Take Me Down (The Pretty Reckless song)
{{Infobox song
| name = Take Me Down
| cover = The Pretty Reckless - Take Me Down.png
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = The Pretty Reckless
| album = Who You Selling For
| released = {{Start date|2016|7|15}}
| recorded = 2015
| studio = Water Music
(Hoboken, New Jersey)
| genre = Rock
| length = {{Duration|m=4|s=13}}
| label = Razor & Tie
| writer = {{hlist|Taylor Momsen|Ben Phillips}}
| producer = Kato Khandwala
| prev_title = Follow Me Down
| prev_year = 2015
| next_title = Oh My God
| next_year = 2016
}}
"Take Me Down" is a song by American rock band The Pretty Reckless from their third studio album, Who You Selling For (2016). It was released on July 15, 2016, as the album's lead single. The song topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in 2016, the band's fourth single to do so at the time, following "Heaven Knows", "Messed Up World (F'd Up World)", and "Follow Me Down".
Background
The song was released as the lead single for the band's third studio album Who You Selling For in July 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.fuse.tv/2016/07/the-pretty-reckless-take-me-down-single-taylor-momsen|title=The Pretty Reckless Releases New "Take Me Down" Single: Listen|publisher=Fuse|accessdate=May 17, 2017}} The single's artwork was also revealed, keeping with the band's past allusion to religion and the devil, this time being consisting of a human hand shaking hands with a red demonic hand.{{cite web|url=http://www.idolator.com/7639778/pretty-reckless-new-single-take-me-down|title=The Pretty Reckless Announce New Single "Take Me Down"|publisher=Idolator|date=July 12, 2016|accessdate=May 17, 2017}} A music video for the song was released on September 29, 2016, which continued the theme of allusions to a diabolical nature.{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/the-pretty-reckless-take-me-down-video/|title=The Pretty Reckless Unleash 'Take Me Down' Video|work=Loudwire|accessdate=May 17, 2017}} The video consists of footage of the band performing in a stylized black and white setting, with the only color visible being a few things in red, including some parts of the background, and frontwoman Taylor Momsen's lips and pendant necklace.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7526437/pretty-reckless-take-me-down-video-taylor-momsen|title=The Pretty Reckless Are Seeing Red in Striking 'Take Me Down' Video: Watch|work=Billboard|accessdate=May 17, 2017}} In October 2016, the song topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs, making the band the first to ever send their first four songs on the chart to the number one spot.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7556883/the-pretty-reckless-rock-songs-record-take-me-down|title=The Pretty Reckless Sets Mainstream Rock Songs Record With New No. 1|work=Billboard|accessdate=May 17, 2017}} The song also extended the band's record for most number ones on the chart by a female-fronted band.
The band performed the song on Conan O'Brien's late-night talk show Conan on February 28, 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/watch-the-pretty-reckless-perform-take-me-down-on-conan/|title=Watch THE PRETTY RECKLESS Perform 'Take Me Down' On 'Conan'|website=Blabbermouth.net|date=March 1, 2017|accessdate=May 17, 2017}}
Themes and composition
The song tells the story of a musician who sold her soul to the devil in exchange for success in music, harking back to the old legend of musicians going down to the crossroads in the Mississippi Delta to make deals with the devil for fame and fortune.{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/the-pretty-reckless-take-me-down-single/|title=Pretty Reckless Hit Crossroads With 'Take Me Down' Single|work=Loudwire|accessdate=May 17, 2017}}
Credits and personnel
- Taylor Momsen – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Ben Phillips – lead guitar
- Mark Damon – bass
- Jamie Perkins – drums
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2016)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{single chart|Billboardcanadarock|5|artist=The Pretty Reckless|rowheader=true|access-date=September 7, 2019}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrocksongs|27|artist=The Pretty Reckless|rowheader=true|access-date=May 21, 2017}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrockairplay|13|artist=The Pretty Reckless|rowheader=true|access-date=May 16, 2017}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2016)
! scope="col"| Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard){{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2016/hot-rock-songs|title=Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2016|work=Billboard|accessdate=May 22, 2020}}
| 81 |
| scope="row"| US Rock Airplay (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2016/rock-airplay-songs|title=Rock Airplay Songs – Year-End 2016|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 21, 2022}}
| 38 |
{{col-end}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col"| Region
! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format ! scope="col"| Label ! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
|---|
| scope="row"| Various
| July 15, 2016 | rowspan="2"| Razor & Tie | align="center"| {{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/take-me-down-single/id1132434657 |title=Take Me Down – Single by The Pretty Reckless |publisher=iTunes Store (US) |accessdate=March 19, 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160721181124/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/take-me-down-single/id1132434657 |archivedate=July 21, 2016}} |
| scope="row"| United States
| July 19, 2016 | Active rock radio |