"Take a Picture" is a song by American rock bandFilter, released on November 16, 1999 as the second single from their second studio albumTitle of Record. The song became a major hit at the start of 2000, peaking at number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number three in Canada. It also became a top-ten hit in New Zealand, peaking at number eight on the RIANZ Singles Chart.
Background and lyrics
Filter frontman and founding member Richard Patrick has said that the song is about him getting drunk on an airplane and taking off all of his clothes. Patrick expanded in greater detail in a 2008 retrospective interview:
"When I wrote the chorus to "Take a Picture" it was just after my friend was like, "Do you remember anything you did last night?" And I was like, "What are you talking about?" She said, "My God, you were throwing beer bottles out of a cab window at a cop car. Do you remember that?" And I said, "Good lord, could you take my picture, 'cuz I won't remember." And that line just kinda stuck. Weeks later, I had another drunken experience – being on a plane and being blacked out and not feeling good and taking my shirt off, half in and out of consciousness – and I'm in the back of a paddy wagon. I’m thinking, "Oh my God, what is my dad gonna think of this shit?" Y’know, "Dad, what do you think about your son now?" So, the song is this amazing thing for me to look back on now."
Patrick's father was offended by this line, but Patrick explained to his father that each time he sings the line it has a different meaning because Patrick changes the tone in which he delivers the line each time it's sung. The song was intended as a tribute to the Was song "Dad, I'm In Jail", from their album What Up, Dog?.
Music video
A music video, directed by David Meyers, featured the band in a dreamlike sequence taking place in five different main scenes: a crashed and burning jet airplane in the middle of the ocean, underwater below it without scuba gear on, on a tiny search boat rowboat in the middle of the ocean, a room in a house being flooded by water, and on the roof of this flooding house. Several segments include supermodel Jaime King. Filter appeared two years in a row at popular Washington, D.C./Baltimore radio station 99.1 HFStival. The first year's performance in September 1999 did not include the song. Mass requests and increasing popularity resulted in the song being played as their closer.
Chart performance
"Take a Picture" reached number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on February 5, 2000 after reaching the top 40 on December 14, 1999. The song hit number one on Billboards Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart on February 5, 2000. It became a top-five hit on the BillboardMainstream Rock Tracks chart at number four and the Modern Rock Tracks chart at number three. It was also a top-ten hit on the Adult Top 40 at number seven and a top-twenty hit on the Mainstream Top 40 at number 15, giving the band their only hit on these two charts. Internationally, "Take a Picture" reached number three in Canada, number eight in New Zealand, number 12 in the United Kingdom and number 32 in Australia.
The song has been featured in numerous motion pictures, including The Girl Next Door, Saving Grace, Little Nicky, Valentine, Back in the Day and Pay It Forward. The song was re-recorded for use in the 2009 music video gameBand Hero, where it is a playable track. This recording is based on the live arrangements of the song, which features a more present drum track and slightly different vocals.
