Looking for Freedom (song)
| "Looking for Freedom" | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Single by David Hasselhoff | |
| from the album Looking for Freedom | |
| B-side | Remix |
| Released | 1988 |
| Format | 7" single, 12" maxi, CD maxi |
| Genre | Pop |
| Length | 3:55 |
| Label | White |
| Writer(s) | Jack White Gary Cowtan |
| Producer | Jack White |
"Looking for Freedom", with music by Jack White and lyric by Gary Cowtan, came out as a single from David Hasselhoff in 1989 (originally released in 1978 with German singer Marc Seaberg[1]). The song held the No. 1 positions in the former West Germany for 8 weeks[2] and in Switzerland for 4 weeks. Matthew Wilkening of AOL Radio ranked it at #98 on the list of the 100 Worst Songs Ever, stating that Hasselhoff "testifies to the power of music — horrible, horrible music — to unite and uplift us all."[3]
Contents |
[edit] Lyrics
The song is about a rich man's son who wants to make his own way in the world, rather than to have everything given to him. Contrary to popular belief and although those two songs are linked, it was not a cover version of the German Schlager 'Auf der Straße nach Süden' performed in 1978 by Tony Marshall.[2] Neither was it a revamped Irish folk song, as once stated by David Hasselhoff on a TV talk show.
The composer was Jack White (German) and "Looking for Freedom" was the original title and lyric of the song, written by Gary Cowtan (British). It was already finished before Jon Athan began writing the German lyric. The later recorded German version sung by Tony Marshall was released some weeks after the original version sung by Marc Seaberg. The misleading factor was that Marc Seaberg was a new artist in 1978, whereas Tony Marshall was already an established star. Both of these versions, recorded at Hansa Studio 2 in Berlin, used the same instrumental tracks and some of these were again used on David Hasselhoff's 1989 version, which was completed in Los Angeles. All three versions were produced by Jack White.
[edit] Cover versions and uses in the media
Swedish dansband, pop and country singer Kikki Danielsson covered the song on her 2006 album I dag & i morgon. Even if the lyrics don't fit on her background, she performs the original words.
In 2006, German basketball player Dirk Nowitzki joked that he sings the song before free throws.
A Norwegian Telephone company Telenor launched their new subscription "Djuice Freedom" and in their commercial, David Hasselhoff was shown singing the song, and the voice over said: "David Hasselhoff is looking for freedom, Are you?"
[edit] Track listings
- 7" single
- "Looking for Freedom" — 3:55
- "Looking for Freedom" (instrumental) — 3:55
- CD maxi
- "Looking for Freedom" (maxi version — vocal) — 5:32
- "Looking for Freedom" (single version — vocal) — 3:55
- "Looking for Freedom" (single version — instrumental) — 3:55
- 12" maxi
- "Looking for Freedom" (maxi version — vocal) — 5:32
- "Looking for Freedom" (single version — vocal) — 3:55
- "Looking for Freedom" (single version — instrumental) — 3:55
[edit] Charts and sales
[edit] Peak positions
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[edit] End of year charts
[edit] Certifications and sales
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[edit] Chart successions
| Preceded by "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart" by Marc Almond featuring Gene Pitney |
German number-one single March 31, 1989 – May 19, 1989 (8 weeks) |
Succeeded by "The Look" by Roxette |
| Preceded by "Like a Prayer" by Madonna |
Swiss number-one single April 30, 1989 – May 21, 1989 (4 weeks) |
|
| Preceded by "She Drives Me Crazy" by Fine Young Cannibals |
Austrian number-one single May 15, 1989 (1 week) |
Succeeded by "Nur ein Lied" by Thomas Forstner |
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.discogs.com/Marc-Seaberg-Looking-For-Freedom-Shorty/release/1281693
- ^ a b Bill Brioux, Truth and rumors, pp. 94–96, http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=jouAn6aCMSEC&pg=PA94
- ^ Wilkening, Matthew (2010-09-11). "100 Worst Songs Ever". AOL Radio. http://www.aolradioblog.com/2010/09/11/worst-songs/?icid=main. Retrieved 2010-12-18.
- ^ a b c "Looking for Freedom", in various singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved April 10, 2008)
- ^ German Singles Chart Charts-surfer.de (Retrieved April 10, 2008)
- ^ 1989 Austrian Singles Chart Austriancharts.at (Retrieved April 20, 2008)
- ^ 1989 Swiss Singles Chart Hitparade.ch (Retrieved April 20, 2008)
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank ('Looking+for+Freedom')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. http://www.musikindustrie.de/gold_platin_datenbank/?action=suche&strTitel=Looking%2Bfor%2BFreedom&strInterpret=&strTtArt=alle&strAwards=checked. Retrieved April 20, 2008.
