Take a Bow (Rihanna song)

Infobox Single
Name = Take a Bow


Artist = Rihanna
from Album =
B-side =
Released = flagicon|US April 15, 2008 (U.S.)
flagicon|UK May 12, 2008 (UK)
flagicon|Europe May 23, 2008 (Europe)
flagicon|France July 21, 2008 (France)
flagicon|Italy July 28, 2008 (Italy)
Format = CD single, digital download
Recorded = 2008
Genre = Pop, R&B
Length = 3:49
Label = Def Jam
Writer = S. Smith, T.E. Hermansen, M.S. Eriksen
Producer = Stargate
Certification = Platinum (RIAA)-Gold (RIANZ)-Platinum (ARIA)
Last single = "Don't Stop the Music"
(2007)
This single = "Take a Bow"
(2008)
Next single = "If I Never See Your Face Again"
(2008)

"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.

Background and composition

"Take a Bow" is a pop/R&B song written and composed by Ne-Yo,Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel Eriksen of Stargate, with whom she previously worked on "Unfaithful" and "Hate That I Love You".

The lyrics describe a female's point of view as her boyfriend is attempting to apologize after being unfaithful. She sarcastically tells him that his performance is "very entertaining", and to "take a bow" like he was performing on a stage. Although there is a gentle tone to the lyrics, at the heart of it they convey a tone of bitterness and even disgust. It is the second single with the same name to top the Billboard Hot 100 after Madonna's 1995 single "Take a Bow.""Take a Bow" is Rihanna's first song to peak at number 1 on BET's "106 & Park." In July 2008, on a promotional trip to the UK for his new album, Ne-Yo recorded a version of "Take a Bow" for Urban radio station 1Xtra. [ [http://www.zshare.net/audio/15977571f48917c1/ zSHARE - tab ne-yo - www.thatgrapejuice.net.mp3 ] ] Taylor Swift has also been performing the song live on her tour.

ingle release

The song premiered on KZZP and KRQQ's "JohnJay and Rich in the Morning" on March 14, 2008, [ cite web | url=http://ryan.kiisfm.com/pages/takeabow.html | title=Take a Bow | publisher=KIIS-FM | date=2008-03-14 | accessdate=2008-03-14 ] and was made available to media outlets later that same day. cite web | url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003725944 | title=Rihanna Re-Releases "Good Girl" With New Ne-Yo Track | publisher=Billboard.com | author=Hillary Crosley | date=2008-03-14 | accessdate=2008-03-14 ] 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, Denmark, and Ireland, and has achieved top 10 chartings in over eighteen countries across the globe. [ [http://www.apple.com/euro/itunes/charts/top10songs.html Apple - iTunes - iTunes Store - Charts - Top 10 Songs ] ] In U.K the single was release on May 12.In Europe it was released a month later on June 6. Due to digital downloads "Take a Bow" charted at number 45 in Italy before its official release set for July 28, 2008, according to an italian music channel which has inserted Take a Bow in its playlist on that date [ [http://www.allmusic.tv/allmusic/playlist?pageType=v&nomePlaylist=altopotenziale] ] . Also in France the song has been released nearly two months after the European release date, set for June 6, 2008, on July 21, 2008.

Critical reception

Bill Lamb from About.com stated that "Rihanna has the unique ability to deliver the 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 the muse one is betterbe 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". [ [http://top40.about.com/od/singles/gr/rihannatakeabow.htm Rihanna - "Take a Bow" ] ]

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". [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/content_display/reviews/singles/e3iaeef0c1a4b682082e32fda72693edda3 Take a Bow ] ] Nick Levine of Digital Spy wrote, "'Take A Bow' does what it sets out to do very well, but it's an underwhelming follow-up to the dancefloor rush of 'Don't Stop The Music'." [ [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a95327/rihanna-take-a-bow.html Singles Review - Rihanna: 'Take A Bow']

Music video

The "Take a Bow" music video was shot in Venice and was directed by Anthony Mandler, who has directed a few of her other videos.The music video opens with Rihanna in a dark room singing, when her boyfriend rings the doorbell. Rihanna does not open the door for him and her boyfriend remains locked outside the house. Rihanna goes into the garage, jumps in her car which is a silver Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet and drives away. Her boyfriend starts running after her car when she leaves. Rihanna then starts burning his clothes towards the end of the video. In the music video, Rihanna wears a red leather jacket similar to that of Michael Jackson in "Thriller" and also aviator sunglasses like that of Michael Jackson.

It has so far spent 27 days on BET's 106 & Park, eight of the days spent at #1, it's also Rihanna's first #1 video on BET's 106 & Park.

The video was nominated for Best Female Video and Best Direction at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards.

Chart performance

In the issue dated May 24, 2008, "Take a Bow" jumped up 52 spots from number fifty-three to number-one on the "Billboard" Hot 100. This is the third-best leap in the chart's history of songs climbing to #1 behind T.I's "Whatever You Like", which jumped from 71 to 1 in September 2008 and Maroon 5's "Makes Me Wonder", which jumped from 64 to 1 in May 2007. [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003803712 Rihanna's 'Bow' Soars 52 Spots To Lead Hot 100 ] ] . The song also opened with the third highest digital sales tally in "Billboard" Chart history amassing 267,000 units sold in one week after being available only on radio. The song has become Rihanna's i hvea bda speeligthird "Billboard" Hot 100 number-one single after "Umbrella" and "SOS," which topped the charts around the same time in 2007 & 2006, respectively. "Take A Bow" is Rihanna's second number-one single from the album "Good Girl Gone Bad." The song also shot-up from number 70 to 1 on the Canadian "Billboard" chart in the same week, making it the biggest jump in the chart's history. [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/chart_display.jsp?g=Singles&f=Canadian+Hot+100 Billboard- Updated Album Charts from the most Trusted Music Magazine ] ]

In the United Kingdom "Take A Bow" debuted in the Top 10 at number-two on the UK Singles Chart, based on downloads alone, and the following week ascended to number-one where it remained for two consecutive weeks, becoming Rihanna's second UK number one following "Umbrella" in 2007.

The song was also a success in Oceania. "Take A Bow" debuted at number-thirty on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart, and the following week climbed 17 places to number-thirteen and was named a bullet performer for that week. It ascended into the top ten at number-ten in its third week and rose to number-six in its fourth. "Take A Bow" eventually reached its peak position at number-three two weeks later, and is the fourth top 5 hit from "Good Girl Gone Bad" there. [ [http://www.australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Rihanna&titel=Take+A+Bow&cat=s australian-charts.com - Rihanna - Take A Bow ] ] In New Zealand, the single debuted at number-four on the New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart, and has since peaked at number two for five weeks, being kept from reaching the top spot by Chris Brown's "Forever".

The single has become one of Rihanna's biggest radio hits of her entire career in the United States, only second to "Umbrella", which had the advantage of stronger Urban airplay. With the single placing in the top ten on Top 40, Rhythmic, and Urban at the same time, it has outpeaked some of her previous flagship hits such as "Don't Stop the Music" "SOS" and "Pon de Replay". The song has also reached number one on Mediabase, becoming Rihanna's second number one on this chart, after "Umbrella". [ [http://w2.mediabase.com/mmrweb/AllAccess/Charts.asp?format=H1M] ] In the week July 26, the single reached the top spot of Hot 100 Airplay

On the United World Charts, the single reached number 1 ending the eleven week reign of Madonna's massive hit single 4 Minutes at the top. It held the top spot for three weeks and amassed so far 4,681,000 points. It is also Rihanna's first #1 on the R&B charts.

Tracklist

;International 2-Track CD Single
# "Take a Bow" (Album Version) - 3:46
# "Don't Stop the Music" (Solitaire's More Drama Remix) - 8:08

;US Promo CD
# "Take a Bow" (Album Version) - 3:46
# "Take a Bow" (Instrumental) - 3:45

;Digital CD Remixes [ [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0019C5M3I CD Remixes on Amazon.com] .]
# "Take a Bow" (Seamus Haji & Paul Emanuel Club Mix) – 08:34
# "Take a Bow" (Tony Moran & Warren Rigg's Encore Club Mix) – 09:18
# "Take a Bow" (Groove Junkies MoHo Club Mix) – 07:21
# "Take a Bow" (Subkulcha Club Mix) – 06:16
# "Take a Bow" (Groove Junkies MoHo Dub) – 06:41;International CD Maxi Single
# "Take a Bow" (Album Version) - 3:46
# "Don't Stop the Music" (Solitaire's More Drama Remix) - 8:08
# "Take a Bow" (Instrumental) - 3:45
# "Take a Bow" (Video)

;EU/US Remixes Promo CD
# "Take a Bow" (Seamus Haji & Paul Emmanuel Radio) – 03:56
# "Take a Bow" (Tony Moran & Warren Riggs Encore Radio) – 04:02
# "Take a Bow" (Groove Junkies Moho Radio) – 03:52
# "Take a Bow" (Subkulcha Radio) – 04:21
# "Take a Bow" (Seamus Haji & Paul Emmanuel Club) – 08:34
# "Take a Bow" (Tony Moran & Warren Riggs Encore Club) – 09:18
# "Take a Bow" (Groove Junkies Moho Club) – 07:21
# "Take a Bow" (Subkulcha Club) – 06:16
# "Take a Bow" (Groove Junkies Moho Dub) – 06:42
# "Take a Bow" (Groove Junkies Moho Dubstrumental) – 06:42

Charts

References