No Freedom

Background

"No Freedom" was written and produced by Dido and Rick Nowels, who has previously worked with her on the hit 'White Flag', while Rollo Armstrong co-produced it. The song was written when Dido was pregnant at the time with her first son, Stanley, and recorded her vocals right up until the day he was born. She recorded the song in Los Angeles, United States at Rick Nowels studio and finished the song at home with her brother Rollo Armstrong.

Prior to the release of the single, snippets from the DJ COBRA Remix were leaked into the Internet. The melody is substantially different from the original. Later on, Dido explained on her official Twitter account that DJ Cobra - Peter Agyagos - was mistakenly sent an old demo to remix instead the final cut of the song.

Lyrically, "No Freedom" talks about a painful story of heartbreak. midtempo song, featuring Dido's sleepy vocals.

Critical reception

Critical reception was largely positive. Bernard Perusse of Montreal Gazette called it "simple, but gorgeous." Elliot Robinson of So So Gay wrote that the song represents the album as a whole, calling it "pleasingly catchy and enjoyably smooth." Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian was more negative, writing that "Guitars strum gently, the tempo is mid, and Dido has never sounded more listless as she wanly informs her man that their relationship can't flourish unless she's free to wander."

Chuck Campbell of Knoxville.com praised "Dido’s knack for gorgeous melody," writing that the song is a "simple, acoustic-driven opening track, that rolls out under her deliberate restraint as she sings." Nick Levine of BBC Music called it "an odd soporific song." Tim Ferrar of Recording Connection called it "one of the most subdued tracks on the record."

Chart performance

On 3 March 2013 the song entered the UK Singles Chart at number 69 and climbed 18 places to number 51 the following week. On 10 March 2013 the song entered the Swiss Singles Chart at number 47, climbing to number 28 in its second week. On 16 March 2013 the song entered the French Singles Chart at number 64. The song entered the German Singles Chart at number 64, climbing to number 59 the following week. On 9 March 2013 the song entered the Dutch Singles Chart at number 98, dropping to number 100 the following week. The song has also charted in Belgium.

Music video

Background

A music video to accompany the release of "No Freedom" was first released onto YouTube on 4 March 2013 at a total length of three minutes and fifteen seconds. The music video was directed by Ethan Lader and filmed in downtown Los Angeles on 9 December 2012. She is wearing a turquoise leather coat.

Synopsis

The video shows Dido standing on an empty city street surrounded by confetti. The video also features montage of old-fashioned footage from the United States and Dido sitting in the back of a vintage Chevrolet Bel Air convertible.

Live performances and cover versions

In February 2013 she performed the song live on American late-night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where she also performed "White Flag". On 1 March 2013 she performed the song live on Norwegian-Swedish television talk show Skavlan. On 7 March 2013 she performed the song live on British daytime television programme This Morning.

On 3 October 2017 Miley Cyrus and Adam Sandler performed the song live on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as a tribute for the 2017 Las Vegas shooting victims.

Track listing

Credits and personnel

• Written by Dido Armstrong and Rick Nowels
• Produced by Rollo, Dido and Rick Nowels
• Mixed by Ash Howes, Rollo and Dido
• Engineering and recording by Kieron Menzies
• Digital engineering by Mike Horner
• Vocals recorded by Richard Woodcraft
• Recorded at RAK recording Studios, London, The Green Building, Santa Monica, Ark Studios
• Vocals by Dido
• Guitar and keyboards by Rick Nowels
• Programming by Rollo
• Additional drum programming by UTRB
• All strings arranged and performed by Davide Rossi
• Mastered by Tom Coyne at Sterling Sound

Credits adapted from Girl Who Got Away album liner notes.

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Release history

References

References

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2. Savage, Mark. (26 February 2013). "BBC News - Dido interview: 'I am the sound of conflict'". [[BBC News]].
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4. Dido. (12 September 2013). "someone sent someone else the wrong parts to the wrong version of an old demo. i love it when mistakes make magic...".
5. Newman, Melinda. (25 March 2013). "Dido's 'Girl Who Got Away': Album Review". [[HitFix]].
6. Copsey, Robert. (4 March 2013). "Dido: 'Girl Who Got Away' - Album review". [[Digital Spy]].
7. Perusse, Bernard. (23 March 2013). "New music review: Girl Who Got Away, Dido (Sony)". [[Montreal Gazette]].
8. Robinson, Elliot. (4 March 2013). "Album Review: Dido – Girl Who Got Away". So So Gay.
9. Sullivan, Caroline. (28 February 2013). "Dido: Girl Who Got Away - review | Music | The Guardian". [[The Guardian]].
10. Campbell, Chuck. (19 March 2013). "'Tuned In' review: Dido's calm, familiar voice stirs emotions". Knoxville.
11. (22 February 2013). "BBC - Music - Review of Dido - Girl Who Got Away". [[BBC Music]].
12. Ferrar, Tim. (28 March 2013). "Dido "Girl Who Got Away" – Album Review". Recording Connection.
13. "Dido - No Freedom - Music Charts". Music Charts.
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15. (10 December 2012). "Zangeres Dido maakt zich op voor comeback". bruno.nl.
16. (10 December 2012). "Dido, English singer-songwriter, films a parade scene for an upcoming music video in Downtown Los Angeles". zimbio.com.
17. [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a463139/dido-unveils-no-freedom-music-video.html Dido unveils 'No Freedom' music video]. [[Digital Spy]]
18. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QMBhUkVue4 Dido Performs "No Freedom"]. [[YouTube]]. JimmyKimmelLive
19. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e80oHtR9FeY Dido Performs "White Flag"]. [[YouTube]]
20. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asDixt8AwhI Dido- No Freedom Live @Skavlan 2013]. [[YouTube]]
21. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF2FRPM5jRQ Dido - No Freedom (Live This Morning)]. [[YouTube]]
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