B-side Remix | Released 1996 Label ZYXFactNitelite | |
Format CD singleCD maxi12" maxi Length 3:50 (album version)3:27 (single) | ||
"Freed from Desire" is a song written and recorded by the Brooklyn-based Italian singer and songwriter Gala. It was released in 1996 as the first single from her first album Come into My Life. "Freed from Desire" was a hit in many European countries, reaching number 1 in France and Belgium. The track was released in the UK in July 1997 and peaked at number 2 and spent 8 weeks inside the Top 10 and 14 weeks in total in the Top 75. Gala achieved a Diamond recording award in France, a Platinum record in Benelux and a Gold record in the United Kingdom.
The song was written and composed by Gala produced by Filippo Andrea Carmeni and Maurizio Molella.
Other versions
In 2016, Gala recorded an acoustic version of "Freed from Desire" at Les Studios Saint Germain in Paris, for the movie Un homme à la hauteur directed by Laurent Tirard with Jean Dujardin (Academy Awards for Best Actor 2012, The Artist).
In early 2016, Newcastle United supporters adapted "Freed from Desire" for their striker Aleksandar Mitrović, the refrain being: "Mitro's on fire, your defence is terrified". However, Mitrović suffered poor form; the chant came into greater prominence in May of that year, as Wigan Athletic supporter Sean Kennedy uploaded on YouTube his version of "Freed from Desire" titled 'Will Grigg's on fire', in recognition of the recent goal-scoring feats of Will Grigg, a Wigan player. Since it was uploaded, the song has become a viral football chant.
Fans from Northen Ireland, Ireland, Wales, England, and France made their own versions of the song for their players. It was later seen as the unofficial song of UEFA Euro 2016.
On 31 May 2016, electro duo Blonde released a version of the adaptation and entered the Top 10 UK Charts and the iTunes top 10 Charts.