“Set Me Free” | 5ive Songs

On the 96^th edition of 5ive Songs (2021), we select five songs that feature the title “Set Me Free.”  

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elcome to 5ive Songs, where we keep things short and sweet – no extra calories or needless fluff! There’s a theme/topic, five songs, and a short blurb.  Yes, it’s a playlist, but it’s a miniature playlist that shouldn’t take much time to consume.  On the 96^th edition of 5ive Songs (2021), we select five songs that feature the title, “SET ME FREE”. Okay, let’s get into it!

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1. Joshua Bassett, “Set Me Free”

Crisis / Secret / Set Me Free (EP) • Warner • 2021

“I’ve been runnin’ away, I’ve been facin’ my fears / Tell my momma I’m okay while I’m holding back tears / It’s been a fuckin’ year.” Indeed!  While he’s overshadowed by noise about everything else outside of his music, there is no question that Joshua Bassett is talented.  He showcases his gift superbly on “Set Me Free,” the closing ballad from his 2021 EP, Crisis / Secret / Set Me Free (EP).  His honesty and vulnerability are something to behold.

The incident that Bassett references in the excerpted lyrics revolve around drama involving Olivia Rodrigo, Also, perhaps, the health issues he’s experienced contribute to the negative connotation of “It’s been a fuckin’ year” as well.  Still, most of “Set Me Free” deals with a sense of imprisonment.  “And nothing I say will ease the pain,” he sings on the pre-chorus, continuing, “But why do I have to hurt for you to feel okay?” It makes me sad reading and hearing such lines from Bassett because he is young, talented, and has plenty to offer.  The best part of this ballad is the soaring chorus, which is simply beautiful:

“You don’t get to take all of me (Set me free)

And I don’t need your apology (Let me be)

I don’t recognize you, not anymore

You’re not the love that I feel for

You don’t get to take all of me (Set me free).”

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2. The Chicks, “Set Me Free”

Gaslighter • Columbia • 2020

“Decency / Would be for you to sign and release me / If you ever loved me.” Oh sugar honey iced tea! Sounds like The Chicks – specifically Natalie Maines – need to experience a certain degree of freedom. It’s no secret that Maines has been entangled in a messy divorce, and on Gaslighter, the group formerly known as Dixie Chicks, reflects the turbulence.

“Don’t you feel you’re wasting time? / You have the power to make it right.” “Set Me Free” is Maines’ plea to her ex to end the drama, messiness, and legal battles associated with their separation.  This is a beautiful, thoughtful, and incredibly sincere ballad about a totally undesirable situation.  Essentially, Natalie just wants to move on and get past this.

“Just because you’ve been a bad guy

I’ve seen it with my own eyes

There’s a good guy in there.”

C’mon man – set her free already!

Also appears on :
Free 3.0: A Compendium of 30 Songs

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3. Leela James, “Set Me Free”

Fall for You • Shesangz Music, Inc. / BMG Rights Management • 2021 

“If you love me / (If you love me) / Set me free / (Set me free!) / You’re just holding to nothing / (You’re holding to nothing).” Man, set Leela James free – let her go!!! On “Set Me Free” from her 2015 album, Fall for You, James calls out her man, ‘keeping it 100’ about the status of the relationship: “This house is not a home / The love is gone, baby!” Woo!

The adult contemporary R&B / neo-soul standout clearly illustrates a scenario where love is gone.  James understands it’s not healthy staying in this relationship because it’s not working.  She tries to convince her boyfriend, whom she wants to be her ex, that “We both know there’s something better waiting for me.” As for the love that was once there, James asserts, “It went away somehow / It used to be so good, but it’s so bad now.” The freedom needs to be achieved without a doubt!

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4. Friction, “Set Me Free”

“Set Me Free” • Elevate • 2021

Prepare for Friction, and by ‘Friction,’ I’m referring to the UK DJ/Producer known for making rad drum & bass music! On “Set Me Free,” he delivers surefire vibes through surefire ear candy.  That ear candy involves edgy, hard synths and a groove that sounds as if it’s going to obliterate something. The minute I heard “Set Me Free,” I knew I had to include it here!

“Set Me Free” isn’t only about colorful production.  Sure, that’s the main attraction to my ears, but there’s more.  Friction enlists a great female vocalist to deliver the few but potent, key lyrics:

“Only you can set me free

Only you can set me free

…So free me if you want me

So free me if you want me.”

Hmm, wonders if those wild synths + beat represent the freedom.  Regardless, the record kicks a$$!

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5. Mary J. Blige, “Set Me Free”

Strength of a Woman • Capitol • 2017

Strength of a Woman, released in April 2017, can be best described as a post-divorce album.  It follows Grammy winner, Mary J. Blige’s divorce from Kendu Isaacs, and finds her capturing the sentiment of such. Jazzy, soulful highlight, “Set Me Free,” the third track, exemplifies love pain at its finest. 

“Tell me how you figure that you made me

And you gave me what I had before I met ya

Ain’t gon’ have it when you’re gone

And how you fix your mouth to say I owe you

When you had another bitch and taking trips and shit

With my money for so long.” 

Blige exhibits fierceness, even with jazzier cues employed here. She’s incredibly blunt (“When you had another bitch and taking trips and shit / … You must have lost it, nigga, you won’t get a dime”).  Clearly pissed, on the chorus she sings: “There’s a special place in hell for you / You gon’ pay for what you did to me / I’ma tell you ‘cause the truth will set me free.” Yeah, MJB threw the bible at him!

Also appears on :
Free 3.0: A Compendium of 30 Songs

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“Set Me Free”: 5ive Songs No. 96 (2021) [: Alexandr, Atlantic, BMG Rights Management, Brent Faulkner, Capitol, Clovis Cheminot, Columbia, Elevate, The Musical Hype, OpenClipart-Vectors, Pexels, Pixabay, Shesangz Music, Inc., Warner]

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