Example: In a concert, someone yells, "Freebird!" Why?
2007-03-16 18:57:24 · 7 answers · asked by kaseandannasmom 2 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music
It's commonly considered Lynyrd Skynyrd's magnum opus, so it's incredibly popular.
However, this is not the whole reason it's so popular to yell at concerts. Yelling "Free Bird" started after a live version on the song was released. At a show, Ronnie Van Zant (the lead singer) asks the crowd what song they want to hear. If you listen closely to this particular performance, you'll hear the crowd start chanting "Free Bird, Free Bird." In fact, it's even possible to hear a fan yell "Play Free Bird" at about 25 seconds into the recording. Van Zant responds with "I heard it that time" (or something similar), and the song begins.
This particular live version was the most popular live cut of Free Bird released, so it just kind of snowballed from there. To hear what I'm talking about, check out the version of Free Bird on the album "One More From The Road" (the definitive Skynyrd live album). If you can't find that, the same version appears on "All-Time Greatest Hits," a more recent compilation disc.
The combination of the popularity of the song, and the wide (and repeated) release of that particular live cut combined to spawn many generations of drunken concertgoers yelling "Play Free Bird."
2007-03-16 19:33:58 · answer #1 · answered by NihilisticMystic 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Here's what our good friend Wikipedia had to say about Freebird:
"It has become a popular culture cliché for the audience of almost any concert to shout "Free Bird" as a request to hear the song, regardless of the performer or style of music. This phenomenon began earlier in the 1970s with The Allman Brothers Band's epic "Whipping Post", but then took off to a much greater extent with "Free Bird". This can be traced back to Skynyrd's first live album, 1976's One More From The Road. Skynyrd did not play the song during the main portion of the concert, or even in the encore performance. Instead they saved it for their second encore. After leaving the stage following the first encore of the concert, the crowd was riled by the apparent omission of Skynyrd's signature song. The crowd then began chanting "Free Bird, Free Bird ...". No one left the auditorium. The band then returned to the stage for a second encore and upon taking the microphone Van Zant asked the crowd, "What song is it that you wanna hear?", which was immediately followed by several more shouts of "Free Bird". This interaction is recorded as an intro to the song on the album, and the band responded with a 14-minute version of the song. More recently, they play the song on the first encore.
In the 1980's, Chicago Radio DJ Kevin Matthews urged his listeners to shout "Free Bird!" at a Florence Henderson concert as a sort of joke towards the musician/actress. Credited with starting the tradition of yelling "Free Bird!", he stated that "It was never meant to be yelled at a cool concert -- it was meant to be yelled at someone really lame. If you're going to yell 'Free Bird,' yell 'Free Bird' at a Jim Nabors concert."[1]"
Does that help?
2007-03-16 19:29:36 · answer #2 · answered by Mrmojo6068 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's a song by Lynyrd Skynyrd from the '70's. If someone yells "Freebird", it just means they want to hear it played
2007-03-16 19:03:43 · answer #3 · answered by rainman 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Freebird is like the GREATEST SOUTHERN ROCK song EVER!!! True masterpiece by the great Lynyrd Skynyrd!!!
Cause I'm as free as a bird... And this bird you cannot change!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lord, no I can't chaaaaaangeee!!!!!!
2007-03-16 19:06:51 · answer #4 · answered by Mafia Agent 4207 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It's Lynard Skynard's anthem concert song.I haven't been to a concert for a few years now so I'm guessing they want to hear that bands signature song.
2007-03-16 19:05:34 · answer #5 · answered by Stomper69 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is a legendary song by lynrd skynrd, a great rock band. Most people yell that when they are drunk. It is a great song though.
2007-03-16 19:01:42 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Because they want someone to free the bird from it's cage.
2007-03-16 19:00:59 · answer #7 · answered by Josh D 6 · 1⤊ 5⤋