Take Your Mama
2004 single by Scissor Sisters
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"Take Your Mama" is a song by American band Scissor Sisters, included as the second track on their self-titled debut album (2004). The song, written by Babydaddy and Jake Shears, was inspired by Shears' coming out to his Southern Baptist parents. The lyrics portray a homosexual man showing his mother the activities of gay nightlife in order to bond with her following his coming out.[1]
| "Take Your Mama" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Scissor Sisters | ||||
| from the album Scissor Sisters | ||||
| Released | March 29, 2004 | |||
| Length | 4:31 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producer | Scissor Sisters | |||
| Scissor Sisters singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Take Your Mama" on YouTube | ||||
The single was released on March 29, 2004, peaking at number 17 on the UK Singles Chart and receiving a gold certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in July 2023. It also saw success in other regions, most notably in New Zealand, where it reached number 11 on the RIANZ Singles Chart. In Australia, where the song peaked at number 40, it was ranked number 23 on Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2004.[2]
Background
Jake Shears wrote the song based on his own experience telling his Southern Baptist parents about his sexuality during a family holiday when he was a teenager. "I was just irritated. There was nothing really for me to do there as a 17-year-old, and I just wanted to stir the pot a little bit," he said. "So I basically came out to my mom while we were doing our hair in the bathroom, getting ready to go see Michael Crawford."[3]
He later wrote the music and lyrics while visiting his parents in Bristol, Virginia. "Sometimes my best writing actually comes out in the shower because you've got no sort of input. There's nothing there to distract you. And I'll just start singing. And I just started singing. That chorus just came out of my mouth and I jumped out. I had a little tape recorder and I grabbed it and I sang it."[3]
Critical reception
Track listings
|
UK 12-inch single[5]
UK 12-inch picture disc[6]
|
UK CD single[7]
European and Australian maxi-CD single[8]
|
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[26] | Platinum | 30,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[27] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref(s). |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | March 29, 2004 |
|
Polydor | [1][28] |
| United States | May 10, 2004 | Alternative radio | Universal | [29] |
| June 1, 2004 | Hot adult contemporary radio | [30] | ||
| June 8, 2004 | Triple A radio | [31] | ||
| August 2, 2004 | Contemporary hit radio | [32] |