"Take a Hint" was met with positive reviews from music critics,with some praising its lyrics and melody. The song peaked at number eight on the US BillboardBubbling Under Hot 100 chart and entered digital charts in the United States. It was certified platinum in the US by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and certified silver in the United Kingdom by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). Justice performed the song live throughout 2012. Matt Bennett performed it live with Gillies in 2022.
The track was released in the show's third season,sixth episode,titled "Tori &Jade's Play Date" on the same day as its single release.[8][9][10] In the episode,Tori Vega (Justice) and Jade West (Gillies) are forced to play a married couple in a play.[8][9][11] Their teacher Erwin Sikowitz (Eric Lange) becomes frustrated when they can't stop arguing and be friends. He tells them to hang out at a karaoke restaurant,warning that they would fail his class if they couldn't get along.[2][8][9] When two boys start flirting with them at the restaurant,Tori and Jade reject their advances as they sing "Take a Hint" together.[12][13][14][15] Music critics have described "Take a Hint" as a pop,electropop,dance-pop,and EDM track.[15][16][17] The song's lyrics are about having the right to consent and standing up to unwelcome advances:"No you can't buy me a drink/Let me tell you what I think/I think you could use a mint."[15][18][19]
Jessica Dawson for Common Sense Media gave the song three stars out of five,and opined that the song is "harmless and humorous". She thought that the track's "overall message might be a little mature for young tween fans who watch the show",noting its use of innuendo and implicit profanity.[15] Autumn McAlpin for The Orange County Register depicted the song as an "anti-creepy-boy tune".[20] Jack Irvin of People magazine described it as "memorable",[16] while Haley Longman of Teen.com labeled the track as "cute".[21] Sara for Twist magazine described the song as "awesome",writing that "Take a Hint" will get "stuck in your head".[22] The staff of M Magazine called the track "so catchy".[11]
The joint website of Bop and Tiger Beat stated it is a "totally cute and catchy song that you'll absolutely love".[9] Alyssa Melillo for the Long Island Press opined that the song was one of the songs that "set an energetic high bar for the show".[23] Tiara B,writing for The Shade Room,put the song at number seven on her "Victorious:The Top 10 Songs That Still Have Us Hooked" list,labeling it as a "powerful duet".[24] Writing for MovieWeb,Israel Olorunnisola placed "Take a Hint" at number four on his "Victorious:10 Songs You Forgot Were Awesome" list,saying the song has a "catchy melody" and "witty and empowering lyrics".[13] For Her Campus,Megan Gaertner and Allison Kane placed the song at number one on their "the Best Songs from Victorious" list,describing the track as a "complete bop" that introduced them to feminism.[19]
On January 5,2022,"Take a Hint" was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling 1,000,000 certified units in the United States.[29] It became the first track from Victorious to be certified platinum in the United States and the second song featured on the show to earn an RIAA certification,following "Freak the Freak Out" which was certified gold.[30][31] In 2023,it was certified silver in the United Kingdom by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for selling 200,000 certified units.[32]
Live performances
To promote the song,Justice performed performed "Take a Hint" lived at the Pacific Amphitheatre in August 2012.[20] She also performed the song live during the 2012 Great Allentown Fair.[33] In 2022,fellow Victorious actor Matt Bennett performed the song live with Gillies during some of his DJ concert sets.[34][35][36]
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