George Michael – Freedom! '90

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  General Comment:This song is pretty blatant, and I completely disagree with any thoughts that this is at all tied to his sexuality. He is clearly speaking to Andrew Ridgeley in the first verse and their come up with WHAM!. The song is the lead single off his follow up album "Listen Without Prejudice" to the critically acclaimed, award-winning album "Faith" that he penned almost 100% of himself. With "Faith" he reached not just super stardom, but he was respected for the first time as a soul R&B singer as well. However, he soon resented the "trademarks" that were associated with him as a result which is why you see the quintessential "Faith" music video novelties being set aflame or exploding in the video for this song, "Freedom '90". And for those that don't know Michael's history, there's no hidden meaning behind the '90 part in the title, it's only because with WHAM! they had another song called "Freedom".

  Flag shayleon May 07, 2013   Link

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  General Comment:This is one of the most straightforward lyrics ever, and judging from George's own interviews, most of you are correct. It references his disillusionment with superstardom AND his newfound comfortability with his sexuality.

  Flag texasbrianon December 25, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:I agree with most of the comments above. It definitely is about his comming out of the closet but apart froom that it is always important to see what the song means for anybody personally. To me it's about staying true to yourself and realizing that in life you have to be confident about yourself and belive in yourself. Even when you love someone, because you can never know the thoughts hidden in the head of your loved one. So it is best to be yourself and search for the one person who is best for you. Cohabitation is never the answer. It's never about being with someone for the sake of not being alone. It seems to me that it is far better to be single, than to share a life with someone that you dont love or are not happy with. In the end you are making yourself and the other person miserable. And you have to realize that you have only one life and in the end your life should contain one value : freedom.

  Flagged Toele1503on August 04, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:This song makes alot more sense now than it did when I heard it over 15 years ago. It is him coming out, plain and simple. It is just so well written, and even as a straight person, I can really appreciate it. It is very autobiographical if you really listen to it.

  Flag lizzie_aprilon August 27, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:It probably has a bit to do with his sexuality. But for the most part, I really believe that the meaning is simply this:
  "Don't be taken with the image. Because that's not entirely me. Please focus on the SOUND, because my MUSIC is what I am. NOT the image". And that being said, he was hoping that his fans wold still stick by him for what he does best. Thus, offering him "freedom". Freedom from the Faith image, and freedom to continue doing the "one good thing that he's got".

  Flag W_T_Adairon January 10, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:You serious? He didn't come out till the late 90's? I seem to remember knowing when I was about 8 years old, in the early nineties. But maybe I'm remembering wrong. Or maybe it was just an open secret. But yeah, when I first saw the video I was about 11 (1994) and I only saw it while waiting for Ace of Base to come on VH-1 and MTV, so I wasn't privy to all this backstory. And knowing that George Michael was gay, I assumed that's what the song was about. I didn't know the girls in the video were famous supermodels either so I missed that whole aspect of the video as well. Hey, everything's up for interpretation. Most often you will not know what the artist really meant, and it's not really important. Though it can be of interest. Thanks.

  Flag Canadaon May 11, 2007   Link

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  General Comment:I think this song pertains to George's singing career, and how he felt lost amongst the stardom. I admire his bold stance on being true to himself and his fans, George Michael ROCKS!!!

  Flag WhatsWhaton January 07, 2007   Link

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• +2
  General Comment:This song is about two things, it's not about him wanting to come out of the closet about his homosexuality, he didn't do that until almost ten years after this song was released.
  
  This song is about the breakup of Wham.
  It's about his image right after, with the Faith Album, and then in the end Him telling his record label to shove it, and taking his artistic creativity back.
  
  He's speaking directly to his fans when he says
  " I won't let you down, I will not give you up, I won't let YOU down, so please don't give ME up, cause I would really really love to stick around."

  Flag MJLozenon June 08, 2006   Link

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  General Comment:I love this song!! To me, this song means freedom and liberty, that everyone can love more than one person. Everyone has their own mind, so they don't belong to anyone. I always feel so empowered listening to this song.

  Flag inoticethingson February 14, 2006   Link

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  General Comment:This is about GM wanting to leave his record lable company and also come out of the closet. He no longer wanted to do things their way.

  Flag voicezvoicezon October 07, 2004   Link

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