When Rolling Stone magazine reviews an artist, you know that they’re of a certain pedigree. In this month’s edition, editors shine the spotlight on two-time Eurovision contestants Jedward. Deservedly so. Despite the hecklers, the occasional mockery and their own professional diversions, the twins have proven that they are not just a flash in the pan.

“Free Spirit”, the lead single and title track of their fourth album, is a bridge between their teen-pop roots and something decidedly more mature. That growth stems from their own efforts: The Grimes brothers have composed, written, arranged and produced many of the tracks on the album, including “Free Spirit”. Their vocals are coming into their own, and they sing with 100% committment. At 22, Jedward have matured and are heading in the right direction.

John and Edward came to prominence in 2009 as finalists on the UK’s X Factor. Since then, they have released a handful of hit singles, and three Irish number one albums. They’ve appeared on highly billed reality programmes, and extended their band presence as far as Canada and Korea. All of that helped them land two consecutive appearances at the Eurovision Song Contest—and two places in the finals. They recently bagged two awards in the Eurovision Book of World Records, and have reportedly earned a combined income of nearly 7 million euros. Cha-ching!

Letting go of Louis Walsh as their manager probably sparked their recent artistic flourish. The music industry is brutal, and Jedward are ready to swim with the sharks. If this track is anything to go by, they’re not just treading water but making waves. “Free Spirit” has been on repeat as I pen this review, and I am not pressing pause anytime soon.

Score: 4/5

Deban Aderemi is a London-based correspondent for wiwibloggs.com. You can find him on Twitter @debanaderemi. You can also like our Facebook page to keep up to date with all the latest news from Jedward.

jedward

Free Spirit Lyrics — Jedward

Only her flame can light me up
She ignited a spark that my heart sets off
She took me higher than I’ve been before
The girl’s a free spirit

We came from different worlds but we found each other
Somehow the stars brought us closer together
Her character exploded like fireworks
That girl’s a free spirit

Nothing can get her down,
No barriers could stop her now
She’s got the power in her heart
The girl’s a free spirit

There’s something about those eyes
The girl’s a free spirit
I’ve seen the hope in her heart
The girl’s a free spirit
Always stands for what she believes
The girls a free spirit
Everything I wish for and more
The girls a free spirit

Like a butterfly she represents freedom
Awaken my soul now I feel reborn
I see her mix it up when she walks in the room
The girl’s a free spirit

When it comes to love she takes that chance
You will never see her giving up
She lives in the moment, doesn’t need to impress
That girl’s a free spirit

She’s all the things love should be
Not a day goes by that I don’t think of her
She’s living outside the box
The girl’s a free spirit

There’s something about those eyes
The girl’s a free spirit
I’ve seen the hope in her heart
The girl’s a free spirit
Always stands for what she believes
The girl’s a free spirit
Everything I wish for and more
The girls a free spirit

Only her flame can light me up
She ignited a spark that my heart set off
She took me higher than I’ve been before
The girl’s a free spirit

We come from different worlds but we found each other
Somehow the stars brought us closer together
Her character exploded like fireworks
That girl’s a free spirit

There’s something about those eyes
The girl’s a free spirit
I’ve seen the hope in her heart
The girl’s a free spirit
Always stands for what she believes
The girls a free spirit
Everything I wish for and more
The girls a free spirit

The girls a free spirit
Free spirit

 

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Deven O'Kearney
Deven O'Kearney
9 years ago

HI Darren Sorry I could not get back to you last night. I was in bed. : D Even though I am working on Eirevision (I think I told you about it before) I would not mind internal selection. It worked for the Netherlands and Austria. But my biggest fear is that if RTE internally select our entry next year, they will send Johnny Logan or Paul Harrington and expect to still win Eurovision. Look what happened to Niamh Kavanagh and Charlotte Perelli (nearly failed to qualify for Sweden in 2008)!!!!!! I think that next year, regardless of the selection… Read more »

Darren
Darren
9 years ago

@Deven I think Ireland have a great chance next year, as you said they were the very first country to announce their participation in Austria 2015, plus they are changing the selection process (which is needed badly IMO) and they are gunna be using either The Hit (made for selecting a Eurovision entry) or internal selection. Personally I would love to see Jedward back (Hate them, but it works so well) or someone like Imelda May (that’ll never happen). I would love to see Dublin host a Eurovision though, even if it is just the once, I was too young… Read more »

Deven O'Kearney
Deven O'Kearney
9 years ago

Hi Darren, How you doin’? (I have gone all F.R.I.E.N.D.S. as you can see. 😀 ) Thanks for putting Romania in my head. You know I have actually told myself in November that Romania would win Eurovision in 2014 and that it would be Bucharest 2015. I stopped believing that when the UK selected Molly, Sweden selected Sanna Nielsen and Armenia selected ”Not Alone” for Aram MP3. Now that I think about it, Germany, Denmark and Estonia won’t win for at least 8 years. So yeah, this is my NEW prediction for 2015 (At the moment): Who will win Eurovision… Read more »

Darren
Darren
9 years ago

@Deven

I doubt Germany will win again in this decade, I dont think Sweden, Belgium, Denmark or Estonia will do it either. I forgot about Romania actually. Romania are gunna win soon too! They always score well. But its definitely Netherlands, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Romania and maybe Iceland in 2019 😛 haha!

Deven O'Kearney
Deven O'Kearney
9 years ago

Hi Darren

Yeah. Good man on predicting a win for ICELAND (I wonder what Eurovision would be like in Reykjavik!!!!), IRELAND and NETHERLANDS.

If I am right, these countries will win Eurovision in the next 5 years (IN NO ORDER):

Hungary
Romania
Netherlands or Belgium
Ireland
Germany/Sweden/Denmark or Estonia (1 of these countries.)

Please get back to me as soon as possible. 😀 😀 😀

Darren
Darren
9 years ago

Jedward not only have a massive fan base in Ireland, but also in the UK, Denmark, Sweden (love them), Estonia, Finland, Norway, Germany and Austria (next years host) so I think it would be worthwhile sending them back to Eurovision for Ireland. They only failed in 2012 because it was too soon after the 2011 contest and waterline was just an average pop song. And @Deven, Im glad I am not the only one to prophesisze an Irish victory before the decade is out. within the next 5 years, I predict wins for Hungary, Netherlands, Italy, Ireland and possibly Iceland.… Read more »

Deven O'Kearney
Deven O'Kearney
9 years ago

Hi guys

Don’t forget the whole of Europe know and love JEDWARD and should they represent Ireland next year in Vienna, Ireland could very easily win Eurovision 2015 with these lads because not only have they gone from strength to strength with their music and they have huge televoting support, but the juries will start taking a shine to them.

@Simon Cowell, If they represent Ireland next year and they win, you will regret giving them a NO at their X Factor Audition. 😀 😀 😀 😀

Deven O'Kearney
Deven O'Kearney
9 years ago

Hi Robyn

Yeah, I agree. RTE need to find a way to win the Eurovision without JEDWARD first. It is doable for Ireland to win again if they just put more work into it. We are a very musical country that has a lot of variety. The conclusion is, Ireland WILL win the Eurovision Song Contest within the next 5 years if we just focus more on it. This ‘My Lovely Horse’ approach is beyond a joke at this stage and it needs to end BIG TIME. Horse’ app

Deven O'Kearney
Deven O'Kearney
9 years ago

Hi guys

Listen can I be honest and say that I HATED these lads on the X Factor. But now that they are more mature as artists and they are singing much better songs, I would have no problems with them representing Ireland in Vienna next year. If the staging is kept simple and their song is OUTSTANDING, it could very easily Dublin 2016.

Lisa
Lisa
9 years ago

Free Spirit illustrates the Jedward ethos to a tee – aim high dream big, don’t be pushed aside by those who say it can’t be done. Live life to the full. I discovered them at ESC 2011 and saw a spark in them that made me want more – and I’m glad I trusted my instincts. Free Spirit is a song that (if it were 3 minutes long) could easily have slotted into Eurovision this year with it’s theme of acceptance of individuality. I look forward to them writing a winning song – with them singing it.

Darren
Darren
9 years ago

I kind of want to see them return to Eurovison for Ireland next year. RTE should pick them internally and we should vote on their songs. I personally am not a huge fan of the twins but I loved Lipstick in 2011. Waterline was okay in 2012 but was a bit of a step backwards from Lipstick, they really should have picked luminous as their 2012 entry, wouldnt have won as Loreen was the clear favorite, but probably would have came second. Jed ward should come back for Ireland. The are kind of our only hope at getting a good… Read more »

Deven O'Kearney
Deven O'Kearney
9 years ago

I think that Ireland would have easily won in 2011 with Free Spirit. Had we had sent this song 3 years ago it would definitely had been Dublin 2012.

mikateriyan
mikateriyan
9 years ago

i kind of hope jedward represent us in 2015 considering there pretty much the only artists that can get ireland double figure in points…

Easpag
Easpag
9 years ago

Being totally honest, I never liked Jedward. They annoyed me on the XFactor, I thought Lipstick was horrible, and Waterline wasn’t great.

But this is actually fairly good. Their voices have vastly improved, and the song is quite nice. It’s a bit repetitive, and it is agonisingly long, but still a good effort from the twins.

Gerri
Gerri
9 years ago

This is a truely amazing song from two incredibly talented guys! The rest of the album is going to sensational if this track is anything to go by!

Iman
Iman
9 years ago

It’s amazing seeing that everyone (included the ones who didn’t like them before) is loving their new single ‘Free Spirit’. They’ve become men and I’m so proud of them.
JEDWARD FOREVER <3

Rachel
Rachel
9 years ago

Wow these guys are amazing i cannot believe they haven’t won a grammy for this song they have so many new songs that are going to be outta this world i just know it and the titles sound like amazing songs …its gonna be a great great album

Richard
Richard
9 years ago

i love these guys and i think they are so talented and with there new music they are going to take over the world you never now what they are going to do next all i can say is watch out these guys mean business

Marcelo N
9 years ago

Interesting enough so that we may keep an eye on them. Kudos on releasing THEIR own free creative spirit.
Although this (this song and what I’ve heard by them) is not really my cup of tea, I wish them the best and lots of creative inspiration and focus 😉

Juliet
Juliet
9 years ago

I always thought John and Edward were very talented young men so it’s nice to see them realise the potential I saw in them. Free Spirit is an excellent song.

River
River
9 years ago

It is so gratifying to see them finally emerge as artists. Saw this potential in them on X factor in 2009. Where many people believed the Simon Cowell plot line that they were talentless many of us saw a spark, the X factor if you will, and suspected they were simply inexperienced and were determined to grow. And grown they have! It is nice to finally see these Free Spirits emerge and have something to show people that they really were creative and talented all along just needed some time transform.