2 0 1 0 ▁and ▁announced ▁the ▁song ▁as ▁the ▁lead ▁single ▁from ▁the ▁album , ▁released ▁on ▁February ▁ 1 1 , ▁ 2 0 1 1 . ▁ ▁" B orn ▁This ▁Way " ▁is ▁back ed ▁by ▁r umb ling ▁synth ▁sounds , ▁a ▁hum ming ▁bass ▁and ▁additional ▁ch orus ▁per cussion , ▁with ▁sole ▁organ ▁toward ▁the ▁end . ▁The ▁lyr ics ▁discuss ▁the ▁self - emp ower ment ▁of ▁minor ities ▁including ▁the ▁L GB T ▁community ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁ra cial ▁minor ities , ▁referring ▁to ▁" ch olas " ▁and ▁" or ients ". ▁Crit ics ▁posit ively ▁review ed ▁the ▁song , ▁calling ▁it ▁a ▁" club - ready ▁anth em ", ▁though ▁it ▁faced ▁criticism ▁for ▁having ▁similar ities ▁with ▁Madonna ' s ▁ 1 9 8 9 ▁single ▁" Express ▁Your self ". ▁The ▁song ▁reached ▁number ▁one ▁in ▁over ▁ 2 5 ▁countries ▁and ▁was ▁her ▁third ▁single ▁to ▁top ▁the ▁US ▁Billboard ▁Hot ▁ 1 0 0 ▁chart ▁and ▁the ▁ 1 , 0 0 0 th ▁song ▁in ▁that ▁chart ' s ▁history ▁( since ▁ 1 9 5 8 ) ▁to ▁reach ▁number ▁one . ▁" B orn ▁This ▁Way " ▁has ▁sold ▁ 8 . 2 ▁million ▁copies ▁world wide , ▁becoming ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁best - s elling ▁singles ▁of ▁all ▁time . ▁ ▁Nick ▁Knight ▁directed ▁the ▁accomp any ing ▁music ▁video , ▁which ▁was ▁inspired ▁by ▁sur real ist ▁pain ters ▁like ▁Salvador ▁Dal