Kid Rock Reunite With Sheryl Crow For "Collide"

Americana cultural icons, Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow cozy up to the microphone, together once again, with the new video for their heartbreaking new duet single, "Collide," the third single from Rock's latest LP, "Born Free" album. Despite his image as a hard drinking, hard partying rap star turned rock 'n' roller, Rock's most successful single to date is his lovelorn duet with Crow, "Picture," which became an instant hit and karaoke bar staple in late 2002. "Collide" marks the second painful love duet from the one-time unlikely partners.
"Collide," their latest duet, is a country-tinged bar ballad with sweet country rock tune that suits their easy-going, lived-in voices very well. It relies heavily on the gritty vocal timbres of Crow and Rock, as they loosely harmonize their way through recollections of both good times and bad. The tune starts out with a delicate organ and the song is meant for two lovers, finding solace in each other's arms, amidst fears and scars from a less than picture-perfect life. The chorus hits with whiskey-soaked honesty.
The "Born Free" and "Sign Your Name" singers lean on one another in this sad love song, which tells the story of two former flames who take shelter in each other's arms once again. This line draws out in detail the reasons that they're each lonely, and the ways that they've both damaged themselves. Heartland musical legend, Bob Seger, who has been known to dabble in blue collar love affairs, plays a simple piano line which accompanies the acoustic guitars and lap steels, giving the track a true country and western feel.
The chemistry between the two long-time friends is readily apparent throughout the course of the Deaton Flaigen-directed video, which is low-key too, and full of footage that will make you wonder whether they're actually an item or just playing one on TV. In the clip, Rock and Crow perform on stage in a bar, while other-world versions of themselves court each other in the same bar. Rock is seen in the video in a rare state, without his ever-present hat atop his head. The song will be making its television debut this weekend as part of our VH1 Top 20 Video Countdown.

Kid Rock Goes Majestic In "Born Free" Video

"Born Free" is the lead single and title track from American Southern rock/hip hop artist Kid Rock's eighth album, his first album since 2007's Rock N Roll Jesus, hits stores November 16, promises to be the Detroit rocker's final departure from the rap-rock hybrid that he used to establish himself at the turn of the millennium. “Born Free” is in many ways a transformational album for Rock and fans can expect a collection of traditional rock tunes full of country flourishes since it featuring several high profile artist from rock, country and rap. Rock described it as "very organic blues based rock and roll." The record was produced by Rick Rubin whom MTV called, "the most important producer of the last 20 years."
Rock described this song as being about, "how lucky each and every one of us are, no matter where you're from, to be born in a country that's free." He told MTV News that while this is a patriotic song, he didn't write it solely for an American audience. Rather, he hopes its message will be heard by people the world over. "I think that song already has kinda gotten a little bit construed that it's just this big, patriotic American song, which it is in its own right, but it first came to mind to write something like this when I was on one of my trips to Afghanistan, Iraq, playing for our soldiers," he said. "I started to just think about no matter where somebody was born in this world, how lucky you are just by the grace of God to be born free."
While Rock's got major Motor City pride, "Born Free" is an open letter to the world, and it's a love letter to America. Rock's more than a Michigander. He's a born patriot. "Born Free" is his "God Bless the USA." And it's a patriotic powerhouse, and the accompanying video is all sweeping shots of aerial America. Raging rapids, craggy cliffs, open roads, green farm lands, picturesque peninsulas, blustery beaches and solo scenes. Directed by Marc Klasfeld, the video is everything there is to love about non-urban America, and everything there is to love about Rock's love of America, from the signature hat and fringed jacket to the vintage cars and motorcycles.
The just-premiered video is in total keeping with that transition. The clip features Rock in nature on the beach, driving through the forest, standing in a wide, green field while singing about the glory of freedom. With a guitar in hand, Rock poses on a majestic cliff, on a peaceful beachfront and in the middle of a wooded area to reflect the song's grandeur. And, because he wouldn't be a Motor City artist without a few nods to the auto industry, Rock also is seen riding a motorcycle and cruising in a tricked-out vintage car. "Born Free" has been a Detroit success story and Rock is finally "Born Free!"