Freedom (Pharrell Williams song)
| "Freedom" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Pharrell Williams | ||||
| from the album Despicable Me 3 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | ||||
| Released | June 30, 2015[1] | |||
| Recorded | 2015 | |||
| Genre | Indie pop | |||
| Length | 2:43 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Pharrell Williams & Naughty by Nature | |||
| Producer(s) | Pharrell Williams | |||
| Pharrell Williams singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Freedom" (stylized as FREEDOM!) is a song by
Beats 1 on its launch date of June 30, 2015.[2] Part of the song was made available as a teaser on Williams' Twitter page and was also used in a promotional video for Apple Music.[3] Its music video was nominated for Best Music Video at the 58th Grammy Awards
.
Critical reception
Writing for MusicSnake, Marissa Fitzgerald gave the song a very positive review, give it 4/5 stars and stating "'Freedom' is an awesome track with a feel-good vibe and a positive message. The lyrics are uplifting and promote living a happy life without restrictions or limitations."[4] Rolling Stone describes the track, "powerful," as well as, "snappy," and, "infectious,"[5] while The Guardian describes it as, "socially conscious."[6] According to USA Today, "Williams may have found a song that captures the tenor of its time."[7]
Live performances
Williams performed the song on his international 2015 tour,Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Sunday April 16, 2017.
In other media
- In 2017, the song was used for an advert of the telecommunications company Claro by its subsidiary in Argentina.[11]
- In 2017, the song was used in a Nissan Navara commercial.
- In 2016, the song was used in an Aetna commercial
- In 2018, the song was used in a Bank of America commercial.
- In 2017, the song appeared on the soundtrack for Despicable Me 3, which Williams also produces the music for the franchise.
- In 2017 the song was in the Los Angeles bid for the 2028 Summer Olympics.
- In 2017, the song was used for an advert of the Dutch energy supplier, Eneco.[12]
- In 2016, the song was played prior to the concession speech delivered by Hillary Rodham Clinton, the Democratic Party's candidate for President of the United States in the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election.[13]
- In 2016, the song was used in adverts for New Zealand telecommunication company, Spark.
- In 2016, the song appeared in the movie, Now You See Me 2.
- In 2015, the song was used for an advert of the German television transmitter, Sky Deutschland.[14]
- In 2019, the song was used in Walmart's new clothing ad for their We Dress America[15] campaign.
- In 2016, the song was used in a Fiat 500X UK commercial.
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium (BEA)[47] | Gold | 15,000* |
| Italy (FIMI)[48] | 2× Platinum | 100,000‡ |
| Poland (ZPAV)[49] | 2× Platinum | 40,000‡ |
|
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- ^ McIntyre, Hugh (25 June 2015). "Pharrell's New Single 'Freedom' Will Serve As Apple Music's First Exclusive". Forbes.
- ^ "Pharrell to drop single 'Freedom' exclusively on Apple Music". CTV News. 25 June 2015.
- ^ Dionne, Zach (26 June 2015). "Pharrell Working With Adele, Previews His "Freedom" Video". Fuse.
- ^ Fitzgerald, Marissa (July 10, 2015). "Pharrell Williams: 'Freedom' Single Review". MusicSnake. Archived from the original on July 12, 2015. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
- ^ Blistein, Jon (June 30, 2015). "Pharrell Screams 'Freedom' on Powerful New Track". RollingStone.com. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
- ^ Simpson, Dave (June 14, 2015). "Pharrell Williams review – pop polymath unveils embarrassment of talents". TheGuardian.com. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
- ^ Mansfield, Brian (June 30, 2015). "Song of the week: Pharrell's 'Freedom'". USAToday.com. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
- ^ Simpson, Dave (14 June 2015). "Pharrell Williams review – pop polymath unveils embarrassment of talents". Guardian.
- ^ Schwartz, Danny (28 June 2015). "Pharrell Debuts "Freedom" At Glastonbury". Hotnewhiphop.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-08-30. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "- YouTube". YouTube.
- ^ "Eneco. We moeten megazuinig zijn op onze planeet". YouTube.
- ^ "Full Event: Hillary Clinton FULL Concession Speech | Election 2016". YouTube.
- ^ "- YouTube". YouTube.
- ^ Walmart (2019-03-18), We Dress America :30 Anthem, retrieved 2019-03-22
- ^ "Pharrell Williams – Freedom". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
- ^ "Pharrell Williams – Freedom" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
- ^ "Pharrell Williams – Freedom" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
- ^ a b "Ultratop.be – Pharell Williams – Freedom". Ultratop (in French). Ultratop Airplay.
- ^ "Pharrell Williams – Freedom" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Pharell Williams – Freedom". Ultratop (in French). Ultratop Airplay.
- ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 201550 into search.
- ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201531 into search.
- Les classement single. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
- ^ "Pharrell Williams – Freedom" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
- ^ "Digital Singles Charts – Greece". Billboard. 2 January 2013.(Subscription required.)
- ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
- ^ "Media Forest Week 30, 2015". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
- ^ "Pharrell Williams – Freedom". Top Digital Download. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Pharrell Williams" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
- ^ "Pharrell Williams – Freedom" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 5, 2015.
- ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201538 into search.
- ^ "SloTop50 – Slovenian official singles chart". slotop50.si. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
- Canciones Top 50. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
- ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 30, 2015" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
- ^ "Pharrell Williams – Freedom". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
- ^ "Pharrell Williams – Chart History: Pop Digital Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2015". Ultratop. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
- ^ "Rapports annuels 2015". Ultratop. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
- ^ "Top de l'année Top Singles 2015" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
- Mahasz. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
- ^ "Classifiche "Top of the Music" 2015 FIMI-GfK: La musica italiana in vetta negli album e nei singoli digitali" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Archived from the original on January 11, 2016. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
- ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2015". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten - 3FM 2015". Dutch Charts (in Dutch). Retrieved May 13, 2022.
- ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2015". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
- ^ "Italian single certifications – Pharrell Williams – Freedom" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved July 2, 2018. Select "2018" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Freedom" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
- ^ "Wyróżnienia – Platynowe płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2016 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
