music.wikisort.org - Composition

"Freedom of Choice" is a song by the American new wave band Devo, written by Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale. It appears on the album of the same name.

"Freedom of Choice"
Single by Devo
from the album Freedom of Choice
B-side	"Snowball"
Released	1980
Genre	Punk rock post-punk
Length	3:28
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Mark Mothersbaugh Gerald Casale
Producer(s)	Robert Margouleff
Devo singles chronology
"Gates of Steel" (1980) "Freedom of Choice" (1980) "Through Being Cool" (1981)
Music video
"Freedom of Choice" on YouTube

The line "In ancient Rome there was a poem about a dog who had two bones. He picked at one, he licked the other, he went in circles 'till he dropped dead," resembles the Buridan's ass paradox about the nature of free will, with a dog changed for the donkey who dies when he can't decide which bone to eat. Ultimate Classic Rock critic Dave Swanson refers to this line as "a sarcastic view of the main subject."[1]

Swanson rated "Freedom of Choice" as Devo's 10th best song, particularly praising its riff.[1]

The single itself has no defined A or B side and instead instructs buyers to "Use your Freedom of Choice" in deciding which song is on which side. The cover and label include two empty checkboxes on either side which allow either "Freedom of Choice" or "Snowball" to be the A or B side.

Promotional music video

In the music video to "Freedom of Choice," the band appeared as aliens. This video also featured professional skateboarders of the day.

Chart performance

Chart (1980)	Position
US Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100[2][3]	103
US Hot Dance Club Songs	8
Australia ARIA Top 100[4]	71

References

External links

• "Freedom of Choice" at Discogs (list of releases)

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