Free Me (Emma Bunton song)
{{short description|2003 single by Emma Bunton}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2015}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Free Me
| cover = Emma Bunton - Free Me (single).png
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Emma Bunton
| album = Free Me
| B-side = {{Plainlist|
- "Who the Hell are You"
- "Tomorrow"}}
| released = {{Start date|2003|5|26|df=yes}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre =
| length = {{duration|m=4|s=28}}
| label = {{hlist|19|Universal}}
| writer = {{hlist|Emma Bunton|Hélène Muddiman|Mike Peden}}
| producer = Mike Peden
| prev_title = We're Not Gonna Sleep Tonight
| prev_year = 2001
| next_title = Maybe
| next_year = 2003
| misc = {{External music video|header=Licensed audio|1={{YouTube|S5j7wgm4wS0|"Free Me"}}}}
}}
"Free Me" is a song by English singer Emma Bunton from her second solo studio album of the same name (2003). It was written by Bunton along with Hélène Muddiman and Mike Peden, and produced by the latter. The song was released by 19 Recordings and Universal Records on 26 May 2003 as the album's lead single. "Free Me" debuted and peaked at number five on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Bunton's fourth UK top-five single. The single also peaked at number four on the US Hot Dance Club Play chart.
Background
In 2001, Bunton released her first solo album, A Girl Like Me, through Virgin Records. It spent over 12 weeks in the UK Albums Chart, peaking at number four and earning a gold certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). It also produced her only solo chart-topper "What Took You So Long?", as well as the top-five singles "What I Am" and "Take My Breath Away", and the top-20 entry "We're Not Gonna Sleep Tonight". She then left Virgin,{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/emma-bunton-bringing-up-baby-76018.html|title = Emma Bunton: Bringing up baby| website=Independent.co.uk |date = February 2004}} and signed a new deal with 19 Recordings, run by the former Spice Girls' manager Simon Fuller.{{Cite web |url=http://www.dotmusic.com/artists/EmmaBunton/news/March2002/news24171.asp |title=Dotmusic - Emma Bunton News - Baby grows-up |access-date=28 November 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021128170553/http://www.dotmusic.com/artists/EmmaBunton/news/March2002/news24171.asp |archive-date=28 November 2002 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.dotmusic.com/interviews/May2003/interviews29404.asp |title=Dotmusic - interviews - Emma Bunton interview (2003) |access-date=2 October 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031002184850/http://www.dotmusic.com/interviews/May2003/interviews29404.asp |archive-date=2 October 2003 |url-status=live }}
Commercial performance
Released on 26 May 2003 in the United Kingdom, "Free Me" debuted and peaked at number five on the UK Singles Chart in the week ending 7 June 2003, becoming Bunton's fourth non-consecutive UK top-five single. It also reached number five on the Scottish Singles Chart and peaked at number 33 on the Irish Singles Chart. In the United States, "Free Me" peaked at number four on Billboard{{'}}s Hot Dance Club Play chart. It was Bunton's first solo single to enter the chart.
Music video
A music video for "Free Me" was directed by Tim Royes and filmed in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, including locations such as Macumba Beach, Guanabara Bay and the Alto da Boa Vista neighbourhood.{{cite web |last=Delacerda |first=André |url=https://diariodorio.com/o-rio-na-rota-dos-videoclipes-interrnacionais-eles-adoram-o-rio/ |title=O Rio na Rota dos Videoclipes Internacionais. Eles Adoram o Rio! |work=Diário do Rio de Janeiro |language=pt |date=30 June 2008 |access-date=22 January 2018}}
Track listings
{{Track listing
| headline = UK CD 1
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = Free Me
| writer1 = {{hlist|Emma Bunton|Hélène Muddiman|Mike Peden}}
| extra1 = Peden
| length1 = 3:36
| title2 = Who the Hell Are You
| writer2 = {{hlist|Bunton|Nigel Butler|Ray Hedges}}
| extra2 = Hedges
| length2 = 3:20
| title3 = Free Me
| note3 = Full Intention's Freed Up Mix
| writer3 = {{hlist|Bunton|Muddiman|Peden}}
| extra3 = {{hlist|Peden|Michael Gray & Jon Pearn{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length3 = 7:08
| title4 = Free Me
| note4 = video
| length4 = 4:28
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = UK CD 2
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = Free Me
| writer1 = {{hlist|Bunton|Muddiman|Peden}}
| extra1 = Peden
| length1 = 4:28
| title2 = Tomorrow
| writer2 = {{hlist|Bunton|Yak Bondy}}
| extra2 = Bondy
| length2 = 3:56
| title3 = Free Me
| note3 = Full Intention's Sultra Mix
| writer3 = {{hlist|Bunton|Muddiman|Peden}}
| extra3 = {{hlist|Peden|Michael Gray & Jon Pearn{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length3 = 6:18
}}
Notes
- {{sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} signifies an additional producer
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Free Me.{{cite AV media notes |title=Free Me |type=liner notes |others=Emma Bunton |publisher=19 Recordings, Universal Records |year=2004 |id=986615-8}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
- Emma Bunton – vocals, songwriting
- Richard Dowling – mastering
- Martin Hayles – keyboards, recording
- Graham Kearns – guitar
- Nick Ingman – orchestra arrangement, orchestra conducting
- Isobel Griffiths Ltd – orchestra contractor
{{col-2}}
- Hélène Muddiman – backing vocals, keyboards, songwriting
- Mike Peden – bass guitar, production, songwriting
- Charlie Russell – live drums, programming
- Mark Stent – mixing
- Gavyn Wright – orchestra leader
{{col-end}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for "Free Me" ! scope="col"| Chart (2003–2004) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles){{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/00s/03/MM-2003-06-14-OCR-Page-0007.pdf |title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles |magazine=Music & Media |volume=21 |issue=25 |date=14 June 2003 |page=7 |oclc=29800226 |via=World Radio History}}
| 20 |
|---|
| {{single chart|Ireland3|33|artist=Emma Bunton|rowheader=true|access-date=17 January 2020|refname="Ireland"}} |
| {{single chart|Scotland|5|date=20030601|rowheader=true|access-date=24 February 2015|refname="Scotland"}} |
| {{single chart|UK|5|date=20030601|rowheader=true|access-date=22 January 2018|refname="UK"}} |
| {{single chart|Billboarddanceclubplay|4|artist=Emma Bunton|rowheader=true|access-date=22 January 2018|refname="Billboarddanceclubplay"}} |
| {{single chart|Billboarddanceairplay|8|artist=Emma Bunton|rowheader=true|access-date=17 May 2020}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Year-end chart performance for "Free Me" ! scope="col"| Chart (2003) ! scope="col"| Position |
| scope="row"| UK Singles (OCC){{cite web |url=http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/ChartsPlusYE2003.pdf |title=The Official UK Singles Chart 2003 |work=UKChartsPlus |page=2 |access-date=6 December 2018}}
| 134 |
|---|
{{col-end}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release dates and formats for "Free Me" ! scope="col"| Region ! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format ! scope="col"| Label ! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row"| United Kingdom
| 26 May 2003 | {{hlist|CD single|cassette single}} | Polydor | {{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2003/Music-Week-2003-05-24.pdf|title=New Release Countdown: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=17|date=24 May 2003|access-date=5 September 2021}} |
|---|
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Emma Bunton}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Free Me (Song)}}
Category:19 Recordings singles
Category:Music videos directed by Tim Royes
Category:Songs written by Emma Bunton