I'm a Freak

For other uses, see I'm a Freak (disambiguation).

"I'm a Freak" is the third English (and overall fifth) single from Enrique Iglesias's album, Sex and Love. It was the first single from the album to be released worldwide. The single was released on 11 January 2014 and features American rapper Pitbull.^[1]

"I'm a Freak"
Single by Enrique Iglesias featuring Pitbull
from the album Sex and Love
Released	11 January 2014 (2014-01-11)
Recorded	2012–13
Genre	Dance-pop electro house
Length	3:38
Label	Republic
Songwriter(s)	Enrique Iglesias Armando Perez Niles Dhar Marty James
Producer(s)	The Cataracs Niles Dhar
Enrique Iglesias singles chronology
"El Perdedor" (2013) "I'm a Freak" (2014) "Bailando" (2014)
Pitbull singles chronology
"Timber" (2013) "I'm a Freak" (2014) "I Love You... Te Quiero" (2014)

The single was commercially successful and a hit in Europe. It became a top ten hit in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Scotland, Finland, Belgium (Flanders), Poland, Serbia, top twenty hit in Czech Republic, Russia, Spain and top forty hit in Bulgaria, and Austria.

Background

The single was scheduled to be released in December 2012 but was postponed for unknown reasons. The track got leaked on the internet and social media on 31 December 2013.^[2]

This is the third single on which Iglesias and Pitbull have collaborated after the likes of "I Like It" and "I Like How It Feels".^[3] They have also collaborated on Pitbull's songs "Come 'n' Go" and "Tchu Tchu Tcha" off of his albums, Planet Pit (2011) and Global Warming (2012) respectively.

The cover of the single was uploaded on Iglesias's official website on 8 January 2014.^[4]

Composition

"I'm a Freak" is a dance-pop and electro house song. It was written by Iglesias, Pitbull, Rome Ramirez and Niles Hollowell-Dhar. The song was produced by The Cataracs who also produced Iglesias's recent tracks "Turn the Night Up" and "Heart Attack". Idolator described the single's music production as "Bouncy "electropop" and lyrics as "provocative". They stated that the song sounds more like something you’d hear during a particularly lively night out at a suburban P.F. Chang’s than it does like anything that captures an authentic piece of the Miami zeitgeist, it’ll probably be a crowd-pleaser.^[5]

Critical reception

 

Enrique Iglesias performing with Pitbull in 2015

"I'm a Freak" generally received positive reviews. Jake Hamilton gave the song an A−, stating that the song is a chart conquer for spring.^[6] AMPed Music described the song as another club-ready anthem and a decent track. They also stated that the song "still oozes enough party mojo that would get any party animal crazy on the dance floor."^[7] ReDigi described it as "an unsurprisingly pure party anthem featuring a typically hedonistic production from The Cataracs ...Despite its wave of EDM bleeps, pulsing beats and suggestive lyrics, the song is a little more melodic and a little less bombastic than recent club bangers 'Turn The Night Up' and 'Finally Found You.'"^[1]

Haley Longman of OK! magazine gave a positive review and stated:

Nothing will ever compare to the catchiness of “I Like It” probably, but Enrique and Pitbull’s newest collab comes pretty darn close. When Enrique says “cause I’m a freAKK” in the chorus and his voice goes up like that…can’t handle. This song is so good. And it’s probably the 2014 version of “Timber,” so…^[8]

However Direct Lyrics gave a negative review with 1.5/5 stars, stating that the song doesn't look too bright and that the lyrics of the song are decent but the beat is weak.^[9]

Chart performance

"I'm a Freak" was commercially successful and a hit in Europe. It became a top 10 hit in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Scotland, Finland, Belgium (Flanders), Poland, Serbia, top 20 hit in Czech Republic, Russia, Spain and top 40 hit in Bulgaria, and Austria. The single made a debut at No. 40 on Billboard Dance/Electronic Songs.^[10]

Music video

The official music video premiered on 31 January 2014 on Iglesias' official Vevo account on YouTube. The music video is directed by Colin Tilley who has also directed Enrique's Heart Attack music video. The video has been viewed 80 million times (Aug 2017).

Track listing

Digital download

1. "I'm a Freak" (featuring Pitbull) – 3:39

Other versions

• Dave Aude Party Vocal – 5:30
• Dave Aude Party Dub – 5:30
• Dave Aude Club Vocal – 5:26
• 7th Heaven Club Mix – 7:04
• 7th Heaven Radio Edit – 3:46

Live performances

Iglesias was scheduled to perform the song at the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit event on 3 February 2014. He also performed the song at a private show on 14 January as well as in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and New York with Pitbull the day after.^[11][12][13]

He performed the song on The Voice UK on 29 March 2014. The song was also performed live on 21 June at Capital Summertime Ball 2014 at Wembley Stadium in London.^[14]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2014) Peak position Australia (ARIA)^[15] 45 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[16] 39 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)^[17] 60 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)^[18] 8 Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia Dance)^[19] 23 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)^[20] 52 Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)^[21] 18 European Hot 100 Singles^[22] 12 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[23] 10 Germany (Official German Charts)^[24] 56 Ireland (IRMA)^[25] 4 Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)^[26] 9 Poland (Dance Top 50)^[27] 9 Russia Airplay (TopHit)^[28] 28 Scotland (OCC)^[29] 2 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)^[30] 66 Spain (PROMUSICAE)^[31] 17 Spanish Airplay Chart (Promusicae)^[32] 2 Spanish Top 100 Streaming (Promusicae)^[33] 28 UK Singles (OCC)^[34] 4 US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)^[35] 5 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)^[36] 38 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)^[37] 12 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)^[38] 3 US Hot 100 Airplay (Radio Songs)^[39] 70

Year-end charts Chart (2014) Position Russia Airplay (TopHit)^[40] 159 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)^[41] 94 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)^[42] 42

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Mexico (AMPROFON)^[43]	Gold	30,000^*
United Kingdom (BPI)^[44]	Silver	200,000^‡
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "Song Review: Enrique Iglesias feat. Pitbull – "Freak"". Archived from the original on 23 January 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
2. "Enrique Iglesias' Track With Pitbull Freakily Leaks Early! - Perez Hilton".
3. "Enrique Iglesias teams up with Pitbull for new single 'Freak' - listen". Digital Spy.
4. "Cover: Enrique Iglesias feat. Pitbull – "Freak"".^{[dead link]}
5. "Enrique Iglesias & Pitbull Team Up Again On "Freak": Listen". 7 January 2014.
6. "New Music Releases: Week of January 13, 2014".
7. . Ampedmusic.com. 20 January 2014. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
8. "New Music Releases – Lucy Hale Country Song Enrique Iglesias Pitbull". OK! Magazine. 7 January 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
9. "New Music: Enrique Iglesias feat. Pitbull - "I'm A Freak" [HQ Studio + Review]". Directlyrics.com. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
10. "Avicii Doubles Up In Hot Dance/Electronic Songs Top Five". Billboard. 17 January 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
11. "Twitter / enrique305: I'm performing at the Sports". Twitter. 13 January 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
12. "San Juan, PR - Get New Singles I'm A Freak ft. Pitbull" and "El Perdedor" Now!". Enriqueiglesias.com. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
13. "New York, NY - Get New Singles I'm A Freak ft. Pitbull" and "El Perdedor" Now!". Enriqueiglesias.com. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
14. "Enrique Iglesias Gets 80,000 People Hot Under The Collar At The #CapitalSTB".
15. "Enrique Iglesias feat. Pitbull – I'm a Freak". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
16. "Enrique Iglesias feat. Pitbull – I Like It" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
17. "Enrique Iglesias feat. Pitbull – I'm a Freak" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
18. "Enrique Iglesias feat. Pitbull – I'm a Freak" (in French). Ultratip.
19. "Ultratop Belgian Charts". ultratop.be. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
20. "Enrique Iglesias Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
21. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 201415 into search.
22. "Euro Top 100 Chart (week 16)". Hitzound.nl. 15 April 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
23. "Enrique Iglesias feat. Pitbull: I'm a Freak" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
24. "Enrique Iglesias feat. Pitbull – I'm a Freak" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
25. ". Irish Singles Chart.
26. "Enriqe Iglesias Chart History: Mexiko Ingles Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
27. "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Dance Top 50. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
28. "Russia Airplay Chart for 2014-04-21." TopHit. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
29. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
30. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201410 into search.
31. "Enrique Iglesias feat. Pitbull – I'm a Freak" Canciones Top 50.
32. "Promusicae".
33. "SPANISH DANCE CHARTS (03/05/2014) Week 18 - Charts nacionales, internacionales y medios: - ForoDance.com, Solo Música Dance". Forodance.com. May 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
34. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
35. "Enrique Iglesias Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
36. "Enrique Iglesias Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
37. "Enrique Iglesias Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard.
38. "Enrique Iglesias Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
39. "Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull - I'm A Freak - Music Charts". Acharts.us. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
40. (in Russian). TopHit. Archived from the original on 1 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
41. Copsey, Rob (31 December 2014). "The Official Top 100 Biggest Songs of 2014 revealed". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
42. "Hot Dance/Electronic Songs – Year-End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
43. "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Type Enrique Iglesias feat. Pitbull in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and I'm a Freak in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
44. "British single certifications – Enrique Iglesias feat. Pitbull – I'm a Freak". British Phonographic Industry.