Free & Easy
Encyclopedia
"Free & Easy" is a song written by Ayumi Hamasaki
and Dai Nagao
for Hamasaki's album Rainbow
. The song, the first single from Rainbow and Hamasaki's 26th total, was released in Japan on April 24, 2002.
The single was released with a photobook
, Hamasaki Republic; the book, the song's booklet, and the song's music video
depict Hamasaki as a "21st century Joan of Arc
".
. In the director notes for Rainbow, Hamasaki explained that the song was inspired by an actual magazine photo shoot with Free & Easy magazine. The lyrics speak of self-empowerment and freedom. Hamasaki explained:
The song opens with an eastern flute
, and Hamasaki sings the verses with a light and airy vocal. As the song progresses, she starts singing with an aggressive tone over a horn accompanied melody.
. First she is seen in prison and later a woman opens her prison door and takes her away. Then Hamasaki is seen tied up in a red room getting burnt (but not showing any fire), Later, in the end of the video, people holding her corpse are shown.
Ayumi Hamasaki
is a Japanese singer-songwriter, record producer, model, lyricist, and actress. Also called "Ayu" by her fans, Hamasaki has been dubbed the "Empress of Pop" because of her popularity and widespread influence in Japan and throughout Asia. Born and raised in Fukuoka, she moved to Tokyo at fourteen to...
and Dai Nagao
Dai Nagao
is a Japanese composer, musician and producer. He was a member and composer of the popular musical group Do As Infinity from its founding until it disbanded in September 2005, although they have since reformed....
for Hamasaki's album Rainbow
Rainbow (Ayumi Hamasaki album)
Upon its release, the album received mixed reviews. Adam Greenberg of Allmusic stated, "[Rainbow] came after a string of high-charting albums, itself not reaching the same heights thanks to some interesting but uneven experimentation with her sound"...
. The song, the first single from Rainbow and Hamasaki's 26th total, was released in Japan on April 24, 2002.
The single was released with a photobook
Photobook
A photo-book or photobook is a book in which photographs make a significant contribution to the overall content. The most critically acclaimed photo-books celebrate the creative work of an individual photographer, but can also result from the collaboration between a photographer and a writer, an...
, Hamasaki Republic; the book, the song's booklet, and the song's music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
depict Hamasaki as a "21st century Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc
Saint Joan of Arc, nicknamed "The Maid of Orléans" , is a national heroine of France and a Roman Catholic saint. A peasant girl born in eastern France who claimed divine guidance, she led the French army to several important victories during the Hundred Years' War, which paved the way for the...
".
Background and composition
With Rainbow, Hamasaki took a creative turn, incorporating English verses to the songs, and producing most songs on her own, under the pen-name CREA. "Free & Easy" was written by Hamasaki and produced by CREA along with DAIDai Nagao
is a Japanese composer, musician and producer. He was a member and composer of the popular musical group Do As Infinity from its founding until it disbanded in September 2005, although they have since reformed....
. In the director notes for Rainbow, Hamasaki explained that the song was inspired by an actual magazine photo shoot with Free & Easy magazine. The lyrics speak of self-empowerment and freedom. Hamasaki explained:
"In 'Free & Easy', I wrote what I am feeling at the moment. In other words, I want to be a person who lives by taking responsibility for my own freedom, and I want to be a person for whom these words are perfectly applicable."
The song opens with an eastern flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, and Hamasaki sings the verses with a light and airy vocal. As the song progresses, she starts singing with an aggressive tone over a horn accompanied melody.
Track listing
- "Free & Easy" – 4:59
- "Naturally" (Dolly remix)
- "Still Alone" (Warp Brothers Extended Mix)
- "Free & Easy" (Instrumental) – 4:59
Music video
The music video features Hamasaki who plays Joan Of ArcJoan of Arc
Saint Joan of Arc, nicknamed "The Maid of Orléans" , is a national heroine of France and a Roman Catholic saint. A peasant girl born in eastern France who claimed divine guidance, she led the French army to several important victories during the Hundred Years' War, which paved the way for the...
. First she is seen in prison and later a woman opens her prison door and takes her away. Then Hamasaki is seen tied up in a red room getting burnt (but not showing any fire), Later, in the end of the video, people holding her corpse are shown.
Charts
Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)| Release | Chart | Peak Position | First Week Sales | Sales Total | Chart Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 24, 2002 | Oricon Daily Singles Chart | 1 | |||
| Oricon Weekly Singles Chart | 1 | 281,090 | 486,520 | 9 | |
| Oricon Yearly Singles Chart | 15 |
- RIAJ certification: 2× Platinum (shipped)
External links
- Free & Easy information at Avex NetworkAvex Trax, listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange as 7860 and abbreviated as AGHD, is the holding company for a group of entertainment-related subsidiaries based in Japan...
. - http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/476592/1/ information at OriconOricon, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc...
.