The Fourth of July will be celebrated in America. Whenever the holiday rolls around, the Elton Blog is reminded of Philadelphia Freedom.
Elton dedicated his 1975 hit to his friend Billie Jean King and the sound of Philadelphia. In fact, when Elton planned a fundraiser to fight HIV/AIDS for 4 July 2005 (which generated over a million dollars), he chose that Pennsylvania city.
Back to the tune, which was later covered by Hall & Oates on Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie
Taupin . . . There’s a reference to ”finding the answer on the road” (if the cause was right). That, and the chorus about shining a light are precursors to another anthemic track, Answer in the Sky. The 2004 Peachtree Road song featured words like ”If you stare into darkness, you might see celestial light.”
While Philadelphia Freedom was also meant as a tribute to King’s team, Bernie wasn’t crazy about the title, and opted not to write specifically about tennis. That was fine with Billie, who told the Inquirer in 2012, she appreciated the stringed and horned instruments, with their soul and funk effects.
Even so, at one point, Elton seemed to grow tired of it. He complained that the ”bloody thing” was going up the American charts again. He even found it ”embarrassing” to keep hearing himself on AM radio.
Wouldn’t lots of other artists like to deal with this issue?
