Freestyle (song)

"Freestyle"
Single by Lady Antebellum
from the album 747
Released	October 20, 2014
Format	Digital download
Genre	Country pop Southern rock[1][2]
Length	3:04
Label	Capitol Nashville
Writer(s)	Dave Haywood Charles Kelley Hillary Scott Shane McAnally
Producer(s)	Nathan Chapman Lady Antebellum
Lady Antebellum singles chronology
"Bartender'" (2014) "Freestyle" (2014) "Long Stretch of Love" (2015)

"Freestyle" is a song written and recorded by American country music trio, Lady Antebellum. It was written Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Shane McAnally, and co-produded by Nathan Chapman. The song serves as the second single for the trio's sixth studio album, 747 and was released on October 20, 2014.^[3]

Background and composition

During the groups 2014 tour, Charles Kelley told Rolling Stone, "Songs like 'Freestyle'" was a departure for them but "it's been proven to us over the past couple of years — is that when we do take chances, the fans have responded really well."^[3]

Critical reception

Giving it a "C+", Bob Paxman of Country Weekly praised the song's "catchy" production, but felt that Lady Antebellum was "nearly unrecognizable" due to the rapid-fire lyric delivery. He also criticized the lyrics for having "buzzwords and imagery" that were "scattered".^[4]

Music video

The music video for "Freestyle" was released in October 2014 and comedian and dancer Nathan Barnatt appears in the video. Part of the video was filmed at the Gramercy Theatre in Manhattan.

Synopsis

Barnatt plays his alter ego "Keith Apicary", who is determined to meet Lady Antebellum in person. After falling short of meeting them, he comes up with a way to get past security by putting on a cowboy hat and a Lady Antebellum T-shirt. He eventually meets his goal when Charles (Kelley) invites him backstage where he meets the band.^[5]

Chart performance

Chart (2014–15)	Peak position
Canada Country (Billboard)[6]	17
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[7]	1
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[8]	16
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[9]	24

Year-end charts

Chart (2015)	Position
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[10]	75
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[11]	93

Release history

Country	Date	Format	Ref.
Worldwide	September 28, 2014	Streamed audio	[12]
United States		Digital download
	October 20, 2014	Country radio	[13]

References

1. Leight, Elias. "Lady Antebellum Brings 'Bartender' to 'Jimmy Kimmel'". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
2. Allen, Jim. "Lady Antebellum Celebrate 747 With Intimate NYC Show". CMT. Viacom Media Networks. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
3. Leahey, Andrew (October 9, 2014). "Hear Lady Antebellum Go 'Freestyle' On Genre-Bending New Single". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
4. Paxman, Bob (12 January 2015). "Reviews: 'Freestyle'". Country Weekly 22 (2): 67. ISSN 1074-3235.
5. Whitaker, Sterling (October 29, 2014). "Lady Antebellum Tap Keith Apicary for Free-Spirited ‘Freestyle’ Video Read More: Lady Antebellum Release Free-Spirited Video for 'Freestyle'". Taste of Country. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
6. "Lady Antebellum – Chart history" Billboard Canada Country for Lady Antebellum.
7. "Lady Antebellum – Chart history" Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 for Lady Antebellum.
8. "Lady Antebellum – Chart history" Billboard Country Airplay for Lady Antebellum.
9. "Lady Antebellum – Chart history" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Lady Antebellum.
10. "Billboard Country Update for December 14, 2015" (PDF). Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. December 14, 2015. p. 7. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
11. "Best of 2015: Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2015. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
12. Thompson, Gayle. "Lady Antebellum Release ‘Freestyle’ on Spotify". The Boot. Townsquare Media. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
13. "Future Releases for Country Radio Stations". AllAccess Music Group. Archived from the original on October 1, 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2014.