Freedom! '90

George Michael

About Freedom! '90

"Freedom! '90" (also known simply as "Freedom!") is a song written, produced, and performed by George Michael, and released on Columbia Records in 1990. The "'90" added to the end of the title is to prevent confusion with a hit by Michael's former band Wham!, also titled "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, though released as the second single from the album in the United States and Australia. "Freedom! '90" was one of a few uptempo songs on this album. It was a major hit and peaked at No. 8 on the United States Billboard Hot 100. 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 he had been before. Michael refused to appear in the video and allowed a group of supermodels to appear instead. Michael performed this song, alongside his 2012 single "White Light", during the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics. 


Year:
2017
50 
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I won't let you down
I will not give you up
Gotta have some faith in the sound
It's the one good thing that I've got
I won't let you down
So please don't give me up
'Cause I would really, really love to stick around, oh yeah

Heaven knows I was just a young boy
Didn't know what I wanted to be (Didn't know what I wanted to be)
I was every little hungry schoolgirl's pride and joy
And I guess it was enough for me (said 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 T.V.
But today the way I play the game is not the same, no way
Think I'm gonna get myself happy

I think there's something you should know
I think it's time I told you so
There's something deep inside of me
There's someone else I've got to be
Take back your picture in a frame
Take back your singing in the rain
I just hope you understand
Sometimes the clothes do not make the man

All we have to do now
Is take these lies and make them true somehow
All we have to see
Is that I don't belong to you
And you don't belong to me yeah yeah

Freedom! (I won't let you down)
Freedom! (I will not give you up)
Freedom! (Have some faith in the sound)
You've gotta give for what you take (It's the one good thing that I've got)
Freedom! (I won't let you down)
Freedom! (So please don't give me up)
Freedom! ('Cause I would really, really love to stick around)
You've gotta give for what you take

Heaven knows we sure had some fun, boy
What a kick just a buddy and me (what a kick just a buddy and me)
We had every big-shot good time band on the run, boy
We were living in a fantasy (we were living in a fantasy)
We won the race, got out of the place
I went back home, got a brand new face
For the boys on MTV
But today the way I play the game has got to change, oh yeah
Now I'm gonna get myself happy

I think there's something you should know
I think it's time I stopped the show
There's something deep inside of me
There's someone I forgot to be
Take back your picture in a frame
Don't think that I'll be back again
I just hope you understand
Sometimes the clothes do not make the man

All we have to do now
Is take these lies and make them true somehow
All we have to see
Is that I don't belong to you
And you don't belong to me, yeah yeah

Freedom! (I won't let you down)
Freedom! (I will not give you up)
Freedom! (Have some faith in the sound)
You've gotta give for what you take (It's the one good thing that I've got)
Freedom! (I won't let you down)
Freedom! (So please don't give me up)
Freedom! ('Cause I would really, really love to stick around)
You've gotta give for what you take

Well it looks like the road to heaven
But it feels like the road to hell
When I knew which side my bread was buttered
I took the knife as well
Posing for another picture
Everybody's got to sell
But when you shake your ass
They notice fast
And some mistakes were build to last

That's what you get (That's what you get)
That's what you get (I say that's what you get)
That's what you get (for changing your mind)
That's what you get for changing your mind

That's what you get
That's what you get (And after all this time)
I just hope you understand
Sometimes the clothes do not make me, oh yeah

All we have to do now
Is take these lies and make them true somehow
All we have to see
Is that I don't belong to you
And you don't belong to me, yeah yeah

Freedom! 
Freedom! (oh freedom)
Freedom! (my freedom)
You've gotta give for what you take 
Freedom! (hold on to my freedom)
Freedom! 
Freedom! (my freedom)
You've gotta give for what you take
Give for what you, give for what you take yeah
Yeah, you've got to give for what you, give for what you, give

May not be what you want from me
Just the way it's got to be
Lose the face now
I've got to live, I've got to live, I've got to live

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George Michael

George Michael (born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou; (Greek: Γεώργιος Κυριάκος Παναγιώτου); 25 June 1963 - 25 December 2016) was an English musician, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. Michael rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley. His first solo single, "Careless Whisper", was released when he was still in the duo and sold about six million copies worldwide. more »

13 fans

Written by: George Michael

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

Release Details
"Freedom! '90" is a song by British singer-songwriter George Michael. It was released on October 31, 1990, as the third single from his second studio album, "Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1".
Chart Performance
The song achieved significant chart success. In the U.S., it peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, while in the UK, it peaked at No. 28 on the UK Singles Chart.
Notable Characteristic
Unlike most other pop songs from the same period, "Freedom! ’90" is a long track, running to almost 7 minutes in length on the album.
Music Video
The music video for "Freedom! '90" was directed by David Fincher and features supermodels of that time including Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, and Tatjana Patitz. Notably, George Michael does not appear in the video.
Song Background
The song represents a pivotal point in Michael's career as he was distancing himself from the image that he had cultivated with Wham! and his first solo outings. The lyrics talk about Michael's past experiences and his desire for artistic freedom.
Famous Line
The song features the famous line, “I won't let you down, I will not give you up,” which has been interpreted as Michael's commitment to his audience amid his personal reinvention.
Influence and Cover Versions
The song's popularity has led to numerous covers by other artists, most notably Robbie Williams and Boogie Pimps. In the TV show "Glee," the song was performed in tribute to Cory Monteith.
Impact on Fashion
The music video is considered a classic and was instrumental in boosting the “supermodel” phenomenon of the 90s. The video was also influential in changing aspects of fashion advertising due to its innovative use of models.
Use in Media
The song has been used in numerous films and TV shows including "Deadpool," "Glee," "Beverly Hills 90210," and "Adventureland."
Sampling
The melody from "Freedom! '90" was sampled in the song "Here's to Everything (Ooh La La)" by British recording artist Misha B.
Song Message
Michael stated that the "90" in the title is to distinguish it from the Wham! song titled "Freedom". The new song was more about his personal and professional freedom, not just a happy pop-song.

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