"Free Your Mind" | ||||
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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 |
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Label | East West | |||
Writer(s) | Denzil Foster, Thomas McElroy | |||
Producer(s) | Foster & McElroy | |||
En Vogue singles chronology | ||||
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"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 song 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.
"Free Your Mind" was recorded between December 1991 - January 1992, composed and produced by Foster and McElroy. 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.
"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.
The song is known for its innovative, award-winning music video, directed by Mark Romanek. On March 21, 1992, En Vogue performed 'Free Your Mind' on Saturday Night Live 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 RIAA in late 1992. It is one of several songs to feature all four members of the group on lead vocals.