| Follow Me | |
| Cover: | Uncle Kracker Follow Me.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Uncle Kracker |
| Album: | Double Wide |
| B-Side: | Yeah, Yeah, Yeah |
| Length: | 3:35 |
| Label: | |
| Producer: |
|
| Next Title: | Yeah, Yeah, Yeah |
| Next Year: | 2001 |
"Follow Me" is the debut single of American musician Uncle Kracker. It was released on November 6, 2000, as the lead single from his debut studio album, Double Wide (2000). It was written by Kracker and Michael Bradford and was produced by Bradford and Kid Rock. According to Kracker, the song has multiple meanings, with people speculating that it could be about drugs or infidelity.
"Follow Me" became a worldwide hit in mid to late 2001. The song reached number one in eight countries: Australia, Austria, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, and Sweden. In the United States, it peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Adult Top 40 listing. It additionally became a top-10 hit in Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom and peaked within the top 40 in several other European countries.
In a 2001 interview with MTV News, Uncle Kracker stated that "Follow Me" was "definitely different" from other songs on Double Wide:
"[W]hen we first started recording that song, with us being from Detroit, that song was supposed to be this doo-wop/Motown song — something different, because every song's got its own little twist. And this song was supposed to have that, but after we recorded it, I was like, 'Man, that could be something for radio,' so we switched it back. [The song] takes on a couple of different meanings. I've heard some people think that I'm talking about drugs, or some people think I'm talking about cheating. I guess it's kinda both. I would never want to say anything that would get myself in trouble, being married with a couple of kids. That song is like a dirty picture painted with a pretty brush."[1]
The song went to number one in Australia, Austria, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, and Sweden. In the United States, it peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart the week of June 9, 2001, and is Uncle Kracker's highest-charting single release to date.[2] The single also reached number seven on the adult contemporary chart. In the United Kingdom, the song peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart in September 2001. Following the release of the album Double Wide on iTunes, the song re-entered the UK Singles Chart on August 26, 2012, at number 64 and reached number 44.
The music video was directed by Nick Egan and premiered the week of November 20, 2000. It featured Mark McGrath, lead singer of Sugar Ray. It is a popular belief that CeeLo Green appears in the video, but it is actually the co-writer and co-producer of this track Michael Bradford, who bears a passing resemblance to Green.[3] Bradford was also a member of Kid Rock's band at the time, where he played bass.
US 7-inch single[4]
A. "Follow Me" – 3:34
B. "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah" – 4:57
Australian CD single[5]
European CD single[6]
UK CD single[7]
UK cassette single[8]
| Chart (2001–2016) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
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| Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[9] | 15 | |
| Canada CHR (Nielsen BDS)[10] | 2 | |
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| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[11] | 2 | |
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| Poland (Music & Media)[12] | 16 | |
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| US Rock Digital Songs (Billboard)[13] | 30 | |
| US Top 40 Tracks (Billboard)[14] | 3 |
| Chart (2001) | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[15] | 49 | |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[16] | 8 | |
| Brazil (Crowley)[17] | 77 | |
| Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[18] | 150 | |
| Canada Radio (Nielsen BDS)[19] | 5 | |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[20] | 21 | |
| Germany (Official German Charts)[21] | 8 | |
| Ireland (IRMA)[22] | 16 | |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[23] | 194 | |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[24] | 6 | |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[25] | 11 | |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[26] | 31 | |
| UK Singles (OCC)[27] | 28 | |
| US Billboard Hot 100[28] | 19 | |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[29] | 21 | |
| US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[30] | 6 | |
| US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[31] | 5 | |
| US Top 40 Tracks (Billboard) | 13 |
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | November 6, 2000 | [34] | ||
| November 7, 2000 | Contemporary hit radio | [35] | ||
| April 23, 2001 | Adult contemporary radio | [36] | ||
| Australia | May 21, 2001 | CD | [37] | |
| United Kingdom | August 27, 2001 | [38] |
This song was featured in the movies Coyote Ugly, 3000 Miles to Graceland, The Animal, The Blind Side and the TV series Roswell High. In 2011, the song was covered by the German rock and roll cover band the Baseballs. The song appeared on their second album, Strings 'N' Stripes. A live version of "Follow Me" can be found on David Allan Coe's 2003 album Live at Billy Bob's Texas.