Freeman (Francis Magalona album)

Freeman
Studio album by Francis Magalona
Released April 1995
Genre Pinoy rap, Pinoy rock
Label BMG Records (Pilipinas) Inc, Musiko Records
Francis Magalona chronology

Meron akong ano!
(1993)		 Freeman
(1995)		 Happy Battle
(1996)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]

Freeman was Francis Magalona's fifth album, released in 1995 by BMG Records (Pilipinas) Inc, Musiko Records. It was Magalona's first outing with the BMG label, having left his previous label, Octo Arts, in 1994. Its release firmly established Magalona's legitimacy in the Pinoy rock scene.[2] Tracks like "Three Stars & A Sun", "Kabataan Para Sa Kinabukasan", "Suckin' on Helium/Kaleidoscope World" would become defining touch-points in Magalona's body of work. A track titled "Intellectual Property Rights" would sample a speech by then-president Fidel V. Ramos. Intellectual property rights was an issue that would continue to be an important and very personal advocacy for Magalona.[2][3]

The iconic cover of the album featured an image of Magalona's son Elmo, aged six months. A version of "Kabataan Para Sa Kinabukasan" became the advertising theme for the Royal Tru-Orange soda drink brand, since a previous FrancisM song, "Ito ang gusto ko!" (This is what I want!) had already been used to promote that product. The song was also featured in Pare Ko, a popular movie from that time which featured music from up and coming Pinoy Rock artists. "Kaleidoscope World" went on to win 1996 Awit Award for Best Produced Record of the Year, and the 1996 NU 107 Rock Award for Song of the Year. "Kaleidoscope World"'s music video was directed by the celebrated director/cinematographer Raymond Red, and showed Magalona, his band Hardware Syndrome, his backup singers "the Evil Stepsisters", and the respective children of Magalona and Red at that time.[2][4][5]

Throughout the rest of his career, Magalona would repeatedly refer to elements in Freeman as a starting points for new endeavors. The motiff and title of "Three Stars and a Sun" would become the defining mark of his fashion label, FrancisM Clothing Company. A later album, Freeman 2, would repeat Freeman's themes with new music, and with the occasional retrospective examination of the influence of the first Freeman album. When Magalona died in March 2009, "Kaleidoscope World" was played in many of the tributes to the artist, including an audio-visual presentation from Eat Bulaga!, the noontime variety program of which Magalona was a co-host, and a short rendering of the song at the Eraserheads' "Final Set" reunion concert, which the band dedicated to Magalona.[6] The song was also played repeatedly during his wake[7] and his burial. [8]

Track listing

  1. Baw-Waw-Waw
  2. Three Stars And A Sun
  3. Bahala Na
  4. Old Man
  5. Pikon
  6. Beam Me Up Scottie / Kimo's Groove
  7. Funky Monkey
  8. Rasputin Lives
  9. Jolog
  10. Contrapelo
  11. Kabataan Para Sa Kinabukasan
  12. Pen & Ink
  13. Suckin' On Helium / Kaleidoscope World
  14. Mahiwagang Kamote
  15. Puso Ng Siga
  16. Pektus
  17. Intellectual Property Rights
  18. Blood On The Mud / 2nd Man On The Moon
  19. Contrapelo 2

References

  1. ↑ Allmusic review
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Magalona, Francis (March 3, 2006). "The Hardware Syndrome". A Free Mind. Retrieved March 9, 2009.
  3. ↑ Freeman (CD Inlay Card). Francis Magalona. BMG Records (Pilipinas) Inc., Musiko Records. 1995.
  4. ↑ Magalona, Francis (March 3, 2006). "Kaleidoscope World". A Free Mind. Retrieved March 19, 2009.
  5. ↑ "Winners from the Previous Rock Awards". DWNU 107.5. March 3, 2006. Retrieved March 19, 2009.
  6. ↑ Lo, Ricardo (2009-03-09). "Pia a pillar of strength". Funfare (The Philippine Star).
  7. ↑ Morales, Izah; Cruz, Marinel (2009-03-08). "Songs keep mood upbeat at FrancisM wake". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2009-03-08.
  8. ↑ Alberto, Thea (2009-03-11). "One last round of applause for Magalona". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2009-03-08.