Talk:Free Bird

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What year was this song written in?

Answer : 1973

Contents

[edit] Dedicated to Duane Allman

The article says that they dedicated it to Duane Allman. when they played in Macon, GA in 1976 (I think it was 76), they dedicated it to Duane Allman, Berry Oakley, and Otis Redding. I don't have a reference for that, but I was there and a friend has it on tape. Bubba73 (talk), 05:12, 1 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Power ballad?

The definition of "Free Bird" as a "power ballad" in the introduction is inconsistent with the main text, where the song is described as "half ballad, half up-tempo guitar boogie." Clearly, something that it half/half something cannot be defined only by the one half. Why not the more neutral "song"? Also, the "power ballad" entry says that "Free Bird" only "vaguely fit[s] the power ballad aesthetic."

I agree. Free Bird is not a power ballad and never will. I saw that information when it was there, I think that they took it out now, though. ~~Whiffle Ball Tony~~ 18:58, 31 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Origin of first line

I've got the book written about the band, I can't remember the name of it, but basically the first and most definitive textual Skynyrd biography. It was said that Allen Collins' girlfriend at the time asked him the question, "If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me?" Should this be added? & song was not written in 1973, it was recorded in 1973. It was played at high school proms before that. Before Billy Powell even joined the band, he was first noticed when setting up for a gig and played a piano intro to Free Bird, and he was in the band before 1973, so the song was at least a couple years old before it was recorded. Zchris87v 07:28, 28 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Popular culture cliche

Would it be fair to say that yelling "Free Bird!" during concerts is an American popular culture cliche? Down here in Australia, the cliche is to yell out "play some Chisel!" If this is so, please rectify the article to mention the USA. Stuart mcmillen 05:50, 16 August 2006 (UTC)

Well, I guess that would make sense, on account of I've never heard of Cold Chisel, so there might be some Australians who have never heard Free Bird. I mean, it is called an American classic, so do what you must. ~~Whiffle Ball Tony~~ 23:13, 31 August 2006 (UTC)

I,though I consider my self a LS fan. like to refer to Free Bird as the song that's playing in the waiting room to hell.To put in to perspective I was a big Eagles fan in the early 70's but would rather rip my own lungs out than hear Hotel California again . I thought it was "Whipping Post" that got yelled out regardless of the performer. I saw Jackson Browne have a little fun with it.

I think Modest Mouse's rant on live album "Baron Von Bullshit Ride Again" takes the cake here:

I know I've said this before, but the odds of us actually playing Free Bird...there are no odds, it is not gonna happen. I'll start with the first reason: we have no idea how to play Free Bird. The second reason is, in the Love Bug's natural habitat...I mean that would just fucking kill him, wouldn't it? You wouldn't want that, I mean he's adorable. He is cute. Thirdly, even if some picker-diety came down from the heavens, or the hills, or wherever their deity lives and shit, and blessed us with just this vast knowledge of Free Bird, and we could play it backwards, we could sing backwards, we could do all that crazy shit...we still just wouldn't do it. If this were the Make A Wish Foundation, and you were gonna die in 20 minutes, just long enough to play Free Bird...we still wouldn't play it. And here's the end reason, the end reason is life is too fucking short to play or hear Free Bird.


In Canada (in the Praries for sure) at punk/metal/hardcore shows (maybe other styles of music as well) you will always get someone yelling 'Slayer' as a request. The one time I heard a band oblige with a Slayer song it did not impress so I think its along the same thing as yelling Free Bird.


The musical collective Bomb the Music Industry! has a song on their first album entitled ""FRRRREEEEE BIIIIIIIRRRRD!!!!!! FRRRRREEEEEEEEE BIIIIIIIRRRRRRRRDDDDD!!!!!!!"" mp3, yes, including the quotes in the song title, on Album Minus Band, and it's obviously a reference to the cliché, just not sure where to put it/how i should put it, or if I even should at all. Anyone interested? SCC 07:34, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Plagiarism?

Is it just me, or does a lot of this bear more than a passing resemblance to this Blender article? Shmuel 21:29, 12 December 2006 (UTC)

Yes, no question that's the source of the history section. --*Spark* 21:17, 17 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Cars Reference

I ended up here because of the CARS film and wanted to know why the line was in there. After reading this it makes a lot more sense. I belive it is MAC, his friend, in the background shouting Free Bird to prompt Lightening into performing his contracted Rust-eze speech which he is fed of doing. So perhaps use in this context means "Perfom what is expected of you - even 'tho you hate it through over repeation."

86.29.84.232

[edit] Problem With a Link

The link for the live performance of Free Bird has been tampered with, and now the link leads to a Spanish version of the opening for Sailor Moon. Anyone care to fix this? I'm not so good with links and such, but I saw this and I thought I should mention it. Kokuha Seishin 01:09, 8 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] guitar duel

I think someone should put up a section that talks about the 5-minute long guitar duel. I would put it up, but I'm too lazy. 71.200.98.184 18:05, 18 April 2007 (UTC)

    • I went ahead and wrote that section for you. Hope everyone enjoys it!

[edit] What type of citation do you need?

Where it is talking about "AND THIS BIRD YOU CANNOT CHANGE!" in guitar hero II, THIS IS TRUE. I'm just not sure what im supposed to do. --72.86.73.84 15:10, 12 May 2007 (UTC)

I agree, is a screen shot needed or something? I don't think a citation is needed, ask any guitar hero player. The citation needed tag should be removed, it's in there, why would we lie?

There is no question of lies here. The source should be cited. In this case it should probably be the game. I am unsure how to cite games but there may be someone who has the correct format somewhere. It's just a matter of llokning for it. Candy 12:06, 30 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Free Bird vs. Freebird

The title of the article has a space while many spellings in the article itself lack a space. If my memory serves me well, I've seen it spelt both ways on some Skynyrd albums, although the spelling with a space seems overwhelmingly prevalent. Basically, a decision needs to be made about how to spell it in the article and then make that choice be the only one used. Any thoughts?OSU871316 04:26, 28 May 2007 (UT)

It should be included in the article; I asked everyone at my school how it's spelled; a lot of people say it should be spelled "Freebird" and others "Free Bird". It's the former that should be really spelled. Whatever way Lynyrd Skynyrd spelled it first, that should be the correct spelling. 18:53, 08 June 2007 (JG)

[edit] Lighter Swaying During Performance in Guitar Hero II?

I have noticed that, in the entry, it states that the crowd sways their lighters during the Free Bird performance in Guitar Hero II. However, this is only when the player's rock meter is in the green; the lighter swaying is noticable in every other encore during the beginning, as the player starts with the rock meter in the green. Metroidhunter777 01:54, 3 July 2007 (UTC)

then again does something that trivial need mentioning in the article? 67.162.10.70 15:48, 19 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] plagiariasms (again?)

68.101.194.158 07:24, 9 July 2007 (UTC): I noticed the Pop Culture Cliche lifted the text from this article directly: http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB111102511477881964-ZkAKwALO87RaHLbFJrSJSA_i9xg_20050415.html?mod=blogs

This isn't policy, is it?

[edit] Pachelbel's Canon

The harmonic structure of this song follows the ubiquitous Canon in D. 141.157.110.8 15:39, 9 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] removed text

I removed the following text from the article: Note: After playing and completing the song about 10-15 times on any difficulty, the loading screen for the song says: "You must really like Freebird." (this was in relation to Guitar Hero II) This is false. I got this message the second time I played the song.