But lately it's beginning to grow on me

So many fans dislike that song and I can't figure out why.I love it!

I have always liked it and still do, despite the blatant jingoism, naive patriotism and simple lyrics.

Listening to it decades ago on cassette on a walkman while travelling in a "not-yet-free" country made me appreciate the lyrics a bit more but at the same time it´s those lyrics that make me have mixed feelings about that song. But, like I said, I have always liked the song, its lyrics and the music, and the positive, uplifting lyrics and the motivational message.

Great song, great times, great album.

SoulAlive said:

So many fans dislike that song and I can't figure out why.I love it!

same here. is it because it's been known from quite early on that it replaced 'moonbeam levels'

which is a bit of a fan favorit outtake?

anyway, i love "free".

yeah,many fans think "Moonbeam Levels" is the superior song....but I actually prefer "Free"

IstenSzek said:

SoulAlive said:

So many fans dislike that song and I can't figure out why.I love it!

same here. is it because it's been known from quite early on that it replaced 'moonbeam levels'

which is a bit of a fan favorite outtake?

SoulAlive said:

yeah,many fans think "Moonbeam Levels" is the superior song....but I actually prefer "Free"

IstenSzek said:

same here. is it because it's been known from quite early on that it replaced 'moonbeam levels'

which is a bit of a fan favorite outtake?

well if i was forced to chose between the two, i'd probably pick 'moonbeam levels'

but that doesn't mean "free" isn't a great song in it's own right

SoulAlive said:

So many fans dislike that song and I can't figure out why.I love it!

I've always felt that it would've made a good non-album b-side.

It sounds like a filler on the album.

HuMpThAnG said:

SoulAlive said:

So many fans dislike that song and I can't figure out why.I love it!

I've always felt that it would've made a good non-album b-side.

It sounds like a filler on the album.

1999 is a very powerful,relentless album.When "Free" comes on,it gives you a chance to slow down catch your breath Plus,it has a very good message.

SoulAlive said:

HuMpThAnG said:

I've always felt that it would've made a good non-album b-side.

It sounds like a filler on the album.

1999 is a very powerful,relentless album.When "Free" comes on,it gives you a chance to slow down catch your breath Plus,it has a very good message.

but i didn't want to catch my breath i want the grooves to keep going

HuMpThAnG said:

SoulAlive said:

1999 is a very powerful,relentless album.When "Free" comes on,it gives you a chance to slow down catch your breath Plus,it has a very good message.

but i didn't want to catch my breath i want the grooves to keep going

SoulAlive said:

jdcxc said:

SoulAlive said:

1999 is a very powerful,relentless album.When "Free" comes on,it gives you a chance to slow down catch your breath Plus,it has a very good message.

Horrible simplistic jingoistic message ruins the lame song. I can't believe this song was put on an otherwise perfect album.

I think the lyrics are utter shit, but the arrangement is really open and beautiful, especially toward the end.

[Edited 12/31/15 6:05am]

Free is the song that got me into Prince, so it'll always have a special place in his discography for me... though I'll happy swap that place for Moonbeam Levels. The 3:02 mark where Prince sings 'free to change my mind' is the exact moment I became huge fan, I just loved the delivery. And I loved the messy, passionate vocals of the rest of the song and the guitar. So yeah, it's not his best song but my love of Prince is indebted to it.

HuMpThAnG said:

SoulAlive said:

So many fans dislike that song and I can't figure out why.I love it!

I've always felt that it would've made a good non-album b-side.

It sounds like a filler on the album.

I agree, the song doesn't fit the album. I find it awfully cheesy and the lyrics are lame. Monbeam Levels is a whole lot better IMO.

funkaholic1972 said:

HuMpThAnG said:

I've always felt that it would've made a good non-album b-side.

It sounds like a filler on the album.

I agree, the song doesn't fit the album. I find it awfully cheesy and the lyrics are lame. Monbeam Levels is a whole lot better IMO.

The thing with "Moonbeam Levels" is.....in 1982/83,people would not have known what Prince is singing about "Free" has a more universal message that's easy to understand.

How "Free" ended up on the album instead of "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore" still boggles my mind. Absolute shit.

Wolfie87 said:

How "Free" ended up on the album instead of "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore" still boggles my mind. Absolute shit.

Good call, such a shame that such a good quality song like that never made it onto an album.

No way "Free"'s lyrics are "shit", if you're going to use that word to voice your opinion you're probably on thin ice talking about anything to do with the English language.

People originally had less love for this song because it was more innocent sounding/whitebread than the rest of the material on 1999 but it announced an era of more accessible/toned down lyrics starting with PR.

Some of the lines in that song are among his most universal.

Wolfie87 said:

How "Free" ended up on the album instead of "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore" still boggles my mind. Absolute shit.

Well, now that you mention it, I think How Come U Don´t Call Me Anymore would have fit perfectly on that album and its theme. So many great songs about unrequited love on it.

I still like Free but your argument makes a lot of sense. Really does boggle the mind.

Aerogram said:

No way "Free"'s lyrics are "shit", if you're going to use that word to voice your opinion you're probably on thin ice talking about anything to do with the English language.

People originally had less love for this song because it was more innocent sounding/whitebread than the rest of the material on 1999 but it announced an era of more accessible/toned down lyrics starting with PR.

Some of the lines in that song are among his most universal.

I'm actually an award winning poet! Lulz! Fuck'n relax.

it's boring and trite and goes on too long (even though it's one of the shorter songs on the album).

Big love to "Free" from me,

I have always liked every track on the masterpiece...



"1999" is a 10/10 album..

"Free" is a beautiful song. "I know your heart is beating....my drummer tells me so."

dannyd5050 said:

"Free" is a beautiful song. "I know your heart is beating....my drummer tells me so."

what does that even mean?

It's my least fave on the album (along with International Lover and Delerious) but, like those, still good. 1999 is my favorite Prince record. I think it needed at least one of these ballads to slow the tempo. I remember listening to "Free" shortly after 9/11 and really feeling it.

Askani said:

dannyd5050 said:

"Free" is a beautiful song. "I know your heart is beating....my drummer tells me so."

what does that even mean?

Drums are a metaphor for a heartbeat.

herb4 said:

I remember listening to "Free" shortly after 9/11 and really feeling it.

And that right there is why the lyrics suck. They are a call to a kind of American Nationalism. Trite bullshit that swells Americans hearts and leads then to feeling they are 'the best'... And we all know what happened after 9/11.

JudasLChrist said:

herb4 said:

I remember listening to "Free" shortly after 9/11 and really feeling it.

And that right there is why the lyrics suck. They are a call to a kind of American Nationalism. Trite bullshit that swells Americans hearts and leads then to feeling they are 'the best'... And we all know what happened after 9/11.

ouch..

JudasLChrist said: