"Take Care" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Drake featuring Rihanna | ||||
from the album Take Care | ||||
Released | January 17, 2012 | |||
Genre | Club | |||
Length | 4:37 | |||
Label |
| |||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) | ||||
Drake singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Rihanna singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Take Care" on YouTube |
"Take Care" is the title track from Canadian rapper and singer Drake's 2011 studio album of the same name. The song features guest vocals from Barbadian singer Rihanna. The song heavily samples Jamie xx's remix of Gil Scott-Heron's version of "I'll Take Care of You",written by Brook Benton. "Take Care" was released as the fifth single from the album on January 17,2012. It is a club song about a couple in a relationship acknowledging they have been hurt in their past,but will look after one another.
"Take Care" peaked at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100,while also reaching the top ten in Australia,Denmark,New Zealand,and the United Kingdom. It further peaked at numbers one and eight on the US Rhythmic and Mainstream Top 40 charts respectively,and charted within the top ten of the UK Singles Chart. The song's accompanying music video,directed by Yoann Lemoine,depicts simplistic art including Drake and Rihanna's characters in an intimate relationship,with other scenes featuring animals such as a bull,black-throated magpie-jay and tropical fish,and various outdoor landscapes. The video portrays the ups and downs of a relationship with poaching and wildfires. Critics praised the video for its simple and minimalistic theme.
"Take Care" was written by Drake (credited as Aubrey Graham),Noah Shebib,Anthony Palman and James Smith,better known as Jamie xx. [1] Production of the song was handled by Jamie xx and Shebib under his production name Noah "40" Shebib. [1] It was recorded by Shebib and Ruben Riveara at Metalworks Studios,Ontario,Canada. [1] The engineer was Noel Cadastre,and was assisted by Greg Morrison. [1] It was mixed by Noel "Gadget" Campbell at Studio 206,Ontario,Canada. [1] All instrumentation was provided for by Jamie xx,with exception of the guitar,which was provided by Romy Madley Croft –Jamie xx's fellow band member from the xx;drum programming was completed by Shebib. [1] Background vocals were performed by Gil Scott-Heron. [1] "Take Care" contains a sample of Brook Benton's song "I'll Take Care of You". [1] Permission and license was granted by XL Recordings. [1] Rihanna appears on the track as a featured artist courtesy of the Island Def Jam Music Group. [1]
"Take Care" is a club song that samples Jamie xx's 2011 remix of Gil Scott-Heron's cover song "I'll Take Care of You", originally recorded by Bobby Bland in 1959. [2] The production of Drake's song was helmed by 40, reworking Jamie xx's remix. [3] Additionally, Drake makes reference to Lesley Gore's 1963 number one single, "It's My Party" by re-working the lyrics, "It's my birthday, I'll get high if I want to, can't deny that I want you, but I'll lie if I have to." [4] The song features guest vocals from Rihanna, marking the second collaboration of the pair, the first being Rihanna's number one single "What's My Name?" from her fifth studio album, Loud (2010), on which Drake was featured. [5] [6] The song is written in the key of C minor. The vocal range in the song spans two octaves, from the lower note of C4 to the higher note of F5, between Drake, Rihanna, and the original sample of Scott-Heron. [7]
"They seemed to be super close, and that's what I wanted for the video. They fit together pretty well, so it was just easy.
A music video for "Take Care" was first brought to light in late December 2011. Following the release of the videos of Drake's previous videos for "Marvins Room" and "Headlines", Drake told MTV News that fans could expect visuals for "Take Care" saying, "It's a project where I think visuals are called for. So we're working on definitely the 'Take Care' video, which we're trying to get shot soon." [9] The music video was later filmed in February 2012, over three days. Director, Yoann Lemoine called the shoot "very minimal" and "mellow". He further revealed, "There's a lot of space in the video, and I wanted the visuals to pay tribute to that. When I listened to the track, I was seeing a landscape, involving animals and massive landscapes. I won't say too much, but it's very surprising that there are very few elements in it. It's very simple but there's this big sense of emptiness in it. It's not narrative at all, and it involves animals." Photos of the video were released to the internet on March 12, 2012, showing a grayscaled Drake and Rihanna consoling as well as close ups of both artists looking emotional. [10] The video was initially set to premiere on March 23, 2012, but was delayed due to editing purposes. Drake spoke of the delay and further commented on the video, saying:
"It had to go through a process – I shot it with a director who's incredible and we were just very specific about it. It's a big record and a lot of footage. It's [a] very artistic very abstract video – something that I wasn't used to. I'm usually used to a very straight forward concept so I'm really excited for people to see it because it's actually just something beautiful to look at. There's actually for once no story necessarily as far as there being a narrative like 'What's My Name?' or 'We Found Love' where there's stories. This is just beautiful imagery." [11]
Drake announced that the video would be released either on March 28 or March 29, 2012. However, yet again, it did not premiere on any of those dates. [12] The video eventually later premiered on April 6, 2012 on MTV and OVO, and was uploaded to Drake's official Vevo account on April 23. The video was released simultaneously with Drake's following single, "HYFR (Hell Ya Fucking Right)". [13]
Drake explained the concept of the video in an interview, saying: "It's all basically the ups and downs of a relationship but represented in icebergs and fire and animals and just pulsating movement and then you've got me and Rihanna very intimate." This is shown first with a bull alone, a black-throated magpie-jay flying through the air, a tropical fish, and a peacefully-presented landscape with snow-covered mountains, all presented calm and relaxed. However, arrows are later shot at the bull to represent poaching, while fire, to represent global warming and wildfire, destroys the outside landscape. The bird and fish are also shown to be frightened, moving abruptly. The video could also be perceived as global warming or the effect of human mistreatment, destroying the beauty of nature on its own. The video features a shot of a figure mid-air (Drake himself), with ash falling around him while another scene features a tribal dancer completing a back flip through the air, among other moves. Rihanna wears a simple tatty cardigan whilst Drake is seen in a T-shirt, to present simplicity. Throughout the video, the pair are seen alone in some scenes, while in others they embrace each other by hugging, and with Drake kissing Rihanna on the forehead towards the end. The video concludes with a shot of smoke from the wildfire slowly dying out.
Following the release of the "Take Care" video, critics praised it, lauding its simplicity. James Montgomery of MTV praised the video saying, "On Friday, Drake finally premiered his long-in-the-works 'Take Care' clip. And yes, it was worth the wait. Full of massively icy landscapes, achingly tense slow-motion footage, artfully framed animals and, uh, Rihanna, it is basically Drake personified. Morose and masterful, slow-burning and incredibly sexual (even when it's not supposed to be), it exudes both an incredible level of restraint and an over-the-top amount of pomp. It is very serious, very cold, very pained. Nothing much really happens, but at its conclusion, you feel like you've been through an awful lot (maybe a journey through the mind of Damien Hirst?). None of his contemporaries — not even the ever-obtuse Kanye [West] – make videos like this, mostly because no one else can get away with it." He also titled the clip as "Frozen Planet". [14] Becky Bain of Idolator also gave praise to the video and its simplicity, stating the video "floats through eerie and beautiful imagery" and concluded, "Even if you're not exactly sure what's going on, it's a deeply moving clip." [15] David Greenwald of Billboard commented, "While the minimalist video focuses on Drake and Rihanna singing and embracing, it's full of luxurious slow-motion photography of a number of animals and landscapes, include a fish, a bird and a dusty buffalo." [16]
British indie rock band Florence and the Machine covered the song on November 25, 2011 during BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge. [17] [18] [19] Before performing the song, lead singer Florence Welch announced: "This is pretty exciting because this is a song by one of my, well two of my, well three of my absolute favorite artists." [20] Amy Lee of The Huffington Post wrote: "Florence sounds natural on the soulful, mournful track, with an added layer of epic provided by the band. In fact, 'Take Care' almost sounds more like a Florence and the Machine track than a Drake one." [20] David Greenwald of Billboard described the cover as an "impassioned chamber-rock take." [21] Describing their cover as "stunning", James Montgomery of MTV News wrote: "Backed by a stirring string section, Florence + the Machine's version of the song isn't as dark and knotty as Drake's original; instead, it's ethereal and downright doleful, starting slow and sleepy but building to a towering crescendo, with Welch lamenting that she's 'loved and lost' while drums pound, keyboards pulse and the strings trill." [22] Montgomery also commented that "It's the kind of aching cover that leaves you wishing the two could actually collaborate on a record." [22] The recording was eventually released in digital form as part of the iTunes "Ceremonials" deluxe edition on July 31, 2012, [23] and subsequently released in physical form on an Australian Special 2CD edition of the Ceremonials album released on November 26, 2012; [24] the band played the song at their headlining appearance at Bestival on September 7, 2012, the only time they have played this song live. [25]
On August 1, 2012, American singer Leon Thomas III released his debut mixtape Metro Hearts . The mixtape includes a cover of "Take Care" featuring Thomas' then Victorious co-star Ariana Grande.
Reggaeton artists De la Ghetto and Jenny la Sexy Voz covered and remixed the song in Spanish and was released through Chosen Few Emerald Entertainment, Inc. entitled Si Me Dejaras (English: If You Let Me). [26] [27] [28] Mashup artist wait what (of the xx fame) remixed the track to replace Rihanna's vocals with the original Gil Scott-Heron vocals in the chorus, paired with Drake's verses. The resulting track was posted across hundreds of blogs and received generally favorable reviews, being called "seamless" and definitely worth a listen". [29]
The song has received universal acclaim from music critics. Rob Markman of MTV praised the track and described the song saying, "The Jamie xx-produced 'Take Care', with its pounding bass drum and sparse piano melody, tells the story of two lovers ready to leave behind their sketchy pasts in favor of a fruitful relationship together. Drake and Rih's real-life fling (one the rapper addressed on 2010's "Fireworks") only helps to enhance the song's appeal. Standing as both an endearing duet and a club banger, it's the danceable, Gil-Scott Heron-sampling house build toward the end of the song that truly makes it a standout." [9] David Amidon of PopMatters praised the collaboration between Drake and Rihanna as well as Rihanna's vocal performance with regard to the lyrical content, writing "Rihanna [delivers] a vocal far, far prettier than one would ever expect from her lips that essentially forgives Drake and promises him friendship for life." [30]
Tim Sendra of AllMusic also commended Rihanna's vocal performance, calling it "typically great" and continued to write that "Take Care" is the "most unique" song on the album. [31] Glenn Gamboa of Newsday labelled the song as "gorgeous", writing that Rihanna's lifts the depressive mood which is present on the majority of Drake's songs. [32] Gamboa also compared the song to Rihanna's "We Found Love", the lead single from her 2011 album Talk That Talk , writing that it is a "sweet counterpart". [32]
Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune was critical of the song, as well as Rihanna's inclusion, writing "Even with serial-songstress Rihanna on "Take Care" (is it possible to release a pop-leaning album anymore without a Rihanna cameo?), the tone is muted, loaded with reverb and beats that occasionally drop out completely." [33] The song was featured on MTV's must-hear pop songs list along with songs by Cher Lloyd and the Wanted in 2011. MTV described the song as "gorgeous" and "devastating". [34]
In 2021, it was ranked at number 267 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. [35]
"Take Care" was released to US rhythmic contemporary radio on January 17, 2012, serving as the official fifth single from Drake's second studio album of the same name. On February 21, it was also sent to the contemporary hit radio in the country. [36] "Take Care" made its chart debut on the Australian Singles Chart on December 4, 2011, at number 45, following the album's release. The song managed to remain towards the bottom of the chart until the single's release, when it rose into the top ten to number nine on February 19, 2012. It has spent 24 total weeks on the chart since its first appearance. [37] It has been certified seven-times platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), for sales of over 490,000 copies. [38] In New Zealand, "Take Care" debuted on the New Zealand Singles Chart on April 30, 2012, at number 21, following the single's release. The following week, it rose into the top ten to number seven, marking a new peak. [39]
Upon the release of the album Take Care , the title track managed to immediately debut within the top ten of the US Billboard Hot 100, at number nine, with respectable sales of over 162,000 digital copies. With this, it became Rihanna's 21st and Drake's ninth top ten single in the United States. The strong sales of the song prompted "Take Care" to debut at number four on the US Digital Songs chart. [40] The song also peaked at number eight on the Mainstream Top 40 chart and at number 26 on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart in the country. [41] [42] On September 25, 2019, the single was certified quintuple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales exceeding 5 million copies in the United States. [43] The song has additionally reached the top twenty of the Canadian Hot 100 at number 15. [44]
The song also entered the UK Singles Chart at number 12, following the album's release. [45] The following week, it reached the top ten at number nine, marking Drake's first top ten as a solo artist and second overall after "What's My Name?", coincidentally a Rihanna song featuring Drake. [46] In the same week, it rose from its debut of number five the previous week, to its eventual peak of number three on the UK Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart. [47] It remained on the charts for 27 consecutive weeks. [48] The song has also achieved moderate success in other European countries including in Denmark, reaching number eight, Scotland at 14, and Ireland at number 18. [49] [50] [51]
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Take Care. [1]
Recording locations
Sample
Personnel
Video credits [52]
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [38] | 7× Platinum | 490,000‡ |
Canada (Music Canada) [75] | 2× Platinum | 160,000* |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [76] | Gold | 15,000^ |
Germany (BVMI) [77] | Gold | 150,000‡ |
New Zealand (RMNZ) [78] | 3× Platinum | 90,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [79] | 3× Platinum | 1,800,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [43] | 7× Platinum | 7,000,000‡ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format | Labels | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | January 17, 2012 | Rhythmic contemporary radio | [36] | |
February 14, 2012 | Urban contemporary radio | [80] | ||
February 21, 2012 | Contemporary hit radio | [36] |
Take Care is the second studio album by Canadian rapper Drake. It was released on November 15, 2011, by Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records and Republic Records. The album features guest appearances from the Weeknd, Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, Birdman, Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, Stevie Wonder, Lil Wayne, and André 3000. Alongside prominent production from the album's executive producers Drake and 40, further contributors include T-Minus, Chantal Kreviazuk, Boi-1da, Illangelo, Jamie xx, Supa Dups, Just Blaze, Chase N. Cashe, and Doc McKinney.
"What's My Name?" is a song recorded by Barbadian singer Rihanna, for her fifth studio album Loud (2010). Featuring guest vocals from Canadian rapper Drake, the song was released as the second single from Loud on October 25, 2010, through Def Jam Recordings and in Germany on January 21, 2011, as a single through Universal Music Group. The dancehall-infused electro-R&B song was produced by the Norwegian production duo Stargate, and was written by the duo along with Ester Dean, Traci Hale, and Drake. Lyrically, it incorporates themes of romance and sex.
"Umbrella" is a song by Barbadian singer Rihanna, released worldwide on March 29, 2007, through Def Jam Recordings as the lead single and opening track from her third studio album, Good Girl Gone Bad (2007). Its featured artist, American rapper Jay-Z, co-wrote the song with its producers Tricky Stewart and Kuk Harrell, with additional writing contributions coming from The-Dream.
"Live Your Life" is a song by American rapper T.I., featuring Barbadian singer Rihanna, from T.I.'s sixth studio album, Paper Trail (2008). It was released as the seventh single from the album on September 8, 2008. The song's lyrics speak of T.I.'s rise to fame and optimism of the future. It also gives dedication to the American troops fighting in Iraq. The song both samples and interpolates the 2003 song "Dragostea Din Tei" by O-Zone.
"Run This Town" is a song by American rapper Jay-Z featuring Barbadian singer Rihanna and fellow American rapper Kanye West. Released on July 24, 2009, it was written by the artists alongside Athanasios Alatas, Jeff Bhasker, and No I.D., the latter producing it with West. "Run This Town" was released as the second single from Jay-Z's eleventh studio album, The Blueprint 3.
"Who's That Chick?" is a song by French DJ and producer David Guetta featuring vocals from Barbadian singer Rihanna. It was released from the reissue of Guetta's fourth studio album One Love (2009), entitled One More Love (2010). The song was written by Guetta, Kinda "Kee" Hamid, Frédéric Riesterer, and Giorgio Tuinfort. Since the song contains an interpolation of "Who's That Girl", Madonna and Patrick Leonard are credited as co-writers as well. It was released internationally as the second single on 22 November 2010 as a digital single, and was also released as a CD single and an Extended play (EP), the latter of which was released in the United States and contained remixes of the song.
James Thomas Smith, known professionally as Jamie xx, is an English musician, DJ, record producer, and remixer. He is known for both his solo work and as a member of the indie pop band the xx.
"Headlines" is a song by Canadian rapper Drake. It is the second single from Drake's second studio album Take Care. The song, produced by Matthew "Boi-1da" Samuels, and Noah "40" Shebib, first premiered on Drake's blog October's Very Own on July 31, 2011, and was sent to all radio formats in the US on August 9, 2011. It was released on iTunes and Amazon on August 9, 2011 in the U.S. The song debuted and peaked on the Billboard charts at number 13, becoming one of his highest charting songs at the time of release. It was re-released to US Top 40/Mainstream radio on October 18, 2011.
"We Found Love" is a song by Barbadian singer Rihanna from her sixth studio album, Talk That Talk (2011). The song features Scottish DJ Calvin Harris, whose 2012 album 18 Months also includes the track. "We Found Love" premiered on September 22, 2011, on the Capital FM radio station in the United Kingdom, and was made available to download on the same day as the lead single from Talk That Talk. "We Found Love" is an uptempo electro house song, with elements of dance-pop, techno and Europop. The song's lyrics speak of a couple who "found love in a hopeless place".
"Still Got It" is a song by American rapper Tyga featuring Canadian rapper Drake. The song was released on October 4, 2011, as the second single from the rapper's debut studio album, Careless World: Rise of the Last King. The song was produced by Noah "40" Shebib and Supa Dups, appearing as a bonus track on the iTunes Store deluxe edition of the album and as a Hidden Track on the physical copies of this one. "Still Got It" marks the rapper's third consecutive release to impact the US Billboard Hot 100, debuting at number 89 for the chart week dated October 24, 2011; also peaking at number 70 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
"Make Me Proud" is a song by Canadian recording artist Drake, released as the third single from his second studio album, Take Care, featuring Trinidadian rapper Nicki Minaj. It was released as a digital download on October 16, 2011 and impacted rhythmic radio on October 25, 2011 in the U.S.
"HYFR (Hell Ya Fucking Right)" is a song by Canadian rapper Drake from his second studio album Take Care (2011). The song features Lil Wayne and was released as the album's sixth official single. It was released to radio stations on April 24, 2012. The song was nominated for the 55th Grammy Awards for Best Rap Performance, but lost to "Niggas in Paris" by Jay-Z and Kanye West.
"R.I.P." is a song by English singer Rita Ora featuring British rapper Tinie Tempah from her debut studio album, Ora (2012). The song was written by Aubrey Graham (Drake), F. Samadzada, Mikkel Eriksen, Nneka Egbuna, Renee Wisdom, Saul Milton, Tinie Tempah, Tor Erik Hermansen and William Kennard, and produced by Chase & Status and Stargate. It was released as the second single from the album for digital download and streaming by Columbia and Roc Nation in various countries on 6 May 2012. Sampling Chase & Status' remix of Nneka's "Heartbeat" (2008), it is a dubstep and pop song, incorporating R&B, rave and rock elements. Its lyrics are an ode to a lost love and the process to overcome that situation.
"Pour It Up" is a song by Barbadian singer Rihanna from her seventh studio album, Unapologetic (2012). It was serviced to urban radio stations in the United States on January 8, 2013, as the second US single, and third overall single from the album. It was later also sent to contemporary hit radio radios in the country. "Pour It Up" written by Rock City and producers Mike Will Made It and JBo. It is a club, trap, and R&B song with a minimal hip hop beat. Rihanna brags about her wealth on the song which serves as both a strip club anthem and a declaration of independence.
"Stay" is a song recorded by Barbadian singer Rihanna for her seventh studio album, Unapologetic (2012). It features guest vocals by Mikky Ekko and was released as the second single from the album on December 13, 2012. "Stay" was co-written by Ekko and Justin Parker. The song's lyrics speak of temptation and the inability to resist true love. Music critics were generally positive in their opinion regarding the balladry and most described it as a standout track on the album.
"I'm on One" is a song by American hip hop artist DJ Khaled, released as the second single from his fifth studio album, We the Best Forever. The hip hop song features Canadian rapper Drake and American rappers Rick Ross and Lil Wayne and features production from Canadian producers T-Minus, Nikhil S. and Noah "40" Shebib. It was released for digital download in the United States on May 20, 2011. Remixes and freestyles were released from rappers such as Tyga, Meek Mill, Jamie Drastik, including other rappers.
"The Monster" is a song from American rapper Eminem's album The Marshall Mathers LP 2 (2013) featuring a guest appearance from Rihanna. The song was written by Bebe Rexha, Eminem, Rihanna, Aalias, Jon Bellion, Maki Athanasiou, and Frequency, with the latter also handling production. Released on October 29, 2013, as the fourth single from the album, "The Monster" marks the fourth collaboration between Eminem and Rihanna, following "Love the Way You Lie" (2010), its sequel "Love the Way You Lie " (2010), and "Numb" (2012), and is a hip-hop and pop song, with lyrics that describe Eminem pondering the negative effects of his fame while Rihanna comes to grips with her inner demons.
"Work" is a song by Barbadian singer Rihanna featuring Canadian rapper Drake, from Rihanna's eighth studio album Anti (2016). It was released on January 27, 2016, by Westbury Road and Roc Nation as the lead single from the album. The song was written by Rihanna, Drake, Jahron Brathwaite, Monte Moir, Rupert Thomas, Allen Ritter, and Matthew "Boi-1da" Samuels, the latter of which produced the track while Kuk Harrell and Noah "40" Shebib were additional producers. Incorporating elements of dancehall, reggae, pop, and R&B, "Work" contains an interpolation of Alexander O'Neal's "If You Were Here Tonight" (1985). Written in the English-based creole languages of Jamaica and Barbados, its lyrics are about fragile relationships and yearning for intimacy.
"Too Good" is a song by Canadian rapper Drake, featuring Barbadian singer Rihanna, released in the United Kingdom on May 15, 2016, as the fourth single from his fourth studio album Views (2016), before later being serviced to US contemporary hit radio on July 26, 2016, as the fifth and final single from the album. It samples the dancehall song "Love Yuh Bad" performed by Popcaan and uses samples from wavrly.com. The song was co-written by Drake and Rihanna alongside Andrew Hershey, Andre Sutherland, Atom Martin, and the track's producers Nineteen85, Maneesh Bidaye, and Dwayne Chin-Quee.
"No Guidance" is a song by American singer Chris Brown featuring vocals from Canadian rapper Drake. It was released on June 8, 2019, as the fourth single from Brown's ninth studio album, Indigo (2019). The song was written by Brown, Drake, Velous and Nija Charles, and produced by Vinylz, J-Louis, Teddy Walton, and Canadian producer 40. Mixed & Mastered by Blackthebeast
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)