"Free" is a song performed by English classical crossover

Crossover (music)

Crossover is a term applied to musical works or performers appearing on two or more of the record charts which track differing musical tastes, or genres...

 soprano Sarah Brightman

Sarah Brightman

Sarah Brightman is an English classical crossover soprano, actress, songwriter and dancer. She is famous for possessing a vocal range of over 3 octaves and singing in the whistle register...

 from her ninth studio album, Harem

Harem (album)

Harem is a 2003 album by English singer Sarah Brightman. It mixes her operatic voice with Middle-Eastern and Indian rhythms and vocals. Thanks to an idea of Frank Peterson, the producer of this album, in the song "Mysterious Days", they included the vocals of the late singer Ofra Haza, who worked...

 (2003). It was originally written in German by Matthias Meissner and Thomas Schwarz. The song was then re-written in English by Brightman in collaboration with Sophie B. Hawkins

Sophie B. Hawkins

Sophie Ballantine Hawkins is an American singer, songwriter, musician and painter. Her biggest hits are "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover", "Right Beside You", and "As I Lay Me Down".- Career :...

. The track was produced by Frank Peterson

Frank Peterson

Frank Peterson is a German music producer known for his work with Enigma and artists such as Sarah Brightman, Ofra Haza, Gregorian, Princessa and Andrea Bocelli on his first international album Romanza in 1997....

. It was released as the fourth and final single from Harem by Angel Records

Angel Records

Angel Records is a record label belonging to EMI. It was formed in 1953 and specialised in classical music, but included an occasional operetta or Broadway score...

 on 10 June 2003. The song contains prominent classical crossover and Middle Eastern pop

Middle Eastern music

The music of Western Asia and North Africa spans across a vast region, from Morocco to Afghanistan, and its influences can be felt even further afield. Middle Eastern music influenced the music of India, as well as Central Asia, Spain, Southern Italy, the Caucasus and the Balkans, as in chalga...

 musical characters. It is influenced by feelings of desperation and is lyrically about somebody who has lost somebody and is looking onto their relationship with somebody else.

"Free" reached the #3 position on the US Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts. Violin

Violin

The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....

ist Nigel Kennedy

Nigel Kennedy

Nigel Kennedy is a British born violinist and violist. He made his early career in the classical field, and he has performed and recorded most of the major violin concerti...

is featured in the last four stanzas of the song.

CD

1. "Free" (Swiss American Federation Hot AC Mix) 2:58
2. "Free" (Swiss American Federation Modern AC Mix) 3:52
3. "Free" (Album Version) 3:44
4. "Gueri de Toi" (Nemo Mix) 3:15

Vinyl

1. "Free" (Swiss American Federation Club Mix)
2. "Free" (Nemo Remix)
3. "Free" (Swiss American Federation Dub Mix)
4. "Gueri De Toi" (Nemo Remix)
   • This was a DJ promotional single and was never commercially released.