Freedun

"Freedun" is a song by British musician M.I.A., featuring English singer and songwriter Zayn, from her fifth studio album, AIM (2016). The song was produced by Polow da Don. Furthermore, Levi Lennox, who produced "Borders" from AIM, also produced Zayn's debut single "Pillowtalk".[1] Lyrically, "Freedun" is politically influenced and references refugees, an undercurrent theme on AIM.[2][3]

"Freedun"
Single by M.I.A. featuring Zayn
from the album AIM
Released2 September 2016 (2016-09-02)
Genre
Length4:42
LabelInterscope
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Polow da Don
  • M.I.A.
M.I.A. singles chronology
"Bird Song"
(2016)		 "Freedun"
(2016)		 "P.O.W.A."
(2017)
Zayn singles chronology
"Cruel"
(2016)		 "Freedun"
(2016)		 "I Don't Wanna Live Forever"
(2016)

M.I.A. revealed she had been contacted by their mutual publisher to write a song for Zayn's debut solo album Mind of Mine.[4] The song, however, never got past the demo stage and M.I.A then asked Zayn to feature on her own song which she had written a long time ago but always thought it was "too mainstream".[5] The pair got in contact via WhatsApp, began working on the track during M.I.A.'s stay in India[6][7] and completed it in the first week of August 2016.[8] The song was originally called "Swagistan", as previewed on Periscope in May 2016.[9]

M.I.A. announced the release of the single on 31 August 2016.[10] It premiered on the Annie Mac BBC Radio One show on 1 September 2016,[11] and then released the next day. "Freedun" debuted at number one on the UK Asian Music Chart and remained at the top for one more week.[12]

Critical reception

The song has received generally favorable reception from music critics.[13][14][15] New Musical Express and The Independent chose the song as a highlight on the album.[16] Some critics, however, called it "disappointingly generic"[17] and a "misstep".[18]

Music video

M.I.A. filmed a music video for "Freedun" in the Himalayas in Nepal. During filming, she needed the aid of an oxygen tank because of the lack of oxygen in the mountains.[19] Furthermore, she was unable to film the video with Zayn because she was denied visa to enter the United States and he was also unable to leave the country due to his commitments.[20]

Track listing
  • Digital download
  1. "Freedun" (featuring Zayn) – 4:42

Charts
Chart (2016) Peak
position
UK Asian Music Chart (Official Charts Company)[21] 1
US Twitter Top Tracks (Billboard)[22] 4

Release history
Region Date Format Label Ref
Worldwide 2 September 2016
Interscope [23]

References
  1. Lothian-McLean, Moya (28 January 2016). "Everything We Know About "Pillowtalk," Zayn Malik's Debut Single". The Fader. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  2. Morris, Jessie (1 September 2016). "M.I.A. And Zayn Connect On "Freedun"". complex.com. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  3. Palermino, Chris (2 September 2016). "Listen To MIA's Spacey Collaboration With Zayn Malik, "Freedun"". Myspace. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  4. Platon, Adelle (8 August 2016). "M.I.A. Reveals She Worked With Zayn Malik on New Song 'Freedun'". Billboard. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  5. Earls, John (2 September 2016). "MIA thought Zayn collaboration was 'too mainstream'". NME. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  6. O'Donnell, Kevin (8 August 2016). "M.I.A. scores Zayn Malik collaboration on new album AIM". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  7. Philips, Amy (8 August 2016). "M.I.A. Enlists Zayn Malik for New Song "Freedun"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  8. O'Donnell, Carey (8 August 2016). "M.I.A. Will Feature Zayn Malik On Her New Album 'AIM'". Paper. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  9. Platon, Adelle (18 May 2016). "M.I.A. Reveals Being in Talks with Rihanna for Collaboration". Billboard. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  10. "M.I.A. on Twitter". Twitter. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  11. "BBC Radio 1 - Annie Mac, M.I.A. + Zayn + Bastille, M.I.A. - Freedun (feat. Zayn)". BBC Radio 1. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  12. "Asian Music Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  13. "MIA: AIM review – a true original's last hurrah?". www.theguardian.com. 11 September 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  14. Schwartz, Danny (1 September 2016). "M.I.A. - Freedun Feat. Zayn | Stream [New Song]". www.hotnewhiphop.com. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  15. Corcoran, Nina (12 September 2016). "M.I.A. – AIM | Album Reviews | Consequence of Sound". consequence.net. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  16. Gill, Andy (8 September 2016). "Album reviews: Wilco – Wilco Schmilco, Jack White – Acoustic Recordings, MIA – AIM, and more". The Independent. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  17. Cochrane, Greg (August 2016). "MIA, 'AIM' – Album review « Loud And Quiet". Loud and Quiet. Archived from the original on 7 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  18. Carlick, Stephen (8 September 2016). "M.I.A. A.I.M." Exclaim!. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  19. Wolfson, Sam (20 September 2016). "MIA Has Scores to Settle". noisey.vice.com. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  20. "Video Commentary with M.I.A. - VEVO UK". YouTube. 21 September 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  21. "Asian Music Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  22. "M.I.A. - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  23. "M.I.A. - Freedun (feat. Zayn)". Interscope. 2 September 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
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