to be very close. I doubt anyone could match his voice perfectly. He said he doesn't sound like Freddy, so how is that right? I'm confused.

>> ^gwiz665:

I can hear the difference too, but it is very close.
>> ^Duckman33:
>> ^schlub:
I didn't say he didn't do a good job or that he didn't do the song justice. I just said he doesn't sound like Freddie. If I'd heard only the audio, I would've known it was NOT Freddie Mercury singing.
>> ^Duckman33:
>> There's nothing wrong with MilkmanDan's ears my friend. Being a singer who has had to cover many different vocal styles myself and has also heard this song as well as most other Queen song many, many times, I listened to the two comparatively and I'm sorry to tell you but he's about as spot on as you can get without being Freddy himself.


So we are all wrong and you are correct. OK you know better than the rest of us, even those of us who actually played covers for a living. I get it.

>> ^laura:

Here he is doing Bohemian Rhapsody: http://youtu.be/wGcDpnxtqsc
He is in a Christian rock band named Downhere ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downhere ).


Wait, he's in a christian rock band, but doing covers of a gay singer... my god, how doe he reconcile? How can he, madness

>> ^Duckman33:

Right, the fact that I was actually paid for it, which means I was a professional means absolutely nothing.

How exactly does your ability to perform a cover of someone else's song improve your hearing and ability to discern two different voices, hmm?
>> ^Duckman33:

I would consider that to be very close. I doubt anyone could match his voice perfectly.
Well, fucking, well... you're arguing that this guy's voice is EXACTLY the same as Freddie Mercury and then you turn around and say it isn't, it's just that it's "very close". So, hey hotshot, what was the point I've been making all along? Why the hell are you arguing with me in the first place!? Yes, he sounds similar, he doesn't sound the same. Stop wasting my time, troll.

He's taking what a gay singer has done, and making it right by god>> ^spoco2:

>> ^laura:
Here he is doing Bohemian Rhapsody: http://youtu.be/wGcDpnxtqsc
He is in a Christian rock band named Downhere ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downhere ).

Wait, he's in a christian rock band, but doing covers of a gay singer... my god, how doe he reconcile? How can he, madness

This is a fair approximation of what it's like to wander into this thread:

>> ^schlub:

I've heard this song SO many times that every nuance of it is imprinted perfectly in my memory. This guy does a pretty decent job but, he still misses the mark for sounding like Freddie. There are parts where he's really close but, mostly his voice is too "breathy". Very good attempt though!
Get your ears checked, MilkmanDan
>> ^MilkmanDan:
1) First, to my ear it is just so spot on that it seems almost unbelievable.
...


I figured that someone who was a bigger Queen fan would have a much better read on it than I did; if, say, someone was covering Metallica I think I'd be better able to pick up differences. On the other hand, I'm not much of a musician myself (dabble / have fun playing bass and guitar, but not well and I can't sing for s#it) so I'd still trust an expert's ear over my own.

Still, I stand by my assessment that to my ear he sounds very much like Freddie Mercury, to the point that I originally thought it might be lip-synching (although I'm now willing to accept he was singing it himself). I wouldn't have bet my life on it or anything, so I don't feel compelled to "get my ears checked" -- but I take no offense to your suggestion. Just glad to hear your comment as someone who is better able to compare to the studio recording than I am.

>> ^schlub:

>> ^Duckman33:
Right, the fact that I was actually paid for it, which means I was a professional means absolutely nothing.

How exactly does your ability to perform a cover of someone else's song improve your hearing and ability to discern two different voices, hmm?
>> ^Duckman33:
I would consider that to be very close. I doubt anyone could match his voice perfectly.
Well, fucking, well... you're arguing that this guy's voice is EXACTLY the same as Freddie Mercury and then you turn around and say it isn't, it's just that it's "very close". So, hey hotshot, what was the point I've been making all along? Why the hell are you arguing with me in the first place!? Yes, he sounds similar, he doesn't sound the same. Stop wasting my time, troll.


You mad bro?

Where did I say he sounded exactly like him? Please point that out to me. I never said anything of the sort, and to answer your other question. Since I'm a singer and have been for over 20 years AND was paid to imitate other singers for a living which I assume you are not and have not, I think that qualifies my ear to be able to hear the differences in singing voices.

From Wiki:

Freddy Mercury:

"...who was a Parsi born in Zanzibar and grew up there and in India until his mid-teens, has been referred to as "Britain's first Asian rock star". In 2006, Time Asia named him as one of the most influential Asian heroes of the past 60 years, and he continues to be voted one of the greatest singers in the history of popular music. In 2005, a poll organised by Blender and MTV2 saw Mercury voted the greatest male singer of all time. In 2008, Rolling Stone editors ranked him number 18 on their list of the 100 greatest singers of all time. In 2009, a Classic Rock poll saw him voted the greatest rock singer of all time. Allmusic has characterised Mercury as "one of rock's greatest all-time entertainers", who possessed "one of the greatest voices in all of music"... Biographer David Bret described his voice as "escalating within a few bars from a deep, throaty rock-growl to tender, vibrant tenor, then on to a high-pitched, perfect coloratura, pure and crystalline in the upper reaches"."

Marc Martel:

"Some asshole."

Boys boys, settle down. He's close, but not exactly. Are we all agreed? Let's move on.
>> ^Duckman33:

>> ^schlub:
>> ^Duckman33:
Right, the fact that I was actually paid for it, which means I was a professional means absolutely nothing.

How exactly does your ability to perform a cover of someone else's song improve your hearing and ability to discern two different voices, hmm?
>> ^Duckman33:
I would consider that to be very close. I doubt anyone could match his voice perfectly.
Well, fucking, well... you're arguing that this guy's voice is EXACTLY the same as Freddie Mercury and then you turn around and say it isn't, it's just that it's "very close". So, hey hotshot, what was the point I've been making all along? Why the hell are you arguing with me in the first place!? Yes, he sounds similar, he doesn't sound the same. Stop wasting my time, troll.

You mad bro?
Where did I say he sounded exactly like him? Please point that out to me. I never said anything of the sort, and to answer your other question. Since I'm a singer and have been for over 20 years AND was paid to imitate other singers for a living which I assume you are not and have not, I think that qualifies my ear to be able to hear the differences in singing voices.

This is for a tribute band the drummer from Queen is putting together. He did Youtube auditions, I believe this guy is the winner.

Yup and he's Canadian
*canada

Adding video to channels (Canada) - requested by Sagemind.

He makes it look so damn easy! Barely breaks a sweat. Crazy talent.

What I hear is him forcing himself to try and put Freddy Mecurys Quirks into the song, making a lot of it seem slightly.. well, unnatural.

His voice is damn near spot on, but the way he flows through it.. it doesn't have Freddys.. I don't know, Flamboyancy? Heart? Soul?

I can just picture Freddy singing this hunched over, eyes closed, singing his heart out into his mic, and that seems to be what's missing.

Mark's Bohemian Rhapsody from 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGcDpnxtqsc

>> ^Shepppard:

What I hear is him forcing himself to try and put Freddy Mecurys Quirks into the song, making a lot of it seem slightly.. well, unnatural.
His voice is damn near spot on, but the way he flows through it.. it doesn't have Freddys.. I don't know, Flamboyancy? Heart? Soul?
I can just picture Freddy singing this hunched over, eyes closed, singing his heart out into his mic, and that seems to be what's missing.


I imagine the only way it's possible to have flamboyancy, heart and soul in singing is when you use your own voice

*quality

Boosting this quality contribution up in the Hot Listing - declared quality by eric3579.

Is there a moratorium on when we can call *dupe?
This video was probably number 1 on the Sift in 2011.

And yes that's his real voice. He did an audition to go on tour with Queen, but I guess they thought he was too close to being an impersonation, and they passed on him for someone else. Take a look at his other Queen related videos to see that this is no trick...

165 up votes -- what's the record?

https://videosift.com/top?range=all&order=votes&topsubmit=select