Freestyler Explained

Freestyler
Cover:Bomfunk - Freestyler.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Bomfunk MC's
Album:In Stereo
Genre:Breakbeat
Length:5:06
Label:Epidrome
Producer:JS16
Prev Title:B-Boys & Flygirls
Prev Year:1999
Next Title:Other Emcee's
Next Year:2000

"Freestyler" is a song by Finnish hip hop group Bomfunk MC's. It was released in Finland on 30 October 1999 as the third single from their debut studio album, In Stereo (1999), and was released internationally in February 2000. "Freestyler" peaked at number four on the Finnish Singles Chart and topped the charts in more than 10 countries, including Australia, Germany, Italy, New Zealand and Sweden. The song also peaked within the top 10 of the charts in Denmark, Iceland, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.

Composition

"Freestyler" is primarily a breakbeat song, with strong influences of UK dance culture and electronic dance music, as well as some influences from drum and bass and hip hop.[1] It is written in the key of E minor and composed in a tempo of 164 beats per minute.

Critical reception

Daily Record described "Freestyler" as a "cracking old-skool track".[2] CMJ New Music Monthly described the track as "a housed-up hip-hoppity mélange of sampled slide-guitar, rubbery synth bass and Caribbean-inflected dance instructions; a dancefloor natural."[3]

Music video

The music video for the song was mainly filmed at the Hakaniemi metro station,[4] an underground station on the Helsinki Metro line in Finland with platforms 21 metres below sea level. The principal "home boy" featured in the video is Marlo Snellman, a Finnish model and musician, who later released his own single titled "Dust" and went on to work as producer for his own projects such as "Hipsters"[5] and "Okta".[6] The actor was 15 years old at the time of shooting and got the part through his mother, Finnish modelling magnate Laila Snellman.[7] Marlo has a restaurant in Paris named Recoin.

The video begins with a young man dancing extravagantly during the instrumental intro of the song. Marlo's character is waiting for a train while listening to "Freestyler" on his MiniDisc (Sony Walkman MZ-R55) player. When he enters the train, he walks down the aisle past Ismo Lappalainen. He finds a seat across from Raymond Ebanks (B.O. Dubb), the lead singer of the Bomfunk MC's; seated behind Ebanks is Dan Ahti Tolppanen, alias Uniikki. Ebanks imbues Marlo's Sony MiniDisc remote controller with the ability to pause, rewind, or fast-forward individuals. When Marlo realises that he has this ability, he spends the duration of the video manipulating passersby, dancers, escalators, and even the train, with Raymond appearing in the background wherever he goes, watching Marlo. As Marlo comes across the Bomfunk MC's, he tries to manipulate them to no effect. When Raymond approaches Marlo, Marlo accidentally rewinds himself, and the whole video rewinds to the beginning. The music video is a play on themes of empowerment, with the power of the music being transferred to and in the end taken from Marlo by Ebanks. There is a continuity error in the video with the number on the train carriage changing throughout the sequence.

During the video, Marlo comes across the main character from the music video of "Uprocking Beats," another song from In Stereo, and freezes him. Marlo also appears briefly in the music video of "B-Boys & Flygirls", reversing and forwarding the car the main characters are driving.[8]

The music video was parodied by Funky Bong in Assembler (k)—an entry for the Assembly 2000 wild demo competition; it placed fifth in the contest.[9] The music video was later parodied by the hip hop group Raptori for their song "Hiphopmusiikkia".[10] In 2011, the beginning scene was remade in the music video of DJ RZY's "Tervetuloo Helsinkiin".[11] In 2019, the beginning scene was also tributed in a hardcore techno fashion in the music video "Luonnon Nostatus" by Teknoaidi & Iconobreaker featuring Samu Kuusisto.[12]

2019 music video

For the twentieth anniversary in 2019, a new music video was produced featuring the original band members, with updates to reflect developments in technology and culture. The central figure is now a girl (played by Milica Bajčetić) with a mobile phone, with various Belgian YouTuber cameo appearances.

The 2019 music video was filmed at Vukov Spomenik railway station, an underground station on the BG Voz commuter railway network serving Belgrade, Serbia. The new video was sponsored by communications provider Telenet (Belgium) to promote a new mobile phone service.[13]

Track listings

Finnish 12-inch single and Australian maxi-CD single[14] [15]

  1. "Freestyler" (radio edit) – 2:52
  2. "Freestyler" (alternative radio edit) – 4:07
  3. "Freestyler" (Happy Mickey Mouse mix) – 4:47
  4. "Freestyler" (Missing Link remix) – 5:40

European CD single[16]

  1. "Freestyler" (radio edit) – 2:52
  2. "Freestyler" (album version) – 5:06

European maxi-CD single[17]

  1. "Freestyler" (radio edit) – 4:07
  2. "Freestyler" (Skillsters remix) – 3:03
  3. "Freestyler" (Happy Mickey Mouse mix) – 4:48
  4. "Freestyler" (Missing Link remix) – 5:40
  5. "Freestyler" (album version) – 5:06

UK CD1[18]

  1. "Freestyler" (radio edit) – 2:52
  2. "Freestyler" (alternative radio edit) – 4:07
  3. "Freestyler" (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Surgical Spirit dub) – 7:59

UK CD2[19]

  1. "Freestyler" (radio edit) – 2:52
  2. "Freestyler" (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Surgical Spirit mix) – 8:04
  3. "Freestyler" (Tuff Twins mix) – 7:13

UK cassette single[20]

  1. "Freestyler" (radio edit) – 2:52
  2. "Freestyler" (alternative radio edit) – 4:07

Australian CD single[21]

  1. "Freestyler" (radio edit) – 2:52
  2. "Freestyler" (Tuff Twins mix) – 7:13
  3. "Freestyler" (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Surgical Spirit mix) – 8:04
  4. "Freestyler" (Skillsters remix) – 3:03
  5. "Freestyler" (alternative radio edit) – 4:07

US maxi-CD single[22]

  1. "Freestyler" (radio edit) – 2:52
  2. "Freestyler" (Missing Link mix) – 5:39
  3. "Freestyler" (Happy Mickey Acid Break mix) – 4:47
  4. "Freestyler" (Skillsters mix) – 3:03
  5. "Sky's the Limit" (radio edit) – 3:58
  6. "Freestyler" (album version) – 5:06

US 12-inch single[23]

A1. "Freestyler" (Missing Link remix) – 5:40

A2. "Freestyler" (radio edit) – 4:07

B1. "Freestyler" (Happy Mickey Acid Break mix) – 4:48

B2. "Freestyler" (Skillsters remix) – 3:03

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Freestyler"!Chart (2000–2001)!Peak
position
Denmark (IFPI)[24] 2
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[25] 1
Greece (IFPI)[26] 1
Hungary (Mahasz)[27] 6
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[28] 2
Ireland Dance (IRMA)[29] 2
Poland (Music & Media)[30] 12
Portugal (AFP)[31] 6
Romania (Romanian Top 100)[32] 1
US Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)[33] 46

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Freestyler"!Chart (2000)!Position
Australia (ARIA)[34] 3
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[35] 4
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[36] 3
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[37] 7
Denmark (IFPI)[38] 4
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[39] 1
France (SNEP)[40] 24
Germany (Official German Charts)[41] 4
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[42] 1
Ireland (IRMA)[43] 30
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[44] 5
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[45] 3
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[46] 29
Romania (Romanian Top 100)1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[47] 2
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[48] 1
UK Singles (OCC)[49] 23

Decade-end charts

Decade-end chart performance for "Freestyler"!Chart (2000–2009)!Position
Australia (ARIA)[50] 56
Germany (Official German Charts)[51] 31
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[52] 10

Release history

Region!scope="col"
DateFormat(s)Label(s)
Finland30 October 1999Epidrome[53]
Sweden1999CD
Europe14 February 2000
United Kingdom24 July 2000Dance Pool[54]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Finnish Metal band remakes Bomfunk MC's Freestyler music video. 12 November 2016. Ink Tank.
  2. "Chart Slot". Daily Record. 11 August 2000. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  3. Ashare. Matt. Reviews. CMJ New Music Monthly. April 2001. 91. 67. 22 July 2012. CMJ Network. 1074-6978.
  4. Dr. Giacomo Bottà – University of Helsinki, Popular Culture and Urban Creativity in Helsinki and Berlin, 2006–08.
  5. Marlo Snellman's band Hipster on Myspace, http://www.myspace.com/hipstersmusic.
  6. Marlo Snellman as Okta on Myspace, http://www.myspace.com/okta.
  7. Website, Marlo Snellman .
  8. Web site: Bomfunk MC's - B-Boys & Fly Girls. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/Gt-lxrKB4uM. 22 December 2021. live. Dachev. Ognyan. 16 September 2007. YouTube. 30 March 2020.
  9. Web site: Assembler (k) by Funky Bong . . 22 December 2022 .
  10. Web site: Raptori – Hiphopmusiikkia . . 15 December 2012 .
  11. Web site: DJ RZY feat. VA - Tervetuloo Helsinkiin . . 18 October 2013 .
  12. Web site: Teknoaidi & Iconobreaker - Luonnon Nostatus (feat. Samu Kuusisto) (Musiikkivideo) . . 6 January 2021 .
  13. Legendarische Freestyler van Bomfunk MC's in een modern jasje. Legendary Freestyler from Bomfunk MC's in a modern look. 18 February 2019. Mechelen. Karen. Moreaux. nl. https://web.archive.org/web/20210605044327/https://press.telenet.be/entertainment/legendarische-freestyler-van-bomfunk-mcs-in-een-modern-jasje. 5 June 2021.
  14. Freestyler. Bomfunk MC's. 1999. Finnish 12-inch single vinyl disc. Epidrome. 669099 6.
  15. Freestyler. Bomfunk MC's. 2000. Australian maxi-CD single liner notes. Epic Records, Sony Dance. 669099 2.
  16. Freestyler. Bomfunk MC's. 1999. European CD single liner notes. Epidrome. EPD 669099 1.
  17. Freestyler. Bomfunk MC's. 1999. European maxi-CD single liner notes. Epidrome. EPD 668256 2.
  18. Freestyler. Bomfunk MC's. 2000. UK CD1 liner notes. Dance Pool. DPS2CD.
  19. Freestyler. Bomfunk MC's. 2000. UK CD2 liner notes. Dance Pool. DPS2CDX.
  20. Freestyler. Bomfunk MC's. 2000. UK cassette single sleeve. Dance Pool. DPS2MC.
  21. Freestyler. Bomfunk MC's. 2000. Australian CD single liner notes. Epic Records, Sony Dance. 669099 3.
  22. Freestyler. Bomfunk MC's. 1999. US maxi-CD single liner notes. Epic Records. 49K 79520.
  23. Freestyler. Bomfunk MC's. 1999. US 12-inch single vinyl disc. Epic Records. 49 79520.
  24. Hits of the World: Denmark (IFPI/Nielsen Marketing Research) 03/04/2000. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 112. 10. 65. 4 March 2000. 0006-2510.
  25. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 17. 33. 9. 12 August 2000. 19 September 2019.
  26. Top 10 Greece. Music & Media. 17. 35. 9. 26 August 2000. 8 May 2018.
  27. Top National Sellers. Music & Media. 17. 29. 9. 15 July 2000. 9 June 2020.
  28. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (Vikuna 4.5. – 11.5.2000 18. Vika). Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 5 May 2000. 14 July 2018.
  29. Web site: Top 10 Dance Singles, Week Ending 27 July 2000. GfK Chart-Track. 24 May 2019.
  30. Major Market Airplay – Week 23/2000. Music & Media. 17. 23. 25. 3 June 2000. 18 January 2024.
  31. Top National Sellers. Music & Media. 17. 34. 25. 19 August 2000. 1 March 2020.
  32. Web site: Romanian Top 100 – Topul anului 2000. Romanian Top 100. ro. 17 April 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050417000554/http://www.rt100.ro/topul-anului-2000.html. 17 April 2005.
  33. Dance Singles Sales. Billboard. 13 January 2001. subscription. 14 September 2023.
  34. Web site: ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2000. ARIA. 8 April 2021.
  35. Web site: Jahreshitparade Singles 2000. de. 24 May 2019.
  36. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 2000. Ultratop. nl. 24 May 2019.
  37. Web site: Rapports annuels 2000. Ultratop. fr. 24 May 2019.
  38. Web site: Års Hitlister 2000: IFPI Danmark: Singles Top 50. IFPI Danmark. Musik.org. da. https://web.archive.org/web/20011116233455/http://www.musik.org/publikationer/aarshitlister.htm#single. 16 November 2001. 8 April 2021.
  39. Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2000. Music & Media. 17. 52. 9. 23 December 2000. 8 February 2020.
  40. Web site: Tops de L'année Top Singles 2000. SNEP. fr. 8 April 2021.
  41. Web site: Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 2000. GfK Entertainment. de. 24 May 2019.
  42. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 100. Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 10. 5 January 2001. 8 February 2020.
  43. Web site: Top 100 of 2000. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20040602112628/http://www.rte.ie/2fm/charts/top100_2000.html. 2 June 2004. 16 March 2022.
  44. Web site: Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2000. Dutch Top 40. 3 February 2020.
  45. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 2000. MegaCharts. nl. 24 March 2019.
  46. Web site: End of Year Charts 2000. Recorded Music NZ. 24 April 2020.
  47. Web site: Årslista Singlar, 2000. Sverigetopplistan. sv. 24 April 2020.
  48. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2000. de. 24 May 2019.
  49. Web site: Yearly Best Selling Singles. British Phonographic Industry. 24 May 2019. 24 September 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100924031612/http://bpi.co.uk/assets/files/yearly%20best%20selling%20singles.pdf.
  50. Web site: ARIA Chart Sales – ARIA End of Decade Singles/Top 100. ARIA. https://web.archive.org/web/20100917082727/http://aria.com.au/pages/documents/2000sDecadeChartssingles.pdf. 17 September 2010. 23 March 2015.
  51. Web site: Gratis: 'Hits des neuen Jahrtausend'-Liste. Free: 'Hits of the New Millennium' List. RTL. de. 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20101102152623/http://www.rtl.de/cms/unterhaltung/tv-programm/show/die-ultimative-chartshow/hits-neue-jahrtausend-download.html?limit=20&start=20. 2 November 2010. 16 February 2012.
  52. Web site: Decennium Charts – Singles 2000–2009. MegaCharts. nl. 3 May 2022.
  53. Web site: Bomfunk MC's breakbeat hit 'Freestyler' turns 21 years old. weraveyou.com. 30 October 2020 . We Rave You, ltd. 17 February 2022.
  54. In-Store Next Week (24/7/00). Music Week. 34. 22 July 2000.

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