Take a Bow (Rihanna song)
"Take a Bow" | |
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Song |
"Take a Bow" is a song written by R&B singer-songwriter Ne-Yo and production-team StarGate for the re-release of Rihanna's third studio album Good Girl Gone Bad. It is the first single from the re-release edition of the album. The single was produced by StarGate.
Background and Composition
"Take a Bow" is a pop and R&B song written by Rihanna's label mate Ne-Yo, Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel Eriksen (StarGate), with whom she previously worked on "Unfaithful" and "Hate That I Love You". Stargate, who are behind a number of Rihanna's singles, including "Unfaithful", "Don't Stop the Music" and "Hate That I Love You", produced the song. The premise of the song is based around a female's point of view as her boyfriend is attempting to apologize after being unfaithful. She sarcastically informs him that his performance is "very entertaining", and instructs him to "take a bow". Although there is a gentle tone to the lyrics, at the heart of it they convey a tone of bitterness and even disgust ("trying to apologize, you're so ugly when you cry").
Single release
The song premiered on KZZP and KRQQ's JohnJay and Rich in the Morning on March 14, 2008,[3] and was made available to media outlets later that same day.[4] It was officially released to U.S. top 40 radio on April 15, 2008 and to iTunes on May 6, 2008 where it has proven to be immensely popular both in the United States and internationally. To date the single has reached the number 1 position on iTunes in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Ireland, and has achieved top 10 chartings in eight countries across the globe.[5]
Critical reception
Bill Lamb from About.com stated that "Rihanna has the unique ability to deliver them [Ne-Yo's lyrics] without batting an eyelash, and this is another success, if a little lifeless, for the duo. Look for it to be Rihanna's 9th, yes 9th, top 10 pop single" and "The production [of the song] utilizes brief spoken asides by Rihanna to great effect. It's her "please!" and dismissive giggle that are likely to be the most memorable elements from this effort" he also adds "The keyboard-based backing of "Take a Bow" is, by now, standard Stargate and does not challenge their best. However, you are likely to find yourself singing along after the first few times through, and that should be enough right now to keep Rihanna in good graces with pop radio programmers". [6]
Chuck Taylor from Billboard magazine reviewed the song and said: "With superstars Stargate and Ne-Yo at the helm, the velvety ballad ticks along with well-applied piano and strings, as the instantly recognizable singer delivers a convincingly bemused vocal, complete with haughty laugh".[7]
Chart performance
In the issue dated May 24, 2008, "Take a Bow" soared up 52 spots from 53-1 to top the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 becoming her third U.S. number one single. The song opened with digital sales of 267,000 after being available only on radio. It is therefore her second number-one single from Good Girl Gone Bad after "Umbrella" topped the charts around the same time in 2007.[8] The song also sored from 70-1 to top the canadian billboard charts in the same week, making it the biggest jump in the charts history.
The song also debuted at number 30 on the Australian ARIA Charts where it has soared up to number 5 on digital sales based on the Australian iTunes Store. [9]
In New Zealand the track debuted as a hit in the top 5 at number 4 on its opening week on the RIANZ charts. It has since risen to number 2 on its second week.[10]
Music video
The video, directed by Anthony Mandler, was released on the Island Records site on April 25, 2008, so far the video has over 4 million views on YouTube. [11]
Tracklist
- 2-track CD[12]
- "Take a Bow" (Album Version)
- "Don't Stop the Music" (Solitaire's More Drama Remix)
- Maxi CD[13]
- "Take a Bow" (Album Version)
- "Don't Stop the Music" (Solitaire's More Drama Remix)
- "Take a Bow" (Instrumental)
- "Take a Bow" (Video)
Chart positions
Chart (2008) | Peak position |
---|---|
United World Chart | 6[14] |
Philippines Hot 100 [15] | 12 |
Australian ARIA Singles Chart[16] | 30 |
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 1[17] |
U.S. Billboard Pop 100 | 2[18] |
Canadian Hot 100 | 1 |
New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart[19] | 2 |
Swedish Singles Chart[16] | 12 |
Lithuanian Airplay Chart | 46 |
Swiss Singles Chart[16] | 29 |
References
- ^ http://gfa.radioandrecords.com/publishGFA/GFANextPage.asp?sDate=04/15/2008&Format=1
- ^ Australia Digital Download iTunes Music Store. Retrieved: May 7, 2008
- ^ "Take a Bow". KIIS-FM. 2008-03-14. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
- ^ Hillary Crosley (2008-03-14). "Rihanna Re-Releases "Good Girl" With New Ne-Yo Track". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
- ^ http://www.apple.com/euro/itunes/charts/top10songs.html
- ^ http://top40.about.com/od/singles/gr/rihannatakeabow.htm
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ http://www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display.asp?chart=1U50
- ^ http://www.rianz.org.nz/rianz/chart.asp
- ^ [3]
- ^ [4]
- ^ [5]
- ^ http://www.mediatraffic.de/tracks-week21-2008.htm
- ^ http://www.freewebs.com/billboardphilippines/hot100.htm
- ^ a b c hitparade.ch
- ^ [ http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003803712]
- ^ Billboard Pop 100
- ^ [6]