When was "Free as a Bird" by the Beatles released?
"Free as a Bird" was released as a single in December 1995, with the UK release on the 4th of December 1995 and the US release on the 12th of December 1995.
Questions about Free as a Bird
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who wrote and originally recorded "Free as a Bird"?
John Lennon wrote and recorded "Free as a Bird" as a home demo in 1977, years before his three former bandmates completed it for release.
Why did Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr record "Free as a Bird" in the 1990s?
The three surviving Beatles recorded "Free as a Bird" for The Beatles Anthology project, building a full studio track around a cassette demo that Yoko Ono had given to McCartney. Jeff Lynne co-produced the sessions after George Martin declined to produce due to hearing problems.
Who directed the "Free as a Bird" music video?
Joe Pytka directed the "Free as a Bird" music video and Vincent Joliet produced it, framing the whole video from the point of view of a bird in flight that is heard but never shown on screen.
How did "Free as a Bird" perform on the charts?
"Free as a Bird" reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming the Beatles' 34th American top ten single and a top ten hit in at least ten other countries.
What awards did "Free as a Bird" win?
"Free as a Bird" won the 1997 Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, and its music video separately won the Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video.
What happened in the 2025 remix of "Free as a Bird"?
In 2025, a new digital remix of "Free as a Bird" used audio restoration technology to further clean up John Lennon's original vocal. It was released on the 21st of August 2025 ahead of an expanded 30th anniversary edition of The Beatles Anthology.