Take a Walk
{{short description|2012 single by Passion Pit}}
{{otheruses}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Take a Walk
| cover = Take a Walk Passion Pit.png
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Passion Pit
| album = Gossamer
| released = {{Start date|2012|5|8}}
| recorded = 2011; Gigantic Studios; N.Y.C
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = {{hlist|Indie pop|synth-pop}}
| length = {{ubl|{{duration|m=4|s=25}} {{small|(album version)}}|{{duration|m=3|s=59}} {{small|(radio edit)}}|{{duration|m=4|s=10}} {{small|(music video edit)}}}}
| label = Columbia
| writer = Michael Angelakos
| producer = {{hlist|Michael Angelakos|Chris Zane}}
| prev_title = Little Secrets
| prev_year = 2009
| next_title = I'll Be Alright
| next_year = 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.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-best-songs-of-2012-20121205/passion-pit-take-a-walk-19691231 | title=50 Best Songs of 2012: Passion Pit, 'Take a Walk' | publisher=Wenner Media | magazine=Rolling Stone | date=5 December 2012 | accessdate=January 6, 2013}}
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.{{cite web | url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1684820/passion-pit-take-a-walk-political-song.jhtml | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512183406/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1684820/passion-pit-take-a-walk-political-song.jhtml | url-status=dead | archive-date=May 12, 2012 | title=Passion Pit's 'Take A Walk': The 'Not Political' Anthem Of Our Times | publisher=MTV Networks | work=MTV Music | date=May 9, 2012 | accessdate=November 6, 2012 | author=Montgomery, James}}
In popular culture
- 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."{{cite web | url=http://kroq.cbslocal.com/2012/09/17/passion-pit-address-taco-bell-take-a-walk-controversy-its-an-amazing-opportunity/ | title=Passion Pit Address Taco Bell 'Take A Walk' Controversy: "It's An Amazing Opportunity" | work=CBS News | date=September 17, 2012 | accessdate=November 6, 2012 | author=Sterling, Scott T.}}
- 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.{{cite web | url=http://pitchfork.com/news/46831-video-passion-pit-take-a-walk/ | title=Video: Passion Pit: "Take a Walk" | work=Pitchfork Media | date=June 14, 2012 | accessdate=November 6, 2012 | author=Pelly, Jenn}} 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.{{cite magazine | title=Passion Pit Take to the Sky in 'Take A Walk' Clip | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/passion-pit-take-to-the-sky-in-take-a-walk-clip-20120614 | accessdate=17 September 2014 | magazine=Rolling Stone | date=14 June 2012}} Advanced helicam technology was utilized in the production of the video in order to achieve the effect.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/passion-pit-take-to-the-sky-in-take-a-walk-clip-20120614 | title=Passion Pit Take to the Sky in 'Take A Walk' Clip | publisher=Wenner Media | magazine=Rolling Stone | date=June 14, 2012 | accessdate=November 6, 2012}}
Formats and track listings
;Digital download{{cite web | url=https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/take-a-walk-single/id522995890 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120726093421/http://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/take-a-walk-single/id522995890 | url-status=dead | archive-date=July 26, 2012 | title=Take a Walk – Single by Passion Pit | publisher=Apple | work=iTunes Store | accessdate=November 6, 2012}}
- "Take a Walk" – 4:23
;Digital download – remix single{{cite web | url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/take-walk-m-machine-remix/545410261 | title=Take a Walk (The M Machine Remix) – Single by Passion Pit | publisher=Apple | work=iTunes Store | access-date=November 6, 2012}}
- "Take a Walk" (The M Machine Remix) – 4:23
Charts
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=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| Chart (2012–2013)
! Peak |
|---|
| {{singlechart|Flanders Tip|27|artist=Passion Pit|song=Take a Walk|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 6, 2012}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardcanadianhot100|97|artist=Passion Pit|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 6, 2012}} |
| {{singlechart|France|84|artist=Passion Pit|song=Take a Walk|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 6, 2012}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardjapanhot100|36|artist=Passion Pit|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 6, 2012}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardhot100|84|artist=Passion Pit|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 6, 2012}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardrocksongs|9|artist=Passion Pit|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 6, 2012}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardadultalternativesongs|22|artist=Passion Pit|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 4, 2014}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardadultpopsongs|24|artist=Passion Pit|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 6, 2012}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardalternativesongs|5|artist=Passion Pit|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 6, 2012}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardrockairplay|7|artist=Passion Pit|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 4, 2014}} |
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=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center;" |
| Chart (2012)
! Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2012/hot-rock-songs |title=Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2012 |magazine=Billboard |accessdate=January 16, 2013}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 34 |
| scope="row"| US Alternative Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2012/hot-alternative-songs |title=Alternative Songs: Year End 2012 |magazine=Billboard |accessdate=January 16, 2013}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 16 |
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center;" |
| Chart (2013)
! Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/hot-rock-songs |title=Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2013 |magazine=Billboard |accessdate=December 13, 2013}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 27 |
| scope="row"| US Alternative Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/hot-alternative-songs |title=Alternative Songs: Year End 2013 |magazine=Billboard |accessdate=December 13, 2013}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 28 |
| scope="row"| US Rock Airplay (Billboard){{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/rock-airplay-songs |title=Rock Airplay Songs: Year End 2013 |magazine=Billboard |accessdate=December 21, 2014}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 25 |
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Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Passion Pit|title=Take a Walk|award=Gold|certyear=2023|relyear=2013|source=radioscope|access-date=February 7, 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|relyear=2012|certyear=2023|title=Take a Walk|artist=Passion Pit|type=single|award=Silver|id=19037-6387-1|access-date=June 9, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|relyear=2013|certyear=2020|title=Take a Walk|artist=Passion Pit|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|access-date=October 30, 2020}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}