Free to Be Me
Encyclopedia
"Free to Be Me" is a song written by contemporary Christian musician
Francesca Battistelli
, from her debut album My Paper Heart
. It was released in January 2009 as the album's second single
. In March 2009, the song became a number 1 hit on Christian Contemporary hit radio
charts. It also charted at number 17 on Billboard
's Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
chart.
, and features a background of "thick" drums, guitar
, bass
, piano
, and an electronic organ
.
. On March 6, 2009, the song reached number 1 on Christian contemporary hit radio
, and has held the position for 10 consecutive weeks. It also placed at number 2 on Christian adult contemporary radio charts, and number 17 on Billboard
's Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
chart.
and Now That's What I Call Faith
.
.
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
Francesca Battistelli
Francesca Battistelli
Francesca Battistelli is an American Christian musician from New York City, New York. She was originally an independent artist and had released an independent album, Just a Breath, in 2004. Her first studio album on Fervent Records, My Paper Heart, was released on July 22, 2008...
, from her debut album My Paper Heart
My Paper Heart (album)
My Paper Heart is the major label debut album from Christian pop rock singer Francesca Battistelli, released on July 22, 2008. The album's lead single, "I'm Letting Go", was released before the album in mid-2008, and was the 16th most-played song on Christian radio of 2008...
. It was released in January 2009 as the album's second single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
. In March 2009, the song became a number 1 hit on Christian Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
charts. It also charted at number 17 on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
's Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
The Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It lists the top 25 singles below number 100 that have not yet charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Sometimes, however, singles halt their progress on this chart, and never appear on the Hot 100...
chart.
Music and lyrics
The song has been said to "not [be] afraid to look at life's highs and lows from a very personal angle". Battistelli wrote the song to cheer herself up after backing into a lawyer's car in her driveway. Its style has been compared to Christian musician Sarah KellySarah Kelly
Sarah Kelly is a contemporary Christian artist from Rockford, Illinois. She was signed to Gotee Records, a Christian label under EMI. Kelly is a two time Grammy Award nominee for albums "Take Me Away" and Where The Past Meets Today in the category of Best Rock Or Rap Gospel Album...
, and features a background of "thick" drums, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, and an electronic organ
Electronic organ
An electronic organ is an electronic keyboard instrument which was derived from the harmonium, pipe organ and theatre organ. Originally, it was designed to imitate the sound of pipe organs, theatre organs, band sounds, or orchestral sounds....
.
Release
"Free to Be Me" was released around the beginning of January 2009 in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. On March 6, 2009, the song reached number 1 on Christian contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
, and has held the position for 10 consecutive weeks. It also placed at number 2 on Christian adult contemporary radio charts, and number 17 on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
's Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
The Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It lists the top 25 singles below number 100 that have not yet charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Sometimes, however, singles halt their progress on this chart, and never appear on the Hot 100...
chart.
Appearances
This song was also by the appearance by the compilation album WOW Hits 2010WOW Hits 2010
WOW Hits 2010 is a two-disc compilation album composed of some of the biggest hits on Christian radio in 2009. Disc one features more adult contemporary hits, while disc two features the CHR–pop and rock hits. The album charted at number one on the Hot Christian Albums chart and number 33 on the...
and Now That's What I Call Faith
Now That's What I Call Faith
-Charts:...
.
Reception
Soul-Audio.com reviewer Bert Saraco said the song was "unfortunately-named", although noting that it was a "hook-laden pop song" that gives "a nice 'real band' sound". CCMBuzz.com's review called it a "smooth tune of empowerment".Charts
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| R&R R&R (magazine) R&R was a weekly music trade publication that followed the radio industry and tracked the monitoring of current songs by format, station and audience cumes... 's Christian CHR Contemporary hit radio Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts... format |
1 |
| R&R R&R (magazine) R&R was a weekly music trade publication that followed the radio industry and tracked the monitoring of current songs by format, station and audience cumes... 's Christian AC format |
2 |
| Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... 's Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles The Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It lists the top 25 singles below number 100 that have not yet charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Sometimes, however, singles halt their progress on this chart, and never appear on the Hot 100... chart |
17 |
| Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... 's Billboard Christian Songs chart |
3 |
Awards
The song was nominated for three Dove Awards: Song of the Year, Short Form Music Video of the Year, and Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year at the 41st GMA Dove Awards41st GMA Dove Awards
The 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on April 21, 2010 recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 2009. The show was held at the The Opry Entertainment Complex in Nashville, Tennessee, and was hosted by Bart Millard....
.