Free Me (album)
Emma Bunton's second album, blending 1960s pop with bossa nova.
Free Me is the second studio album by English singer Emma Bunton, released on 9 February 2004 by 19 Recordings. It marked her debut with the label after leaving Virgin Records and represented a significant musical shift toward 1960s influences including bossa nova, Motown, and French pop. The album received generally positive reviews and performed strongly in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 7 on the UK Albums Chart.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Emma Bunton
- Released
- 9 February 2004
- Recorded
- 2002–2003
- Studio
- Sarm West (London)Tracks 1–3 and 6; Olympic (London)Track 9
- Genre
- Pop
- Length
- 45:30
- Label
- 19
Facts from the source article.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Free Me | Emma Bunton, Hélène Muddiman, Mike Peden | 4:28 |
| 2 | Maybe | Bunton, Yak Bondy | 3:43 |
| 3 | I'll Be There | Bunton, Muddiman, Peden | 3:23 |
| 4 | Tomorrow | Bunton, Bondy | 3:55 |
| 5 | Breathing | Bunton, Henry Binns, Yoyo Olugbo | 4:00 |
| 6 | Crickets Sing for Anamaria | Marcos Valle, Ray Gilbert | 2:46 |
| 7 | No Sign of Life | Bunton, Simon Ellis, Steve Lee | 3:38 |
| 8 | Who the Hell Are You | Bunton, Ray Hedges, Nigel Butler | 3:18 |
| 9 | Lay Your Love on Me | Bunton, Cathy Dennis | 3:23 |
| 10 | Amazing (featuring Luis Fonsi) | Bunton, Peden, Muddiman, Nina Marander | 4:06 |
| 11 | You Are | Bunton, Tim Lever, Mike Percy | 3:46 |
| 12 | Something So Beautiful | Bunton, Steve Lewinson, Pete Lewinson | 3:46 |
| Total length | 45:30 | ||
Track listing from the source article.
Background
Bunton's solo debut album A Girl Like Me, released through Virgin Records in 2001, spent over 12 weeks on the UK Albums Chart, peaking at number four and earning a gold certification. It produced her only solo number-one single "What Took You So Long?" and the top-five single "Take My Breath Away". By 2002, Bunton felt Virgin was losing interest in her future and left the label, stating she wanted to work with people who would support her fully. After leaving, she faced an industry focused on younger, TV-created stars, but Simon Fuller offered her a new deal with 19 Recordings.
Singles
The title track "Free Me" was released as the first single in May 2003 and peaked at number five on the UK Singles Chart. "Maybe" followed in October 2003, reaching number six, and "I'll Be There" in January 2004 peaked at number seven. The fourth single, "Crickets Sing for Anamaria", was released in May 2004 and reached number 15. In the United States, "Free Me" and "Maybe" reached numbers four and six on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.
Critical reception
Free Me received generally positive reviews, with critics praising its retro influences and polished production. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic called it the best Spice Girl-related solo album, noting Bunton's voice had gained presence. Rolling Stone's Barry Walters described the album as easy-listening fluff that was lush and lovingly retro. BBC Music likened it to a light, frothy cappuccino with the sugar removed. Lynsey Hanley of The Daily Telegraph called Bunton's musical shift a brave move and praised her lilting vocals. Dorian Lynskey of The Guardian described it as classy retro pop with easy listening strings and Spanish guitars. Q magazine wrote that the album has charm, grace, and is fun, while Marie Claire noted it mixes bossa nova with James Bond soundtrack influences. Elysa Gardner of USA Today observed retro 1960s style with breezy orchestrations and playful arrangements, though she found Bunton's vocals less distinctive than classic girl groups. Azeem Ahmad of musicOMH described the album as pleasant and polished but not groundbreaking.
Commercial performance
Free Me peaked at number 7 on the UK Albums Chart and number 9 on the Scottish Albums Chart, becoming Bunton's second top-ten album in both territories. The British Phonographic Industry awarded it a Gold certification in May 2004 for shipments exceeding 100,000 units, and by 2006 it had sold 140,000 copies in the UK, surpassing sales of her previous album and making her the only Spice Girl whose second solo album outsold the first. In the United States, it reached number 30 on Billboard's Heatseekers Albums chart with total sales of about 17,000 copies.
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