Freedom (Wham! song)
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| "Freedom" | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Single by Wham! | |||||||||||||||||||
| from the album Make It Big | |||||||||||||||||||
| Released | August 13, 1984 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Format | 12", 7" | ||||||||||||||||||
| Recorded | 1984 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Genre | Dance rock | ||||||||||||||||||
| Length | 5:01 (album version) 5:20 (single version w/ alternate ending) |
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| Label | CBS | ||||||||||||||||||
| Producer | George Michael | ||||||||||||||||||
| Wham! singles chronology | |||||||||||||||||||
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"Freedom" is a song by British pop duo Wham! in 1984, becoming the group's second UK #1 hit. It was written by George Michael, one half of the duo.
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[edit] History
Wham! had already enjoyed a successful 1984 by the time Freedom was released in August of the year. "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" had given them their first UK #1 and had then reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in the USA. George had then gone to #1 with a solo single, "Careless Whisper".
"Freedom" was #1 in the UK for three weeks and featured on the album Make It Big, which was issued at the same time. "Freedom" was the 10th biggest selling single of 1984. This song also reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US the following year. The lyrics are full of the turmoil one experiences of staying in a destructive relationship where one partner loves another more than the other "part-time love just brings me down" and the inevitable hurt this causes. A situation that Michael finally appears to resolve in the song 'Faith' where he is building the confidence to meet someone new and get the 'freedom' he has been dreaming of.
The music video also features the band touring around Beijing, China.
The single was also released as a square picture disc, with a the record being white and having a picture of Michael on the right side.
"Freedom" was covered in 1999 by New Zealand girl group TrueBliss on their debut album Dream. It was released as the TrueBliss's final single in September 1999. It was also covered by The Supernaturals in 1997.
The song was used in a Japanese commercial for Maxell audio cassettes, with altered lyrics. ("I can't wait to see you, why don't you come here no more?")
The melody of the song was used by George Michael as an introduction to his song, "Faith", played on a church organ.
[edit] Track listing
[edit] 7": Epic / A 4743 (UK)
- "Freedom" (5:08)
- "Freedom [Instrumental]" (5:10)
[edit] 12": Epic / TA 4743 (UK)
- "Freedom [Long Version]" (7:14)
- "Freedom [Instrumental]" (5:10)
- Note "Long Version" is mislabeled as "Long Mix"
[edit] 7": Single (US)
- "Freedom" — (5:00)
- "Heartbeat" — (4:42)
[edit] 12": Maxi-Single (US)
- "Freedom [Long Mix]" — (6:16)
- "Hearbeat [Instrumental]" — (4:42)
- "Freedom [Instrumental]" — (5:10)
[edit] Chart performance
| Chart (1984) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Sweden | 9 |
| Switzerland | 5 |
| Norway | 1 |
| Austria | 23 |
| France | 16 |
| Australia | 3 |
| UK | 1 |
| US (1985) | 3 |
| Preceded by "I Just Called to Say I Love You" by Stevie Wonder |
UK number-one single 20 October 1984 - 3 November 1984 |
Succeeded by "I Feel for You" by Chaka Khan |
| Preceded by "The War Song" by Culture Club |
Irish Singles Chart number-one single 27 October 1984 - 10 November 1984 |
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