Relax, Take It Easy

Infobox Single
Name = Relax, Take It Easy


Artist = Mika
from Album = Life in Cartoon Motion
Released = flagicon|EU June 15, 2007
flagicon|Canada July 2007
flagicon|UK December 31, 2007
Format = Digital download
CD single
Vinyl
USB flash drive
Recorded = 2006
Genre = Pop
Length = 4:30 (album version)
3:44 (radio edit)
3:38 (new radio edit)
Label = Casablanca
Writer = Mika
Producer = Greg Wells
Last single =
This single = "Relax, Take It Easy"
(2006)
Next single = "Grace Kelly"
(2007)Extra chronology 2
Type = United Kingdom singles
Last single = "Happy Ending"
(2007)
This single = "Relax, Take It Easy" / "Lollipop"
(2007)
Next single = "TBA"
(2008/2009)Extra album cover
Upper caption = Alternative cover
Background = khaki


Lower caption = The cover of the UK re-release.

"Relax, Take It Easy" is a 2006 and 2007 single by Mika, from his debut album "Life in Cartoon Motion". In the UK, it failed to chart on its original limited 7" vinyl release, but after "Grace Kelly" topped the charts in January 2007, it managed to peak at #67 on the UK Downloads Chart because of download sales. The song makes use of a melody line from the Cutting Crew hit single "(I Just) Died in Your Arms".cite web|title=Mika: "Life in Cartoon Motion – PopMatters Music Review|author=Wikane, Christian John|date=2007-03-26|publisher=PopMatters|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/32096/mika-life-in-cartoon-motion/]

The song became a hit in Poland where it reached #1 on the official Polish Airplay Chart. [http://euro200.eu.mialias.net/Polish-Top50.htm Polish National Top 50] ]

Greek singer Tamta sang a remixed version of the song at the MAD Music Videos Awards. In North America, it was released as the third single from the album.

The song was released as Mika's sixth single in the UK in stores on December 31, 2007 and for digital download on December 24, 2007 as a double A-side with "Lollipop". This single peaked at number 18 in the UK Singles Chart.

Formats and track listings

First release

7" vinyl
*A. "Relax, Take It Easy"
*B. "Billy Brown"

12" vinyl
*A1. "Relax, Take It Easy" (Ashley Beedle's Castro Vocal Mix)
*B1. "Relax, Take It Easy" (Ashley Beedle's Dub Discomix)
*B2. "Relax, Take It Easy" (Original Mix)

European CD maxi single
# "Relax, Take It Easy" (Original)
# "Relax, Take It Easy" (Aschley Beedle's Castro Vokal Discomix)
# "Relax, Take It Easy" (Acoustic)
# "Relax, Take It Easy" (Video)

Double A-side re-release

CD 1 - Maxi
# "Relax, Take It Easy" (Radio edit)
# "Lollipop" (Live from L'Olympia Paris)
# "I Want You Back" (Live from L'Olympia Paris)
# "Relax, Take It Easy" (Dennis Christopher Remix Radio Edit)
# "Lollipop" (Fred Deakin's Fredmix)

CD 2 - 2-track
# "Relax, Take It Easy" (New Radio Edit)
# "Lollipop"

USB memory stick
# "Relax, Take It Easy" (New Radio Edit)
# "Lollipop"
# "Relax, Take It Easy" (Alpha Beat Remix)
# "Relax, Take It Easy" (Frank Musik Mix)
# "Relax, Take It Easy" (Ashley Beedle's Castro Vocal Discomix)
# "Relax, Take It Easy" (Video - Live In Paris (5.1 Surround)
# "Lollipop" (Video - 16:9 Bunny Action)

Music video

There are two version of the "Relax, Take It Easy" music video.

Version 1 was the first to be released. The video features a blue background with drawings based on Mika's songs that contain characters like Lollipop Girl, Big Girl and Billy Brown. It also contained colorful cartoon cables for the amplifiers, and in some parts it contained images of Mika in a concert in Europe. This version is currently played on VH1 around the world. This version was used for the Life In Cartoon Motion release. This version is used for public use.

Version 2 of the video is the newest version of the music video. It was released in UK and some countries in Europe for the re-release of the single. Version two contains videos and images taken by fans from Mika's numerous concerts. The video was officially released on YouTube. The video has received high ratings on YouTube, though it hasn't been released in any public release by MIKA.

Charts

For the week ending June 24 2007, after its release on different parts of Europe, "Relax, Take It Easy" jumped from #102 to #19 (83 positions upward) in the Euro 200 charts. The following week it jumped 12 positions to #7.

The song also debuted at #12 in the week ending June 30 2007 in the "Billboard" European Hot 100, jumping to #8 the following week, to #4 in its third week and to #2 in its fourth week, despite not being released in some European countries such as the United Kingdom.

In Spain, the song received double platinum certification for more than 40,000 downloads. The song peaked at #4 in the Spanish download chart.

The song debuted at #39 in the 25th week of 2007 in the United World Chart with over 67,000 points, before jumping to #26 the following week with over 85,000 points, to #24 with 92,000 points in its third week and to #16 with 123,000 points in its fourth week. In the first 19 weeks of release, "Relax, Take It Easy" has sold more than 4,000,000 copies worldwide and counting peaked at #14.

The song spent 2 weeks at #1 on the Belgian Ultratop Chart, 7 weeks at #1 on the Dutch Top 40 Chart and 15 weeks at #1 on the French Download Chart. It was also ranked #3 on VH1E's Top 10 Biggest Hits of 2007.

References

External links

* [http://www.mikasounds.com Mika's official website]
*myspace|mikamyspace|Mika