Freedom (Paul McCartney song)

Infobox Single
Name = Freedom


Artist = Paul McCartney
from Album = Driving Rain
Released = 13 November 2001
Format = CD
Recorded = 2001
Genre = Rock
Length = 3:34
Label = Capitol
Producer = David Kahne
Chart position =
Reviews =
Last single = "From a Lover to a Friend "
(2001)
This single = "Freedom"
(2001)
Next single = "Tropic Island Hum"
(2004) |

"Freedom" is a song written and recorded by Paul McCartney in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks. McCartney was in New York City at the time of the attacks, and actually witnessed the destruction while sitting in a plane, which was parked on the tarmac at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport.cite web|author=|title=Second McCartney song for New York
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/1639502.stm|publisher=BBC News Online|date=2001-11-05|accessdate=2008-01-10]

McCartney, who said the attacks affected him emotionally, wrote the song the day after the attack. In the song, the narrator declares freedom to be a "right given by God" that he will "fight for." The lyrics were thus in seeming contradiction with the antiwar sentiment associated with McCartney's former act, The Beatles. [cite news|author=Martin, Gavin|title=Normally, He's A Pacifist|publisher=The Independent|date=2001-11-15] But at The Concert for New York City where he first played the song live, McCartney explained to the crowd, "It's about freedom. That's one thing these people don't understand. That's worth fighting for." [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAD4C_e3gcs YouTube - Broadcast Yourself ] ] In a later interview McCartney commented, "to me it's a "We Shall Overcome". That's sort of how I wrote it. It's like, "Hey, I've got freedom, I'm an immigrant coming to America, give me your huddled masses." And that's what it means to me, is, "Don't mess with my rights, buddy. Because I'm now free.""cite web|author=Dahlen, Chris|title=Interview:Sir Paul McCartney|publisher=Pitchfork Media|url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/42799-interview-sir-paul-mccartney|date=2007-05-21|accessdate=2008-01-09]

Release

The song was released in two versions: a single billed as a studio version (recorded in Quad Studios, New York), and a hidden track on McCartney's "Driving Rain" album billed as a live version. It appeared "hidden" because McCartney halted the pressing of the album to include the track at the last minute, and the artwork had already been completed. Both versions feature Eric Clapton on lead guitar, with McCartney's touring band backing him. The live, album version also featured studio overdubs from the sessions that produced the single version.

The single reached #97 in the Billboard Hot 100 and #20 in the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. All profits went to the Robin Hood Foundation, to aid the families of New York firemen and police.cite web|author=|title=Second McCartney song for New York
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/1639502.stm|publisher=BBC News Online|date=2001-11-05|accessdate=2008-01-10] In the UK, "Freedom" was added to the single "From a Lover to a Friend", which was released just a week before, but it was not listed on the UK Singles Chart. The song was also featured at the Super Bowl XXXVI pregame show, with a Statue of Liberty tapestry rising up in the background as a tribute to the victims of 9/11.

McCartney performed the song on his 2002 Driving USA Tour and it appeared on the live album Back in the U.S. However he chose not to perform it on subsequent tours, such as his 2005 The 'US' Tour, as he felt the song had acquired a militaristic meaning with the Bush administration's Operation Iraqi Freedom.cite web|author=Dahlen, Chris|title=Interview:Sir Paul McCartney|publisher=Pitchfork Media|url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/42799-interview-sir-paul-mccartney|date=2007-05-21|accessdate=2008-01-09]

Personnel

*Paul McCartney - Vocals, acoustic guitar, bass guitar
*Eric Clapton - Lead guitar
*Rusty Anderson - Rhythm guitar
*Abe Laboriel Jnr. - Drums

Track listing

*"Freedom" (studio mix) 3:34
*"From a Lover to a Friend" 3:49
*"From a Lover to a Friend" (David Kahne remix 2) 5:27

References