Free Your Mind (song)

"Free Your Mind"
Single by En Vogue
from the album Funky Divas
Released September 24, 1992 (US)
Format CD single, cassette single
Recorded December 1991—January 1992
Genre
Length Album Version 4:52
LP Edit 4:10
Label East West
Writer(s) Denzil Foster, Thomas McElroy
Producer(s) Foster & McElroy
En Vogue singles chronology
"Giving Him Something He Can Feel"
(1992)		 "Free Your Mind"
(1992)		 "Give It Up, Turn It Loose"
(1992)

"Free Your Mind" is a song by Grammy Award-nominated American female group En Vogue. Released on September 24, 1992, "Free Your Mind" is the third single released from their critically acclaimed hit album Funky Divas. The anti-prejudice became a top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and a top 20 hit on the UK Singles Chart. Allmusic's review critic, Jose F. Promis, voted the single very favorable and rated the album its highest rating at five.[2]

Song information

"Free Your Mind" was recorded between December 1991 - January 1992, composed and produced by Foster and McElroy.[3] The track includes a chorus line of the George Clinton/Funkadelic song, "Free Your Mind and Your Ass Will Follow" with his permission. The guitar and bass tracks for the song were written and recorded by San Francisco-based guitarist Jinx Jones. The opening line: "Prejudice, wrote a song about it. Like to hear it? Here it go!", is adapted from a line originally used by David Alan Grier's character Calhoun Tubbs from Fox's In Living Color.

Commercial performance

"Free Your Mind" debuted at number #89 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 the week of September 12, 1992. Within one week, it jumped to number 45, then to number 25, and continued to make impressive strides until it eventually peaked at number 8 the week of October 31, 1992. Altogether, "Free Your Mind" spent 16 weeks in the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100.

Music video

The song is known for its award-winning music video, directed by Mark Romanek. On January 21, 1993, En Vogue performed the song on a sixth-season episode of the NBC sitcom A Different World (where they guest-starred as Vernon Gaines' nieces). It was certified gold by the RIAA in late 1992. It is one of several songs to feature all four members of the group on lead vocals.

Janet Jackson included the video in the Countdown of her twenty-five favorite videos of all-time at number eleven.[4]

Cover versions and other use

The Band covered the song on their 1996 album High on the Hog, and by Sub7even in 2002.

The song was covered as part of a mash-up on Fox's Glee along with "Stop! In the Name of Love" by the Supremes in the episode "Never Been Kissed".

Swedish band Slapdash covered the song, track 13 on the album Actual Reality.

The song was used on the show "Modern Family" during a flash mob scene.

Greek pop star Elena Paparizou who performed a cover of the song at the first MadWalk By Vodafone on February 2, 2011 along with her smash hit single Baby It's Over, dressed by Apostolos Mitropoulos.

The track has been included in Les Mills' most recent BodyVive class. The song was used in the trailer for the Seth Rogen comedy The Interview.

The song was used in the 1994 film The Cowboy Way.

Formats and track listings

  1. "Free Your Mind" (LP Edit) – 4:10
  2. "Just Can't Stay Away" – 5:11
  1. "Free Your Mind" (LP Edit) – 4:10
  2. "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" (LP Version) – 3:55
  3. "Free Your Mind" (Tommy's Spoiled Brat Edit) – 3:58
  4. "Time Goes On" (Dance Remix) – 5:45
  1. "Free Your Mind" (Theo's Rec And Wreck Mix) – 5:41
  2. "Free Your Mind" (Tommy's Spoiled Brat Mix) – 5:00
  3. "Free Your Mind" (James' Club Mix) – 4:55
  4. "Free Your Mind" (Marley Marl Remix) – 5:27
  5. "Lies" (Eddie F Remix) – 5:43

Remix producers

Theo Mizuhara, Martin Van Blockson (UK CD Single)
Theo Mizuhara, James Earley, Marley Marl, DJ Eddie F, Dave Hall (US CD Single)

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards, 1993

MTV Video Music Awards, 1993

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (1992) Peak
position
Australian Singles Chart[6] 3
Dutch Singles Chart[7] 15
Irish Singles Chart[8] 23
New Zealand Singles Chart[9] 12
Canadian Singles Chart 19
German Singles Chart[10] 23
Swedish Singles Chart[11] 29
UK Singles Chart[12] 16
US Billboard Hot 100[13] 8
US Billboard Hot R&B Singles[13] 23
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[13] 39
Chart (2002) Peak
position
German Singles Chart 50

Year-end charts

Chart (1992) Position
US Billboard Hot 100[14] 93

Certifications

Region Certification
United States (RIAA)[15] Gold

See also

References

  1. ↑ Williams. Stereo (April 29, 2016). "Let Love Decide: Prince's 'Diamonds and Pearls'". Spin. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  2. ↑ Promis, Jose F:. "En Vogue - Funky Divas". Allmusic. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  3. ↑ Copyrights Encyclopedia. Don't Think I Make It By Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy
  4. ↑ Janet votes "Free Your Mind" one of her top favorite music video. janet-xone
  5. ↑ "Free Your Mind" (US, CD, Single at Discogs
  6. ↑ AUS Charts > En Vogue. ARIA Charts.
  7. ↑ "NLD Charts > En Vogue". MegaCharts. Retrieved 2014-09-10.
  8. ↑ "The Irish Charts". MegaCharts. Retrieved 2010-10-31.
  9. ↑ "charts.org.nz". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2010-10-31.
  10. ↑ "GER Charts > En Vogue". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 2014-09-10.
  11. ↑ "swedishcharts.com". hitparad.se. Retrieved 2010-10-31.
  12. ↑ "UK Charts > En Vogue". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2014-09-10.
  13. 1 2 3 "Artist Chart History - En Vogue". Billboard.
  14. ↑ "Billboard Top 100 - 1992". Longbored Surfer - Charts. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  15. ↑ RIAA. US Certifications > En Vogue Singles. Retrieved, 2016-10-10

External links

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