"Soul Free" | ||||
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Single by George Michael | ||||
from the album Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 | ||||
Written | June 1990 [1] | |||
Released | 1991 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 5:30 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | George Michael | |||
Producer(s) | George Michael | |||
George Michael singles chronology | ||||
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Licensed audio | ||||
"Soul Free" on YouTube |
"Soul Free" is a song by English singer-songwriter George Michael, released in 1991 as the sixth and final single from his 1990 album Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 . The track was distributed as a promotional single in select markets including Australia, the United States, Japan, and Mexico, but was not commercially released in the United Kingdom.
"Soul Free" is the final track on Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, standing out from the album's mostly introspective tone with its upbeat and groove-oriented arrangement. Written and produced by George Michael, the song blends elements of funk, soul, and hip-hop-inspired beats, reflecting his desire to experiment stylistically while shifting away from the polished pop of his previous album, Faith .
Lyrically, the song expresses themes of emotional independence and spiritual liberation, with lines that challenge social and religious conventions. It was one of the few tracks on the album to feature dense production and a danceable rhythm, balancing the reflective content with a more rhythmic style.
While not issued as a full commercial single in most territories, "Soul Free" received several promotional releases:
"Soul Free" received positive commentary in retrospective reviews. In its 2017 reappraisal of the album, Slant Magazine noted the song as "the only bona fide uptempo tune besides 'Freedom! '90'," and praised its fusion of hip-hop rhythms and sophisticated vocal layering. [2]
The Guardian , in a 2020 list of George Michael's greatest songs, described it as "a silky, stylish closer to an album that proved George Michael could transcend pop superstardom with substance". [3]
Chart (1991) | Peak position |
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Australia (ARIA) | 95 |
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