Free Man in Paris

"Free Man In Paris" is a song written by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. It appeared on her 1974 album Court and Spark, as well as her live album Shadows and Light. It is one of her most popular songs.

"Free Man in Paris"
Single by Joni Mitchell
from the album Court and Spark
B-side"People's Parties"
ReleasedJuly 1974
Recorded1973
GenreFolk jazz, jazz fusion
Length3:02
LabelAsylum
Songwriter(s)Joni Mitchell
Producer(s)Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell singles chronology
"Help Me"
(1974)		 "Free Man in Paris"
(1974)		 "Big Yellow Taxi (live)"
(1974)

The song is about music agent/promoter David Geffen, a close friend of Mitchell in the early 1970s, and describes Geffen during a trip the two made to Paris with Robbie and Dominique Robertson.[1] While Geffen is never mentioned by name, Mitchell describes how he works hard creating hits and launching careers but can find some peace while vacationing in Paris. Mitchell sings "I was a free man in Paris. I felt unfettered and alive. Nobody calling me up for favors. No one's future to decide."

"Free Man in Paris" went to number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 and to number two on the Easy Listening chart.[2]

Composition and style

The home key of the song is A-Major. The frequent substitution of "flatted" scale degrees (flat-6 and flat-7; that is, in A-major, F Major and G Major in place of F# Minor and G# Diminished) adds a jazzy folky color to the song.

Billboard described it as having a "good mix of acoustic and electric instrumentals" with Mitchell's "distinctive vocals."[3]

Notable versions and covers

In the 1970s, an instrumental version of the song was the theme music used for CBC Television's The Saturday Evening News, which aired at 6 p.m. till 1982 when it was replaced with Saturday Report. "Free Man In Paris" has been covered by Aimee Mann, Neil Diamond, Sufjan Stevens (on the album A Tribute to Joni Mitchell), Adrienne Young, Phish, Elton John, Alanis Morissette and JoJo who changed the title to "White Girl in Paris".[4] It is ranked No. 470 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

In April 2000 the song was performed by Elton John at an all-star celebration of Mitchell, at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, presented by the TNT network.[5]

Personnel

References
  1. Joni Mitchell looks at both sides now: her hits – and misses, by Robert Hilburn, Los Angeles Times, December 7, 1996.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–2001. Record Research. p. 172.
  3. "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. July 13, 1974. p. 47. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  4. "Jun 25, 2010 Setlist". Phish.net. June 2, 2010. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
  5. "Joni Mitchell – A Chronology of Appearances". Retrieved September 3, 2016.
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