Sweet Freedom (song)

"Sweet Freedom"
"Sweet Freedom"
	Single cover
Single by Michael McDonald
from the album Sweet Freedom and Running Scared soundtrack
B-side	"The Freedom Eights"
Released	June 1986
Recorded	1986
Studio	Westlake Audio (Los Angeles)
Genre	R&B; blue-eyed soul; dance-pop;
Length	3:57 (radio mix); 7:38 (12" version);
Label	MCA
Songwriter	Rod Temperton
Producers	Rod Temperton; Bruce Swedien; Richard Rudolph (credited as Dick Rudolph);
Michael McDonald singles chronology
Official audio
	"Sweet Freedom" on YouTube

"Sweet Freedom" is a song by Michael McDonald, written by Rod Temperton. It was originally featured on Running Scared's soundtrack, before the 1986 re-release of McDonald's 1985 album No Lookin' Back. The track peaked at No. 7 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart (his last top 10 hit in that chart), No. 12 in the UK, and No. 14 in Canada.

The single's music video directed by Leslie Libman featured McDonald, along with actors Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines, in the film Running Scared.^[1]

Credits

Lead vocals – Michael McDonald
Backing vocals – Michael McDonald and Siedah Garrett
Guitars – Paul Jackson Jr. and Michael Thompson
Keyboards – Greg Phillinganes, Anthony Patler, Danny Sembello, Rod Temperton, Larry Williams
Synthesizer – Larry Williams
Synclavier – Wells Christie
Horns – David Boruff, Chuck Findley, Gary Grant, Jerry Hey, Kim Hutchcroft, Bill Reichenbach, Larry Williams
Arrangements – Rod Temperton
Producers – Bruce Swedien, Rod Temperton and Dick Rudolph
Recorded and mixed by Bruce Swedien at Westlake Audio (Los Angeles, CA)

Charts

Chart (1986–1987)	Peak position
Canada The Record Singles Chart^[2]	25
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[3]	14
UK Singles (OCC)^[4]	12
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[5]	4
US Billboard Hot 100^[6]	7
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)^[7]	8
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[8]	17

Year-end chart (1986)	Rank
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)^[9]	75

Other notable versions

In 1998, Shawn Christopher released her version which reached No. 60 in France.^[10]
In 2002, Danish electronic percussion duo Safri Duo, featuring Michael McDonald, covered the song. It was released in June as the fourth and final single from their debut album, Episode II. This version charted in many European countries, reaching No. 2 in Spain.

Charts

Weekly chart performance for Safri Duo remix
Chart (2002)	Peak Position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[11]	50
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[12]	50
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)^[13]	3
Denmark Airplay (Tracklisten)^[14]	2
Germany (GfK)^[15]	29
Italy (FIMI)^[16]	39
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[17]	20
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[18]	23
Spain (PROMUSICAE)^[19]	2
UK Singles (OCC)^[20]	54
UK Dance (OCC)^[20]	21

References

^ "Songfacts". songfacts.com. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
^ Lwin, Nanda. Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide (2000). Mississauga, Ont.: Music Data Canada
^ "Top RPM Singles: Image 0728". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
^ "Official Singles Chart on 21/9/1986 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
^ "Michael McDonald Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
^ "Michael McDonald Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
^ "Michael McDonald Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
^ "Michael McDonald Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
^ "1986 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 52. December 27, 1986. p. Y-21.
^ [1]
^ "Safri Duo feat. Michael McDonald – Sweet Freedom" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
^ "Safri Duo feat. Michael McDonald – Sweet Freedom" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
^ "Safri Duo feat. Michael McDonald – Sweet Freedom" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
^ "Airplay Top-20 – Hitlisten.NU – Danmarks officielle hitlister" (in Danish). Tracklisten. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
^ "Safri Duo feat. Michael McDonald – Sweet Freedom". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Safri Duo" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
^ "Safri Duo feat. Michael McDonald – Sweet Freedom" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
^ "Safri Duo feat. Michael McDonald – Sweet Freedom". Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
^ ^a ^b "Safri Duo songs and albums". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 January 2026.

[freedom-1] "Songfacts". songfacts.com. Retrieved 2009-01-09.

[2] Lwin, Nanda. Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide (2000). Mississauga, Ont.: Music Data Canada

[sc_Canadatopsingles_Michael_McDonald-3] "Top RPM Singles: Image 0728". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 4, 2021.

[sc_UK_Michael_McDonald-4] "Official Singles Chart on 21/9/1986 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 4, 2021.

[sc_Billboardadultcontemporary_Michael_McDonald-5] "Michael McDonald Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2021.

[sc_Billboardhot100_Michael_McDonald-6] "Michael McDonald Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2021.

[sc_Billboarddanceclubplay_Michael_McDonald-7] "Michael McDonald Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2021.

[sc_Billboardrandbhiphop_Michael_McDonald-8] "Michael McDonald Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2021.

[9] "1986 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 52. December 27, 1986. p. Y-21.

[10] [1]

[sc_Austria_Safri_Duo_feat._Michael_McDonald-11] "Safri Duo feat. Michael McDonald – Sweet Freedom" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 27 January 2026.

[sc_Flanders_Safri_Duo_feat._Michael_McDonald-12] "Safri Duo feat. Michael McDonald – Sweet Freedom" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 27 January 2026.

[sc_Wallonia_Tip_Safri_Duo_feat._Michael_McDonald-13] "Safri Duo feat. Michael McDonald – Sweet Freedom" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 27 January 2026.

[sc_Denmark_Airplay_-14] "Airplay Top-20 – Hitlisten.NU – Danmarks officielle hitlister" (in Danish). Tracklisten. Retrieved 27 January 2026.

[sc_Germany_-15] "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved 27 January 2026.

[sc_Italy_Safri_Duo_feat._Michael_McDonald-16] "Safri Duo feat. Michael McDonald – Sweet Freedom". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 27 January 2026.

[sc_Dutch40_Safri_Duo-17] "Nederlandse Top 40 – Safri Duo" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 27 January 2026.

[sc_Dutch100_Safri_Duo_feat._Michael_McDonald-18] "Safri Duo feat. Michael McDonald – Sweet Freedom" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 27 January 2026.

[sc_Spain_Safri_Duo_feat._Michael_McDonald-19] "Safri Duo feat. Michael McDonald – Sweet Freedom". Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 27 January 2026.

[UKartistpage-20] "Safri Duo songs and albums". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 January 2026.

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Michael McDonald
Studio albums	If That's What It Takes (1982) No Lookin' Back (1985) Take It to Heart (1990) Blink of an Eye (1993) Blue Obsession (2000) Motown (2003) Motown Two (2004) Soul Speak (2008) Wide Open (2017)
Compilation albums	Sweet Freedom (1986)
Singles	"I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)" "Yah Mo B There" "No Lookin' Back" "Sweet Freedom" "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" "Reach Out, I'll Be There" "Baby I Need Your Lovin'" "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)" "Deck the Halls/Jingle Bells" "Walk On By" "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas!"
Related articles	Discography The Doobie Brothers Toto Amy Holland