Freedom (Paul McCartney song)
| Company type | Single |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Founder | Paul McCartney |
| Products | Music single |
Freedom is a track composed and performed by Paul McCartney as a reaction to the September 11 attacks in 2001. McCartney experienced the events firsthand while aboard an aircraft at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Background
At the start of 2001, McCartney commenced work on his twelfth studio album, Driving Rain, collaborating with new musicians intended for his first tour since 1993. By September, the album was finalized, with "From a Lover to a Friend" designated as the lead single scheduled for release in October.
On September 11, 2001, McCartney was present at JFK Airport during the terrorist attacks. In response, he committed the earnings from "From a Lover to a Friend" to aid the families of New York firefighters.
At the same time, McCartney was instrumental in arranging The Concert for New York City, a significant benefit event held at Madison Square Garden on October 20. Motivated by the tragedy, he swiftly composed "Freedom," intending to premiere it at this concert.
Release
After "Freedom" received a positive reaction from audiences—featuring Eric Clapton on lead guitar alongside McCartney's touring band—a version with newly recorded studio vocals was expedited to radio stations one week after the concert. A commercial CD single release was set for November 5, paired with "From a Lover to a Friend," and the initial single version was withdrawn. All revenue from both singles was donated to the Robin Hood Foundation to assist families of victims and emergency personnel in New York.
Capitol Records paused production of the Driving Rain album to incorporate "Freedom" as an additional track. Due to this last-minute inclusion, the CD booklet did not reference the song; instead, it was promoted via a sticker affixed to the jewel case.
McCartney delivered a performance of "Freedom" during the Super Bowl XXXVI pregame show, accompanied by imagery of the Statue of Liberty and 500 children representing 180 nations participating in the broadcast. The song became a staple of his 2002 Driving USA Tour, with a live version recorded in Dallas featured on the album Back in the U.S.. However, McCartney omitted it from subsequent tours such as the 2005 The 'US' Tour, citing concerns that it had been "hijacked" by militaristic connotations amid the George W. Bush administration's War on Terror campaign.
Personnel
- Paul McCartney – vocals, acoustic guitar, bass guitar
- Rusty Anderson – rhythm guitar
- Eric Clapton – lead guitar
- Abe Laboriel, Jr. – drums
Charts
Template:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chart| Chart (2001) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Romania (Romanian Top 100) | 61 |