Format 7"
12" Genre Pop | Recorded 1984 Label CBS | |
Released 13 August 1984 (UK)
July 1985 (US) Length 5:01 (album version)
5:20 (single version w/ alternate ending) | ||
"Freedom" is a hit song by British pop duo Wham!. It became the group's second number one hit on the UK Singles Chart and reached number three in America. It was written and produced by George Michael, one half of the duo.
Contents
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 number one and had then reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. George had then gone to number one with a solo single, "Careless Whisper". Then after, Wham! had their second American number one song with "Everything She Wants".
"Freedom" was number one in the UK for three weeks, and featured on the album Make It Big, which was issued at the same time. Unusually for the time, it was released in mono sound. "Freedom" was the 10th biggest-selling single of 1984. This song also reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US in September 1985. The music video, coinciding with the 1985 US release, features the band touring around Beijing, China.
The melody of the song was used by George Michael as an introduction to his song, "Faith", played on a church organ.
Track listing
All tracks written by George Michael.