''Freedom of '76'' is an EP by

Ween Ween is an American rock band from New Hope, Pennsylvania, formed in 1984 by Aaron Freeman and Mickey Melchiondo, better known by their respective stage names, Gene and Dean Ween. Generally categorized as an alternative rock band, the band a ...

released in 1994 by

Flying Nun Records Flying Nun Records is a New Zealand independent record label formed in Christchurch in 1981 by music store manager Roger Shepherd. Described by ''The Guardian'' as "one of the world's great independent labels", Flying Nun is notable for bringin ...

. The title song was originally featured on Ween's album ''

Chocolate and Cheese ''Chocolate and Cheese'' is the fourth studio album by the American rock band Ween, originally released by Elektra Records in 1994. It was the first Ween album to be recorded in a professional studio, in contrast to the crude four-track home reco ...

''. A music video for the track was directed by Spike Jonze. It depicts Ween (

Gene In biology, the word gene (from , ; "... Wilhelm Johannsen coined the word gene to describe the Mendelian units of heredity..." meaning ''generation'' or ''birth'' or ''gender'') can have several different meanings. The Mendelian gene is a b ...

and

Dean Dean may refer to: People * Dean (given name) * Dean (surname), a surname of Anglo-Saxon English origin * Dean (South Korean singer), a stage name for singer Kwon Hyuk * Dean Delannoit, a Belgian singer most known by the mononym Dean Titles * ...

) attempting to steal the Liberty Bell only to be caught, arrested, and sentenced by the authorities. A real event occurred at

Independence Hall Independence Hall is a historic civic building in Philadelphia, where both the United States Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were debated and adopted by America's Founding Fathers. The structure forms the centerpi ...

, where the video crew filmed the night before. A prop hand grenade was left from the shoot only to be discovered by a young tourist the next day. The music video was filmed circa March 1995.

References to Philadelphia

The song makes various references to

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...

such as: * South Street * Bacon Steak (A Philadelphia-specific favorite sandwich) *The Liberty Bell *The film ''

Mannequin A mannequin (also called a dummy, lay figure, or dress form) is a doll, often articulated, used by artists, tailors, dressmakers, window dressers and others, especially to display or fit clothing and show off different fabrics and textiles. P ...

'' being filmed in Philadelphia's

Woolworth's Woolworth, Woolworth's, or Woolworths may refer to: Businesses * F. W. Woolworth Company, the original US-based chain of "five and dime" (5¢ and 10¢) stores * Woolworths Group (United Kingdom), former operator of the Woolworths chain of shops ...

(although the film was actually shot at

Wanamaker's John Wanamaker Department Store was one of the first department stores in the United States. Founded by John Wanamaker in Philadelphia, it was influential in the development of the retail industry including as the first store to use price tags. ...

) * Boyz II Men (whose hometown is Philadelphia) * Fairmount Park *

Boathouse Row Boathouse Row is a historic site located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on the east bank of the Schuylkill River just north of the Fairmount Water Works and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It consists of a row of 15 boathouses housing social and ro ...

Track listing

CD #"Freedom of '76" #"Freedom of '76" (Shaved Dog mix) #"Now I'm Freaking Out" #"Pollo Asado" 7-inch EP #"Freedom of '76" #"Freedom of '76" (Shaved Dog mix) #"Bakersfield" 7-inch picture disc #"Freedom of '76" #"Pollo Asado"

Personnel

Dean Ween Michael Melchiondo Jr. (born September 25, 1970), better known by his stage name Dean Ween, is an American guitarist, singer and a founding member of the alternative rock group Ween. He is currently active in the groups Ween, Moistboyz and The ...

guitar *

Gene Ween Aaron Freeman (born March 17, 1970), better known by his stage name Gene Ween, is an American singer, guitarist and a founding member of the experimental alternative rock group Ween. Freeman, along with childhood friend Dean Ween (Mickey Melch ...

guitar, vocals * Andrew Weissproducer *Track 2 engineered by Mario Caldato Jr. and mixed by

Mike D Michael Louis Diamond (born November 20, 1965), better known as Mike D, is an American rapper, musician, and music producer. He is best known as a founding member of the hip hop group Beastie Boys. Early life Diamond was born in New York Cit ...

at Bundy's Playhouse *Track 4 originally from ''

The Pod ''The Pod'' is the second studio album by American rock band Ween. It was released on September 20, 1991, by Shimmy-Disc. Production The album was recorded from January to October 1990, at the Pod on Van Sant Road in Solebury Township, Pennsylva ...

References

1994 EPs Flying Nun Records EPs Ween EPs Songs about Pennsylvania {{1990s-alt-rock-album-stub