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At Last I Am Free
An original and two covers — a Rate a Record Challenge
It may be that Chic’s “At Last I Am Free” from their monumental C’Est Chic album can’t be improved on. But it can be transformed. As a Rate-a-Record judge, how do you compare the original with these two covers? (Rating system below, but in this case feel free to free yourself from the rules — I don’t think Terry Barr would object.)
Chic, “At Last I Am Free”
Nile Rogers’ Chic is often classified as disco, but in my opinion, this song transcends genres. It’s a timeless celebration about being freed from a painful relationship.
Robert Wyatt, “At Last I Am Free”
If the original is joyous, this cover is oddly wistful — Wyatt (who was no stranger to Marxist engagement) seems to anticipate the disillusionment that many felt after the collapse of communism as a form of belief. Whether the song is about political beliefs or romantic entanglements, Wyatt suggests that smelling the coffee may not be the best part of waking up.
