"Freed from Desire" is a eurodance song written and recorded by Italian singer and songwriter Gala. It was released in 1997 as the first single from her debut album, Come into My Life (1997). It was a hit in many European countries, reaching number-one in France and Belgium. The track was released in the UK in July 1997, peaking at number two and spending eight weeks inside the top 10 and 14 weeks in total in the top 75. Gala achieved a diamond recording certification in France, a double-platinum certification in Belgium and the United Kingdom, and a gold certification in Italy. The song was written and composed by Gala, and produced by Filippo Andrea Carmeni and Maurizio Molella, two Italian producers. Critical reception In a list of "The Top 10 Dance Tunes of the '90s" for Attitude in 2016, "Freed from Desire" was ranked at number three. Melody Maker complimented its "driller-killer Europop irresistibility". A reviewer from Music Week gave the song four out of five, writing, "A chart topper across Europe, this has similar appeal to Crystal Waters' "Gypsy Woman". That reached number two and, with the right exposure, this could, too." Pop Rescue called it a "great" song, noting "the handclaps, the beats, drum fills, whirling synths and that bassline, and of course that catchy 'ner ner ner ner-ner ner her' section." They added it as "a fine specimen" of "90s dance". Dave Fawbert from ShortList described it as an "absolute, total banger", and "a song that the Beatles would have been proud to have written." Chart performance "Freed from Desire" went on to become a huge hit all over Europe, becoming the singer's most successful single. It peaked at number-one in Belgium (in both Flanders and Wallonia) and France, and entered the top 10 also in Denmark (7), Iceland (9), Ireland (2), Italy (2), the Netherlands (5), Scotland (3), and the United Kingdom. In the latter, the song reached number two on the UK Singles Chart on August 3, 1997. It spent 8 weeks inside the top 10 and 14 weeks in total in the top 75, while peaking at number four on the UK Dance Singles Chart in the same period. On the Eurochart Hot 100, "Freed from Desire" also peaked within the top 10, reaching its best position as number four in December 1996. Additionally, it was a top 20 hit in Austria (16),