Free (Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding song) explained
"Free" is a song by Scottish DJ Calvin Harris and English singer and songwriter Ellie Goulding, from Harris' first compilation album, 96 Months.[1] "Free" marks the fourth collaboration between Harris and Goulding,[2] and the duo's first collaboration since the 2023's trance song "Miracle", which saw massive critical and commercial success.[3] "Free" was released on 26 July 2024, under Sony Music UK to widespread critical acclaim from music critics who praised the duo's longtime creative partnership.[4] [5]
Composition
"Free" is a dance-pop track, which is built around a piano house refrain.[6] [7] Robin Murray from Clash magazine described the production as it "leans back on Millennial pop touchstones, while also overhauling them". As well noticing elements that "touches on trance production, while also nodding to hyper-pop". Andrew Wescott from Dork said that the "heartfelt" lyrics "echoes the euphoric, singalong vibe that characterizes their past hits".[8] "Free" marks the first song from the duo that doesn't feature writing credits from Goulding.[9]
Critical reception
"Free" was met with critical acclaim upon its release. Robin Murray from Clash magazine praised both Harris and Goulding's contributions to the track, highlighting Goulding's emotional vocal performance and Harris production style, calling it pleasingly "the way the duo re-interpolate these 00s tropes, while retaining a wonderful pop song at its core".[10] Tom Skinner from NME dubbed the song as "The rousing summer anthem".[11] Rolling Stone included "Free" on their "Songs You Need to Know" which highlight the best new tracks of the week.[12] Jason Heffler from EDM.com praised Harris and Goulding stating that their "latest anthem "Free" reinforces the fact that some artistic partnerships are simply destined for greatness".[13] ThatGrapeJuice called "Free" an "electrifying anthem", and praised the blending of Goulding's ethereals vocals with Harris production "making it an instant hit for the summer".[14]
Commercial performance
"Free" entered at number thirty-six on the UK Singles Chart, marking the duos fourth consecutive top-40 hit single.[15] Eventually it peaked at number thirthy-five on its third week.[16] Overrall, the song achieved moderate commercial success, in contrast of their previous efforts.[17]
Live performance
Harris' unveiled the track for the first time during his DJ set at Ushuaïa Ibiza, he shared a preview to his Instagram account with the caption: "Trying out the new one @ushuaiaibiza!".[18] On July 20, Goulding made a surprise appearance at Harris' Ushuaïa set to perform "Free" live for the first time.[19] [20]
Music video
A lyric video was released the same day the song dropped on Harris, YouTube channel.[21] [22] As August 18, a music video for the song has not been released or teased, making "Free" Harris and Goulding first collaboration to not feature a proper music video, instead a recording of Harris and Goulding's first-time live performance of "Free" at Usuahia Ibiza served as an official visualizer.[23]
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from Apple Music:
- Calvin Harris – songwriter, producer, mixing engineer, vocal producer
- Ellie Goulding – vocals
- Theo Hutchcraft – songwriter
- Chenai Zinyuku – songwriter
- Duncan Fuller – vocal recording engineer
- Mike Marsh – mastering engineer
Release history
References
- Web site: Bain . Katie . 2024-08-09 . Calvin Harris Releases Hits-Spanning Compilation Album ’96 Months’: Stream It Now . 2024-08-18 . Billboard . en-US.
- Web site: 2024-07-26 . Calvin Harris & Ellie Goulding Share New Song "Free": Listen . 2024-08-18 . Stereogum . en.
- Web site: 2024-07-12 . Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding reunite for 4th single collaboration, ‘Free’ - Exron Music . 2024-08-18 . en-US.
- Web site: Heffler . Jason . 2024-07-26 . Listen to Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding's Walk-On-Air Dance Anthem, "Free" . 2024-08-18 . EDM.com - The Latest Electronic Dance Music News, Reviews & Artists . en.
- Web site: Okechukwu . Nmesoma . 2024-07-28 . Calvin Harris – Free (with Ellie Goulding) . 2024-08-18 . EUPHORIA. . en-US.
- Web site: Mendez . Chris Malone . Calvin Harris And Ellie Goulding Reunite For New Single ‘Free’ . 2024-08-18 . Forbes . en.
- Web site: 2024-07-26 . Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding share new single, 'Free': Listen . 2024-08-18 . DJ Mag . en.
- Web site: Wescott . Andrew . 2024-07-18 . Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding's new team up 'FREE' is coming next week . 2024-08-18 . Dork . en-US.
- Web site: Who wrote “Free” by Calvin Harris & Ellie Goulding? . 2024-08-18 . Genius.
- Web site: Magazine . Clash . Murray . Robin . 2024-07-26 . Calvin Harris, Ellie Goulding Re-Unite On 'Free' News . 2024-08-18 . Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews . en-GB.
- Web site: Skinner . Tom . 2024-07-26 . Listen to Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding's euphoric new single 'Free' . 2024-08-18 . NME . en-GB.
- Web site: Stone . Rolling . 2024-07-26 . Ice Spice, Halsey, Post Malone, and All the Songs You Need to Know This Week . 2024-08-18 . Rolling Stone . en-US.
- Web site: Heffler . Jason . 2024-07-26 . Listen to Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding's Walk-On-Air Dance Anthem, "Free" . 2024-08-18 . EDM.com - The Latest Electronic Dance Music News, Reviews & Artists . en.
- Web site: The Pop Stop: Ellie Goulding & Calvin Harris, MGK, & More Deliver This Week's Hidden Gems - That Grape Juice . 2024-08-18 . thatgrapejuice.net.
- Web site: 2024-08-08 . Official Singles Chart Top 100 on 2/8/2024 . 2024-08-18 . Official Charts . en.
- Web site: 2024-08-18 . Official Singles Chart Top 100 on 16/8/2024 . 2024-08-18 . Official Charts . en.
- Web site: 2024-08-08 . FREE . 2024-08-18 . Official Charts . en.
- Web site: @calvinharris . Calvin Harris . 7 July 2024 . Trying out the new one @ushuaiaibiza ! . live . 2024-08-18 . Instagram.
- Web site: @calvinharris . Calvin Harris . 20 July 2024 . Got to perform Free for the first time with @elliegoulding in Ibiza!!! @ushuaiaibiza . live . 2024-08-18 . Instagram.
- Web site: Bain . Katie . 2024-07-23 . Calvin Harris & Ellie Goulding Debut Their Forthcoming Collab in Ibiza . 2024-08-18 . Billboard . en-US.
- Calvin Harris, Ellie Goulding - Free (Official Lyric Video) . 2024-07-25 . CalvinHarrisVEVO . 2024-08-18 . YouTube.
- Web site: Taylor . Sam . 2024-07-26 . Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding's new collaborative single 'Free' is out now . 2024-08-18 . Dork . en-US.
- Calvin Harris, Ellie Goulding - Free (Live at Ushuaïa Ibiza 2024) . 2024-08-01 . CalvinHarrisVEVO . 2024-08-18 . YouTube.
- Web site: IRMA - Irish Charts . 2024-08-18 . www.irma.ie.
- Web site: The Official New Zealand Music Chart . 2024-08-18 . THE OFFICIAL NZ MUSIC CHART . en.
- Web site: Official Dance Singles Chart on 2/8/2024 . 2024-08-18 . Official Charts . en.
- Web site: Official Singles Sales Chart on 9/8/2024 . 2024-08-18 . Official Charts . en.
- Web site: Official Singles Downloads Chart on 9/8/2024 . 2024-08-18 . Official Charts . en.
- Web site: Calvin Harris . Ellie Goulding . 26 July 2024 . Free (with Ellie Goulding) . live . 2024-08-18 . Spotify.
- Free . 2024-07-25 . Calvin Harris - Topic . 2024-08-18 . YouTube.