"I Want to Be Free" | ||||
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Single by Toyah | ||||
from the album Anthem | ||||
B-side |
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Released | May 1981 | |||
Recorded | 1981 | |||
Studio | Marquee Studios, London | |||
Genre | New wave | |||
Length | 3:10 | |||
Label | Safari | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Nick Tauber | |||
Toyah singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"I Want to Be Free" on YouTube |
"I Want to Be Free" is a song by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released as a single in May 1981 by Safari Records. The song promoted Toyah's 1981 studio album Anthem and was a Top 10 chart hit in the UK and Ireland.
The song was written by Toyah Willcox and Joel Bogen, and produced by Nick Tauber. Willcox explained that it "resonated how I felt about school years which was still very strongly with me even when I was 22". [1] It is about Toyah's frustration as a dyslexic teenager when she was, as she said, "being forced not to be myself, my natural self". [2] The lyric originated when Toyah was fourteen and was developed into the final song in 1981. She further explained that the song is "about seeing the individual, it's about hearing and understanding the individual, not wiping them away from a future just because they can't add up or don't write particularly well. Also, it's about us having the choice". [3]
The single was released in May 1981 only in the 7" vinyl format. There were two variations of the single artwork – with a black or a white border. The two non-album B-sides, "Walkie-Talkie" and "Alien", were eventually included on the 1999 CD reissue of Anthem as well as the 2005 compilation The Safari Singles Collection Part 2: 1981–1983.
Bolstered by the performance of the previous single, "It's a Mystery", and backed by an appearance on Top of the Pops , "I Want to Be Free" entered the UK Top 10 where it would peak at number 8, and helped push the album Anthem into the UK Albums Chart, where it peaked at number 2. It was also Toyah's second number 1 on the UK Independent Singles Chart and the band's most internationally successful single, reaching the Top 10 in Ireland and the Top 40 in Australia and New Zealand, among others. It was eventually certified silver in the UK. [4]
The music video for the song was directed by Godley & Creme. [5]
Chart (1981) | Peak position |
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Australian Singles (Kent Music Report) [6] | 35 |
German Singles (Media Control) [7] | 61 |
Irish Singles (IRMA) [8] | 10 |
New Zealand Singles (RIANZ) [9] | 30 |
South Africa (Springbok Radio) [10] | 10 |
UK Singles (Official Charts Company) [11] | 8 |
UK Independent Singles [12] | 1 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI) [4] | Silver | 250,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Toyah Ann Willcox is an English musician, actress, and TV presenter. In a career spanning more than 40 years, Willcox has had eight top 40 singles, released over 20 albums, written two books, appeared in over 40 stage plays and 10 feature films, and voiced and presented numerous television shows.
Sheep Farming in Barnet is the debut studio album by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released in 1979 by Safari Records.
Toyah was an English new wave band fronted by namesake Toyah Willcox between 1977 and 1983. The only other consistent band member throughout this period was Joel Bogen, Willcox's principal co-writer and guitarist.
The Blue Meaning is the second studio album by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released in 1980 by Safari Records. It reached the Top 40 on the UK Albums Chart.
Anthem is a studio album by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released in 1981 by Safari Records. It was the band's most successful album, reaching number 2 in the UK Albums Chart and featuring the Top 10 singles "It's a Mystery" and "I Want to Be Free". The album was certified gold in 1981 for selling more than 100,000 copies in the UK.
The Changeling is a studio album by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released in 1982 by Safari Records. The album peaked at number 6 in the UK where it was certified silver for sales exceeding 60,000 copies. It included the Top 40 single "Brave New World".
Warrior Rock: Toyah on Tour is a live album by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released in 1982 by Safari Records.
Love Is the Law is the fifth studio album by British new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released in 1983 by Safari Records. It reached number 28 in the UK Albums Chart and included the Top 40 hit single "Rebel Run". It was the last album to be released by the band before singer Willcox embarked on a solo career and retained 'Toyah' as her stage name.
Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! is a greatest hits compilation album by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released in 1984 by K-tel. The album is also known as Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! All the Hits by including the cover slogan to differentiate it from the earlier live album Toyah! Toyah! Toyah!.
"Victims of the Riddle" is a song by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released as the band's debut single in 1979 by Safari Records. The song later featured on the band's album Sheep Farming in Barnet.
"Bird in Flight" is a song by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released as a single in 1980 by Safari Records.
"Ieya" is a song by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox. It was first released as a single in 1980 by Safari Records to promote the album The Blue Meaning. It was re-recorded and re-issued in 1982, and met with minor chart success in the UK.
Four from Toyah is the second EP by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released in 1981 by Safari Records. It reached the Top 5 in the UK Singles Chart on the back of its lead track, "It's a Mystery".
"Thunder in the Mountains" is a song by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released as a single in 1981 by Safari Records. It was one of Toyah's biggest hits, reaching number 4 in the UK chart.
Four More from Toyah is the third EP by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released in 1981 by Safari Records. It reached the Top 20 in the UK and Ireland.
"Brave New World" is a song by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released as a single in 1982 by Safari Records. It promoted Toyah's 1982 studio album The Changeling and was a Top 40 chart success in the UK.
"Be Proud Be Loud " is a song by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released as a single in 1982 by Safari Records. It was a Top 40 chart success in the UK and Ireland.
"Rebel Run" is a song by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox. It was released in 1983 to promote the album Love Is the Law and was a Top 30 chart success in the UK.
"The Vow" is a song by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox. It was released in 1983 to promote the album Love Is the Law.
"It's a Mystery" is a song by English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released as a single in 1981 by Safari Records. The song was a hit in the UK where it peaked in the Top 5 in the charts as the lead track on the EP Four from Toyah.