Freedun Explained

Freedun
Cover:M.I.A. - Freedun.png
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:M.I.A. featuring Zayn
Album:AIM
Label:Interscope
Producer:
  • Polow da Don
  • M.I.A.
Chronology:M.I.A.
Prev Title:Bird Song
Prev Year:2016
Next Title:P.O.W.A.
Next Year:2017

"Freedun" is a song by British musician M.I.A., featuring English singer-songwriter Zayn, from her fifth studio album, AIM (2016). The song was produced by Polow da Don. Furthermore, Levi Lennox, who produced "Borders" from AIM, also produced Zayn's debut single "Pillowtalk".[1] Lyrically, "Freedun" is politically influenced and references refugees, an undercurrent theme on AIM.[2] [3]

M.I.A. revealed she had been contacted by their mutual publisher to write a song for Zayn's debut solo album Mind of Mine.[4] The song, however, never got past the demo stage and M.I.A then asked Zayn to feature on her own song which she had written a long time ago but always thought it was "too mainstream".[5] The pair got in contact via WhatsApp, began working on the track during M.I.A.'s stay in India[6] [7] and completed it in the first week of August 2016.[8] The song was originally called "Swagistan", as previewed on Periscope in May 2016.[9]

M.I.A. announced the release of the single on 31 August 2016.[10] It premiered on the Annie Mac BBC Radio One show on 1 September 2016,[11] and then released the next day. "Freedun" debuted at number one on the UK Asian Music Chart and remained at the top for one more week.[12]

Critical reception

The song has received generally favorable reception from music critics.[13] [14] [15] New Musical Express and The Independent chose the song as a highlight on the album.[16] Some critics, however, called it "disappointingly generic"[17] and a "misstep".[18]

Music video

M.I.A. filmed a music video for "Freedun" in the Himalayas in Nepal. During filming, she needed the aid of an oxygen tank because of the lack of oxygen in the mountains.[19] Furthermore, she was unable to film the video with Zayn because she was denied visa to enter the United States and he was also unable to leave the country due to his commitments.[20]

Track listing

  1. "Freedun" – 4:42

Charts

Chart (2016)Peak
position
UK Asian Music Chart (Official Charts Company)[21] 1
US Twitter Top Tracks (Billboard)[22] 4

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lothian-McLean. Moya. Everything We Know About "Pillowtalk," Zayn Malik's Debut Single. The Fader. January 28, 2016. August 31, 2016.
  2. Web site: Morris. Jessie. M.I.A. And Zayn Connect On "Freedun". complex.com. September 1, 2016. October 8, 2016.
  3. Web site: Palermino. Chris. Listen To MIA's Spacey Collaboration With Zayn Malik, "Freedun". Myspace. September 2, 2016. October 8, 2016.
  4. Platon. Adelle. M.I.A. Reveals She Worked With Zayn Malik on New Song 'Freedun'. Billboard. August 8, 2016. August 31, 2016.
  5. Web site: Earls. John. MIA thought Zayn collaboration was 'too mainstream'. NME. September 2, 2016. October 8, 2016.
  6. O'Donnell. Kevin. M.I.A. scores Zayn Malik collaboration on new album AIM. Entertainment Weekly. August 8, 2016. August 31, 2016.
  7. Web site: Philips. Amy. M.I.A. Enlists Zayn Malik for New Song "Freedun". Pitchfork. August 8, 2016. August 31, 2016.
  8. Web site: O'Donnell. Carey. M.I.A. Will Feature Zayn Malik On Her New Album 'AIM'. Paper. August 8, 2016. August 31, 2016.
  9. Platon . Adelle . M.I.A. Reveals Being in Talks with Rihanna for Collaboration . . 18 May 2016 . 24 August 2016.
  10. Web site: M.I.A. on Twitter. Twitter. August 31, 2016. August 31, 2016.
  11. Web site: BBC Radio 1 - Annie Mac, M.I.A. + Zayn + Bastille, M.I.A. - Freedun (feat. Zayn). BBC Radio 1. September 1, 2016. September 1, 2016.
  12. Web site: Asian Music Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company . www.officialcharts.com . 8 October 2016.
  13. Web site: MIA: AIM review – a true original's last hurrah? . www.theguardian.com . 11 September 2016 . 8 October 2016.
  14. Web site: Schwartz . Danny . M.I.A. - Freedun Feat. Zayn | Stream [New Song] ]. www.hotnewhiphop.com . 1 September 2016 . 8 October 2016.
  15. Web site: Corcoran . Nina . M.I.A. – AIM | Album Reviews | Consequence of Sound . consequence.net . 12 September 2016 . 8 October 2016.
  16. Web site: Album reviews: Wilco – Wilco Schmilco, Jack White – Acoustic Recordings, MIA – AIM, and more. The Independent. 11 September 2016. Andy. Gill. 8 September 2016.
  17. Web site: Cochrane . Greg . MIA, 'AIM' – Album review « Loud And Quiet . . August 2016 . 7 September 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160907192709/http://www.loudandquiet.com/2016/09/mia-aim-album-review/ . 7 September 2016 . dead .
  18. Web site: Carlick. Stephen. M.I.A. A.I.M.. Exclaim!. 8 September 2016. 8 September 2016.
  19. Web site: Wolfson. Sam. MIA Has Scores to Settle. noisey.vice.com. September 20, 2016. October 8, 2016.
  20. Web site: Video Commentary with M.I.A. - VEVO UK. YouTube. September 21, 2016. October 8, 2016.
  21. Web site: Asian Music Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company . www.officialcharts.com . 12 September 2016.
  22. Web site: M.I.A. - Chart history | Billboard . 26 April 2016 . www.billboard.com.
  23. Web site: M.I.A. - Freedun (feat. Zayn) . . 2 September 2016 . 2 September 2016.

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