Born for Greatness

Album: Crooked Teeth (2017)
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Songfacts®:

  • Papa Roach collaborated with writer/producer Jason Evigan (Jason Derulo, Demi Lovato, Zedd, Maroon 5) for this positive, pulsating anthem. It was the first song the band recorded for their Crooked Teeth album.
  • Papa Roach frontman Jacoby Shaddix told Tommy Carroll of the Grand Rapids, Michigan radio station 97.9 WGRD the story of the song:

    "We wanted to go out and just go, 'Let's go as weird and out there as possible, and start there, and then see where we land in the end.' So we wrote that song, and it didn't really fit the record all the way, so we had to do some work to it, and it finally worked its way to feeling right on the record.

    We worked with new producers on this album, so that was a bold move for us. I think working with those different producers brought out different sides of us creatively. We took a look back at what we did before, way back in the day — 'What was our style back in early 2000s with Infest, and where did we go from there?' – and looked at those evolutions and how did we pick and pull what we felt were the most powerful and compelling styles that we had and mash them together, but in 2017, 2018. 'Born For Greatness', it's definitely outside the box, but for us, we kind of just kept getting lumped in. We didn't want to feel like we were just stuck in a box. We want to make rock music a little more adventurous with this record."
  • The Bryson Roatch-directed music music for "Born For Greatness" features rousing performances from three talented people who refuse to be limited by physical challenges. "This video is to showcase to the world that no matter your struggle and/or adversity, you are born for greatness," said Jacoby Shaddix.

    The three individuals highlighted in the clip are:

    Aaron "Wheelz" Fotheringham, who was born with spina bifida, a birth defect of the spinal cord. Fotheringham has gone on to become a professional WCMX (wheelchair motocross) athlete. He started a new sport when he landed the first wheelchair back flip in 2006 and posted it on YouTube.

    Jen Bricker who was born without legs and a heart on the opposite side of her chest. "Never say can't" is her motto. The professional aerialist has toured the world and performed with global superstars, including Britney Spears.

    Breakdancer Jean Sok who only has one leg. Employing "b-boy" style techniques, Sok incorporates his crutches into his moves, using them as an extension of his arms. He gained international acclaim as a performer for Cirque Du Soliel's Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour and Michael Jackson One.

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