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==Charts==
==Charts==

The single [[Take It Off (song)|Take It Off]] debuted in the [[The Official UK Top 40|UK Singles Chart]] at number 171 in its first week. Then, the single climbed 127 places to number 44. In its third week, it climbed 16 places to number 28, making it her fourth solo, top 40 single in the UK.

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!Chart (2010)
!Chart (2010)

Revision as of 14:26, 31 August 2010

"Take It Off"
Song

"Take It Off" is a song by American recording artist and songwriter Kesha, from her debut album, Animal. The song was written by Kesha, Lukasz Gottwald and Claude Kelly and it was produced by Dr. Luke with vocal editing done by Emily Wright. It was released as the fourth official single from the album on July 13, 2010. "Take It Off"'s initial writing consisted of Kesha attending a drag show and becoming really turned on by transvestite men taking their clothing off. The song is an upbeat dancepop song that uses heavy amounts of auto tune and utilizes an electro infused beat.

Critical reception of the song has been mixed. A complaint amongst critics was the demonstration of overly processed vocals with the use of auto-tune. Others felt the song was a strong, irresistible dance pop song strictly made for the dance floor with a great carefree message. Due to strong digital sales from the release of Animal, the song charted in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada before being announced as a single. Since being released as a single the song has reached the top twenty in Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia and the United States.

The music video for the single was released on August 3, 2010. The video features Kesha and her friends on another planet dancing around in a mosh pit while slowing turning into star dust as they "Take It Off". Kesha explained in an interview that she didn't want the video to just be about "Taking It Off;" she said the main idea behind the video was about taking off your inhibitions and being "raw and real."

Background and composition

Kesha - Take It Off
Audio sample of "Take It Off"
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Take It Off" was written by Kesha, alongside Dr. Luke, and Claude Kelly. The song was produced by Luke with vocal editing done by Emily Wright. During an interview with Esquire magazine Kesha explained how the song was initially written, "I have a song [...] called 'Take It Off' about when I went to a drag show, and how really turned on I was by these transvestite men taking clothes off. I was like, What does that even make me?".[1]

The song is an upbeat dance-pop/electropop song. The song utilizes an electro-infused beat, with furious crescendos.[2] The chorus along with most of the song uses heavy amounts of auto-tune.[3] Daniel Brockman from The Phoenix described the song as "a heavily Auto-Tuned reworking" of "There's a Place in France".[4]

Critical reception

Amar Toor from AOL Radio gave the song a positive review saying, "Much like the rest of the album, this new song is simply made for the dance floor. And, much like Kesha herself, the track seems to embody relentless, carefree hedonism at its best." He also noted, "And when Kesha talks about a 'place I know', where 'they go hardcore and there's glitter on the floor' in the style of a six-grade camp ditty, it's hard for anyone to not feel the urge to just take it off."[2] Bill Lamb of About.com gave the single four out of five stars. He was concerned with the overall lyrical depth and over use of auto-tune but he complimented the song for its "irresistibly catchy beat and chorus" with a "celebratory mood of dropping inhibitions."[5] He noted that "with the volume turned up and the chorus encouraging you to "take it off," you may just feel inspired to follow the commands. The ultimate effect by the end of the song is very cathartic as it hints strongly that there is more to "take off" than simply clothing."[5]

Monica Herrera from Billboard magazine criticized the song for its demonstration of overly processed vocals noting how easily an artist can "get lost in a sea of auto-tone". She went on to state that it "make[s] it hard to tell whether the California party girl can actually sing".[3]

Chart performance

In the United States, "Take It Off" entered the Billboard Hot 100 at eighty-five on the week of January 23, 2010, due to strong digital sales from the release of Animal.[6] On the issue date entitled August 7, 2010, the song re-entered in the Billboard Hot 100 at number ninety-two.[7] The song ascending the charts for four weeks reaching a peak of sixteen on its sixth week on the chart.[8] In Canada, "Take It Off" entered the Canadian Hot 100 on the week of January 23, 2010, at forty-five due to the release of Animal. The song ascended and descended the chart for twelve weeks before finally dropping off the chart.[9] On July 13, 2010, the song re-entered the chart at eighty-six.[10] After ascending the chart for five weeks the single reached a peak of eleven.[11]

In the United Kingdom the song entered the UK Singles Chart at one hundred and tweleve due to the release of Animal. [12] On the issue date of August 28, 2010 the single re-entered the chart at forty-four.[13] The song has since reached a peak of twenty-eight.[13] In New Zealand, "Take It Off" entered the chart at thirty-two on the issue date of July 12, 2010. In the succeeding week the single rose ten spots to attain position twenty-two.[14] After five more weeks of steadily ascending the charts the single reached a peak of fifteen on its seventh week on the chart.[14] On August 22, 2010 the single entered the Australian Singles Chart at twenty-nine.[15] The song ascended the chart for two weeks eventually reaching a peak of seven.[15]

Music video

Background

The video premiered on Vevo on August 3, 2010.[16] It was directed by Paul Hunter and Dori Oskowitz.[17] Kesha revealed the main idea behind the video in an interview, "[the video is] about me and all my hot vampire babe friends breaking into a hotel on another planet, and at the end we all turn into this beautiful stardust. Once you take it all off, all your inhibitions, your clothes, we're all made up of the same thing."[18] She explained that she did not want the video to just be about "Taking it off", that there was an actual message behind the video explaining, "[the] clip isn't just about taking off your clothes and rolling in glitter. It's also about taking off your inhibitions and being raw and real".[19]

Synopsis

Kesha "unzipping" herself as she transforms into dust.

The video starts off with Kesha seen on a motorcycle. She proceeds to walk as her friends follow behind her as they enter a motel area. As the chorus of the song starts, Kesha and her friends start to run around the motel dancing and jumping off railings. The friends gather around an empty pool and start tearing at each others clothing; While this is happening it is revealed they that are on a different planet and Kesha is seen rolling around in sand. Slowly as some of the friends start taking off their clothing, they begin to turn into star dust. The group starts to dance in the pool with some of the party goers exploding into dust. The remainder of the friends continue to dance in the dust that is now covering the bottom of the pool. As this is happening they all begin to lose different parts of their bodies as they explode into multicolored star dust. The video ends with everyone as dust with Kesha beginning to "unzip" herself as she turns into yellow dust.

Reception

Jocelyn Vena of MTV News met the video with a positive review. She noted that Kesha "manages to embrace her inner party animal and throw a neon-colored party at an abandoned motel in the middle of nowhere." She stated that "While the concept of "a lot of pretty people dancing at dusk" is pretty simple, the neon colors manage to amp up the video, as does the colored sand that's thrown around in the air and mixed with glitter." Her conclusion of the video and of Kesha was that as simple as it may be, "she manages to be both sexy and fun while rolling around in the desert."[20]

Live performances

On August 13, 2010 Kesha performed "Take It Off" along side earlier singles "Your Love Is My Drug" and Tik Tok" on NBC's Today Show.[21] In the performance she is seen wearing boots, fishnets, glitter shorts and a loose tank top. By the second verse, her dancers -- dressed head to toe in black -- started to appropriately undress to the music as the chorus starts revealing gold shirts and tank-tops. The performance featured smoke machines with Kesha playing notes on an electric keyboard while crawling on the floor.[22] She has also performed the song in a set for BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend.[23]

Track listing

  • Digital download [24]
  1. "Take It Off" – 3:35

Credits and personnel

  • Songwriting – Kesha Sebert, Lukasz Gottwald, Claude Kelly
  • Production – Dr. Luke
  • Instruments and programming – Dr. Luke
  • Vocal Editing - Emily Wright
  • Background Vocals – Claude Kelly, Aniela Gottwald, Tatiana Gottwald, Lukasz Gottwald, Graham Bryce
  • Engineering – Emily Wright, Sam Holland

Source [25]

Charts

The single Take It Off debuted in the UK Singles Chart at number 171 in its first week. Then, the single climbed 127 places to number 44. In its third week, it climbed 16 places to number 28, making it her fourth solo, top 40 single in the UK.

Chart (2010) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[15] 7
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[26] 16
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[11] 11
Ireland (IRMA)[27] 20
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[14] 14
UK Singles (OCC)[13] 28
US Billboard Hot 100[8] 16

Radio add dates

Country Date
United States July 13, 2010[28]
Australia July 19, 2010[29]

References

  1. ^ Sullivan, Matt (2009-08-13). "Kesha and the Not-Quite-72 Virgins in Her Own Personal Heaven". Esquire. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved 2010-07-15.
  2. ^ a b Toor, Amar (2010-06-15). "Kesha, 'Take It Off' -- New Song". AOL Radio. AOL Inc. Retrieved 2010-06-15. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  3. ^ a b Herrera, Monica (2010-01-06). "Kesha - Animal - Album Review". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 2010-01-17.
  4. ^ Brockman, Daniel (2010-01-08). "Kesha | Animal". The Phoenix. Phoenix Media/Communications Group. Retrieved 2010-07-09.
  5. ^ a b Lamb, Bill (2010-08-18). "Kesha - "Take It Off"". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2010-08-18. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  6. ^ "Billboard (January 23, 2010) Take It Off US Entry". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 2010-06-25.
  7. ^ "Billboard (August 7, 2010) Take It Off US Re-Entry". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
  8. ^ a b "Ke$ha Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-06-25.
  9. ^ "Billboard (January 23, 2010) Take It Off Canadian Entry". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 2010-06-25.
  10. ^ "Billboard (July 31, 2010) Take It Off Canadian Re-Entry". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 2010-06-25.
  11. ^ a b "Ke$ha Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-06-25.
  12. ^ "The Official UK Singles Chart for the week ending February 13, 2010". ChartsPlus (442). Milton Keynes: IQ Ware Ltd: 3. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |journal= (help)
  13. ^ a b c "Kesha: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  14. ^ a b c "Ke$ha – Take It Off". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 2010-06-25.
  15. ^ a b c "Ke$ha – Take It Off". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2010-08-16.
  16. ^ Wete, Brad (2010-08-03). "Kesha and friends have a psychedelic party in her new "Take It Off" Video". Music Mix. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2010-08-03. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  17. ^ Gottlieb, Steven (2010-06-29). "BOOKED: Kesha - Paul Hunter + Dori Oskowitz, dir". Video Static. Retrieved 2010-07-03.
  18. ^ Escudero, Nicki (2010-07-20). "Kesha Comes to Marquee Theatre; Talks Roadkill, Glitter and 'SNL'". Phoenix News Times. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  19. ^ Montgomery, James (2010-07-21). "Kesha Strips Down And Glitters Up In 'Take It Off' Video Singer says getting naked in the new clip is all about being 'raw and real.'". MTV News. MTV Networks (Viacom). Retrieved 2010-07-21. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  20. ^ Vena, Jocelyn (2010-08-03). "Kesha Throws A Desert Party In 'Take It Off' Video". MTV News. MTV Networks (Viacom). Retrieved 2010-08-04. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  21. ^ "Spotted: Kesha Heats Up 'Today'". MTV Newsroom. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2010-08-13. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  22. ^ "Kesha performs on "Today" show". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
  23. ^ "BBC - Radio 1's Big Weekend - Kesha". BBC. Retrieved 2010-08-06.
  24. ^ "Take It Off (United States Album Track listing)". Itunes. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2010-08-03. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  25. ^ [[Animal (Kesha album)|Animal]] digital album booklet via iTunes. RCA (Media notes). {{cite AV media notes}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  26. ^ "Ke$ha – Take It Off" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 2010-08-20.
  27. ^ "Chart Track: Week 34, 2010". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2010-08-20.
  28. ^ "Available For Airplay: 7/13 Rhythm Crossover". FMQB. Friday Morning Quarterback. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
  29. ^ "Issue 796 - Kesha Take It Off (SME)". The Music Network. Peer Group Media. Retrieved 2010-07-21. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
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