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Free Your Mind (song)

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"Free Your Mind"
Single by En Vogue
from the album Funky Divas
ReleasedSeptember 24, 1992
RecordedDecember 1991–January 1992
Genre
Length
  • 4:52 (album version)
  • 4:10 (LP edit)
LabelEast West
Songwriter(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)
Music video
"Free Your Mind" on YouTube

"Free Your Mind" is a song by 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 song became a Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and a Top 20 hit on the UK Singles Chart. Billboard named the song No. 41 on their list of 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time.[2] The track was recorded between December 1991 – January 1992, composed and produced by Foster and McElroy.[3] 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. An alternative version of the song with different lyrics appears on the 1992 Summer Olympics compilation album Barcelona Gold.[4]

Critical reception

Quentin Harrison from Albumism described the song as "a searing rock number that challenged racism, sexism and other social phobias head on was all at once, smart, sexy and provocative."[5] AllMusic's review critic, Jose F. Promis, voted the single very favorable and rated the Funky Divas album its highest rating at five.[6] He also called the track a "hard rock smash".[7] Another editor, Stephen Thomas Erlewine described it as "swaggering".[8] Jennifer Bowles from Associated Press called it a "plea for racial tolerance".[9] Daryl Easlea for BBC noted that the song borrows from "heavy metal".[10] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that it "takes in a more edgy direction than in the past." He added that placed "within a driving, guitar-anchored pop/rock setting, the group attacks well-crafted lyrics on racism with unrelenting passion and its trademark harmonies. Will jolt many at first, but will ultimately open many eyes."[11] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report commented, "Attacking prejudice head on, The Funky Divas offer advice to those who judge others by looks rather than action. Harmonies don't get any better than when these four incredible voices combine their talents."[12]

Connie Johnson from Los Angeles Times said that the song was a "pleasant surprise" "which confronts the prejudice even a funky diva faces, be it from store clerks--"I can't look without being watched!"—or those who don't understand that while they "might date another race or color, that doesn't mean I don't like my strong black brothers.""[13] Pan-European magazine Music & Media noted that "the "Jackies" of all trades are breaking all the barriers in radio land". They described it as "funk rock" and added that the song is a "George Clinton cover as colourful as his dyed hair".[14] Gerald Martinez from New Sunday Times called the track "storming" and said it "combines hard rock riffng with funk while En Vogue wail away with awesome power."[15] A reviewer from People Magazine viewed the track as a "the Pointer Sisters-meet-Van Halen rocker".[16] Pop Rescue called it "a rock track, with roaring guitars that perfectly duel the powerful vocal performance". They noted "the fantastically intricate roaring guitar solo, and the vocal energy."[17] Cheo H. Coker from Stanford Daily said that En Vogue's "foray into rock 'n' roll [is] completely unsuited for the group, reminiscent of Janet Jackson's "Black Cat". While the song has great message, black rock is better left to the black rockers."[18] Laura Checkoway from Vibe described "Free Your Mind" as a "rock-ish anthem with a George Clinton-lifted chorus".[19]

Commercial performance

"Free Your Mind" debuted at number 89 on the US 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. It reached the top twenty in the UK, where it was released as a double A-side single with "Giving Him Something He Can Feel".

Music video

The song is known for its innovative, award-winning music video, directed by Mark Romanek with production design by Nigel Phelps and art direction by Brad Hartmaier. On March 21, 1992, En Vogue performed "Free Your Mind" on Saturday Night Live[20] for the first time to a positive reception. On January 21, 1993, En Vogue would perform 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 Recording Industry Association of America 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.[21]

Track listings

  • US CD single
  1. "Free Your Mind" (LP Edit) – 4:10
  2. "Just Can't Stay Away" – 5:11
  • UK CD maxi single
  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
  • US CD maxi single[22]
  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

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 in an episode titled "Manny Get Your Gun" 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.

A theme tune was used for an early series of Rory Bremner, Who Else in 1993 that bears a strikingly similar beat and guitar hook.

En Vogue recorded a second alternative version in 2017 for the Netflix shows Orange Is the New Black and GLOW.

The song was used in episode 10 of the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars during a lip-sync battle between Serena ChaCha and Jiggly Caliente.

See also

References

  1. ^ Williams. Stereo (April 29, 2016). "Let Love Decide: Prince's 'Diamonds and Pearls'". Spin. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  2. ^ "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  3. ^ Copyrights Encyclopedia. Don't Think I Make It By Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy
  4. ^ En Vogue - Free Your Mind (Alternative Version) on YouTube
  5. ^ Harrison, Quentin (March 22, 2017). "Never Gonna Get It: Celebrating 25 Years of En Vogue's 'Funky Divas'". Albumism. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  6. ^ Promis, Jose F. "En Vogue – Funky Divas". AllMusic. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  7. ^ Promis, Jose F. "En Vogue - Funky Divas". AllMusic. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  8. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "En Vogue - The Very Best of En Vogue". AllMusic. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  9. ^ Bowles, Jennifer (September 3, 1993). "Pearl Jam takes leading honors". Daily Union. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  10. ^ Easlea, Daryl (2009). "En Vogue Funky Divas Review". BBC. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  11. ^ Flick, Larry (September 19, 1992). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  12. ^ Sholin, Dave (August 28, 1992). "Gavin Picks > Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. No. 1920. p. 68. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  13. ^ Johnson, Connie (March 29, 1992). "POP MUSIC : SPRING ALBUM ROUNDUP : En Vogue--Funky Divas for the '90s". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  14. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. November 7, 1992. p. 36. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  15. ^ Martinez, Gerald (November 15, 1998). "Top notch hits from Collins". New Sunday Times. p. 13. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  16. ^ "Picks and Pans Review: Funky Divas". People. April 27, 1992. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  17. ^ "REVIEW: "FUNKY DIVAS" BY EN VOGUE (CD, 1992)". Pop Rescue. May 1, 2020. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  18. ^ Coker, Cheo H. (April 16, 1992). "Hip-hop's four funky divas". Stanford Daily. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  19. ^ Checkoway, Laura (June 1, 2007). "ESSENTIAL EN VOGUE". Vibe. p. 134. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  20. ^ "Mary Stuart Masterson/En Vogue". 21 March 1992.
  21. ^ Janet votes "Free Your Mind" one of her top favorite music video. janet-xone
  22. ^ "Free Your Mind" (US, CD, Single at Discogs
  23. ^ "En Vogue – Free Your Mind". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  24. ^ "En Vogue – Free Your Mind" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  25. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1863." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
  26. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 49. December 5, 1992. p. 19. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  27. ^ "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. December 12, 1992. p. 24. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  28. ^ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  29. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Free Your Mind/Giving Him Something He..". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
  30. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – En Vogue" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  31. ^ "En Vogue – Free Your Mind" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  32. ^ "En Vogue – Free Your Mind". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  33. ^ "En Vogue – Free Your Mind". Singles Top 100. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  34. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  35. ^ "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. November 14, 1992. p. 26. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  36. ^ "En Vogue Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  37. ^ "En Vogue Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  38. ^ "En Vogue Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  39. ^ "En Vogue Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  40. ^ "Sub7even feat. En Vogue – Free Your Mind" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  41. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1992". Longbored Surfer – Charts. Archived from the original on January 17, 2010. Retrieved March 26, 2010.
  42. ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1993". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  43. ^ "American single certifications – En Vogue – Free Your Mind". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
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