What people said about leejohnson’s jam Philadelphia Freedom

12 Comments (since 15 Jun 2015)

5 years, 7 months ago

leejohnson

(Information from "SongFacts.com"): "Bernie Taupin wrote the lyrics to most of Elton John's songs, but Elton would occasionally suggest titles. Elton requested a song with the title 'Philadelphia Freedom' in honour of his friend, the female tennis player Billie Jean King.

5 years, 7 months ago

leejohnson

"At the time, there was a professional tennis league in America called 'World Team Tennis', and in 1974 King coached a team called the 'Philadelphia Freedoms', becoming one of the first women ever to coach men. Taupin had no obligation to write lyrics about King, and he didn't - the song was inspired by the 'Philadelphia Soul' sound of groups like 'The O'Jays' and 'Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes', and also the American bicentennial; in 1976 the US celebrated 200 years of independence.

5 years, 7 months ago

leejohnson

"This song was a huge hit in America, following up another No. 1 single from Elton John, his cover of 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds'. Elton dominated the charts at this time, but it didn't always make him happy, as he felt he was being overexposed.

5 years, 7 months ago

leejohnson

"He told 'Melody Maker' in June, 1975: 'In America I've got 'Philadelphia Freedom' going up the charts again. I wish the bloody thing would piss off. I can see why people get sick and tired of me. In America I get sick and tired of hearing myself on AM radio. It's embarrassing.' Running at 5:21, this was one of the longest dance hits of the 1970s.

5 years, 7 months ago

leejohnson

"A few months earlier, a national radio programmer declared that he would no longer play any Elton John song over 4 minutes long because they were screwing up his playlists (programme directors liked short songs because they could play more of them. Elton's opuses like 'Daniel' and 'Funeral For A Friend' had a way of screwing up the '14 Hits In A Row' format). Elton knew this would be a hit, and was happy to screw the programmer by making it long, knowing he would have to play it anyway!

5 years, 7 months ago

leejohnson

"Elton said this was 'one of the only times I tried to deliberately write a hit single'." In the UK, it made No. 12 in April 1975, during a 9 week run in the Top 40. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia_Freedom_%28song%29

5 years, 7 months ago

bankstatement

Man, no Elton John songs longer than four minutes? Well, there goes Bennie and the Jets.

5 years, 7 months ago

leejohnson

@bankstatement Oh, radio programmers can go do whatever they want nowadays, or hang. We have 'Spotify'! They don't tell us how long our songs are allowed to be. :)

5 years, 7 months ago

roseyrhymes

love this song, thanks for posting.

5 years, 7 months ago

rickydicky49

Still sounds good!

5 years, 7 months ago

21schizoid

There is not an occasion I have heard this, that I don't singalonga lustily...pity the neighbours. A bloody Elt clasic...

5 years, 7 months ago

totty01843

love it TUNE....