I think Freedom has got to be one of the " worst songs " creatively, musically, artistically & lyrically Paul has ever written & recorded as an artist in over 40 years in the music business because it's such a " cheesy of the moment " song with him being one of the first to capitalize on the 9/11 terrorists attacks on the WTC & the Pentagon even though he meant well at the time but Freedom is McCartney at his worst which is now " forgotten " with Where Were You(When The World Stopped Turning) by country artist Alan Jackson as the timeless tribute song to the 9/11 tragedies!

I like it.  I know I am perhaps the only person on the globe that does, but it's a great rally song.

However, even I have to admit the lyrics blow.  BIG time.  I think he could have coughed up a rhyme or two.

But I find it infectious, the chorus will stay in my head forever.

But again, there is no doubt most humans with ears agree with you on this one.

You wouldn't rally me with a piece of rubbish like this.

People – especially Macca fans – sometimes ask why Paul is so on the nose. He is branded as "shallow", "a manipulating phony", "a self-promoter", "insincrere" and so on – we've heard it all. One of the proofs that he is indeed these things is Freedom. Paulie's indecent haste to release it, and "cash in", was disgraceful.

Well I like it ALOT better than that song from Driving rain, the one where the chorus is pretty much "lalalalalalalaallala" Yuck

Freedom wasnt only one of Pauls worst songs, it might be one of the worst songs ever written by anybody. Sadly, this song brings down the stock on a rather good album over all.

I don't think he intended to cash in. He wrote if for the concert that he organized in support of the city.  With the best of intentions in mind I'm sure! And he did it in less than a month. I wouldn't say this song proves him to be a phony or whatever. He did it in the moment based on deep emotion that ALL of us felt at the time, but because he's a song writer, he wrote a song! Go figure.
I think he's labled a lot of those things because he's an easy target.  He lived, so he's not idolized and worshiped. Instead he's put down and his talent belittled. Meanwhile, he has more talent in his toe nail than most so called artists these days! How many artists are still fresh in their 50's and 60's anyway? What have the Stones done lately? Or in the last few decades? Just look at his catalogue of songs and compare it with ANY other artist. (besides fellow Beatles)The amount of hits and classics! That may put it into perspective.

Actually, I'm with Charlie on this one--I LIKE "Freedom"...and I think that the lyrics were made simple so that the large crowd could understand them easily and get the message that Paul was saying.  You can sing along with the chorus, which is good, for the type of thing that Paul wrote the song for.  You have to remember that Paul probably wasn't trying to come up with a song that was super-profound or deep-in this case it was a get-to-the-point ordeal.
I wish you all would stop picking on Paul, as he IS a great songwriter and musician, and he's really not that bad of a person, as far as celebrities go today.  I mean, look at people like Michael Jackson, Eminem, and Britney Spears!  At least Paul knows how to perform good music (in spirit if not in tune all the time).

I understand the enimity most people feel to this song, and I can understand their freeling the song is weak and trite.

But I absolutely do not believe he wrote and recorded it to cash in.

However, his recalling the Driving Rain CD to add it does look untoward to a lot of folks, so even that is understandable.

Quoted from Maccalvr, posted May 20, 2004, 1:25am at here

I don't think he intended to cash in. He wrote if for the concert that he organized in support of the city.  With the best of intentions in mind I'm sure! And he did it in less than a month. ----

This "I wrote it especially", blah blah, is wrong. The song had been "started" years before, and he dragged it up, polished it, and went with it. Cashed in.

I'm sorry, but I think Macca considers everything he does carefully, from the viewpoint of how it makes him look. Think of him at a meeting, discussing it. "I'm not an American, how will it look to Americans? How will it look to everyone else?" "Should I put it on the DR album? Will it be overkill?".

The only thing he doesn't consider is, "Will I go for quality, for once".

Freedom is one of " worst songs " Paul has ever recorded & released as a solo artist because it was so " cheesy " despite being heartfelt lyrically after the 9/11 terrorists attacks on the WTC & the Pentagon. 

I could care less what the song actually says or the political aspect or the cashing in,,,,,it could say that DM's Beatle Forum is the greatest and the song would still suck.

Well, I disagree with the opinion that Paul is a shallow, money grubbing, oportunist.  Like I said, he's an easy target.

i think yoy're going to say that he was cashing in, then you have to say all songs about 9/11 are cashing in which they are other wise they give it out, or not put it on a album or give all the money to help people.

Quoted from bulldog_0909, posted May 21, 2004, 3:14am at here

i think yoy're going to say that he was cashing in, then you have to say all songs about 9/11 are cashing in which they are other wise they give it out, or not put it on a album or give all the money to help people.

Damned fine point.

I think Where Were You ( When The Stopped Turning) by country artist Alan Jackson is the timeless classic of the 9/11 songs which will be listened to long after the 9/11 terrorists attacks because it wasn't cheesy creatively, musically, artistically & lyrically unlike McCartney. 

Never heard it. 


I agree, Paul did a sloppy job with this hasty song.  Then again he witnessed the attacks and may have simply felt that way at that time.

Or he was just being sloppy as he always is with his solo stuff.

I still like the song meself.

Wayne you'd be more appreciated if you wouldn't copy and paste all of your posts, from your previous posts..

Or maybe you wouldn't be.

Quoted from Beatle_Ed, posted May 22, 2004, 5:11pm at here

Wayne you'd be more appreciated if you wouldn't copy and paste all of your posts, from your previous posts..

Or maybe you wouldn't be.

Ed, you rock!!!



I don't think that Paul's solo work is "sloppy".  It is his own style, so naturally it's not going to be as good as the stuff the Beatles did because the Beatles were four geniuses...Paul is one.

And why is it such a bad thing that Paul would want to make money off a song?  He writes songs, that's how he makes his living!  And since so many of you are complaining about the song, well no one MADE you buy the album.

It's all the way you look at things.  To some, Paul appears a greedy person.  To others, he is a typical working person: he wants to make money off of what he does best.  I see him as the latter.  If you don't like what he writes, then don't buy his music.  Simple.

But Harlena, it is still OK to criticize him!

I find the constant adulation of an overrated phony like Paul McCartney annoying.

Quoted from Maria, posted May 23, 2004, 8:30pm at here

But Harlena, it is still OK to criticize him!

I find the constant adulation of an overrated phony like Paul McCartney annoying.

And the converse, I find the constant criticism of an underrated genuine like Paul McCartney annoying. 

But, no matter.  We are all entitled to out own opinions.

Quoted from harlenamcstarkney, posted May 23, 2004, 9:03pm at here

And the converse, I find the constant criticism of an underrated genuine like Paul McCartney annoying. 

But, no matter.  We are all entitled to out own opinions.

Nicely put, Harlena

Harlena!

Quoted Text

And the converse, I find the constant criticism of an underrated genuine like Paul McCartney annoying.

Underrated genius?! Well, I would say that "underrated" is the very last word you should apply to Macca.

But, yes, it is ALL opinion. And it's fun to be able to air our opinions, isn't it?

Quoted from The_End, posted May 23, 2004, 10:05pm at here

Nicely put, Harlena

Which part? That he's underrated, genuine, or that it's all opinion?

This part: "And the converse, I find the constant criticism of an underrated genuine like Paul McCartney annoying."

Quoted from Maria, posted May 23, 2004, 10:07pm at here

Underrated genius?!

I said genuine, but, yes, he is a genius too.

Quoted from Maria, posted May 23, 2004, 10:07pm at here

But, yes, it is ALL opinion. And it's fun to be able to air our opinions, isn't it?

Yes it's very fun hehe

Quoted from The_End, posted May 23, 2004, 10:05pm at here

Nicely put, Harlena

Thanks, Alan.

Quoted from Maria, posted May 23, 2004, 10:07pm at here

"underrated" is the very last word you should apply to Macca.

Thats for G-damn sure.

I like Paul. But..  He has become somewhat of a "light seeker" Lately.  By that I mean, he's done so much. FREEDOM included to try to get his beatle mania fame back..

Sorry Paul, you never really lost that fame..

Harlena, keep up the great posts, despite some of the occasional naysaying you encounter....Your words are positive and open-minded, even if not everyone agrees.  It's how you say it, and not what  you say.  That said, I enjoy reading both your How and What.  Thanks.

Thanks Larry   I do enjoy discussing and I don't really mind that not everyone agrees all the time.  It keeps things interesting.

Freedom is one of the worst songs Paul has ever recorded & released in over 30 years as a solo artist & with his band Wings because the lyrics are so lame even more so than Silly Love Songs despite trying to be thoughtful after the terrorists attacks of 9/11 which is why Freedom will be the most forgotten song McCartney has ever done in his over 40 years in the music business!

Quoted from Beatle_Ed, posted May 19, 2004, 11:08pm at here

Well I like it ALOT better than that song from Driving rain, the one where the chorus is pretty much "lalalalalalalaallala" Yuck

Are you talking about "From a Lover to a Friend"? Oh, I like that song! I think its sentimental enough yet doesn't make me queasy...I think its a great song. The one on "Driving Rain" that irks me the most is the title track and another one I can't remember. I bought the CD when it came out, yet I only listened to it for about 2 weeks and haven't touched it since. I got kind of bored with it, and I found many of the lyrics trite even for Paul.

"Freedom" is not a favorite of mine, but its NOT his worse song by any means. I didn't think much of it when it was released and it never moved me at all, like it was supposed to. But it wasn't awful.

I really loved Bruce Springsteen's album released at that time. That is a beauty, and I was touched prfoundly by most of the songs on there. Man, I'm going to listen to that one again.

There's at least three or four weaker songs on Driving Rain alone.....

I am one of the dozen or so people worldwide who actually likes Freedom.  The lyrics are sucky, sure, but it's catchy.

Paul has got such an incredibly LARGE catalog of mess songs that Freedom is a shinging beacon of taste in comparison.

Yes, he has a ton of awful, horrid, truly ABYSMAL songs.....


but why are they all so catchy and addictive? It's like I know it's bad, but I just can't stop listening....must be his hypnotic bass lines or something...

Paul always had a gift for melody.  His lyrics, since 1970, have been pretty abysmal (tho we all know he could do better).

But it's the catchy melodies (and arrangements) that get you singing out loud words that make no sense.

Paul is a genius of melody, and even FREEDOM has a catchy one - but I agree it's a horrible song with nothing to say, one of his all time worst - and from his worst album ever, DRIVING RAIN.

I like Driving Rain alot Joe (except for one or two tunes). Why the hate? I definately wouldnt call it his worst album ever. To each his own I guess.

I just think it's the worst thing he's ever done. Not one good song on it, IMO.  As you say, to each his own. Being that I'm new here -- what's your "worst" album vote? Also, do you mind if I ask how old you are (sometimes age has something to do with it).

I'm 34 and McCartney 2 is easily his worst album ever. How old are you Joe?

I'm sorry about my manners, I havent welcomed you yet. Welcome, and I hope you stay around for awhile. Can never have enough Beatle fans to talk to.

I'm 42. If you read the other threads you'll hear that I like McCARTNEY II, though I could understand how it's your worst album.

Thats cool! I just feel that it was techno done horribly wrong. 'Waterfalls' is good, 'One of these Days' is decent, and thats about it for me. Live versions of 'Coming Up' are tons better than the studio version (I hate the album verson), but again, i'm glad you like it.

Each has their own opinion............personally, I don't find either album to be very good....let's just all put on Flaming Pie, so there'll be no arguments.

Do any other UK people remember Paul did a song when Margaret Thatcher left ofice in 1990? A song complaining about the damage many consider Thatcher had done to Britain.

No, it is NOT!!! Actually it is one of his BEST song, so I have to disagree... I really don't understand why you hate this song, I love it so much!!