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Take a Hint

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"Take a Hint"
Single by Victorious cast featuring Victoria Justice and Elizabeth Gillies
from the EP Victorious 2.0: More Music from the Hit TV Show
ReleasedMarch 3, 2012
Genre
Length2:34
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)James Michael
Victorious singles chronology
"You're the Reason"
(2011) 		"Take a Hint"
(2012) 		"Make It in America"
(2012)
Victoria Justice singles chronology
"You're the Reason"
(2011) 		"Take a Hint"
(2012) 		"Make It in America"
(2012)
Elizabeth Gillies singles chronology
"Take a Hint"
(2012) 		"Santa Baby"
(2013)

"Take a Hint" is a song performed by the Victorious cast featuring Victoria Justice and Elizabeth Gillies from the show's debut extended play (EP), Victorious 2.0: More Music from the Hit TV Show (2012). The track was released as the EP's first single on March 3, 2012, through Columbia Records in association with Nickelodeon. The song also appeared in a Victorious episode titled "Tori & Jade's Play Date". It features Tori Vega (Justice) and Jade West (Gillies) singing the song when hit on by two boys. It is a pop and electropop track with lyrics about having the right to reject unwanted advances.

"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 Billboard Bubbling 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.

Background and release

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"Take a Hint" was written by Meghan Kabir, Kevin Kadish, and James Michael, with Michael also serving as the track's producer. The song was originally performed by Kabir.[1][2] The song was released as a single through Nickelodeon and Columbia Records on March 3, 2012, by the Victorious cast, featuring two of the show's actresses, Victoria Justice and Elizabeth Gillies.[3][4][5] The track was later added on the show's debut extended play (EP) Victorious 2.0: More Music from the Hit TV Show on June 5, 2012.[6]

The track was featured in the show's third season, sixth episode, titled "Tori & Jade's Play Date".[2][7] In the episode, teacher Erwin Sikowitz (Eric Lange) becomes frustrated when Tori Vega (Justice) and Jade West (Gillies) 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. When two boys start flirting with them at the restaurant, Tori and Jade reject their advances as they sing "Take a Hint" together.[2][7][8] Music critics have described "Take a Hint" as a pop and electropop track.[8][9][10] 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."[8][11]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Common Sense Media[8]

Jessica Dawson for Common Sense Media gave the song three stars out of five, mentioning that it is "harmless and humorous". She opined 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.[8] Autumn McAlpin for The Orange County Register called the song an "anti-creepy-boy tune".[12] Jack Irvin of People magazine described it as "memorable".[9] 

Alyssa Melillo for the Long Island Press opined that "Take a Hint" was one of the songs that "set an energetic high bar for the show".[13] 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".[7] 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.[11]

Live performances and commercial performance

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To promote the song, Justice performed it live throughout 2012.[12][14] In 2022, fellow Victorious actor Matt Bennett performed the song live with Gillies during some of his DJ concert sets.[15][16][17]

"Take a Hint" peaked at number eight on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart in March 2012, lasting two weeks on the chart.[18] It further peaked at number one on the US Kid Digital Song Sales chart,[19] number 27 on the US Pop Digital Song Sales chart,[20] and number 60 on the US Digital Song Sales chart.[21] In December 2022, "Take a Hint" surpassed 100 million streams on Spotify, Justice's first track and Gillies's second to reach this milestone.[2]

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.[22] 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.[23][24] In 2023, it was certified silver in the United Kingdom by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for selling 200,000 certified units.[25]

Charts

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Certifications

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Certifications for "Take a Hint"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[25] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[22] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Credits and personnel

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Credits adapted from Tidal.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Victorious 2.0: More Music from the Hit TV Show/Credits". Tidal. June 5, 2012. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d Stevenson, Mike (December 26, 2022). "This 'Victorious' Song Makes History for Victoria Justice, Liz Gillies' Music Careers". Music Times. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  3. ^ "Take a Hint (feat. Victoria Justice & Elizabeth Gillies) on Apple Music". iTunes Store (US). Archived from the original on October 27, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  4. ^ "Elitch Gardens announces summer concert lineup". Denver Post. April 4, 2012. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  5. ^ Gray, Delilah (January 31, 2023). "The Stunning Transformation Of Victoria Justice". The List. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  6. ^ Phares, Heather (March 2012). "Victorious 2.0: More Music from the Hit TV Show [Original TV Soundtrack] Victoria Justice / Victorious Cast". AllMusic. Archived from the original on September 18, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  7. ^ a b c Olorunnisola, Israel (March 19, 2023). "Victorious: 10 Songs You Forgot Were Awesome". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  8. ^ a b c d e Dawson, Jessica (March 3, 2012). "Take a Hint (CD single)". Common Sense Media. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved January 2, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  9. ^ a b Irvin, Jack (November 1, 2024). "Liz Gillies Says Her Music Career Faced 'Endless False Starts.' How She's 'Opened the Floodgates' (Exclusive)". People. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  10. ^ Wedel, Mark (September 15, 2012). "Victoria Justice gets screams of approval at the Allegan County Fair (review with photo gallery) - mlive.com". Kalamazoo Gazette. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  11. ^ a b Gaertner, Megan; Kane, Allison (November 8, 2019). "The Best Songs from Victorious". Her Campus. Archived from the original on December 13, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  12. ^ a b McAlpin, Autumn (August 3, 2012). "Victoria Justice thrills kids of all ages at Pacific". The Orange County Register. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  13. ^ Melillo, Alyssa (July 24, 2013). "Big Time Rush Pumps Teen Energy Into Jones Beach". Long Island Press. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  14. ^ "Victoria Justice brings fun, message of girl power to Great Allentown Fair". The Express-Times. September 3, 2012. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  15. ^ Nollette-Patulski, Oscar (November 2, 2022). "iPartied with Matt Bennett". The Michigan Daily. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  16. ^ Zachian, Skylar (July 9, 2022). "Event of the Summer: iParty with Matt Bennett!". Young Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 19, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  17. ^ Korrs, Ian (June 20, 2022). "Is A 'Victorious' Reunion Coming Soon? Daniella Monet Belts Out 'Chicago' [Watch]". Music Times. Archived from the original on June 20, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  18. ^ a b "Victoria Justice Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles)". Billboard. December 12, 2022. Archived from the original on August 20, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  19. ^ a b "Victoria Justice Chart History (US Kid Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. January 3, 2025. Archived from the original on March 18, 2022. Retrieved January 3, 2025.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  20. ^ a b "Victoria Justice Chart History (US Pop Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. January 3, 2025. Archived from the original on June 7, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2025.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  21. ^ a b "Victoria Justice Chart History (US Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. January 3, 2025. Archived from the original on December 5, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  22. ^ a b "American single certifications – Victorious Cast – Take a Hint". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  23. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (October 11, 2013). "Victoria Justice to Star in MTV Pilot From Jason Blum, Catherine Hardwicke". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 31, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  24. ^ "Big Time Rush and Victoria Justice to Offer Fans the Hottest Ticket of the Summer With Their National 'Summer Break Tour' Tickets on Sale April 6th". Red Light Management. April 1, 2013. Archived from the original on June 25, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  25. ^ a b "British single certifications – Victorious Cast – Take A Hint". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  26. ^ "Kid Digital Song Sales - Year-End 2012 | Billboard". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 9, 2013. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
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