# Freedom Child

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***Freedom Child*** is the fifth studio album by Irish [rock](/source/Rock_music) band [The Script](/source/The_Script). It was released via [Columbia Records](/source/Columbia_Records)[2] and [Sony Music](/source/Sony_Music) on 1 September 2017.[3][4][5]

## Background

Speaking about how pop music has turned out since The Script went on a hiatus after their last album *[No Sound Without Silence](/source/No_Sound_Without_Silence)*, Danny O’Donoghue said "If you take a listen to radio now, there aren’t too many bands - guitar, bass, drums, vocals. Everyone has some kind of production element." The album was announced as members of the band took time out with their families in Ireland after four studio albums since 2008.[3]

"Rain" was released as the first single from the album and their first new song since 2014.[3][6][7][8]

Explaining how the album title was decided, O'Donoghue said "It came from Mark's side... His seven-year-old came up to him one day and asked, 'Dad, what's terrorism?'" The album title was inspired by its song of the same name, which addresses terrorism and the need for harmony.[9] He also mentioned how the album covers many topics.[10]

"Divided States of America", a song on the album was explained by O’Donoghue, who said "We were in America when [Trump](/source/Donald_Trump)'s [2017] [inauguration](/source/First_inauguration_of_Donald_Trump) was happening, and you couldn’t walk down the street without seeing how divided America was. The guy selling cigarettes could be a Democrat and the guy he's selling them to could be a Trump supporter."[11][12]

## Critical reception

Matt Collar of [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic) gave the album a positive review, stating that the album "is a vibrant, immediately engaging effort that finds them nicely balancing their various influences, from slick dance-pop to kinetic R&B and thoughtful, crowd-pleasing anthems." Eleanor of *Live Arena* also gave the album a positive review but with no score, stating that "the group's confident new sound, that strays away from the rock feel we're used to, strikes listeners with positivity and strength. It's worth a listen."[13]

The album has had several negative reviews, including from Lauren Murphy of *[The Irish Times](/source/The_Irish_Times)*, who stated that "it's too long, but more importantly, it's emotionally hollow."[14] Rick Pearson of *[London Evening Standard](/source/London_Evening_Standard)* also gave the album a negative review, and said that "Truly, the road to musical hell is paved with good intentions."[15] Stephen White of *[The Last Mixed Tape](/source/The_Last_Mixed_Tape)* gave the album a score of 2 out of 10, calling the album "an advert that will top the charts".[16]

## Track listing

**Notes**

- signifies a co-[producer](/source/Record_producer).
- signifies a vocal producer.

## Charts

### Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for Freedom Child Chart (2017) Peak position

### Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for Freedom Child Chart (2017) Position Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[17] 95 UK Albums (OCC)[18] 83

## References

1. Katie, Baillie (21 July 2017). ["The Script announce new album Freedom Child and tour: 'We wanted to revamp and reboot the sound'"](http://metro.co.uk/2017/07/21/the-script-announce-new-album-freedom-child-and-tour-we-wanted-to-revamp-and-reboot-the-sound-6795962/). *[Metro](/source/Metro_(British_newspaper))*. Retrieved 17 August 2017.

1. ["The Script announce big Blackpool date – four years since Lights no-show"](http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/whats-on/music/the-script-announce-big-blackpool-date-four-years-since-lights-no-show-1-8662137). *[Blackpool Gazette](/source/Blackpool_Gazette)*. Retrieved 17 August 2017.

1. McCabe, Kathy (16 August 2017). ["The Script delivers music with a message on new Freedom Child album | Herald Sun"](http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/music/irish-rockers-the-script-return-with-a-new-album-and-a-powerful-message/news-story/0bcfcfa93ccce9ba117f58e3956db67e). *[Herald Sun](/source/Herald_Sun)*. Retrieved 17 August 2017.

1. ["The Script Announce Dublin Show"](http://www.98fm.com/The-Script-Announce-Dublin-Show-). *98FM*. Retrieved 17 August 2017.[dead link]

1. ["The Script Announce New Album "Freedom Child": Tracklist + Cover Art!"](https://www.directlyrics.com/the-script-announce-new-album-freedom-child-tracklist-cover-art-news.html). *Directlyrics*. Retrieved 17 August 2017.

1. ["The Script return after a domesticated break!"](https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2017/0721/891378-the-script/). *[RTÉ.ie](/source/RT%C3%89.ie)*. 21 July 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2017.

1. Adejobi, Alicia (28 July 2017). ["The Script warn 'traditional bands are in danger' as group return with trendy album Freedom Child"](http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/script-warn-traditional-bands-are-danger-group-return-trendy-album-freedom-child-1632444). *[International Business Times](/source/International_Business_Times)*. Retrieved 17 August 2017.

1. Jones, Craig (15 August 2017). ["The Script release new music ahead of special Bridlington gig"](http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife/script-release-new-ahead-special-326957). *[Hull Daily Mail](/source/Hull_Daily_Mail)*. Retrieved 17 August 2017.

1. Ahmad, Tufayel (21 July 2017). ["The Script: "Musicians aren't standing up over terrorism. Where the hell is Bono? Jay-Z? Beyoncé?""](http://www.newsweek.com/script-musicians-arent-standing-over-terrorism-where-hell-bono-jay-z-beyonce-639830). *[Newsweek](/source/Newsweek)*. Retrieved 17 August 2017.

1. Rob, Copsey (21 July 2017). ["The Script announce new album: "It covers terrorism, heartbreak, euphoria""](http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-script-announce-new-album-freedom-child-it-covers-everything-from-terrorism-to-heartbreak-to-euphoria__19746/). *[Official Charts Company](/source/Official_Charts_Company)*. Retrieved 17 August 2017.

1. Shilpa, Ganatra (29 July 2017). ["The Script: 'Find a band who sing as honestly as us. I dare you'"](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/the-script-find-a-band-who-sing-as-honestly-as-us-i-dare-you-1.3165353). *[The Irish Times](/source/The_Irish_Times)*. Retrieved 17 August 2017.

1. ["The Script Announce Tour and New Album Details ::The Script News ::antiMusic.com"](http://www.antimusic.com/news/17/July/23The_Script_Announce_Tour_and_New_Album_Details.shtml). *www.antimusic.com*. 23 July 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2017.

1. ["The Script release their genre-mixing album "Freedom Child""](https://web.archive.org/web/20170906225616/https://live-arena.uk/script-release-genre-mixing-new-album-freedom-child/). *Live Arena*. Eleanor. Archived from [the original](https://live-arena.uk/script-release-genre-mixing-new-album-freedom-child/) on 6 September 2017. Retrieved 5 September 2017.

1. Murphy, Lauren. ["The Script review: The boys go a bit Bono-lite"](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/the-script-review-the-boys-go-a-bit-bono-lite-1.3198191). *[The Irish Times](/source/The_Irish_Times)*. [The Irish Times](/source/The_Irish_Times). Retrieved 31 August 2017.

1. Pearson, Rick. ["The Script, Freedom Child - review: 'Well-meaning but full of chugging guitars and lyrical guff'"](https://www.standard.co.uk/stayingin/music/the-script-freedom-child-review-wellmeaning-but-full-of-chugging-guitars-and-lyrical-guff-a3625226.html). *[London Evening Standard](/source/London_Evening_Standard)*. Retrieved 1 September 2017.

1. White, Stephen (1 September 2017). ["Review | The Script – Freedom Child"](https://thelastmixedtape.com/2017/09/01/review-the-script-freedom-child/). *the Last Mixed Tape*

1. ["Jaaroverzichten – Album 2017"](http://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2017&cat=a). Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 December 2017.

1. ["End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2017"](http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/). Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 January 2018.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Freedom Child](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_Child) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_Child?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.