"Independence" is a 1993 song recorded by Scottish singer Lulu. It was released as the first single from her eleventh album by the same name, and was by many seen as the singer's comeback, after not releasing new material since 1982. The single became a hit in Europe and the US, peaking at number 11 on the UK Singles Chart, number 34 on the Eurochart Hot 100 and at number 3 on the BillboardHot Dance Club Play in the US. It received remixes by Brothers In Rhythm, C.J. Mackintosh and Tony Humphries. A music video was also made to accompany the song.
Editor Jose F. Promis from AllMusic described the song as "housey and anthem-like", adding that it stands as "one of the better dance-pop songs of the decade."[1]Larry Flick from Billboard called it a "delicious pop/house anthem", noting that "she offers an assured vocal amid rousing mixes that will slam during mainstream peak-hour sets."[2] He stated that Lulu is in "excellent voice on a disco-minded house jam. Anthemic tune has a sing-along chorus that will stick in the heads of club and radio folks upon impact. Could be the first step in Lulu's carefully planned return to pop prominence."[3] John Carmen from Cashbox said it's "one of those semi-liberated kinda anthems that the Brits eat up from their female pop stars."[4]Liverpool Echo wrote, "A surprising comeback, this is Lulu's first new single in ten years and as usual she is keeping up with the trends. The record is typically bouncy, the voice as distinctively husky as ever, and the production today's version of disco."[5]
Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, "In recent years we've seen Sandie Shaw and Dusty Springfield re-emerging in the most unexpected musical contexts. Now another grand lady of '60s pop returns with an uptempo Lisa Stansfield-type of song."[6] Alan Jones from Music Week gave it four out of five, calling it a "spirited and soulful comeback" and "excellent".[7] Matthew Cole from the magazine's RM Dance Update wrote, "The ginger bob returns to her soul roots with a very catchy song, sweetly sung, all boosted by a gutsy CJ Mackintosh mix that will be preferred to the Brothers In Rhythm version. One to shout about — a surefire hit."[8] Another editor, James Hamilton deemed it an "unhurried classy Lisa Stansfield-ish garage loper".[9] Pop Rescue stated that Lulu "delivers a really warm and rich relaxed sound", noting it as "a wonderful track", and "a perfect way to introduce a 60's UK megastar to a discerning 90's audience." They added, "A pop gem, and it rightly gave her a #11 UK hit."[10]Spin compared the singer to Stansfield, writing that the singer "assumes the mantle of soul survivor, achieving Stansfield status".[11] And Sunday Life said the singer "steps into Lisa Stansfield-disco territory" on the track.[12]
^Cole, Matthew (16 January 1993). "Hot Vinyl Buzzing"(PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 7. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
^Hamilton, James (23 January 1993). "Djdirectory"(PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 6. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
