Born Free (Kid Rock song)
{{Infobox song
| name = Born Free
| cover = Kid_Rock_Born_Free.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Kid Rock
| album = Born Free
| released = October 29, 2010
| format =
| recorded = 2010
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length = 5:13
4:24 (edit)
| label = Atlantic
| writer = R. J. Ritchie, Marlon Young
| producer = Rick Rubin
| chronology = Kid Rock
| prev_title = Blue Jeans and a Rosary
| prev_year = 2008
| next_title = God Bless Saturday
| next_year = 2011
}}
"Born Free" is a song by Kid Rock from his eighth studio album of the same name. It was released as the lead single for the album on October 29, 2010, which was released on November 16, 2010.{{cite web |url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=kid rock|chart=all}}|title=Kid Rock Music & New Info|work=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Company|accessdate=November 7, 2010}}
Music video
A music video was also filmed for the single, filming took place in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It features Rock driving through the valleys in his car and on his motorcycle throughout the video. The farm he is standing in the field of is Cook's Farm Dairy in Ortonville. At the end of the video, Kid Rock is seen on a beach along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on Lake Superior finishing up the song.
Chart performance
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Chart (2010–11)
! Peak |
|---|
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)
| style="text-align:center;"| 21 |
| European Hot 100
| style="text-align:center;"| 95 |
| Germany (Media Control AG){{cite web|url=http://www.gfk-entertainment.com/news/bon-jovi-auf-platz-zwei-der-charts.html |title=Bon Jovi auf Platz zwei der Charts - media control |publisher=Media-control.de |date= |accessdate=2011-12-08}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 23 |
| Italy (FIMI)
| style="text-align:center;"| 97 |
| Switzerland (Media Control AG)
| style="text-align:center;"| 42 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)
| style="text-align:center;"| 26 |
| {{singlechart|Billboardadultpopsongs|39|artist=Kid Rock|artistid=12517}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardcountrysongs|52|artist=Kid Rock|artistid=12517}} |
| US Mainstream Rock Songs (Billboard)
| style="text-align:center;"| 14 |
| US Rock Songs (Billboard)
| style="text-align:center;"| 31 |
Mitt Romney campaign
It was announced on December 7, 2011, that Republican hopeful Mitt Romney would use the song as his campaign theme song.{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=hp_t2#/video/politics/2011/12/07/nr-romney-kid-rock-born-free.cnn |title=Romney wants to 'Kid Rock' the vote |date=December 7, 2011 |work=cnn.com |publisher=CNN |accessdate=December 7, 2011}} Kid Rock subsequently issued a statement saying "He and anyone else who wants to use my song do not need my permission. I said he could use it and I would say the same for any other candidate."{{cite web|last=Moody |first=Chris |url=https://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/kid-rock-told-mitt-romney-campaign-could-song-210720469.html |title=Kid Rock: I told Mitt Romney's campaign they could use my song | The Ticket - Yahoo! News |publisher=News.yahoo.com |date=2011-06-21 |accessdate=2012-01-17}}
On February 27, 2012, Kid Rock joined Romney at a campaign rally in Detroit and performed the song. "He loves Michigan and Detroit and so do I," Romney said.{{cite news |url=http://www.freep.com/article/20120227/NEWS15/120227069/Kid-Rock-joins-Mitt-Romney-in-rally-before-Michigan-primary |title=Kid Rock joins Mitt Romney in rally before Michigan primary |date=February 27, 2012 |work=freep.com |publisher=Detroit Free Press |accessdate=June 19, 2012}} The rally occurred on the eve of the Michigan Republican primary, which saw Romney defeat Rick Santorum.
Kid Rock also performed the song at Red Rocks, Colorado during the Romney campaign for a Rally. He also performed it at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire at an "Election Eve Rally" with Romney which was the largest political event in New Hampshire history.
In other uses
"Born Free" was featured in the TBS cable network's 2010 Major League Baseball postseason coverage and is touted as an ode to American troops.{{cite web |url=http://www.ontheredcarpet.com/Kid-Rocks-new-album-Born-Free-tackles-religion--features-Sheryl-Crow--rapper-T-I-/7789961 |title=Kid Rock's new album 'Born Free' tackles religion, features Sheryl Crow, rapper T.I. |first=Corinne |last=Heller |date=November 15, 2010 |work=OnTheRedCarpet.com |publisher=KABC-TV |accessdate=December 12, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725133653/http://www.ontheredcarpet.com/Kid-Rocks-new-album-Born-Free-tackles-religion--features-Sheryl-Crow--rapper-T-I-/7789961 |archive-date=July 25, 2011 |url-status=dead }}
He also performed it at the Detroit Lions Thanksgiving Day game in 2010.
Beginning on July 8, 2014, Detroit-based Chevrolet used the song to promote their summer sales.{{Cite web|url=http://www.popisms.com/TelevisionCommercial/98115/Chevrolet-and-Chevy-Commercial-for-Chevy-Cru.aspx|title=Chevrolet Ad for Chevy Cruze - Pop Culture References (2014 Television Commercial) - Pop Culture Cross-References and Connections via @POPisms|website=www.popisms.com|accessdate=June 28, 2020}}
WWE used the song for their annual Tribute to the Troops special.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Kid Rock}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Kid Rock
Category:Atlantic Records singles
Category:Mitt Romney 2012 presidential campaign