Who Sang Born Free: When he was in his prime, Matt Monro (born Terence Edward Parsons on 1 December 1930 and died on 7 February 1985) was one of the world’s most well-known singers. In his 30-year career, he performed in cabarets, nightclubs, Music halls, and stadiums across the globe. He was called “one of the most underappreciated pop vocalists of the sixties” by AllMusic and “possessed the easiest, most perfect baritone in the business”.
“Portrait of My Love,” “My Kind of Girl,” “Softly As I Leave You,” “Walk Away,” and “Yesterday” are among his many UK Top 10 hits (originally by The Beatles). His film themes include “From Russia with Love,” “Born Free,” and “On Days Like These” for the James Bond film of the same name, as well as “From Russia with Love.”
Success in the international arena
Monro was asked to record “You Keep Me Swingin'” by George Martin, the producer of the Peter Sellers album Songs for Swingin’ Sellers in 1960, to help the comedian imitate the song with a Frank Sinatra-like style. Instead of recording his own version, Sellers chose to use the recording as the album’s opening track. A demoralizing experience at the time, Sellers’ billing of Monro as “Fred Flange” led to a lifelong friendship with Martin who then asked Monro to begin recording for the EMI record label Parlophone. “Portrait of My Love,” written by Cyril Ornadel and Norman Newell OBE (under the pseudonym “David West”), was their second single and Monro’s highest UK chart success.
Marriages
Once to Iris Jordan in 1953, then to Mitchell Mickie Schuller in 1959–85; one daughter Michele and one son Matt Monro Jnr in 1985; and once to Michele Schuller and one son, Matt Monro Jnr.
The passing of a loved one and the legacy
For most of the 1960s and into the 1980s, Monro struggled with smoking and alcoholism. He was 54 when he passed away from liver cancer on February 7th of that same year at Cromwell Hospital in Kensington, London. Mitchell, a pilot in the airline industry, passed away from cancer in 2003 as well. The Golders Green Crematorium cremated Matt Monro. The deceased’s relatives collected the ashes. In Harrow, there was also a memorial service.
An anniversary compilation CD, a number one concert DVD, and a BBC documentary were all released in 2005 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Monro’s death. From Matt With Love, a compilation CD released in 2007, debuted at number 40 on the UK Albums Chart in its first week of release. On October 8, 2010, his songs were featured on Friday Night Is Music Night. To John Barry and Don Black, “Born Free” is a popular song that has sold millions of albums worldwide. For the 1966 film, it won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
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When John Barry and Don Black wrote the song for the film’s soundtrack, they asked British singer Matt Monro, who was managed by Black at the time, to record it. In spite of this, the film’s producers deemed the song uncommercial and removed it from the print shown at the film’s London premiere, which was held at the Royal Command. As soon as Monro, who was in attendance at the event, informed Black of the edit, the producers were persuaded to restore it. The Academy Award-nominated version of Monro’s interpretation appeared over the film’s closing credits in a shortened version recorded just for the film. The film’s soundtrack album included Monro’s complete commercial recording, which remained the singer’s go-to song for the rest of his career.
Versions shown in graphs
The recording by Matt Monro was never a hit. Although Roger Williams’ cover was notable for its use of a male chorus, which can be heard after the instrumental section, in the second half of the song. For six non-consecutive weeks in September/October 1966, the song climbed to number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Adult contemporary chart. Hesitations recorded a cover in 1968 that peaked at number 38 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Vic Reeves included the song “Born Free” on his album “I Will Cure You,” where it also appeared. This version was released as a single in 1991 and peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart. The song can be heard on gramophones throughout Silent Hill: Downpour (2012). In relation to the game’s theme of imprisonment and captivity, “Born Free” is significant
In the world of popular culture: It was in the 2005 film Madagascar that the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s music was used. The song can be found on the Dexter: Music From the Television Series Soundtrack 2007 album. The song was used in a 2012 Land Rover LR4 commercial. Land Rover is a corporate sponsor of the Born Free Foundation and featured prominently in the original Joy Adamson book.
TV commercials for Unilever’s Axe deodorant line, which parodied the COVID-19 pandemic’s restrictions on dating, began airing in July 2020, with Monro’s version as the soundtrack theme. Advertising for AA Insurance in New Zealand features the Born Free Song and real-life examples of people doing things that may or may not result in injury or property damage. The message is that by having insurance, people can “live a little freer.”
Video of Music
A music video for the single was also shot in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where the filming took place. Throughout the video, Rock can be seen driving and riding his motorcycle through the valleys. Cook’s Farm Dairy in Ortonville is the farm where he is standing. Kid Rock finishes the song on a lakeshore beach at the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Lake Superior at the end of the video.
Romney’s Reelection Campaign
On December 7, 2011, it was announced that Mitt Romney would use the song as the theme song of his campaign. Kid Rock later released a statement saying that he was “deeply saddened” by the news “Anybody who wants to use my song doesn’t need my permission. We’ve discussed this before and I’m sure we will again.”
The song was performed by Kid Rock at a Romney campaign rally in Detroit on February 27, 2012. In a statement, Romney said, “He’s a fan of Michigan and Detroit, and so am I.” When Rick Santorum lost to Mitt Romney in the Michigan Republican primary, a rally was held in his honor. At a Rally for the Romney campaign in Red Rocks, Colorado, Kid Rock performed the song. As part of the “Election Eve Rally” with Mitt Romney in Manchester, New Hampshire, he performed the song at the Verizon Wireless Arena.
Additionally
A tribute to American troops, “Born Free” was featured on TBS’ postseason coverage of the 2010 Major League Baseball season. During the Detroit Lions Thanksgiving Day game in 2010, he performed it. Chevrolet began using the song on July 8, 2014, to promote its summer sales. A WWE Tribute to the Troops special featured the song.
