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Freestyler

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"Freestyler"
Single by Bomfunk MC's
from the album In Stereo
Released
  • October 1999 (Finland)
  • 14 February 2000 (worldwide)
Recorded1999
Genre
Length5:06
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)JS16
Bomfunk MC's singles chronology
"B-Boys & Flygirls"
(1999) 		"Freestyler"
(1999) 		"Other Emcee's"
(2000)
Audio sample
Music videos
"Freestyler" (1999) on YouTube
"Freestyler" (2019) on YouTube

"Freestyler" is a song by Finnish hip hop group Bomfunk MC's. It was released in Finland in October 1999 as the third single from their debut studio album In Stereo, and released internationally in February 2000. It was a worldwide success, topping the charts in more than ten countries—including Australia, Germany, Italy and New Zealand—and reaching the top three in Denmark, Iceland, the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Composition

"Freestyler" is primarily a breakbeat song, with strong influences of UK dance culture and electronic dance music, as well as some influences from hip hop.[1] It is written in the key of E minor with a tempo of 163.84 beats per minute.

Music video

The music video was mainly filmed at the Hakaniemi metro station,[2] an underground station on the Helsinki Metro line in Finland and with platforms 21 metres below sea level. The principal "home boy" featured in the video is Marlo Snellman, a Finnish model and musician, who later released his own single entitled "Dust" and went on to work as producer for his own projects such as "Hipsters"[3] and "Okta".[4] The actor was 15 years old at the time of shooting and got the part through his mother, Finnish modelling magnate Laila Snellman.[5] Marlo Snellman appears briefly in another Bomfunk MC's music video, "B-Boys & Flygirls" in minute 2:15.[6]

The video begins with Marlo catching a train while listening to "Freestyler" on his MiniDisc (Sony MZ-R55) player. A character sits across him in the train, who is played by Raymond Ebanks (B.O. Dubb), the lead singer of the Bomfunk MC's, and who imbues Marlo with the power to control the flow of time for one or a group of individuals. Realising this ability, Marlo spends the duration of the video pausing, rewinding and fast-forwarding dancers and people on his journey until coming across the Bomfunk MC's, upon whom the remote control does not work; the whole video is then sent into a rapid rewind back to the beginning. The music video is a play on themes of empowerment, with the power of the music being transferred to and in the end taken from Marlo by Ebanks. There is a continuity error in the video with the number on the train carriage changing throughout the sequence.

The music video was later parodied by the hip hop group Raptori for their song "Hiphopmusiikkia".[7] In 2011, the beginning scene was also remade in the music video of DJ RZY's "Tervetuloo Helsinkiin".[8]

2019 music video

Belgrade passenger carriage 416-096 featured in the 2019 video

For the twentieth anniversary in 2019 a new music video was produced featuring the original band members, with updates to reflect developments in technology and culture. The central figure is now a girl (Milica Bajčetić) with a mobile phone, with various Belgian YouTuber cameo appearances.

The 2019 music video was filmed at Vukov Spomenik railway station, an underground station on the BG Voz commuter railway network serving Belgrade, Serbia. The new video had been sponsored by communications provider Telenet (Belgium) to promote a new mobile phone service.[9][10]

Track listing

CD maxi – Europe (2000)

  1. "Freestyler" (radio edit) – 2:52
  2. "Freestyler" (Alternative Radio Edit) – 4:07
  3. "Freestyler" (Happy Mickey Mouse Mix) – 4:48
  4. "Freestyler" (Missing Link Remix) – 5:40

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[53] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[54] Platinum 50,000*
Belgium (BEA)[55] 2× Platinum 100,000*
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[56] Gold 4,000^
France (SNEP)[57] Gold 250,000*
Germany (BVMI)[58] 3× Gold 750,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[59] Platinum 75,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[60] Platinum 10,000*
Norway (IFPI Norway)[61] Platinum  
Sweden (GLF)[62] 3× Platinum 90,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[63] Platinum 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[64] Gold 400,000^
Summaries
Europe — 1,500,000[65]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

References

  1. ^ Ashare, Matt (April 2001). "Reviews". CMJ New Music Monthly (91). CMJ Network: 67. ISSN 1074-6978. Retrieved 2012-07-22.
  2. ^ Dr. Giacomo Bottà – University of Helsinki, Popular Culture and Urban Creativity in Helsinki and Berlin, 2006–08.
  3. ^ Marlo Snellman's band Hipster on Myspace, [1].
  4. ^ Marlo Snellman as Okta on Myspace, [2].
  5. ^ Website, Marlo Snellman Archived 2008-06-14 at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ^ Dachev, Ognyan (16 September 2007). "Bomfunk MC's - B-Boys & Fly Girls". YouTube. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  7. ^ "Raptori – Hiphopmusiikkia". Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  8. ^ "DJ RZY feat. VA - Tervetuloo Helsinkiin". Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  9. ^ Moreaux, Karen (18 February 2019). "Legendarische Freestyler van Bomfunk MC's in een modern jasje" [Legendary Freestyler from Bomfunk MC's in a modern look] (Press release) (in Dutch). Mechelen.
  10. ^ Freestyler 2019 - Bomfunk MC's. Telenet. Retrieved 26 February 2019 – via Youtube.
  11. ^ "Bomfunk MCs – Freestyler". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  12. ^ "Bomfunk MCs – Freestyler" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  13. ^ "Bomfunk MCs – Freestyler" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  14. ^ "Bomfunk MCs – Freestyler" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  15. ^ "Hits of the World: Denmark (IFPI/Nielsen Marketing Research) 03/04/2000". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 10. Nielsen Business Media. 4 March 2000. p. 65. ISSN 0006-2510.
  16. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 33. 12 August 2000. p. 9. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  17. ^ "Bomfunk MCs: Freestyler" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
  18. ^ "Bomfunk MCs – Freestyler" (in French). Les classement single.
  19. ^ "Top 10 Greece" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 35. 26 August 2000. p. 9. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  20. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 29. 15 July 2000. p. 9. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  21. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (Vikuna 4.5. – 11.5.2000 18. Vika)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 5 May 2000. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  22. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Freestyler". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
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  25. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 13, 2000" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
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  27. ^ "Bomfunk MCs – Freestyler". Top 40 Singles.
  28. ^ "Bomfunk MCs – Freestyler". VG-lista.
  29. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 34. 19 August 2000. p. 25. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  30. ^ a b "Romanian Top 100 – Topul anului 2000". 17 April 2005. Archived from the original on 17 April 2005.
  31. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  32. ^ "Bomfunk MCs – Freestyler" Canciones Top 50.
  33. ^ "Bomfunk MCs – Freestyler". Singles Top 100.
  34. ^ "Bomfunk MCs – Freestyler". Swiss Singles Chart.
  35. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  36. ^ "Bomfunk MCs Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  37. ^ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2000". ARIA. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  38. ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 2000" (in German). Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  39. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2000" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  40. ^ "Rapports annuels 2000" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  41. ^ "Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2000" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 52. 23 December 2000. p. 9. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  42. ^ "Classement Singles – année 2000" (in French). Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  43. ^ "Top 100 Singles – Jahrescharts 2000" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  44. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 100". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 5 January 2001. p. 10. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  45. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2000". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  46. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2000" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  47. ^ "End of Year Charts 2000". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  48. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 2000" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  49. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2000" (in German). Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  50. ^ "Yearly Best Selling Singles" (PDF). British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2010. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  51. ^ "ARIA Chart Sales - ARIA End of Decade Singles/Top 100" (PDF). ARIA.com.au. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 September 2010. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  52. ^ "Die ultimative Chart Show | Hits des neuen Jahrtausends | Download". RTL.de. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
  53. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2000 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  54. ^ "Austrian single certifications – Bomfunk MC's – Freestyler" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  55. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2000". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  56. ^ "Bomfunk MCs··" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 24. 10 June 2000. p. 2. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  57. ^ "French single certifications – Bomfunk MC?s – Freestyler" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  58. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Bomfunk MC's; 'Freestyler')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  59. ^ "Dutch single certifications – Bomfunk MC'S – Freestyler" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 16 March 2019. Enter Freestyler in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 2000 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  60. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Bomfunk MCs – Freestyler". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 16 March 2019.[dead link‍]
  61. ^ "IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  62. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2000" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-17. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  63. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Freestyler')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  64. ^ id MUST BE PROVIDED for UK CERTIFICATION.
  65. ^ "News" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 34. 19 August 2000. p. 6. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
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