Free (Mýa song)
Encyclopedia
"Free" is a Dance Pop song by American singer-songwriter
Mýa
. The track was produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
for the re-release of Harrison sophomore studio album Fear of Flying
. Free was written by Jimmy Jam
, Mýa, Terry Lewis
, Alexander Richbourg, and Tony Tolbert
.
Free was released March 13, 2001 in the United States as the third single from Harrison’s sophomore studio album Fear of Flying. The single was a commercial failure; it reached number forty-two on the Billboard Hot 100 and number fifty-two on Billboards R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The single was a commercial success internationally; it reached number four in Australia
and number eleven in United Kingdom
. "Free" was certified platinum
by Australian Recording Industry Association
.
. The song's tempo is set at a moderate dance
beat at 112 beats per minute in common time
. Harrison's vocal range
span from a F3 to D5.
The lyrics of "Free" are composed in the traditional verse-chorus form
. Mýa opens the song with brief spoken lyrics. She begins the first verse, followed by the chorus leading her into the second verse. The song continues to the bridge
, chorus, then fades out with Mýa's chant
.
gave the song a mixed review:
chart and peaked at number forty-two. It spent 2 non consecutive weeks at number forty-two before descending on the chart and 17 consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart altogether. It is the second single released by Mýa to failed to enter the top forty on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and considered a commercial failure. The single failed to achieve success on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart peaking at a moderately low fifty-two and spending thirteen non consecutive weeks on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart.
Internationally, the single was a success. It reached the top five in Australia
, peaking at number four and was certified platinum by ARIA
selling over 70,000 copies. The single became Mýa's second consecutive top ten hit (solo) in Australia
. It became a top twenty hit in the United Kingdom
and Mýa's second non-consecutive top forty hit (solo).
for Free was directed by Dave Meyers
. Harrison explained to LAUNCH
how involved she was in the making of Free speaking on following: the roller-skating, pop-locking, whacking, and the boogaloo
were actually of all her concepts. Harrison, who is an exceptional dancer, a talent that has been highlighted in her intricately choregraphed videos got together with an underground dancer/choreographer and they kinda put it together on their own. Mýa revealed it was a struggle and a fight working with someone underground because he's not established, but continued by saying that was the best thing about making Free because I knew him and what he had to offer and it was great.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Mýa
Mya
-A person:* Bo Mya , Chief Commander of the Karen National Union* Mýa , American R&B singer-songwriter and actress** Mýa , a 1998 album by Mýa-A code:* Burmese language, ISO 639-3 code is mya* Moruya Airport's IATA code...
. The track was produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
James Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III and Terry Steven Lewis are an American R&B and pop-music songwriting and record production team...
for the re-release of Harrison sophomore studio album Fear of Flying
Fear of Flying (album)
Fear of Flying is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Mýa, released April 25, 2000 on Interscope Records. Recording sessions for the album took place during late 1999 to early 2000...
. Free was written by Jimmy Jam
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
James Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III and Terry Steven Lewis are an American R&B and pop-music songwriting and record production team...
, Mýa, Terry Lewis
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
James Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III and Terry Steven Lewis are an American R&B and pop-music songwriting and record production team...
, Alexander Richbourg, and Tony Tolbert
Tony Tolbert
Anthony Lewis Tolbert is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League. He was raised in Englewood, New Jersey, and graduated from Dwight Morrow High School. Tolbert was drafted in 4th round of the 1989 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys...
.
Free was released March 13, 2001 in the United States as the third single from Harrison’s sophomore studio album Fear of Flying. The single was a commercial failure; it reached number forty-two on the Billboard Hot 100 and number fifty-two on Billboards R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The single was a commercial success internationally; it reached number four in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and number eleven in United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. "Free" was certified platinum
Platinum
Platinum is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Pt and an atomic number of 78. Its name is derived from the Spanish term platina del Pinto, which is literally translated into "little silver of the Pinto River." It is a dense, malleable, ductile, precious, gray-white transition metal...
by Australian Recording Industry Association
Australian Recording Industry Association
The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956...
.
Music and lyrics
Free is a dance pop song composed in the key of D majorD major
D major is a major scale based on D, consisting of the pitches D, E, F, G, A, B, and C. Its key signature consists of two sharps. Its relative minor is B minor and its parallel minor is D minor....
. The song's tempo is set at a moderate dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
beat at 112 beats per minute in common time
Common Time
"Common Time" is a science fiction short story written by James Blish. It first appeared in the August 1953 issue of Science Fiction Quarterly and has been reprinted several times: in the 1959 short-story collection Galactic Cluster; in The Testament of Andros ; in The Penguin Science Fiction...
. Harrison's vocal range
Vocal range
Vocal range is the measure of the breadth of pitches that a human voice can phonate. Although the study of vocal range has little practical application in terms of speech, it is a topic of study within linguistics, phonetics, and speech and language pathology, particularly in relation to the study...
span from a F3 to D5.
The lyrics of "Free" are composed in the traditional verse-chorus form
Verse-chorus form
Verse-chorus form is a musical form common in popular music and predominant in rock since the 1960s. In contrast to AABA form, which is focused on the verse , in verse-chorus form the chorus is highlighted...
. Mýa opens the song with brief spoken lyrics. She begins the first verse, followed by the chorus leading her into the second verse. The song continues to the bridge
Bridge (music)
In music, especially western popular music, a bridge is a contrasting section which also prepares for the return of the original material section...
, chorus, then fades out with Mýa's chant
Chant
Chant is the rhythmic speaking or singing of words or sounds, often primarily on one or two pitches called reciting tones. Chants may range from a simple melody involving a limited set of notes to highly complex musical structures Chant (from French chanter) is the rhythmic speaking or singing...
.
Reception
NMENME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
gave the song a mixed review:
R&B's enduring (annoying?) cutesy pie has done the double. Released a single that ties in with her butter wouldn't melt image -how else to you explain the lyrics, "I'm me/single, sexy and free"?
Yes, make no mistake, this is Mýa trapped in Lolita land (check out the video below) not sure if she's the insolent girlfriend ('Case of the ExCase of the Ex"Case of the Ex" is an R&B/Dance Pop song by American singer-songwriter Mýa. The track was produced by Tricky Stewart for Harrison's sophomore studio album Fear of Flying. Case of The Ex was written by Christopher “Tricky” Stewart, Traci Hale, and Tab. The lyrics speak about an ex lover who will...
') or, as this track would paint her, a pre-teen with no idea of her temptation, but aware that she has 'something about her'.
Musically, this is right up Janet JacksonJanet JacksonJanet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...
's old alley - more so before Janet found 'ControlControl (Janet Jackson song)"Control" is the fourth single from Janet Jackson's third album Control. The song was written by Jackson, James Harris III, and Terry Lewis and produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Its arrangement, built upon complex rhythmic tracks, showcased state-of-the-art production. The song is about...
' and became obsessed with sex. So, if you're a chick who's so cute you turn yourself on, but still a virgin, this is your anthem. But of course, you'll be singing it to yourself, cos you love yourself so darn much, won't ya?!
Chart performance
Free debuted at number seventy-five on the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart and peaked at number forty-two. It spent 2 non consecutive weeks at number forty-two before descending on the chart and 17 consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart altogether. It is the second single released by Mýa to failed to enter the top forty on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and considered a commercial failure. The single failed to achieve success on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart peaking at a moderately low fifty-two and spending thirteen non consecutive weeks on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart.
Internationally, the single was a success. It reached the top five in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, peaking at number four and was certified platinum by ARIA
Australian Recording Industry Association
The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956...
selling over 70,000 copies. The single became Mýa's second consecutive top ten hit (solo) in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It became a top twenty hit in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Mýa's second non-consecutive top forty hit (solo).
Background & Development
The music videoMusic 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...
for Free was directed by Dave Meyers
Dave Meyers (director)
David "Dave" Meyers is an American music video director.-Career:Meyers has directed over 200 music videos including: P!nk's "There You Go", "Most Girls", "You Make Me Sick", "Get The Party Started", "Don't Let Me Get Me", "Feel Good Time", "Stupid Girls", "U + Ur Hand", "So What", "Please Don't...
. Harrison explained to LAUNCH
Launch
Launch may refer to:In boating:*Launch , a large motor boat*Motor Launch , a small military vessel used by the Royal Navy*Ship naming and launching, when a ship or boat is dispatched from a slipway, prior to fitting out and commissioning...
how involved she was in the making of Free speaking on following: the roller-skating, pop-locking, whacking, and the boogaloo
Boogaloo
Boogaloo or bugalú is a genre of Latin music and dance that was popular in the United States in the 1960s. Boogaloo originated in New York City among teenage Cubans, Puerto Ricans and other groups. The style was a fusion of popular African American R&B and soul with mambo and son montuno...
were actually of all her concepts. Harrison, who is an exceptional dancer, a talent that has been highlighted in her intricately choregraphed videos got together with an underground dancer/choreographer and they kinda put it together on their own. Mýa revealed it was a struggle and a fight working with someone underground because he's not established, but continued by saying that was the best thing about making Free because I knew him and what he had to offer and it was great.
Tracklisting
U.S. CD Single- "Free" (video edit)
- "Free" (Ricco version)
- "Free" (Milk & Sugar radio mix)
- "Free" (Howard Cross version)
- "Free" (Milk & Sugar club mix
Charts
| Charts (2001) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | 4 |
| Belgium (Ultratip Flanders) | 2 |
| Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia) | 8 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 41 |
| German Singles Chart Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
66 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 76 |
| Tokio Hot 100 | 76 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
11 |
| UK R&B Chart UK R&B Chart The Official UK R&B Chart is a forty-position R&B/Hip-Hop chart compiled by The Official UK Charts Company. Although the chart does not receive any airplay, its compilation is viewed on BBC Radio 1's website and publications such as ChartsPlus and Music Week... |
5 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
42 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
52 |
| U.S. Billboard Rhythmic Top 40 Rhythmic Contemporary Rhythmic contemporary, also known as rhythmic top 40, rhythmic contemporary hit radio or rhythmic crossover, is a music radio format that includes a mix of EDM, upbeat rhythmic pop, hip-hop and R&B hits. Rhythmic contemporary rarely uses rock music or country music in its airplay, but it may... |
11 |
| U.S. Billboard Top 40 Tracks Top 40 Tracks Top 40 Tracks is a defunct airplay chart from Billboard Magazine. It was created in 1998, when Billboard Magazine changed the airplay profile of The Hot 100 Airplay to include more R&B, Country, and Rock stations to its profile . To preserve the notion of the former chart, Top 40 Tracks was... |
22 |
| U.S. Billboard Pop Songs | 13 |
Year-end charts
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Australian Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
32 |
Certifications
| Country (Provider) | Certification |
|---|---|
| Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... (ARIA) |
Platinum |
Release history
| Country | Date |
|---|---|
| United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
March 13, 2001 |
| Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... |
April 27, 2001 |
| Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... |
May 15, 2001 |
| United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... |
May 28, 2001 |
Credits
- Produced by: Jimmy Jam and Terry LewisJimmy Jam and Terry LewisJames Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III and Terry Steven Lewis are an American R&B and pop-music songwriting and record production team...
- Co-produced by: 'Big Jim' Wright
- Engineered & Mixed by: Steve Hodge
- Assistant Engineers: Brad Yost, Xavier Smith