Length 4:42 | Label Interscope | |
Released 2 September 2016 (2016-09-02) Format Digital downloadstreaming Genre Alternative R&Belectronic Writer(s) Maya ArulpragasamKeisha HollinsJamal Jones | ||
"Freedun" is a song by British musician M.I.A., featuring British singer and songwriter Zayn, from her fifth studio album, AIM (2016). The song was co-written by M.I.A., alongside Keisha Hollins and Polow da Don. Production of the song was handled by Polow da Don. Levi Lennox, who produced "Borders" from AIM, also produced Zayn's debut single "Pillowtalk". Lyrically, the song is politically influenced and references refugees, an undercurrent theme on AIM.
Contents
M.I.A. revealed she had been contacted by their mutual publisher to pen a song for Zayn's debut solo album Mind of Mine. The song, however, never got past the demo stage. She would then ask Zayn to feature on her own song which she had written a long time before but always thought it was "too mainstream". The pair began working on the track remotely via the instant messaging client WhatsApp during M.I.A.'s stay in India and completed it in the first week of August 2016. The song was originally called "Swagistan", as previewed on Periscope in May 2016.
M.I.A. announced the release of the single on 31 August 2016. It was first premiered on the Annie Mac BBC Radio One show on 1 September 2016, and was officially released on the next day. The song debuted at number one on the UK Asian Music Chart and remained at the top for one more week.
Critical reception
The song has received generally favorable reception from music critics. New Musical Express and The Independent picked the song as a highlight on the album. Some critics, however, called it "disappointingly generic" and a "misstep".
Music video
M.I.A. filmed a music video for the song in the Himalayas in Nepal. During filming, she needed the aid of an oxygen tank because of the lack of oxygen in the mountains. She was also not able to film the video with Zayn because he could not leave the United States due to his commitments and she was denied visa to enter the country.
Track listing
- "Freedun" (featuring Zayn) – 4:42