Freedom! '90 - George Michael | FIRST TIME LISTENING REACTION

This is my reaction to "Freedom! '90" by George Michael.
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"Freedom! '90" is a song recorded by the British singer George Michael. It is featured on his second solo studio album, 'Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1,' released in 1990. Michael wrote and produced the song, which was released as the album's third single. The song peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart.
Original video: • George Michael - Freed...
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#georgemichael #freedom90 #reaction #1990 #georgemichaelreaction

[@rouguy1972]

❤

[@J_Solo]

Thank you! like you analys and in video : Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Tatjana Patitz, Christy Turlington, and Cindy Crawford

[@ChloeR-vt4bh]

Great analysis - thank you.

[@toxikelement1372]

This was the first video made where the artist wasn't shown. Also, all people in this video are/were famous supermodels.

[@mark902]

i love hi-fi equipment, so the dig i notice in this video is that george - being signed to sony - used pioneer gear in that beginning scene...

[@scotties.3414]

You nailed it! George was trying to get out of his Sony contract if I'm not mistaken. He was trying to shed his manufactured pretty boy image which was reflected in the symbolic jacket, jukebox, and guitar of previous videos. The video also ushered us into the age of the supermodel. The song and video are always fresh, always funky and always a good vibe.

[@AceM-Reacts]

💯 That song is a beast. Even with all the top tier material he has, something about this one still stands out.

[@todddepue681]

Directed by David Fincher, who also made gorgeous videos for Madonna around this time (Express Yourself, Oh Father, Vogue) Love the use of the first wave of 90s supermodels. George was def grappling with his image at this time and i love how this plays with the notion that "any pretty face" can sell a song.

[@AceM-Reacts]

I just reacted to Madonna's Oh Father video and Express Yourself, too. All these videos are exquisitely made. Kudos to that director. He was top-notch! If the theme of "any pretty face" being able to sell a song was the idea, then they executed that premise to perfection with this video. Still, George should've given himself a bit more credit than that. His own charisma had a lot to do with it, too.

[@lazerx1828]

Just chiming in here, George was legally contracted to produce a music video but since it never stated that he had to appear in it he hired the biggest supermodels of the era to lip sync. Interesting to note that the song rebels against being used as a product for one's image but all of the people shown in the music video are just that (irony lol).

[@AceM-Reacts]

Interesting. That’s pretty clever on his end to do that. Basically saying to them “here’s your video, I’m not in it” 😂

[@craigjb8740]

As well as issues with the record company and his personal demons with his image and sexuality, George also received backlash from some sections of the black community when he became the first white person to win a best R&B award at the American Music Awards. Before this breakthrough every genre and artist was put in their corner. Even a few years before at some awards shows the categories were called Best Black Male Artist etc - although a lot of awards websites have removed this language. George was very hurt by the criticism as many of his greatest influences were black artists. Whitney suffered the same because she was considered pop and pop was for white artists. She got the same backlash for not being ‘black enough’. Tina Turner suffered the same as well because she was a rock chick but black radio wouldn’t play her because she wasn’t R&B and pop radio wouldn’t play her because she was black. The USA was totally fucked up in the 80’s in feeling the need to ‘categorise’ everyone. The rest of the world really didn’t give a crap….they just got in with loving music

[@AceM-Reacts]

That's really effed up if he received backlash for winning in R&B categories. Some of his music rightfully fit it.

[@craigjb8740]

@@AceM-Reacts true. But in 86, 87, 88 is was a completely different time. Even Whitney was booed at the Soul Train awards

[@kendrabohr]

@@craigjb8740 I remember it all so well! I was a HUGE Prince fan in the early 80's (still am 💜) and people had no clue what to do with him back then; hence why he changed his name and became a symbol. The 80"s were such a pivotal era for music. Glad I was there to witness it. Makes me appreciate how far we have come...

[@leslapins7617]

Yes, he blow up the jacket and the juke box, simbolic sending to hell the “Faith” era, when the records company wanted to suck every drop of his blood.

[@AceM-Reacts]

Oh wow! The iconic FAITH era George was sticking his finger up at?! 😢 That’s slightly disheartening, but I get it. If they had their way they probably would’ve had him try to clone that again and again. George was definitely an artist so I can see why he’d resist being a product.

[@clunkybootleg1357]

Pretending to be straight was part of George’s manufactured public image, so this song can also be read as his first hint about his true sexuality. It’s very clever on several levels.

[@AceM-Reacts]

Interesting. That does add another layer of nuance and subtext to the premise of this song.

[@ChloeR-vt4bh]

@clunkybootleg1357. To be fair, I don’t believe George ever pretended to be straight. He himself thought he was bisexual for several years and felt confused. He had relationships with women and men up until around 1989, when he finally accepted that he was gay rather than bisexual. He said he found women sexually attractive but did not connect emotionally with them. He first found what he called real love 2 years later in early 1991 when he met and fell in love with Anselmo Feleppa. Most of the Older album was about his bereavement and ultimate recovery after Anselmo’s death in early 1993.

[@ChloeR-vt4bh]

PS. He refused to confirm or deny his sexuality for years when the media asked him about it, as he, rightly, thought it was irrelevant and was private. He also wanted to protect his mother from worry in an era when Aids was a frightening disease.

[@leslapins7617]

What “ you’ve got for changing you mind” ? In his case, the sabbotage of his career and image in the huge US market.

[@AceM-Reacts]

I thought he still pretty well received in the US during this time?

[@rickymarden8342]

@@AceM-Reactsnothing like it was previously, however George knew this and was prepared for it to happen

[@Matuteilcapo]

Actually, he had some issues with his record label at the time, therefore he refused to appear on the music video. His situation was similar to Prince´s. If you see it now, this whole situation damaged his career, he could have been greater than he was.

[@AceM-Reacts]

💯 But even in his rebellion, he churned out this masterpiece!

[@Matuteilcapo]

@@AceM-Reacts Well yeah, this album is different from the previous one. You can definitely see the evolution on his artistry.

[@anthonyfiore9139]

People are misremembering the issues. He told his record label before this album came out...after he recorded it ..that he wanted to calm everything down. Let music speak for itself. It wasn't until after the label demanded him to go back & do the Faith imagery again....& basically not pushing his album & releasing any more material...that he knew he needed to get out of his contract. This song & album was about not wanting to be the pin up anymore. The dispute came after this album

[@ChloeR-vt4bh]

Totally right Anthony. As I’m sure you know, he felt so overwhelmed after his huge Faith tour and the level of fame in the US, he said he almost had a breakdown. He was the biggest selling artist in 1988. He realised that in the US, you have to do relentless promotion to get a lot of record sales. He rejected that as he didn’t want that life. As you say, that is what the record label wanted except he told them he needed time out for himself. They insulted him and he was then determined to get out of that contract. He wanted to focus on the songwriting and fit that to be the focus for his fans, rather than the sec symbol image which he didn’t want.

[@leslapins7617]

You are right, but he was not directing the message to Andrew but to the record companies which make him a “slave” for a while.

[@AceM-Reacts]

Interesting! So it pertains to an industry situation, huh?

[@ChloeR-vt4bh]

Yes definitely, and in particular his own record label who were very unsupportive when he told them he needed some time out for himself rather than the relentless promotion like he did for Faith.