Follow Me (Uncle Kracker song)


"Follow Me" is the debut single by Uncle Kracker, released in 2001 from his debut album Double Wide. The song became a major worldwide hit in late summer 2001, topping the charts of eight countries and reaching the top 40 in several others.

Meaning

In a 2007 interview with MTV News, 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."

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 Cee Lo 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. Michael Bradford was also a member of Kid Rock's band at the time, where he played bass.

Commercial 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. 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.

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Decade-end charts

Certifications

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.