What is "take a bow"

vb. (context idiomatic English) To accept applause at the end of a performance in a theatre. Often this includes actually bowing to the audience.

1. v. acknowledge praise or accept credit; "They finally took a bow for what they did"

2. acknowledge applause by inclining the head, as of an artist after a performance

"Take a Bow" is a song by American singer Madonna from her sixth studio album Bedtime Stories (1994). It was released as the album's second single on October 28, 1994, by Maverick Records. It is a midtempo pop ballad written and produced by Madonna and Babyface. The song also appears on her compilation albums Something to Remember (1995), GHV2 (2001) and Celebration (2009). Following the sexually explicit persona portrayed by Madonna on her previous album, Erotica, the singer wanted to tone down her image for Bedtime Stories. She started collaborating with Babyface, whose work with other music artists had impressed her. "Take a Bow" was developed from this collaboration, after Madonna listened to the beat and the chords of the demo structure of the song.

Recorded at The Hit Factory Studios in New York, "Take a Bow" was backed by a full orchestra. It was also the first time that Babyface had worked with live strings, per Madonna's suggestion. Containing oriental pentatonic strings, giving the impression of Chinese or Japanese opera, "Take a Bow" lyrically talks about unrequited love, and Madonna saying goodbye. It received favorable reviews from music critics, who praised the song's soulful, poetic lyrics. It was a commercial success in the United States, becoming Madonna's eleventh number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100, topping the chart for seven weeks. It also reached number one in Canada, and the top ten in Italy, Switzerland and New Zealand. The single had moderate success in the United Kingdom, reaching number 16 on the UK Singles Chart, ending Madonna's record-holding string of 35 consecutive top-ten hits there.

The music video for "Take a Bow" was directed by Michael Haussman, and was filmed in Ronda, Spain. The video depicts Madonna as a bullfighter's (played by real-life Spanish bullfighter Emilio Muñoz) neglected lover, yearning for his love. It won the Best Female Video award at the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards. Journalistic and academic analysis of the video included its plotline, usage of religious iconography, themes and motifs of feminism and submission, as well as its impact on contemporary music videos. In order to promote Bedtime Stories, Madonna performed "Take a Bow" on a few occasions, including live with Babyface at the 1995 American Music Awards. In 2016, she added the song to the setlist of the Asian and Oceanian legs of her Rebel Heart Tour and her one-off Sydney concert Tears of a Clown.

Take a Bow is a children's television series shown regularly on CBeebies. It is a celebration of children's performing talents across the UK and features children performing in a landmark from around their area. The performances are varied and shot in the style of a pop video. The performances vary from a singer on the London Eye to organ playing in Blackpool Tower - from break dancing to playing in a jazz band. There are 25 programme in the first series and there was a second series too. Originally aired in February 2007.

Take a Bow may refer to:

• Bowing, a social gesture
• "Take a Bow" (Leona Lewis song)
• "Take a Bow" (Madonna song)
• "Take a Bow" (Rihanna song)
• Take a Bow (TV series), a British children's television series
• Take a Bow, a 2010 album by Greg Laswell
• "Take a Bow", a song by The Agonist from Once Only Imagined
• "Take a Bow", a song by Muse from Black Holes and Revelations
• "Take a Bow", a song by Sister Hazel from Release

"Take a Bow" is a song recorded by Barbadian singer Rihanna for Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded (2008), the re-release of her third studio album Good Girl Gone Bad (2007). The song was written and produced by Tor Erik Hermansen, Mikkel Eriksen, and Shaffer Smith under their stage names StarGate and Ne-Yo. "Take a Bow" was released as the first single from the re-release and the fifth single overall from the two releases. It is an R&B song that contains elements of dance-pop. Critical reception of "Take a Bow" was mixed, with some critics praising the song's lyrics and powerful balladry impact, while others criticized the lack of originality with regard to StarGate's production.

In the US, the song peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and became Rihanna's third song to do so. "Take a Bow" also peaked at number one on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and US Pop Songs chart, and has been certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. The song reached number one in Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Slovakia and the United Kingdom, and attained top five positions in Australia, New Zealand and Norway. The song's accompanying music video was directed by Anthony Mandler and presents Rihanna as the female protagonist who leaves her boyfriend because of his infidelity. "Take a Bow" has been performed on " AOL Music Sessions" and was included in the set lists of the Good Girl Gone Bad Tour (2008–09), Last Girl on Earth (2010–11), Loud Tour (2011) and Diamonds World Tour (2013).

"Take a Bow" is a song recorded by British singer Leona Lewis for her debut studio album Spirit (2007). It was written by Jordon Omley, Michael Mani, Wayne Wilkins, Louis Biancaniello and Ryan Tedder. Tedder explained that he wanted to create an edgy song for Lewis so that it would not be boring or predictable. A Contemporary R&B and urban song, the lyrics focus the failure of a relationship. Its composition features an Ebb and Flo groove and received several comparisons to " Cry Me a River" by Justin Timberlake.

"Take a Bow" received positive reviews from music critics. Most praised the production as unexpected and different but one felt it overshadowed Lewis' vocals. Upon the release of Spirit, the song debuted at number 97 on the UK Singles Chart due to strong digital download sales. Lewis performed "Take a Bow" at the Rock in Rio festival and on her 2010 concert tour, The Labyrinth.