Upon the release, Jennifer Bowles from Associated Press declared the song as a "plea for racial tolerance".[5]Larry Flick from Billboard felt that it takes in "a more edgy direction" than in the past for the group. He remarked 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."[6] 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."[7] Connie Johnson from the Los Angeles Times felt 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'."[8] Pan-European magazine Music & Media noted that "the "Jackies" of all trades are breaking all the barriers in radio land", describing the song as "funk rock" and a "George Clinton cover as colourful as his dyed hair".[9]
Gerald Martinez from the New Sunday Times called the song "storming", and said it "combines hard rock riffng with funk while En Vogue wail away with awesome power."[10] Parry Gettelman from Orlando Sentinel wrote, "'Free Your Mind' owes a small lyrical debt to George Clinton and a large musical debt to LaBelle – not bad places from which to borrow. There's a brief, funny spoken intro that parodies an In Living Color sketch, and the quartet slams into a denunciation of prejudice of all sorts: 'I might date another race or color/ Doesn't mean I don't like my strong black brothers'."[11] A reviewer from People viewed it as a "the Pointer Sisters-meet-Van Halen rocker".[12]Danyel Smith from Rolling Stone described it as "guitar-ravaged"[13]Cheo H. Coker from Stanford Daily felt 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."[14]
Retrospective response
In a 2017 retrospective review, Quentin Harrison from Albumism described "Free Your Mind" as "a searing rock number that challenged racism, sexism and other social phobias head on was all at once, smart, sexy and provocative."[15]AllMusic's review critic, Jose F. Promis, voted the single very favorable and rated the Funky Divas album its highest rating at five.[16] He also declared the track as a "hard rock smash".[16] Another editor, Stephen Thomas Erlewine, described it as "swaggering".[17] In his 2009 review, Daryl Easlea for BBC remarked that the song borrows from "heavy metal".[18] In 2007, Laura Checkoway from Vibe called it a "rock-ish anthem with a George Clinton-lifted chorus".[19][permanent dead link]
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 on the UK singles chart, where it was released as a double A-side single with "Giving Him Something He Can Feel". It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in late 1992.
Music video and other notable performances
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.[citation needed] 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' (Lou Myers) nieces. It is one of several songs to feature all four members of the group, Dawn Robinson, Terry Ellis, Cindy Herron and Maxine Jones, on lead vocals. Janet Jackson included the video in her BET countdown of her 25 favorite videos of all-time at number 11.[20]
Greek pop star Elena Paparizou 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", in an outfit by Apostolos Mitropoulos.
The track has been included in one of Les Mills' BodyVive class. The song was used in the trailer for the Seth Rogen comedy The Interview.
The song was used in the Malcolm in the Middle episode "Hal Quits" in the scene where Hal (Bryan Cranston) is throwing paint at a large canvas in the garage.
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.
