Freedom at 21

"Freedom at 21" was released as a single on April 1, 2012. To distribute the single, Third Man Records released 1000 helium balloons attached to flexi-disc copies of the song.[1][2] In addition, the balloons were attached to postcards with directions on how to inform Third Man Records of the discovery.[3] The single was later released via digital download on June 9 and as a 7-inch single on June 11 with the B-side "Inaccessible Mystery".[4][5]

"Freedom at 21" contains elements of hip hop music.[6] Its "clattering drum pattern"[7] was created by placing a tape echo on a drum beat played by Carla Azar.[8]

"Freedom at 21" was nominated for Best Rock Song at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards.[9]

The music video for "Freedom at 21" was directed by Hype Williams and stars Brittany Colombo as a police officer. It was filmed in June 2012 over a five-day period. Filming sessions for the desert scenes occurred in Lancaster, California and lasted between four and five hours per day. The remainder of the video was filmed at a studio in Burbank, California. During production, police officers taught Colombo various maneuvers, such as placing handcuffs on a person. A stunt double was used for shots in which the police officer rides a motorcycle.[10]

The video was uploaded to White's YouTube channel on July 16, 2012.[11] A "blue tint" is present in the video.[12] In the video, White is stopped by a police officer while driving; he is then arrested and placed in jail.[11][12] The video shows footage of White lip-synching to the song's lyrics in his cell interspersed with shots of a "scantily clad inmate".[11][12] She "starts to grind on" White,[12] during which footage of White playing an electric guitar is shown.[11] White eventually escapes his cell, resulting in a car chase in which he is stopped by a barricade created by a group of police officers and their cars. Queens Of The Stone Age frontman Josh Homme makes a cameo as one of the officers.[11][12]

As of August 2018, the music video for "Freedom at 21" has over 13 million views.[11]

Digital download and 7-inch vinyl[4][13]

1. "Freedom at 21"
2. "Inaccessible Mystery"

Adapted from "Freedom at 21" vinyl single liner notes.[13]

"Freedom at 21"

• Jack White – lead vocals, electric guitar solo, writer (music and lyrics), producer, mixing
• Olivia Jean – electric guitar
• Bryn Davies – upright bass
• Carla Azar – drums
• Vance Powell – recording, mixing
• Joshua V. Smith – assistant in recording and mixing
• Mindy Watts – assistant in recording and mixing

"Inaccessible Mystery"

• Jack White – lead vocals, acoustic guitar, vibrachime, writer (music and lyrics), producer
• Johnny Walker – electric guitar
• Jake Orral – amplified acoustic guitar
• Jack Lawrence – bass
• Daru Jones – drums
• Vance Powell – recording, mixing
• Joshua V. Smith – recording, assistant in mixing