"Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" had given them their first UK number one and had then reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.

"Freedom" was number one in the UK for three weeks,[3] and featured on the album Make It Big, which was issued at the same time.

[7] A reworked version of the song with altered lyrics (but still performed by the duo) was used to promote Maxell's line of audio cassettes in 1984.

[8] When the single was released in the United States, the song was remixed and extended an extra 20 seconds.

Cash Box said that "George Michael's R&B tinged vocals soar with the tune's catchy refrain.

The recording made history, becoming the first country hit in the UK and Europe to feature overtly gay lyrics.