"Take a Walk"
Single by Passion Pit
from the album Gossamer
ReleasedMay 8, 2012 (2012-05-08)
Recorded2011; Gigantic Studios; N.Y.C
Genre
Length
  • 4:25 (album version)
  • 3:59 (radio edit)
  • 4:10 (music video edit)
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Michael Angelakos
Producer(s)
Passion Pit singles chronology
"Little Secrets"
(2009)		 "Take a Walk"
(2012)		 "I'll Be Alright"
(2012)

"Take a Walk" is a song by American indietronica band Passion Pit from their second studio album, Gossamer (2012). The song was written and produced by the band's frontman Michael Angelakos, with Chris Zane providing co-production. It was released as the lead single from the album in May 2012.

Rolling Stone named "Take a Walk" the third-best song of 2012.[1]

Background

"Take a Walk" was written by Michael Angelakos, lead singer and keyboardist of Passion Pit. The song's lyrical content depicts a businessman burdened by financial troubles. According to Angelakos, each verse of the song is based upon one of the men in his family who immigrated to the United States, and depicts a point in each of their lives in America.[2]

  • The song appeared in a commercial by fast food chain Taco Bell advertising their Doritos Locos. Reception by the band's fan base to the song's use in the commercial was mixed. Angelakos defended the use of "Take a Walk" in the commercial, explaining: "It's not about promoting celebrities or giant corporations or anything like that. It’s just airtime…It's an amazing opportunity. And, honestly, you take what you can get. I say no to about 90 percent of the offers, but we just want people to hear the music at the end of the day."[3]
  • The song appears on the soundtrack of the 2012 racing video game Forza Horizon, on the in-game radio station Horizon Pulse.
  • The song also appears on the soundtrack of baseball video game MLB 2K13 from publisher 2K Games. This was the last game in the series.

Music video

The music video for "Take a Walk" was directed by David Wilson in collaboration with the Creators Project.[4] The video is seen from the perspective of a ball as it bounces across several locations in and around Philadelphia, including a suburban neighborhood (Plymouth Meeting), farmland (Maple acres farm), Fairmount Park, and various parts of the city.[5] Advanced helicam technology was utilized in the production of the video in order to achieve the effect.[6]

Formats and track listings

Digital download[7]
  1. "Take a Walk" – 4:23
Digital download – remix single[8]
  1. "Take a Walk" (The M Machine Remix) – 4:23

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[24] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[25] 2× Platinum 2,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ↑ "50 Best Songs of 2012: Passion Pit, 'Take a Walk'". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. 5 December 2012. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
  2. ↑ Montgomery, James (May 9, 2012). "Passion Pit's 'Take A Walk': The 'Not Political' Anthem Of Our Times". MTV Music. MTV Networks. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  3. ↑ Sterling, Scott T. (September 17, 2012). "Passion Pit Address Taco Bell 'Take A Walk' Controversy: "It's An Amazing Opportunity"". CBS News. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  4. ↑ Pelly, Jenn (June 14, 2012). "Video: Passion Pit: "Take a Walk"". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Passion Pit Take to the Sky in 'Take A Walk' Clip". Rolling Stone. 14 June 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  6. ↑ "Passion Pit Take to the Sky in 'Take A Walk' Clip". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. June 14, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Take a Walk – Single by Passion Pit". iTunes Store. Apple. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Take a Walk (The M Machine Remix) – Single by Passion Pit". iTunes Store. Apple. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Passion Pit – Take a Walk" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Passion Pit Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Passion Pit – Take a Walk" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  12. ↑ "Passion Pit Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Passion Pit Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  14. ↑ "Passion Pit Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Passion Pit Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Passion Pit Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  17. ↑ "Passion Pit Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  18. ↑ "Passion Pit Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  20. ↑ "Alternative Songs: Year End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  21. ↑ "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  22. ↑ "Alternative Songs: Year End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  23. ↑ "Rock Airplay Songs: Year End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  24. ↑ "British single certifications – Passion Pit – Take a Walk". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  25. ↑ "American single certifications – Passion Pit – Take a Walk". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
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