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The Freedom Song

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393:"'The Freedom Song' is the first cover song that I've ever put on any of my albums. It was written by Luc Reynaud from the band called Luc & the Lovingtons and he wrote this song in the wake of Hurricane Katrina with kids in Baton Rouge in a shelter. I heard this song and I heard the story of this song and was blown away. I immediately started performing it, this was about two years ago, because I felt the themes and the quality of the song really resonated and was in alignment with other songs I was performing. It just felt good. I became good friends with Luc and we toured around a bunch. So when it came time to make this album I just felt like this was a song that deserves to be heard and I know the commercialism of songwriting that I know in the end this song is going to come back and benefit Luc and the communities in which he wrote this song and I think that's really important." 430:"'The Freedom Song' is the best example of such. Kicking off the record, the song features all the elements that make the songwriter so appealing. Beautiful backing harmonies? Check. The phrase 'when I feel good'? Check. A chilled-out tone that embarrassingly brings a smile to your face without even feeling it? Check. The word 'joy'? Double check. What makes this particular track memorable is where Mraz opts to go after dabbling in the beach-dude formula he’s always been so well at conveying throughout his four studio albums. After nearly a minute of the ' 362:, he confessed that he was less interested in following up his biggest hit than using the power that "I'm Yours" gave him to fuel positive change. He further elaborated: "The pressure I put on myself, or what I hope my 'I Won't Give Up' does, is to make a difference in people's lives . . . With 'I'm Yours,' I got to go out and set my feet on different continents, and expose myself to different cultures and causes. I wanted to see who I was, outside of music." 434:' groove, the rest of his band kicks in and things really start to get interesting. A powerful horn section sends tingles through your upper back and an irresistibly funky backbone paves the way for one of the greatest songs of the man’s career. Love pop music or hate pop music, this is pretty good stuff." 381:
recovery efforts. The song caught Jason Mraz's attention and inspired by its optimistic message of how music can uplift the human spirit, the singer-songwriter started performing it in his concerts. "I picture something, it's beautiful/ It's full of life and it is all blue", he sings in the
166: 659: 1434: 995: 660:""Freedom Song": The Heartwarming Story of a Tune's Journey from Post-Katrina New Orleans Children, to Jason Mraz's Car Stereo, to Helping Free Modern-Day African Slaves" 720: 1441: 902: 874: 1310: 382:
beginning. "I see a sunset on the beach/yeah, it makes me feel calm," he also sings, continuing, "when I’m calm I feel good/when I feel good I sing."
1243: 422:'s xinmsn wrote that while listening to the song "you're sure to tap your feet and bob your head to the beat in nary a second." Colin McGuire of 820: 1157: 967: 1352: 1208: 1409: 1215: 351: 295: 186: 1505: 1005: 1402: 730: 1338: 1296: 431: 312: 1345: 1261: 1194: 631: 17: 1520: 1377: 347: 327: 1028: 377:. It was originally penned by Luc Reynaud of the Seattle music band Luc & the Lovingtons whilst assisting in the 1515: 916: 498: 1510: 1150: 789: 322:
chart for a record 76 weeks ending in October 2009 (peaking at number 6), the singer/songwriter headed to the
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The song was released as the first promotional single from the album on iTunes, on March 13, 2012.
123: 1370: 522: 173: 1317: 281:" is a song written by Luc Reynaud and recorded by his band Luc and the Lovingtons on the album 165: 686: 1236: 378: 316: 1473: 1324: 1289: 1275: 573: 243: 1282: 374: 355: 335: 300: 269: 263: 135: 1466: 1268: 879: 636: 568: 323: 1489: 1459: 1303: 1229: 851: 690: 603: 238: 93: 1201: 847:"Jason Mraz: Love Is a Four-Letter Word – review | Music | The Guardian" 1416: 767: 210: 70: 65: 373:"The Freedom Song" was written by Luc Reynaud, while production was handled by 1166: 1033: 510: 423: 339: 286: 251: 177: 104: 293:" and released as the first promotional single from his fourth studio album, 907: 664: 419: 418:-esque lilting number topped with bongos and gospel oohs." Loh Chua Junn of 403: 350:. During his activist outings, Mraz wrote and recorded his fourth album, " 972: 944: 486: 474: 411: 407: 215: 794: 385:
Mraz further explained the track, in a "track-by-track" commentary for
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both picked the song as one of the best from the album. Amy Dawson of
762: 331: 821:"Jason Mraz, 'Love Is a Four Letter Word': Video Track-By-Track" 31: 1139: 968:"Jason Mraz's Love Is A Four Letter Word has mainstream appeal" 1000: 1135: 790:"Jason Mraz – Love Is A Four Letter Word (Album) at Discogs" 285:(2009). It was later covered by American singer-songwriter 1435:
Tonight, Not Again: Jason Mraz Live at the Eagles Ballroom
687:"Feel the Warmth by Luc and the Lovingtons on Apple Music" 299:(2012), on March 13, 2012. Mraz's version was produced by 940:"Love Is a Four Letter Word - Jason Mraz | Allmusic" 1029:"Jason Mraz: Love Is a Four Letter Word > PopMatters" 326:
in the summer of 2010 to help with efforts to clean the
721:"Jason Mraz Is Focusing on Green Issues With New Album" 632:"CD Reviews: Luc and the Lovingtons and Blue Scholars" 608:(CD booklet). Luc and the Lovingtons. Catattack Design 875:"New Albums From Train and Jason Mraz - NYTimes.com" 1451: 1426: 1394: 1362: 1253: 1186: 261: 249: 237: 221: 209: 201: 193: 183: 172: 158: 133: 102: 92: 76: 64: 54: 46: 38: 30: 25: 1110: 1081: 903:"Review: Jason Mraz - Love Is a Four Letter Word" 758:"iTunes - Music - The Freedom Song by Jason Mraz" 814: 812: 1055: 1053: 1051: 334:to fight child slavery alongside the nonprofit 1151: 346:and learning about climate change aboard the 8: 938:Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (April 17, 2012). 714: 712: 710: 708: 1442:Jason Mraz's Beautiful Mess: Live on Earth 1158: 1144: 1136: 1083:"Hot Canadian Digital Songs: Mar 31, 2012" 544: 459: 164: 155: 22: 1244:Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride 752: 750: 748: 630:Cunningham, Jonathan (August 25, 2009). 426:wrote a very positive review, stating: 658:Alexis, Jeremiah (September 10, 2010). 587: 182: 171: 37: 29: 1063:(in Dutch). Hung Medien / hitparade.ch 996:"xinmsn launches weekly music reviews" 845:Sullivan, Caroline (April 12, 2012). 7: 625: 623: 597: 595: 593: 591: 1209:We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. 1112:"Rock Digital Songs: Mar 31, 2012" 873:Caramanica, Jon (April 16, 2012). 14: 819:Benjamin, Jeff (April 16, 2012). 719:Lipshut, Jason (April 14, 2012). 994:Chuan Junn, Loh (May 21, 2012). 1410:Everybody's Got Somebody but Me 1061:"Jason Mraz – The Freedom Song" 1027:McGuire, Colin (May 29, 2012). 406:and Stephen Thomas Erlewine of 966:Dawson, Amy (April 16, 2012). 330:. Later, he went to a trip to 1: 1195:Waiting for My Rocket to Come 348:National Geographic Explorer 369:Composition and inspiration 328:Deepwater Horizon oil spill 1537: 1262:The Remedy (I Won't Worry) 1216:Love Is a Four Letter Word 499:Hot Canadian Digital Songs 352:Love Is a Four Letter Word 296:Love is a Four Letter Word 187:Love is a Four Letter Word 15: 1173: 561: 556: 553: 550: 547: 520: 508: 496: 484: 472: 465: 462: 451:"The Freedom Song" – 4:00 163: 34:by Luc and the Lovingtons 1506:Atlantic Records singles 60:(Baton Rouge, Louisiana) 912:New York Times Company 436: 395: 358:. In an interview for 307:Background and release 16:For other topics, see 1378:The World as I See It 428: 391: 342:, spending time with 338:. Later, Mraz was in 919:on November 10, 2012 58:Healing Place Church 1521:Songs about freedom 1363:Promotional singles 733:on January 18, 2013 602:Biell, Cat (2009). 511:Mega Single Top 100 1371:The Beauty in Ugly 523:Rock Digital Songs 398:Critical reception 315:" remained at the 174:Promotional single 159:"The Freedom Song" 1516:World music songs 1483: 1482: 1353:More than Friends 1237:Look for the Good 579: 578: 538: 537: 379:Hurricane Katrina 354:", with producer 275: 274: 154: 153: 1528: 1511:Jason Mraz songs 1474:We Steal Things. 1395:Featured singles 1385:The Freedom Song 1332:The Woman I Love 1325:93 Million Miles 1290:Geek in the Pink 1276:Curbside Prophet 1160: 1153: 1146: 1137: 1130: 1129: 1127: 1125: 1114: 1107: 1101: 1100: 1098: 1096: 1085: 1078: 1072: 1071: 1069: 1068: 1057: 1046: 1045: 1043: 1041: 1024: 1018: 1017: 1015: 1013: 1004:. Archived from 991: 985: 984: 982: 980: 963: 957: 956: 954: 952: 935: 929: 928: 926: 924: 915:. 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Retrieved 604: 526: 444: 429: 416:Jack Johnson 401: 392: 386: 384: 372: 364: 317: 310: 294: 290: 282: 279:Freedom Song 278: 276: 185: 40: 18:Freedom Song 1427:Live albums 1417:Rough Water 1346:Have It All 1178:Discography 768:Apple Store 264:Producer(s) 257:Luc Reynaud 144:Luc Reynaud 136:Producer(s) 113:Luc Reynaud 1501:2012 songs 1496:2009 songs 1490:Categories 1167:Jason Mraz 1067:2012-01-08 1034:PopMatters 582:References 489:Wallonia) 477:Flanders) 424:PopMatters 340:Antarctica 287:Jason Mraz 178:Jason Mraz 1467:We Dance. 1297:I'm Yours 1118:Billboard 1089:Billboard 979:April 17, 951:April 19, 923:April 25, 908:About.com 886:April 19, 858:April 14, 825:Billboard 726:Billboard 665:LA Weekly 528:Billboard 485:Belgium ( 473:Belgium ( 468:position 432:I’m Yours 420:MediaCorp 404:About.com 387:Billboard 360:Billboard 318:Billboard 313:I'm Yours 147:Gary Mula 1460:We Sing. 1403:Distance 1283:Wordplay 973:Metro UK 945:Allmusic 574:Atlantic 548:Country 497:Canada ( 487:Ultratip 475:Ultratip 412:Metro UK 408:Allmusic 244:Atlantic 216:Jazz-Pop 202:Recorded 194:Released 47:Recorded 1254:Singles 1202:Mr. A–Z 1012:May 24, 795:Discogs 554:Format 344:Al Gore 320:Hot 100 311:After " 119:Demeiko 116:Jasmine 763:ITunes 557:Label 456:Charts 222:Length 77:Length 1311:Lucky 332:Ghana 239:Label 211:Genre 94:Label 71:World 66:Genre 55:Venue 1230:Know 1223:Yes! 1126:2018 1097:2018 1042:2012 1014:2012 981:2012 953:2012 925:2012 888:2012 860:2012 832:2012 803:2012 776:2012 739:2012 699:2018 673:2018 645:2018 614:2018 466:Peak 289:as " 205:2011 50:2005 32:Song 1001:MSN 534:19 521:US 516:94 504:73 492:21 480:86 176:by 1492:: 1115:. 1086:. 1050:^ 1031:. 998:. 970:. 942:. 910:. 905:. 877:. 849:. 823:. 811:^ 792:. 766:. 760:. 747:^ 723:. 707:^ 689:. 662:. 634:. 622:^ 590:^ 531:) 513:) 501:) 389:: 303:. 231:00 124:SU 86:27 1419:" 1415:" 1412:" 1408:" 1405:" 1401:" 1387:" 1383:" 1380:" 1376:" 1373:" 1369:" 1355:" 1351:" 1348:" 1344:" 1341:" 1337:" 1334:" 1330:" 1327:" 1323:" 1320:" 1316:" 1313:" 1309:" 1306:" 1302:" 1299:" 1295:" 1292:" 1288:" 1285:" 1281:" 1278:" 1274:" 1271:" 1267:" 1264:" 1260:" 1159:e 1152:t 1145:v 1128:. 1099:. 1070:. 1044:. 1016:. 983:. 955:. 927:. 890:. 862:. 834:. 805:. 778:. 741:. 701:. 675:. 647:. 616:. 525:( 277:" 229:: 227:4 84:: 82:4 20:.

Index

Freedom Song
Song
Genre
World
Label
Songwriter(s)
SU
Producer(s)

Promotional single
Jason Mraz
Love is a Four Letter Word
Genre
Jazz-Pop
Label
Atlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Joe Chiccarelli
Jason Mraz
Love is a Four Letter Word
Joe Chiccarelli
I'm Yours
Billboard Hot 100
Gulf of Mexico
Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Ghana
Free the Slaves
Antarctica
Al Gore

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