Freedom! '90 (1990)

"Freedom! '90" (also known simply as "Freedom!") is a song written, produced, and performed by English singer-songwriter George Michael, and released in October 1990. The "'90" added to the end of the title is to prevent confusion with a hit by Michael's former band Wham!, also entitled "Freedom". The song's backing beat is a sample from James Brown's song "Funky Drummer".

It was the third single taken from Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (1990), though released as the second single from the album in the US and Australia. "Freedom! '90" was one of a few uptempo songs on this album. The song refers to Michael's past success with Wham!, yet also shows a new side of himself as a new man, who is more cynical about the music business than ever before.

Michael refused to appear in the music video for the song, directed by David Fincher, and cast a group of supermodels to appear instead. It went into heavy rotation on MTV and was remastered for the 2017 documentary, George Michael: Freedom. On 30 October 2020, it premiered on YouTube in 4K for its 30th anniversary. Michael performed this song, alongside his 2012 single "White Light", during the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics. Rolling Stone placed "Freedom! '90" at number 126 in their list of "500 Best Songs of All Time" in 2021. Billboard ranked it number 39 in their "500 Best Pop Songs of All Time" in 2023.

Analysis

Alan Jones from Music Week wrote, "Despite its title, the song is not a direct descendant of Wham!'s 1984 chart-topper 'Freedom', owing more to Soul II Soul's 'Back to Life'."

Ethan Hein, adjunct professor of music at New York University said that "Freedom! '90" has "an exceedingly peculiar structure for a mainstream pop song" in which a basic four-bar instrumental intro is followed by the chorus harmony and an instrumental break, with the first chorus finally appearing almost two minutes in: "an eternity—most pop songs are practically over at that point". Other features include a five-layer drum pattern with a Funky Drummer break, and a C Mixolydian harmony intro and chorus with Afro-Cuban syncopation and hemiola.

Critical reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic named the song a "highlight" from Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1. Larry Flick from Billboard magazine wrote, "Platinum pop star waxes both cynical and philosophical on this well-worded stab at his early days of fame. Slowly ingratiating, midtempo R&B/hip-hop base could also reaffirm his presence at club level." In a 2008 review, The Daily Vault's Melanie Love stated, "Its catchy chorus and uptempo, jangling instrumentation, coupled with his signature soaring vocals make this confessional a striking example of Michael's newfound independence and proves that his struggle for seriousness could retain the hooks and brilliant tones that make his music so endearing." Adam Sweeting from The Guardian named it one of the "best tracks" of the album, adding, "'Freedom! '90' is a boppy slice of pop which nods in the direction of house and of Happy Mondays' much more scintillating 'Step On'. Its bright, clanging piano provides the aural focus." Chris Roberts from Melody Maker declared it as "a bleeding-heart apology for his reckless sexy past."

Music & Media magazine remarked that a "stirring Bo Diddley beat, a gospel approach and a great piano riff are the main features of this addictive hit candidate." Victoria Segal from NME noted the "hate-fuelled 'Sympathy for the Devil' roll" of the song. A reviewer from People commented, 'On "Freedom 90'—at least this one's set to a radio-ready groove—he rails against the image he has spent the last four years cultivating: "I was every little hungry schoolgirl's pride and joy/And I guess it was enough for me/To win the race? A prettier face!/Brand new clothes and a big fat place/On your rock and roll TV/But today the way I play the game is not the same/No way"."

Chart performance

"Freedom! '90" is 6:30 long, but a shorter version was made available for radio consumption. It was the second US single from the album Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, and had contrasting fortunes each side of the Atlantic—it peaked at number 28 on the UK Singles Chart, but was a major success on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and US Cash Box Top 100, reaching number 8 and 7 respectively, selling over 500,000 copies to earn a Gold certification from the RIAA. In Canada, Michael achieved another chart-topper. As of October 2017, the single sold 83,000 copies in UK.

Music video

By 1990, Michael had become weary of the pressures of fame, telling the Los Angeles Times, "At some point in your career, the situation between yourself and the camera reverses. For a certain number of years, you court it and you need it, but ultimately, it needs you more and it's a bit like a relationship. The minute that happens, it turns you off ... and it does feel like it is taking something from you." Accordingly, he decided not to appear in photo shoots and music videos, saying, "I would like to never step in front of a camera again."