Home | Songs By Year | Songs from 1991
Everybody's Free (To Feel Good)
Buy Everybody's Free (To Feel Good) now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the song. And once you've experienced the song, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Everybody's Free (To Feel Good)
| cover = Everybodysfree.jpg
| alt =
| caption = One of variants of the standard artwork
| type = single
| artist = Rozalla
| album = Everybody's Free
| B-side = "Everybody's Free" (Free Bemba Mix)
| released =
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
* Eurodance
* breakbeat
* rave
| length =
* 3:40 (7-inch radio edit)
* 6:40 (12-inch club mix)
| label = Pulse-8
| writer =
* Nigel Swanston
* Tim Cox
| producer = Band of Gypsies
| prev_title = Born to Luv Ya
| prev_year = 1990
| next_title = Faith (In the Power of Love)
| next_year = 1991
| misc =
}}
"'Everybody's Free (To Feel Good)'" is a song by Zambian-born Zimbabwean singer Rozalla. It was released in August 1991 as the second single from her second album, 'Everybody's Free' (1992). It had been a staple in the clubs in Ibiza and Mallorca that summer, where hordes of recovering ravers were delighted to find "that tune about being free to feel good and stuff" was available to buy back home.
Upon its release, the song reached number two in Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain while entering the top 10 in Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. On the Eurochart Hot 100, the single reached number six, and in Zimbabwe, it peaked at number four. It also topped the US 'Billboard' Hot Dance Club Play chart. The song is widely regarded as one of the biggest dance anthems of the 1990s and it has been remixed and re-released several times.
Recording
The song was recorded in the Peer Music studio, in a basement on Denmark Street in London's West End. In the 2017 book, 'Stars of 90's Dance Pop: 29 Hitmakers Discuss Their Careers' by James Arena, Rozalla told about the making of "Everybody's Free", "Nigel [Swanston] gave me the song to sing, or at least the chorus, but I should mention that I couldn't sing any song exactly the way the writer or producer might necessarily have wanted me to. I always had to personalize it. Well, I went in and sang the chorus over and over until we had a sound that everyone loved. We played the chorus on the studio speakers, and we just knew we had it our hook. That put Nigel on the next level to find the verses, the storyline so-to-speak, to go with the chorus."
Critical reception
Barry Walters from 'The Advocate' called the song "fabulous". AllMusic editor William Cooper described it as a "catchy, cathartic rave anthem that managed to cross over to the Top 40 pop charts." It was ranked as number two in "The Top 10 Dance Tunes Of The '90s" for 'Attitude' in 2016. Larry Flick from 'Billboard' deemed it "bright and invigorating", and "imbued with anthemic U.S. house vibes and lush Euro-disco execution". He also viewed it as a "brain-embedding anthem", and complimented the singer's "crystalline voice." 'BuzzFeed' listed it at number 47 in their ranking of "The 101 Greatest Dance Songs Of the '90s" in 2017. Amy Linden from 'Entertainment Weekly' called it "soaring". She stated that Rozalla "radiates independence" and "seizes the mystical, richly textured, techno-house reins and rides, stating her case with total clarity and power, injecting heart and depth into a genre that is often soulless."
Dave Sholin from the 'Gavin Report' noted that "one of the most electrifying tracks around is far from new to audiences around the world. Just think of a country and chances are good that this has been #1 there. Following some lengthy delays on the official U.S. release, here it is ready to explode at Top 40." Davydd Chong from 'Music Week's 'RM' Dance Update called it both "pulsating" and "anthemic". Another editor, James Hamilton described it as a "moodily started then scampering and raving jangly Italo style cheerful galloper". Pop Rescue wrote that "Everybody's Free" "really showcases Rozallas vocal range", adding it as "brilliant". Anita Naik from 'Smash Hits' called it a "ear-splitting rave number". Another editor, Marc Andrews said it "contained one of the most memorable spazz drum "sequences" in recent history". The single won an award in the category for "Best hi-NRG 12-inch Single" on the 1993 WMC International Dance Music Awards.
Chart performances
"Everybody's Free (to Feel Good)" first charted in the United Kingdom in 1991, peaking at number six. It made the Top 40 best selling UK singles of 1991, at position 40. The success soon crossed over to the rest of Europe, where the single reached number two in Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain. It made it to the Top 10 also in Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Sweden and Switzerland, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100, where it peaked at number six. Additionally, "Everybody's Free (to Feel Good)" was a Top 20 hit in Austria, Finland and Italy. Outside Europe, it peaked at number-one on the 'Billboard' Hot Dance Club Play chart in the United States, number two on the 'RPM' Dance/Urban chart in Canada, number 11 in Australia and number 14 in New Zealand.
The song was not released in the United States until 1992, when Rozalla was signed to Epic Records after a sought-after bidding war. It performed extremely well on the Hot Dance Club Play chart, climbing to number one. On the 'Billboard' Hot 100 chart, the track was a top 40 Hit, reaching number 37.
Music video
Various music videos exist for "Everybody's Free (to Feel Good)". One of them, a semi-live performance video directed by Nick Burgess-Jones for Rozalla's original label Pulse 8, first aired in September 1991. In the United States, Epic had Rozalla record a different video (shot in New York City). Rozalla also shot a video for her 1996 remix in Africa and another for the 2002 version with German eurodance group Aquagen. Australian TV network Ten and affiliates used the Global Deejays remix to advertise the 2009 series of 'So You Think You Can Dance Australia'.
Remixes
"Everybody's Free (To Feel Good)" has been remixed various times. In 1996, a remix reached number 30 on the UK Singles Chart. In 2000, she re-recorded with Richard 'Humpty' Vission and had a minor US dance hit. In 2002 came the Aquagen remix of the song, which reached number 22 in Germany, followed by a Delerium & Faze remix in 2005. The following year came from Italian Kortezman the new remix of the song. A shortened version of the Aquagen remix was used in the introduction to 'The Venture Bros.' episode, "Powerless in the Face of Death". In 2015, the single received an updated remix, billed as the "Crazy Ibiza Remix," which Rozalla loved, and then commented on her Facebook page thanking the fans and mixers who continue to keep the song alive to this day.
Accolades
(*) indicates the list is unordered.
Track listings
Original version
* '7" single'
# "Everybody's Free (to Feel Good)" (free radio mix) 3:40
# "Everybody's Free (to Feel Good)" (Free Bemba mix) 4:00
* '12" maxi'
# "Everybody's Free (to Feel Good)" (original mix) 6:40
# "Everybody's Free (to Feel Good)" (Free Bemba mix) 6:05
* '12" maxi Italy'
# "Everybody's Free (to Feel Good)" (original mix) 6:40
# "Everybody's Free (to Feel Good)" (7" edit) 3:40
# "Everybody's Free (to Feel Good)" (Free Bemba mix) 6:00
* 'CD single'
# "Everybody's Free (to Feel Good)" (original mix) 6:40
# "Everybody's Free (to Feel Good)" (Free Bemba edit) 3:58
* 'CD maxi Australia'
# "Everybody's Free (to Feel Good)" (original mix edit) 3:40
# "Everybody's Free (to Feel Good)" (original mix) 6:40
# "Everybody's Free (to Feel Good)" (Free Bemba mix) 6:10
* 'CD maxi France, Belgium'
# "Everybody's Free (to Feel Good)" 6:40
# "Everybody's Free (to Feel Good)" (Free Bemba mix) 6:05
# "Everybody's Free (to Feel Good)" (a cappella-Italia mix) 6:06
# "Everybody's Free (to Feel Good)" (africana mix) 7:17
* 'CD maxi Germany'
# "Everybody's Free (to Feel Good)" (club mix) 6:40
# "Everybody's Free (to Feel Good)" (Free Bemba mix) 5:57
# "Everybody's Free (to Feel Good)" (free radio mix) 3:33
* 'CD maxi UK'
# "Everybody's Free (to Feel Good)" (original mix) 6:40
# "Everybody's Free (to Feel Good)" (Free Bemba mix) 6:06
# "Faith (In the Power of Love)" (coola vibes) 7:23
* 'Cassette'
# "Everybody's Free (to Feel Good)" (original mix) - 6:40
# "Everybody's Free (to Feel Good)" (Free Bemba)
Aquagen featuring Rozalla version
* 'CD maxi'
# "Everybody's Free" (radio edit) 3:40
# "Everybody's Free" (original album version) 6:35
# "Everybody's Free" (extended mix) 8:50
# "Everybody's Free" (club mix) 6:10
# "Everybody's Free" (Dance Nation remix) 7:23
# "Everybody's Free" (Green Court remix) 8:44
# "Everybody's Free" (Kosmonova remix) 5:35
Global Deejays featuring Rozalla version
* 'CD maxi'
# "Everybody's Free" (General Electric version) 7:00
# "Everybody's Free" (2elements mix) 6:37
# "Everybody's Free" (Klaas remix) 6:38
# "Everybody's Free" (Markito's sunlight remix) 6:07
Charts
Weekly charts
Original version
Remix versions
1 By Richard [Humpty] Vission featuring Rozalla
2 By Aquagen featuring Rozalla
3 By Global Deejays featuring Rozalla
Year-end charts
Cover versions
Quindon Tarver performed a choir cover for the 1996 film 'Romeo + Juliet.' His version was later sampled for Baz Luhrmann's single "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)".
Blmchen - Ich Bin Wieder Hier (1998) German cover in happy hardcore style.
Global Deejays released a version of "Everybody's Free" in 2008 that was credited to Global Deejays featuring Rozalla. It features guitars and strong dance beats. It was used in television promotions for 'So You Think You Can Dance Australia' and debuted at number 33 on the ARIA Singles Chart. It climbed to number 7, which made it Rozalla's highest-charting single in Australia.
Australian singer Nat Conway released a synthpop cover produced by MNEK on 19 August 2016 as her debut single. In 2015, Conway had performed the track as her audition song on the seventh series of The X Factor Australia. She went on to finish 6th and she signed a record deal with label Sony Music Australia.
Kylie Minogue covered the song for her 2016 album 'Kylie Christmas: Snow Queen Edition'. The cover was used in a Christmas TV advertisement for British pharmacy chain Boots.
In the same year, Chase & Status sampled the track's chorus for their song "Spoken Word", featuring George the Poet.
The Finnish EDM producer Jaakko Salovaara, known as JS16, released a cover version on May 28, 2021, featuring Alora & Senii and Felix Ojack.
References
Category:1991 singles
Category:1991 songs
Category:2016 songs
Category:Epic Records singles
Category:Kylie Minogue songs
Category:Music videos directed by Nick Burgess-Jones
Category:Music Week number-one dance singles
Category:Pulse 8 singles
Category:Rozalla songs
Category:Songs against racism and xenophobia
Category:Songs written by Nigel Swanston
Buy Everybody's Free (To Feel Good) now from Amazon
<-- Return to songs from 1991