since it seems an org conspiracy to unanimously
put this song down, someone has to take a stand
for it and tell it like it is

y'all just got so pissed off when you heard that
Prince took "Moonbeam Levels" off the album when
he came up with "Free" that you take your anger,
frustration and sorrow out on poor old "Free",
which is a good, solid and beautiful Prince tune
if I ever heard one.

there, I said it, and I don't regret it.

~snapshisfingeranddoestheostrichneckthingie~

I love "Free", but, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Free is often named as one of the lesser tracks of 1999, but that's only because the album is packed with gems. For me, Free is a precursor to the more "sensitive" Prince songs that were to follow and it's great to hear it live. On 1999, it does seem a little sweet compared to the rest, like a moment of peace n love in the middle of an album dedicated to having fun before the bomb drops. I can see why people who like 1999 are not as keen on it as they are on, say, Lady Cab Driver or Automatic.
[Edited 11/28/05 14:20pm]

Free was the prototype for Purple Rain.

I agree with Aerogram, it's the weakest link in a chain of pearls.

Although I think Moonbeam Levels is a better track, somehow I think it's too ahead of it's time for 1999. It would've been great if released in 1984/5, but somehow, compared to the stuff on 1999, it just doesn't quite fit.

@ "poor old "Free" lol

I admit that when I learned the story behind Moonbeam Levels it made me not like Free as much anymore, so I went a few year w/o listening to it. Then recently while listening to the entire 1999 album, I heard it again, and it blew my mind. So my love for the song has been restored.

i never liked 'free', and it has nothing to do with 'moonbeam levels', because i've never been exactly thrilled with that song either. it just never felt like it belonged on 1999. too syrupy, too earnest, too SOMETHING. i might have liked it better as a b-side, i don't know...

DiamondGirl said:

Not hardly and not even close.

dont like it. (in my best lou voice)

I've always enjoyed 'Free' and still do.

Free is one of my favorite ballads by P. I also dig Moonbeams. I love the music to both songs, especially the chorus. I love the riffs to both songs. I think Free fit with the 1999 album cuz of the "statement" vibe of the song, which ties in, concept-wise with the lyrics to 1999. I think it was cool that P showed something that he believed in and put it in a ballad. I rather hear him sing that instead of wooing the drawers off of some girl. I also like the lyrical content of Moonbeams as well. I don't think either one of them would have fit with the Purple Rain material.

Uhmmnnn....
I like it.

Love free, never heard moonbeam levels

IstenSzek said:

things change, at the time, I don't remember my prince friends saying anything bad about it. it's easy to look at something and pick it apart now but at the time, us kids were to busy loving the whole album.

when i first got 1999 when i was about 14/15 yrs old (the first Prince album i ever listened to), Free was one of my favorite songs - i remember rewinding the cassette (the olden days, y'know! ) over and over just to listen to it.

Free was one of the reasons i fell hard for Prince.

Moonbeam Levels is gorgeous, too, FOR SURE and an incredibly wonderful song, but i agree with NouveauDance that it just didn't fit right on the 1999 album.

Okay...

Free is the entire sentiment of 1999.

The song 1999 is about going out and partying despite all the worries that are around us. It's about appreciating our freedom in the western world and truly expressing that through music and dancing.

It's about being able to change our minds about anything we feel. Which is a right that should never be abused. It's about having an opinion about ANY subject and not every nation has that !!

I think...

"Free" was the first Prince song of that style. We older fans appreciate it for what it is. Always loved it. Nothing else compared.

Snap said:

Thank you !

I was beginning to think I was a lone voice in a big void...

Anxiety said:

OKAY How can you be a Prince fan if you say one of his songs is 'too earnest' ?

What would you prefer to be listening to ? Shallow ? Superficial?

Maybe you should try Franz Ferdinand ? Kieser Chiefs ? Kylie Minogue ?

If you don't like something sincere don't bother listening to Prince .

I like free...however, for me it's a downturn for the album musically. The album is mostly straight up funk...a party record with a few slower numbers thrown in. I like the downtempo International Lover...but Not the ballady Free. It has a great message and I don't hate it or nothing...but it sticks out like a sore thumb on that album.

Now brace for the shocker...I can't stand MoonBeam Levels. It's kinda schlocky. Free is definitely better than that song.

Aftershock said:

Well he certainly explored that style further on PR. It's called the "Power Ballad"

pepper7 said:

At that whole post there. Anxy = Bad Prince Fan

superspaceboy said:

Eh ? I think that just about covers all the reason why I love it !!

Prince is always up and down, here and there. Did somebody say 'Quirky'??


Prince is refreshing because he doesn't stick to ONE way of doing things. A Rock Album, A Ballards Album, etc...

He leaves himself to be free to do whatever he likes. And probably to try and encourage everyone else to do the same.

Follow your instincts. See where they will lead you. Dare to be different...

What the hell r u doing putting Free down. It stands on its own in that album. Its well written, a good stadium rocker precursor to Purple Rain, just bcos u can't dance 2 it., get over

Whats great about it.
1. Good lyric
2. Excellent backing vox by Lisa
3. Good soul scream passage with a blistering guitar solo.
4. Listen to the lyrics, theyre uplifting.
`1999' was a superior album, and it had only one weak song Lady Cab Driver which was more good to all the others excellent. I do think, Automatic and DMSR do meander a bit though, I kind of switch thru about 4 minutes in2 each, but after the title track and Little Red Corvette, its the best track on it.

Be glad that u r free, FREE 2 CHANGE YO MIND

pepper7 said:

Yes that's fine and all. We love him too for his diversity amongst albums and within them too. But I find it really distracts from the flow of the album. It would have fit nicer on anything before or after. But 1999 in it's concept was a party record. Purposefully made for DJ's to spin. After you get past the forst 3 songs it's one long party until "Free", which isn't even the last song....and a ballad like that should have been last like International Lover was. Or left off entirely. Not a bad song...but it misteps with the album.

tane1976 said:

Title track and LRC the best ones on there and Lady Cab Driver the worst? GIVE ME YOUR PURPLE CARD NOW!

With statements like that one...I am leaving this conversation.

superspaceboy said:

But see Purple Rain is more "Gospel" not "Power Ballad."

superspaceboy said:[quote]

pepper7 said:

Yeah okay I agree with you but it's Prince with all his imperfections which makes him so unique and perfectly imperfect. If that makes sense.

I do agree with the flow of the album. Suddenly your listening to funky Little Red Corvette, then Delirious..etc..

But the whole album you could say intro too long, gosh he goes on a bit, Okay Prince move onto to the next song...etc..etc..

But the thing about Prince is his naturalness just to do what he likes. He goes off on tangents all over the place.

Another example of is the album Prince with With You sweet and mellow then the rip roaring Hendrix infused Bambi ???

pepper7 said:[quote]

superspaceboy said:

Yes some of the songs could have used "an edit" however the point was to be extended for DJ's to mix. Mixing was the new thing to do...you know with vinyl So, he made an album for that purpose...hence the length of some of the songs like AUtomatic and DMSR...howver Lady Cab Driver actually benefits for it's length..cuz he's got a lot to say.