Anyone spot a theme developing here?
20. Kenny Loggins - I'm Free (Heaven Helps The Man)
See, Footloose wasn't the only Kenny Loggins song.
I am, however, willing to hear your argument that it was the only good Kenny Loggins song. Nice beard, Ken.
(From 'Footloose - 15th Anniversary Collectors' Edition')
19. The Who - I'm Free / Roger Daltrey - Free Me
Roger Daltrey's a proper rock star - he can swim and sing at the same time.
It's curious though... when he was in The Who, he sang I'm Free... yet when he went solo, he started singing Free Me.
(I'm Free from 'Tommy')
(Free Me from 'McVicar - Original Soundtrack')
18. Belinda Carlisle - Live Your Life Be Free
I used to have the major hots for Belinda Carlisle.
Oh. Just watched the video. Still do.
(From 'The Best of Belinda Vol.1')
17. Billy Taylor - I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel To Be Free)
Or, the theme music to Film (whichever year) with Barry Norman. Jazz. Nice. And why not?
16. Wham! - Freedom
Of course, strictly speaking this shouldn't be here. Not because it's Wham! - but because George is so insistent he doesn't want your freedom. Still... he's never been one for telling the truth 100%, has he? Best. Wham! Song. Ever.
(From 'The Best of Wham!')
15. The Clash - Stay Free
A rare lead vocal turn from Mick Jones, inviting us to go on a nicking spree, hit the wrong guy, but stay free.
(From 'Give 'Em Enough Rope')
14. Johnny Cash - I'm Free From The Chain Gang Now
A more appropriate title I couldn't hope to find, given my current circumstances.
(From 'American V - A Hundred Highways')
13. Lou Reed - I'm So Free / The Velvet Undergound - I'm Set Free
Obviously a popular theme in Lou Reed's songwriting.
(I'm So Free from 'Transformer')
(I'm Set Free from 'The Velvet Underground')
12. Matt Monro - Born Free
Written by John Barry for the film adaptation of Joy Adamson's book on the adventures of Elsa the Lioness.
Born free - and life is worth living
But only worth living... 'cos you're Born Free!
(From 'Born Free')
11. Jimi Hendrix - Stone Free
The first song Jimi ever wrote. They couldn't hold him down.
(From 'Experience Hendrix: The Best of Jimi Hendrix')
10. Toyah - I Want To Be Free
"I don't wanna go to school
I don't wanna be nobody's fool
I wanna be me
I wanna be free..."
Even as a kid, I found Toyah somewhat scary. A posh punk Kate Bush wannabe? I was never quite sure if she was serious... or an art school project. Her later career confirmed the latter, but this still stands up well as a testament to its time.
(From 'Good Morning Universe - The Very Best Of Toyah')
9. Lynyrd Skynyrd - Freebird
"Awesome guitar solo at the end," says the guy who posted this on youtube, repeatedly. He has a point.
(From 'Greatest Hits')
8. Luke Doucet - Free
Catchy Canadian guitar pop from former Man of Veal.
(From 'Broken')
7. Cream - I Feel Free
Eric Clapton has his unpleasant side, we can't get away from that, but he did make some pleasing noise back in them old days. Insert cool muso Ginger Baker reference here too.
(From 'The Very Best Of Cream')
6. Kirsty MacColl - Free World
One more reason to miss Miss MacColl..
And I'll see you baby when the clans rise again
Women and men united in the struggle
In this free world baby
Got to take it got to grab it
Got to get it up and shag it
In this free world
(From 'Kite')
5. The Kinks - Set Me Free
It's the Kinks. That's all you need to know.
(From 'The Kinks - The Ultimate Collection')
4. The Vines - Get Free
Rifftastic, hoarse-throated Aussie rock at its loudest and proudest.
(From 'Highly Evolved')
3. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Free Fallin'
It's unfortunate that I can't hear this tune without thinking of Tom Cruise being a smug bastard in Jerry Maguire... but that's hardly Tom Petty's fault. It's still a great song.
(From 'Anthology: Through The Years')
2. Queen - I Want To Break Free
"I want to break free from your lies
You're so self-satisfied, I don't need you."
The song that killed Queen's career in America - turns out the MTV audiences just weren't ready for Freddie's dragged up Coronation Street tribute video. Shame.
(From 'The Works')
1. The Rolling Stones / The Soup Dragons - I'm Free
(From 'The Rolling Stones Singles Collection: The London Years')
"I'm free to do what I want any old time..."
That would include bastardizing an old Stones song as a baggy 90s indie-dance anthem. Still, we were young, we were crazy, we were... free.
(From 'Lovegod')
So... which record makes you feel free?
