Freedom at 21 explained

Freedom at 21
Cover:Freedom_at_21.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Jack White
Album:Blunderbuss
B-Side:Inaccessible Mystery
Released:April 1, 2012
Studio:Third Man Studio, Nashville, Tennessee
Genre:Rap rock
Length:2:51
Producer:Jack White
Prev Title:Sixteen Saltines
Prev Year:2012
Next Title:I'm Shakin'
Next Year:2012

"Freedom at 21" is a song by American musician Jack White from his debut solo album Blunderbuss (2012). Third Man Records distributed the single on April 1, 2012 by releasing 1000 helium balloons attached to flexi-disc copies of the track. It was released for digital download and as a 7-inch vinyl single on June 9 and June 11, respectively, with the B-side "Inaccessible Mystery". A music video directed by Hype Williams and starring Brittany Colombo was uploaded to White's YouTube channel on July 16, 2012.

"Freedom at 21" peaked at 77 on Ultratop's Ultratip Bubbling Under charts in the Flanders region of Belgium, and it reached Billboards Alternative Songs and Hot Rock Songs charts, peaking at 22 and 35, respectively. It was nominated for Best Rock Song at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards.

Release

"Freedom at 21" was released as a single on April 1, 2012. To distribute the single, Third Man Records released 1000 helium balloons attached to flexi-disc copies of the song.[1] [2] In addition, the balloons were attached to postcards with directions on how to inform Third Man Records of the discovery.[3] The single was later released via digital download on June 9 and as a 7-inch single on June 11 with the B-side "Inaccessible Mystery".[4] [5]

Composition

"Freedom at 21" contains elements of hip hop music.[6] Its "clattering drum pattern"[7] was created by placing a tape echo on a drum beat played by Carla Azar.[8]

Reception

"Freedom at 21" was nominated for Best Rock Song at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards.[9]

Music video

The music video for "Freedom at 21" was directed by Hype Williams and stars Brittany Colombo as a police officer. It was filmed in June 2012 over a five-day period. Filming sessions for the desert scenes occurred in Lancaster, California and lasted between four and five hours per day. The remainder of the video was filmed at a studio in Burbank, California. During production, police officers taught Colombo various maneuvers, such as placing handcuffs on a person. A stunt double was used for shots in which the police officer rides a motorcycle.[10]

The video was uploaded to White's YouTube channel on July 16, 2012.[11] A "blue tint" is present in the video. In the video, White is stopped by a police officer while driving; he is then arrested and placed in jail.[12] The video shows footage of White lip-synching to the song's lyrics in his cell interspersed with shots of a "scantily clad inmate". She "starts to grind on" White, during which footage of White playing an electric guitar is shown. White eventually escapes his cell, resulting in a car chase in which he is stopped by a barricade created by a group of police officers and their cars. Queens Of The Stone Age frontman Josh Homme makes a cameo as one of the officers.

As of September 2022, the music video for "Freedom at 21" has over 15 million views.

Track listing

Digital download and 7-inch vinyl
  1. "Freedom at 21"
  2. "Inaccessible Mystery"

Personnel

Adapted from "Freedom at 21" vinyl single liner notes.[13]

"Freedom at 21"
"Inaccessible Mystery"

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jack White Releases New Song Via Balloons . . Snapes . Laura . April 2, 2012 . August 22, 2018.
  2. Web site: Jack White releases new track 'Freedom At 21' via helium balloons . . April 1, 2012 . August 21, 2018.
  3. Web site: Jack White releases new track 'Freedom At 21' via helium balloons . . April 1, 2012 . August 30, 2018.
  4. Web site: Freedom At 21 - Single . 9 July 2012 . iTunes Store (US) . August 22, 2018.
  5. Web site: Jack White "Freedom at 21" 7 inch vinyl, SiriusXM Radio live broadcast . Third Man Records . May 21, 2012 . August 22, 2018.
  6. Web site: The Same Boy You've Always Known: A Jack White Interview . . Mulvey . John . June 19, 2012 . August 15, 2018.
  7. News: Jack White: Blunderbuss – review. The Guardian. London. April 19, 2012. April 19, 2012. Petridis. Alexis. Alexis Petridis.
  8. Web site: Jack White: How I Made 'Blunderbuss' . Boilen, Bob . . April 17, 2012 . 3 minutes, 1 second . August 18, 2018. Bob Boilen .
  9. Web site: Grammys 2013: Complete list of nominees and winners . . February 10, 2013 . August 23, 2018.
  10. Web site: Brittany Colombo, Jack White's 'Freedom At 21' Video Female Co-Star, Talks Sideboob, Tyga Rumors . . Satran . Joe . July 18, 2012 . August 30, 2018.
  11. Web site: Jack White - Freedom at 21 (Video) . July 16, 2012 . . August 30, 2018.
  12. Web site: Jack White, 'Freedom At 21' Video: Singer Speeds, Gets Pulled Over By Sexy Traffic Cop (VIDEO) . . Bell . Crystal . July 16, 2012 . August 30, 2018.
  13. "Freedom at 21" . vinyl liner notes . . Third String Tunes (BMI) . TMR152 .
  14. Web site: https://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/f8b94/Jack-White-[US-Freedom-At-21 Ultratop.be – Jack White [US] – Freedom at 21 ]. . Dutch . August 22, 2018.