Relax, Take It Easy

Mika described the story behind the song in an interview with The Sun newspaper, on 2 February 2007:

"I always wanted to write a dance song that wasn't a really full dance track, that felt organic. So when I came into producing 'Relax' I made sure that most of the sounds we used were actually made by real instruments. We used some great session musicians who had worked with Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson. And we picked up the strangest pedal combinations to get all these weird sounds. It's really effective – you can't tell if it's a full dance track or really laid-back. It feels a bit weird electronically. The organic-ness gives a more classic field to it. So it was one of the harder tracks for me to produce, but also the most rewarding."{{cite web|title=Relax (Take It Easy) by Mika Songfacts |url=http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=9928 |publisher=Songfacts |access-date=6 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310143635/http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=9928 |archive-date=10 March 2012}}

In a 2017 episode of his show {{Interlanguage link|Stasera Casa Mika|lt=Stasera Casa Mika|it|Stasera Casa Mika|qid=Q28064311}} on the Italian TV channel Rai 2, Mika described that as a child he was scared of the London Underground, before becoming used to the noise and crowds as he grew up. Many years later, he was aboard a Tube train travelling to a recording studio when the train suddenly stopped. The lights went out, reminding him of his childhood fears. As lights came on again, passengers were told to leave the train. Outside there were police all around: it was 7 July 2005 London bombings. He walked home and, still frightened, started singing. Once home, he wrote the song in twenty minutes.{{cite web |title=Stasera CasaMika" 21/11/2017 (minute 27:15, speaking in Italian) |url=https://www.raiplay.it/video/2017/11/Stasera-CasaMika-1e1d9037-1610-4750-b8aa-346fff8c118c.html |website=www.raiplay.it}}

It uses the melody from "(I Just) Died in Your Arms Tonight" by the Cutting Crew.{{cite web|last=Wikane|first=Christian John|title=Mika: Life in Cartoon Motion < PopMatters|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/mika-life-in-cartoon-motion/|access-date=6 March 2012|publisher=PopMatters|date=26 March 2007}} The song is an upbeat pop track with a disco-like bassline and a funky guitar riff in the background on the choruses, where he sings: "It's as if I'm scared/It's as if I'm terrified/It's as if I scared/It's as if I'm playing with fire".{{cite web|last=Berntsen|first=Alexander|title=Mika – Life in Cartoon Motion (album review) | Sputnikmusic|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/11036/Mika-Life-in-Cartoon-Motion/|access-date=9 March 2012|publisher=Sputnikmusic|date=10 February 2007}} It is set in the key of F-sharp minor.{{Cite web|last1=Michael|first1=Penniman|last2=Nicholas|first2=Eede|last3=Mika|date=2009-11-16|title=Relax (Take It Easy)|url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0078892|access-date=2021-06-09|website=Musicnotes.com}}

The song received positive reviews from music critics. Beth Johnson from Entertainment Weekly wrote that the song is "a Bee Gees-ish shout-out to Frankie Goes to Hollywood."{{cite magazine|last=Johnson|first=Beth|title=Life in Cartoon Motion Review | Music Reviews and News -|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20016447,00.html|access-date=5 March 2012|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|publisher=Time Inc.|date=30 March 2007|archive-date=30 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530050954/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20016447,00.html|url-status=dead}} Craig McLean from The Guardian somewhat echoed the previous review, writing that the song "became the best song the Bee Gees never wrote."{{cite web|last=McLean|first=Craig|title=CD: Mika, Life in Cartoon Motion | Music | The Observer|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2007/jan/21/shopping.popandrock3|access-date=6 March 2012|work=The Guardian|date=21 January 1927}} Christian John Mikane from PopMatters wrote that "the song is among the better songs on the album." He described the music as "gloriously synthetic, but the confidence in Mika's voice more than compensates for the artificiality of the music."

While commenting about his voice, John Murphy from musicOMH wrote that "He has an unfeasibly high falsetto, which works on the Pet Shop Boys-like electro pop track."{{cite web|last=Murphy |first=John |title=Mika – Life In Cartoon Motion | album reviews |url=http://www.musicomh.com/albums/mika_0107.htm |access-date=6 March 2012 |publisher=MusicOMH |date=5 February 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011074242/http://www.musicomh.com/albums/mika_0107.htm |archive-date=11 October 2012}} Graham Griffith from About.com wrote that the song "channels the flawless electropop of the Scissor Sisters without being completely unoriginal."{{cite web|title=MIKA – Life in Cartoon Motion|url=http://dancemusic.about.com/od/reviews/fr/MikaLifeCartoon.htm|publisher=About.com|access-date=6 March 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016123342/http://dancemusic.about.com/od/reviews/fr/MikaLifeCartoon.htm|archive-date=16 October 2011}} Heather Phares from AllMusic agreed, writing that "it is in the same vein of hypnotic, danceable melancholy as the Scissor Sisters' reworking of 'Comfortably Numb', albeit less showy."{{cite web|last=Phares|first=Heather|title=Life in Cartoon Motion – Mika | Allmusic|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/life-in-cartoon-motion-r950324/review|work=AllMusic|publisher=All Media Network|access-date=5 March 2012}} Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine wrote a positive review, saying that "Mika fares best when he straddles the fence, as he does on the thumping hodgepodge 'Relax'."{{cite web|last=Cinquemani|first=Sal|title=Mika: Life In Cartoon Motion | Music Review | Slant Magazine|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/mika-life-in-cartoon-motion/1068|access-date=6 March 2012|publisher=Slant Magazine|date=17 March 2007}} Dom Passantino wrote a more negative review for Stylus Magazine, saying that "Songs like 'Relax, Take It Easy' seem to be an attempt at simulating the effect that Supertramp chloroforming you in your sleep would produce."{{cite web|last=Passantino |first=Don |title=Mika – Life in Cartoon Motion – Review – Stylus Magazine |url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/mika/life-in-cartoon-motion.htm |access-date=6 March 2012 |publisher=Stylus Magazine |date=6 February 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510113637/http://stylusmagazine.com/reviews/mika/life-in-cartoon-motion.htm |archive-date=10 May 2012}}

The song debuted at number 12 in the week ending 30 June 2007 in the Billboard European Hot 100, jumping to number 8 the following week, to number 4 in its third week, and to number 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 number 4 in the Spanish download chart. The song spent 2 weeks at number 1 on the Belgian Ultratop Chart, 7 weeks at number 1 on the Dutch Top 40 Chart and 15 weeks at number 1 on the French Download Chart. The song received gold certification in Russia with 50,000 copies sold.{{cite web|url=http://2m-online.ru/news/detail.php?ID=5653 |title="2M" – Россия Top 25 >> 24-2010 |publisher=2m-online.ru |access-date=21 August 2010}}

There are two versions of the "Relax, Take It Easy" music video. The first 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 colourful cartoon cables for the amplifiers, and in some parts it contained images of Mika in a concert in Europe. This version played on VH1 around the world. This version was used for the Life in Cartoon Motion release. This version is used for public use. The second version of the video is the newest. It was released in Britain 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.

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2006

• CD1{{cite web|url=http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MIKA-Relax-Take-Easy-2006-UK-2-track-promo-only-CD-/230599013510?pt=UK_CDsDVDs_CDs_CDs_GL&hash=item35b0c5b486 |title=MIKA Relax Take It Easy – 2006 UK 2 track promo only CD | eBay |publisher=Cgi.ebay.co.uk |date=26 March 2011 |access-date=17 October 2011}}

1. "Relax, Take It Easy" – 4:10
2. "Billy Brown" – 3:14

• CD2{{cite web|url=http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MIKA-Relax-Take-Easy-RARE-EU-4-track-CD-Jewel-Case-/290547632945?pt=UK_CDsDVDs_CDs_CDs_GL&hash=item43a5fd0b31 |title=MIKA Relax Take It Easy RARE EU 4 track CD Jewel Case | eBay |publisher=Cgi.ebay.co.uk |date=30 March 2011 |access-date=17 October 2011}}

1. "Relax, Take It Easy" – 4:10
2. "Relax, Take It Easy" (Ashley Beedle's Castro Vocal Mix) – 6:37
3. "Relax, Take It Easy" (Acoustic) – 4:18
4. "Relax, Take It Easy" (Video)

• 7" vinyl

1. "Relax, Take It Easy" – 4:10
2. "Billy Brown" – 3:14

• 12" vinyl{{cite web|url=http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mika-Relax-Take-Easy-New-Remixes-12-x-/300524677418?pt=UK_Records&hash=item45f8aaa92a |title=Mika – Relax, Take It Easy – New Remixes 12" x | eBay |publisher=Cgi.ebay.co.uk |access-date=17 October 2011}}

1. "Relax, Take It Easy" (Ashley Beedle's Castro Vocal Mix) – 6:37
2. "Relax, Take It Easy" (Ashley Beedle's Dub) – 7:08
3. "Relax, Take It Easy" – 4:10

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2007

• CD1

1. "Relax, Take It Easy" – 3:38
2. "Lollipop" (Live From L'Olympia Paris)
3. "I Want You Back" (Live From L'Olympia Paris)
4. "Relax, Take It Easy" (Dennis Christopher Remix Radio Edit)
5. "Lollipop" (Fred Deakin's Fredmix)

• CD2{{cite web|url=http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MIKA-RELAX-TAKE-EASY-CD-2-CD-SINGLE-D2-/330440224180?pt=UK_CDsDVDs_CDs_CDs_GL&hash=item4cefc5adb4 |title=MIKA RELAX TAKE IT EASY CD 2 CD SINGLE D2 | eBay |publisher=Cgi.ebay.co.uk |date=13 May 2011 |access-date=17 October 2011}}

1. "Relax, Take It Easy" – 3:38
2. "Lollipop" – 3:43

• USB stick

1. "Relax, Take It Easy" – 3:38
2. "Lollipop" – 3:43
3. "Relax, Take It Easy" (Alpha Beat Remix)
4. "Relax, Take It Easy" (Frank Musikmix)
5. "Relax, Take It Easy" (Ashley Beedle's Castro Vocal Mix)
6. "Relax, Take It Easy" (Live In Paris – Video)
7. "Lollipop" (16:9 Bunny Action – Video)

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|title=Relax|artist=Mika|relyear=2007|certyear=2007|region=Belgium|award=Platinum|certmonth=8|relmonth=1}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|title=Relax|artist=Mika|relyear=2007|relmonth=1|region=Denmark|award=Platinum|certyear=2007|certmonth=10|certref={{cite web|url=http://www.ifpi.dk/?q=content/guld-og-platin-i-oktober-1|title=Guld og platin i oktober|work=ifpi.dk|access-date=23 November 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014032442/http://www.ifpi.dk/?q=content/guld-og-platin-i-oktober-1|archive-date=2014-10-14}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|artist=Mika|title=Relax, Take It Easy|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2006|certyear=2023|access-date=25 February 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|title=Relax|artist=Mika|relyear=2007|region=Italy|award=Platinum|certyear=2014}}

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• List of Dutch Top 40 number-one singles of 2007
• List of number-one hits of 2007 (France)
• Ultratop 40 number-one hits of 2007
• Ultratop 50 number-one hits of 2007
• List of Romanian Top 100 number ones of the 2000s

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.mikasounds.com}}

{{Mika}}

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Category:2006 songs

Category:2006 debut singles

Category:2007 singles

Category:Casablanca Records singles

Category:Dutch Top 40 number-one singles

Category:Mika (singer) songs

Category:Number-one singles in the Czech Republic

Category:Number-one singles in Poland

Category:Number-one singles in Romania

Category:SNEP Top Singles number-one singles

Category:Song recordings produced by Greg Wells

Category:Songs written by Mika (singer)

Category:Songs written by Nick Van Eede

Category:Ultratop 50 Singles (Flanders) number-one singles

Category:Ultratop 50 Singles (Wallonia) number-one singles