Follow Me (Uncle Kracker song)

"Follow Me" is the debut single of American musician Uncle Kracker, released in 2001 from his debut 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"
Single by Uncle Kracker
from the album Double Wide
B-side"Yeah, Yeah, Yeah"
Released2001 (2001)
Recorded2000
Length3:35
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Uncle Kracker singles chronology
"Follow Me"
(2001)		 "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah"
(2001)

The song became a major worldwide hit in late summer 2001. It 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-ten hit in Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom and peaked within the top 40 in several other European countries.

Meaning

In a 2007 interview with MTV News,[1] Uncle Kracker stated:

"It 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."

Chart performance

The release went to number one on the ARIA Charts in Australia, number five on the United States 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 went to position 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 charts on 26 August 2012, at number 64 and peaked at number 44. Kracker uses Auto-Tune in the song. This song is also referenced in "Keep It Comin'" from his second album, No Stranger to Shame. On some stations, like adult contemporary-formatted KVIL in Dallas, the entire second verse is replaced with the first verse sung a second time.

Music video

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. However, this is false. It is actually the co-writer and co-producer of this track Michael Bradford, who bears a passing resemblance to Green. Bradford was also a member of Kid Rock's band at the time, where he played bass.

Track listings

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[46] Platinum 70,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[47] Gold 20,000*
Germany (BVMI)[48] Gold 250,000^
Sweden (GLF)[49] Platinum 30,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[50] Platinum 600,000

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Appearances and covers

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.

References
  1. "MTV News: 7 Questions With Uncle Kracker". MTV News. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (8 ed.). Billboard Publications.
  3. Follow Me (US promo CD liner notes). Uncle Kracker. Lava Records, Atlantic Records, Top Dog Records. 2000. PRCD 300373.CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. Follow Me (US 7-inch vinyl disc). Uncle Kracker. Lava Records, Atlantic Records. 2001. 7-85184.CS1 maint: others (link)
  5. Follow Me (European CD single liner notes). Uncle Kracker. Lava Records, Atlantic Records, Top Dog Records. 2000. 7567-85123-2.CS1 maint: others (link)
  6. Follow Me (European enhanced maxi-single liner notes). Uncle Kracker. Atlantic Records, Lava Records. 2000. AT0108CD, 7567-85137-2.CS1 maint: others (link)
  7. Follow Me (European cassette single sleeve). Uncle Kracker. Lava Records, Atlantic Records, Top Dog Records. 2000. 7567-85138-4.CS1 maint: others (link)
  8. Follow Me (Australian enhanced CD single liner notes). Uncle Kracker. Lava Records, Atlantic Records, Top Dog Records. 2000. 7567851082.CS1 maint: others (link)
  9. "Australian-charts.com – Uncle Kracker – Follow Me". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  10. "Austriancharts.at – Uncle Kracker – Follow Me" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  11. "Ultratop.be – Uncle Kracker – Follow Me" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
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  14. "Danishcharts.com – Uncle Kracker – Follow Me". Tracklisten. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  15. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 18 no. 38. September 15, 2001. p. 9. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
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  18. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  19. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Follow Me". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
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  23. "Norwegiancharts.com – Uncle Kracker – Follow Me". VG-lista. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  24. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  25. "Swedishcharts.com – Uncle Kracker – Follow Me". Singles Top 100. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  26. "Swisscharts.com – Uncle Kracker – Follow Me". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
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  29. "Uncle Kracker Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
  30. "Uncle Kracker Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  31. "Uncle Kracker Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  32. "Uncle Kracker Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
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  36. "Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2001" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 18 no. 52. December 22, 2001. p. 14. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
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  38. "Best of Singles 2001". IRMA. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
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  41. "Årslista Singlar, 2001" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  42. "Swiss Year-End Charts 2001" (in German). Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  43. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2001" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
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  45. "Die ultimative Chart Show | Hits des neuen Jahrtausends | Download" (in German). RTL.de. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  46. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2001 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  47. "Austrian single certifications – Uncle Kracker – Follow Me" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  48. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Uncle Kracker; 'Follow Me')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  49. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2001" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden.
  50. "British single certifications – Uncle Kracker – Follow Me". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
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