I Want to Break Free

Queen

About I Want to Break Free

"I Want to Break Free" is a song by the British rock band Queen, written by their bass guitarist John Deacon. It appears on the album The Works (1984), and was released in three versions: album, single and extended. It came to be included in most live concerts by the group, in several videos and in The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert where it was sung by Lisa Stansfield. The song is largely known for its music video for which all the band members dressed in drag, a concept proposed by Roger Taylor, which parodied the long-running ITV soap opera Coronation Street. The second part of the video included a composition rehearsed and performed with the Royal Ballet and choreographed by Wayne Eagling. Whereas the parody was acclaimed in the United Kingdom where cross-dressing is a popular trope in British comedy, it was considered controversial in the United States. After its release in 1984, the song was well received in Europe and South America and is regarded as an anthem of the fight against oppression. The single reached only number 45 on the US Billboard Hot 100, but reached number three in the UK and was certified silver with over 200,000 copies sold. It also topped the charts of Austria, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The song features on the band's compilation album, Greatest Hits II. 


Year:
1999
4:13
112 
#2

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I want to break free
I want to break free
I want to break free from your lies
You're so self satisfied I don't need you
I've got to break free
God knows, God knows I want to break free

I've fallen in love
I've fallen in love for the first time
And this time I know it's for real
I've fallen in love, yeah
God knows, God knows I've fallen in love

It's strange but it's true
I can't get over the way you love me like you do
But I have to be sure
When I walk out that door
Oh how I want to be free, baby
Oh how I want to be free
Oh how I want to break free

But life still goes on
I can't get used to living without, living without
Living without you by my side
I don't want to live alone, hey
God knows, got to make it on my own

So baby can't you see
I've got to break free
I've got to break free
I want to break free, yeah
I want, I want, I want, I want to break free

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Queen

Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of the late Freddie Mercury (lead vocals, piano), Brian May (guitar, vocals), John Deacon (bass guitar), and Roger Taylor (drums, vocals). Queen's earliest works were influenced by progressive rock, but the band gradually ventured into more conventional and radio-friendly works, incorporating more diverse and innovative styles in their music. After the late and great Freddie Mercury died, Queen continued to tour with multiple acts including Paul Rodgers, and currently, Adam Lambert. more »

80 fans

Written by: John Deacon

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Creation and Songwriting
"I Want to Break Free" was written by Queen's bass guitarist John Deacon. Contrary to popular belief, it wasn't written by Freddie Mercury, the band's lead vocalist.
Release Date
The song was released in the United Kingdom on 2nd April 1984. It is a track from their 11th album, "The Works."
Music Video Controversy
The music video for "I Want to Break Free" is famous for its parody of the British soap opera "Coronation Street." The band members appear in drag, which led to the video being banned by MTV in the United States.
Chart Performance
Despite the controversy in the U.S., it attained great success in many countries. It reached the top ten in numerous countries around the globe, peaking at number three on the UK Singles Chart.
Relevance
"I Want to Break Free" has become an anthem for various freedom-related causes worldwide, including the fall of the Berlin Wall and LGBTQ+ rights.
Live Performances
The song was regularly performed live by Queen. During concerts, Mercury would often wear a wig and carry a vacuum cleaner on stage, referencing the song's music video.
Notable Covers and Performances
In 2001, the song was performed by Queen+ with the lead vocals taken by Lisa Stansfield at the "Party at the Palace" concert, celebrating the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.
Cinematic Feature
The song was extensively featured in the 2018 Queen biopic "Bohemian Rhapsody". In the film, the song plays during a key montage showing Queen's rise in popularity.
Song Structure
The song is particularly known for its synthesizer solo performed by Fred Mandel.
Certifications
"I Want to Break Free" has been certified Gold in the UK, signifying over 400,000 copies sold.

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    I Want to Break Free

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1984

    Billboard #45


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