Kae Tempest has released a euphoric cover of George Michael’s ‘Freedom! ‘90’, re-titling it ‘Freedom! ‘25’ – check it out below.
The rapper, poet and playwright released his fifth studio album ‘Self Titled’ in July via Island Records, a record produced by Fraser T. Smith (Adele, Stormzy, Dave) and featuring appearances from Pet Shop Boys’ Neil Tennant, Young Fathers and Connie Constance.
Now, Tempest has released his version of Michael’s vintage pop single, a track he first performed on Jo Whiley’s BBC Radio 2 show from Maida Vale studios around the release of the new album.
Check out the recorded version alongside a clip from the session and the original here:
Speaking about the cover, Tempest has said: “So excited to be joined on this track by Leah Cleaver, whose voice gives me life. It’s been a dream to work together with Fraser and Leah. I have loved this song forever, but I am still only just now discovering what these lyrics can unlock.”
“This song is a victory,” he added. “Love George Michael so much. Grateful to him for the light he shone. It feels powerful, re-summoning the spirit of this song in this moment. I’ve performed it live a few times, and it’s a stunning feeling to find it with the crowd; it feels like a revelation. All we have to see is that I don’t belong to you, and you don’t belong to me. Freedom”.
Tempest has been touring around Europe in recent weeks and will bring the show to the UK next week, with shows in London, Bristol, Manchester, Edinburgh and Dublin. See all the dates and info here and find any remaining tickets here.
NME awarded ‘Self Titled’ four stars, noting: “‘Know Yourself’ is a powerful combination of two voices: Kae today, and Kae years ago, billed as “a dialogue between selves across time, in real time” tracking the process of shifting identity via a sample of an old lyric. Amid these internal battles is a clear vision of the chaotic world outside, too.”
Tempest recently spoke to NME about the new album and the responsibility he feels as a non binary person in the public eye. “It’s not like I feel the weight of a responsibility,” he said. “It was important for me to show up for my community, to show up for myself being a trans man and a non binary person. These are just crucial elements of my make-up.
“If I’m being celebratory and honest and uncompromising about expressing myself, there’s some freedom that will come in terms of other people’s own feelings about what they may not feel comfortable expressing amongst friends, family or in public.”
