Free (Estelle song)
{{Short description|2004 single by Estelle}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Free
| cover = Estelle_Featuring_Megaman_-_Free.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Estelle featuring Megaman
| album = The 18th Day
| B-side =
- "Freedom"
- "Change Is Coming"
| released = {{start date|2004|10|4|df=y}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length = 3:22
| label =
- V2
- Stellarents
- JDID
- Festival Mushroom (Australia)
| writer =
- Estelle Swaray
- Jimmy Hogarth
- Megaman
| producer = Jimmy Hogarth
| chronology = Estelle
| prev_title = 1980
| prev_year = 2004
| next_title = Go Gone
| next_year = 2005
}}
"Free" is the second single from British singer-songwriter Estelle's debut album, The 18th Day (2004). The song features a rap from So Solid Crew's Megaman. It preceded the album's release by two weeks. In "Free", Estelle raps and sings about living life in a positive way, spreading love, being oneself, and working hard to achieve the most one can in life.
Released on 4 October 2004, "Free" peaked at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart and was Estelle's second consecutive solo top-20 hit, peaking only one place lower than her previous single "1980". In Australia, it was released as the final single from the album on 29 November 2004 and reached number 49 on the ARIA Singles Chart. In Ireland, the song peaked at number 50.
Music video
The music video for "Free" was directed by Andy Hylton.{{cite web|url=https://www.listal.com/estelle_iii|title=Estelle|publisher=Listal|access-date=6 June 2021}} As well as featuring an appearance from guest rapper Megaman, the video features cameos from fellow British singers Beverley Knight, Natasha Bedingfield, Terri Walker, Kelli Young of Liberty X, Jamie Scott, Indo-Canadian singer Raghav and US singer John Legend.
The video leads into B-side "Freedom", which features John Legend on piano.
Track listings
{{col-begin|width=74%}}
{{col-2}}
UK CD1{{cite AV media notes|title=Free|others=Estelle|year=2004|type=UK CD1 liner notes|publisher=V2 Records, Stellarents Entertainment, JDID Music Entertainment|id=JAD5027848}}
- "Free" (featuring Megaman) – 3:22
- "Freedom" (featuring John Legend) – 5:06
- "Free" (featuring Megaman) – 3:22
- "Freedom" (featuring John Legend) – 5:06
- "Change Is Coming" – 4:01
{{col-2}}
Australian CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Free|others=Estelle|year=2004|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=Festival Mushroom Records, V2 Records, Stellarents Entertainment, JDID Music Entertainment|id=021992}}
- "Free" (featuring Megaman)
- "Freedom" (featuring John Legend)
- "Change Is Coming"
- "Free" (Girls remix)
{{col-end}}
Personnel
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
!scope="col"|Chart (2004) !scope="col"|Peak |
| {{single chart|Australia|49|artist=Estelle|song=Free|rowheader=true|accessdate=24 December 2018}} |
| {{single chart|Ireland3|50|artist=Estelle|rowheader=true|accessdate=17 January 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Scotland|29|date=20041016|rowheader=true|accessdate=24 December 2018}} |
| {{single chart|UK|15|date=20041016|rowheader=true|accessdate=24 December 2018}} |
| {{single chart|UKindie|1|date=20041016|rowheader=true|accessdate=24 December 2018}} |
| {{single chart|UKrandb|3|date=20041023|rowheader=true|accessdate=24 December 2018}} |
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
!scope="col"|Region !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Format(s) !scope="col"|Label(s) !scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row"|United Kingdom
|4 October 2004 |CD |{{hlist|V2|Stellarents|JDID}} |{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=33|date=2 October 2004}} |
|---|
| scope="row"|Australia
|29 November 2004 |{{hlist|12-inch vinyl|CD}} |{{hlist|V2|Stellarents|JDID|Festival Mushroom}} |{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/issue770.pdf|title=The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 29th November 2004|publisher=ARIA|page=28|date=29 November 2004|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20041219130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20041220-0000/issue770.pdf|archive-date=19 December 2004|access-date=16 April 2021}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} |