Freeek!

Last updated

"Freeek!"
Freeek!.jpg
Single by George Michael
from the album Patience
B-side "The Long and Winding Road"
Released18 March 2002 (2002-03-18)
Genre
Length4:33
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • George Michael
  • Moogymen
Producer(s) George Michael
George Michael singles chronology
"If I Told You That"
(2000)		"Freeek!"
(2002)		"Shoot the Dog"
(2002)

"Freeek!" is a song written and performed by English singer George Michael. The song contains samples from "Try Again" by Aaliyah, "Breathe and Stop" by Q-Tip, and "N.T." by Kool & the Gang. A remastered version called "Freeek! '04" was later included on Michael's fifth and final studio album, Patience (2004).

Contents

The single was released on 18 March 2002; the first of six to come from Patience, although the album itself was not released until 2004. The song peaked at number seven on the UK Singles Chart and also charted within the top ten in many other European countries. It topped the charts of Denmark, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, and Spain and reached number five in Australia.

Music video

The music video for "Freeek!" was directed by Joseph Kahn. It incorporates a futuristic theme, including cyborgs and sophisticated technology recalling the film Blade Runner , with a sexually aggressive tone. The directorial effects in the video were first used in Janet Jackson's "Doesn't Really Matter" video, also directed by Kahn.

With a production budget of $2 million (equivalent to $3.3 million in 2023), the music video for "Freeek!" is the 18th most expensive music video made.

Track listings

Charts

Certifications and sales

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [38] Gold35,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

RegionVersionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref(s).
United Kingdom"Freeek!"18 March 2002CD [39] [40]
Australia [41]
Japan20 March 2002 [42]
"Shoot the Dog" / "Freeek!"4 December 2002DVDPolydor [43]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "You Have Been Loved: Remembering George Michael, the Icon". Albumism. 27 December 2016.
  2. ↑ "Retro Modern: George Michael's 'Freeek!'". Blogcritics. 15 January 2017.
  3. ↑ Freeek! (UK & Australian CD1 liner notes). George Michael. Polydor Records, Aegean Records. 2002. 5706812.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ↑ Freeek! (UK & Australian CD2 liner notes). George Michael. Polydor Records, Aegean Records. 2002. 5706822.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ↑ Freeek! (UK cassette single sleeve). George Michael. Polydor Records, Aegean Records. 2002. 5706974.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ↑ Freeek! (European CD single liner notes). George Michael. Polydor Records, Aegean Records. 2002. 5706972.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ↑ Freeek! (Japanese CD single liner notes). George Michael. Polydor Records, Aegean Records. 2002. UICP-5014.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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  9. ↑ "Issue 632" ARIA Top 50 Dance Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
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  42. ↑ "新譜発売日一覧 2002年 3月分" [New Release Date List for March 2002] (in Japanese). Universal Music Japan. Archived from the original on 8 August 2002. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  43. ↑ "新譜発売日一覧 2002年 12月分" [New Release Date List for December 2002] (in Japanese). Universal Music Japan. Archived from the original on 9 June 2003. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
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