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Born Free (Matt Monro song)
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Wikipedia article
"'Born Free'" is a popular song with music by John Barry and lyrics by Don Black. It was written for the 1966 film of the same name and won an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Original version
The song's composers, John Barry and Don Black, asked British singer Matt Monro, who was managed by Black at the time, to record the song for the film's soundtrack. The producers of the film considered the song uncommercial, however, and deleted it from the print shown at its Royal Command premiere in London. When Monro, who attended the event, made Black aware of the edit, they successfully lobbied the producers to restore it. Monro's interpretation appeared over the closing credits in a shortened version recorded especially for the film, which enabled it to qualify for the Academy Award. Monro's complete commercial recording was released on the film's soundtrack album and became the singer's signature tune for the remainder of his career.
Charted versions
Matt Monro's version never charted. However, Roger Williams recorded a cover which was noted for its use of a male chorus, heard in the second half of the song after the instrumental section. The song reached number seven on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 and number one on the Adult contemporary chart for six non-consecutive weeks in September/October 1966
The r&b group the Hesitations recorded a cover that peaked at #38 on the US 'Billboard' Hot 100 in 1968.
"Born Free" also appeared on the Vic Reeves album 'I Will Cure You'. Released as a single, this version peaked at #6 in the UK Singles Chart in 1991.
In popular culture
* A recording by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir was featured in the 2005 film 'Madagascar.'
* The song is featured on the 2007 soundtrack 'Dexter: Music From the Television Series'.
* The song is featured in a 2012 TV commercial for the Land Rover LR4. Land Rover has a history with 'Born Free', being a corporate sponsor of the Born Free Foundation,[http://newsroom.jaguarlandrover.com/en-in/land-rover/news/2012/03/lr_csr_born_free_lion_190312/ Born Free Foundation at JaguarLandRover.com] and their vehicles were mentioned prominently in the original Joy Adamson book.
* The 2012 video game Silent Hill: Downpour features the song which can be heard throughout on gramophones. The significance of "Born Free" is in relation to the game's theme of prison and captivity.
* In July 2020, the Unilever brand Axe began airing a TV campaign for its deodorant line that spoofed the restrictions on dating during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Monro's version as the soundtrack theme.
*In New Zealand, AA Insurance uses the Born Free Song in its advertising campaigns, in concert with ordinary people doing things that might or might not cause damage, the idea being, that because they have insurance, they can "live a little freer".
See also
*List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1966 (U.S.)
References
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