Handle Me
Encyclopedia
"Handle Me" is a song by Swedish recording artist Robyn
, taken from her self-titled fourth studio album
. It was written and produced by Klas Åhlund
. The song was initially released as a promotional single in Sweden in 2005. It received a proper single release on 22 October 2007, as the album's third international single and fifth overall. It was later released as the second single in the United States on 1 April 2008. The song was described as a feminist
anthem about a man who believes he is cool, but Robyn thinks he is not and she wants to tell him that. The song utilizes thudding beats and string instruments, including violas, violins and guitars.
The song received generally positive reviews from critics, who noted its potential of becoming a hit. Commercially, the song reached the top twenty in the United Kingdom and New Zealand. It also peaked at number five on the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart. It charted moderately elsewhere, peaking at number thirty-six in the Flanders region in Belgium, and reaching the lower-half on the charts in Ireland, the Netherlands and Germany. A low budget music video was made for the song for the album's release in Sweden, and features Robyn and her friends outside at night. In 2007, Robyn made a new video with director Johan Renck
. The clip sees Robyn standing in colored boxes of different shapes and sizes.
" were released as promotional singles in Sweden, in 2005. "Handle Me" was released via digital download
as the album's third single in the United Kingdom and Ireland on 22 October 2007. A CD single
was later released in the UK on 29 October 2007, and on 7 March 2008 in Germany. The song was released as the second single from the album in the United States on 1 April 2008. The song was written and produced by Klas Åhlund
. In an interview with British newspaper Metro, Robyn spoke about "Handle Me", saying, "It’s a fun song about any guy who thinks he’s really cool but really isn’t and I’ve got to tell him."
considered the song "a less nasty but even hookier version of Pink
's lounge-lizard-repelling 'U + Ur Hand
'." The song begins with thudding beats, accompanied by "serious-sounding" violas and violins. David Hyland of WMUR-TV
wrote that it utilizes "cheesy guitar flourishes" in the chorus. Hyland referred it to as a feminist
anthem due to the "brutality and directness to the lyrics". He wrote, "Robyn sounds undeniably sweet as she defies and then details the seedy exploits of a controlling bar owner who seeks to be her paramour. She trounces him in a manner we're not accustomed to in normally breezy confines of pop music." Danny Corvini of Australian website Samesame.com.au
wrote that the song is about "boyfriends who can’t keep up". In the chorus, Robyn tells the man, "You’re a selfish, narcissistic, psycho-freaking, bootlicking Nazi
creep/And you can’t handle me." The North American version of Robyn censors the word "Nazi".
awarded "Handle Me" four out of five stars, and wrote, "[Robyn]'s on rum old form on 'Handle Me', her follow-up tune [to "With Every Heartbeat"], taking it upon herself to put a very arrogant young man in his place." He concluded his review, saying that due the song's backdrop, beats and blips, "Robyn sounds as if she's been beamed in from Mars. In the best possible way, of course." Talia Kraines of BBC Music
wrote that "Jamelia
would kill for a ballad as elegant as 'Handle Me'." Dan Cairns of The Sunday Times
wrote that it includes the "unforgettable put-down: “You’re a selfish narcissistic psycho freaking bootlicking Nazi creep.” The line comes, it should be noted, at the end of a killer chorus. A killer pop chorus." David Hyland of WMUR-TV wrote, "The record's most striking track is "Handle Me," not only because of it has the potential to be a monster hit, but also because it's an interesting combination of contradictory impulses."
on the issue dated 3 November 2007. The following week, it reached its peak of number seventeen. The song spent a total of eleven weeks on the chart. In New Zealand, the song entered at number thirty-six on the issue dated 10 December 2007. After ascending on the chart for several weeks, the song reached its peak of number nineteen on the issue dated 21 January 2008, and stayed in that position for two weeks. In the United States, "Handle Me" debuted on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart at number forty-nine on the issue dated 24 May 2008. The song steadily ascended during the following weeks and reached its peak of number five on the issue dated 26 July 2008. In the Flanders region in Belgium, the song peaked at number thirty-six and spent four weeks on the chart. "Handle Me" also reached number fifty-seven in Ireland, sixty-seven in the Netherlands, and eighty-six in Germany.
for advice when she started her own record label. At the time, Robyn said that she "hardly had any money to make music videos – and [Renck] doesn't do low-budget stuff – so he hooked me up with people who could help me out." The video begins with Robyn and a group of people outside at night. Robyn wears a tank top and several gold necklaces around her neck. Other scenes show her wearing a hooded sweatshirt, and others wearing a red dress while bicycling.
In an interview with About.com
in February 2008, Robyn explained that the album's UK release in 2007 inspired her to make new music videos for "Handle Me" and "Be Mine!" She enlisted Renck for the new video for "Handle Me" because she wanted a challenge. She said, "I like people I work with to challenge me and that's what I get with Johan. He is unafraid to take risks. Some directors are so focused on their original idea that they freak out as soon as you try something new. They miss out on the possibilities." The clip features various solo shots of Robyn while she is dancing in colored boxes and others showing only her head. Several shots include showing her in silhouette and with various props such as a chair, life jackets and smaller boxes.
The second music video premiered on 9 October 2007. A writer for music website Stereogum
praised Robyn for making good videos. The writer said, "This must be why [her eyebrows are] black while the top’s not in this vid for “Handle Me,” one of Robyn‘s many vid-worthy songs. In it she’s doing her “I’m fly” boasting, representing your inability to handle her via breaking out of boxes and jump cuts to her humping a stuffed animal and a dancing ninja. Don’t analyze, just enjoy."
Source:
Robyn
Robin Miriam Carlsson , better known by her stage name Robyn, is a Swedish recording artist, singer, and songwriter. Robyn became known in the late nineties for her worldwide dance-pop hit "Do You Know " from her debut album Robyn Is Here . She co-wrote the song "Du gör mig hel igen" for...
, taken from her self-titled fourth studio album
Robyn (album)
Robyn is the fourth studio album by Swedish recording artist Robyn. It was released by Konichiwa Records on 27 April 2005 in Sweden. The album represented a change in Robyn's musical style, and featured pop and electronic dance music; inspirations were electronic duo The Knife and rock band...
. It was written and produced by Klas Åhlund
Klas Åhlund
Klas Frans Åhlund is a Swedish songwriter, record producer, and guitarist. He is the founding member of the Swedish rock band Teddybears...
. The song was initially released as a promotional single in Sweden in 2005. It received a proper single release on 22 October 2007, as the album's third international single and fifth overall. It was later released as the second single in the United States on 1 April 2008. The song was described as a feminist
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
anthem about a man who believes he is cool, but Robyn thinks he is not and she wants to tell him that. The song utilizes thudding beats and string instruments, including violas, violins and guitars.
The song received generally positive reviews from critics, who noted its potential of becoming a hit. Commercially, the song reached the top twenty in the United Kingdom and New Zealand. It also peaked at number five on the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart. It charted moderately elsewhere, peaking at number thirty-six in the Flanders region in Belgium, and reaching the lower-half on the charts in Ireland, the Netherlands and Germany. A low budget music video was made for the song for the album's release in Sweden, and features Robyn and her friends outside at night. In 2007, Robyn made a new video with director Johan Renck
Johan Renck
Bo Johan Renck is a Swedish director of music videos, TV and film. He is an occasional recording artist using the moniker Stakka Bo.-Music videos:...
. The clip sees Robyn standing in colored boxes of different shapes and sizes.
Background
"Handle Me" and "Crash and Burn GirlCrash and Burn Girl
"Crash and Burn Girl" was the fourth single to be released from Swedish pop singer-songwriter Robyn's 2005 self-titled album. It was released as a radio-only single in Sweden only.-Sweden single:CD promo#"Crash and Burn Girl" – 5:38...
" were released as promotional singles in Sweden, in 2005. "Handle Me" was released via digital download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
as the album's third single in the United Kingdom and Ireland on 22 October 2007. A CD single
CD single
A CD single is a music single in the form of a standard size Compact Disc, not to be confused with the 3-inch CD single, which uses a smaller form factor. The format was introduced in the mid-1980s, but did not gain its place in the market until the early 1990s...
was later released in the UK on 29 October 2007, and on 7 March 2008 in Germany. The song was released as the second single from the album in the United States on 1 April 2008. The song was written and produced by Klas Åhlund
Klas Åhlund
Klas Frans Åhlund is a Swedish songwriter, record producer, and guitarist. He is the founding member of the Swedish rock band Teddybears...
. In an interview with British newspaper Metro, Robyn spoke about "Handle Me", saying, "It’s a fun song about any guy who thinks he’s really cool but really isn’t and I’ve got to tell him."
Composition
Chris Willman of Entertainment WeeklyEntertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
considered the song "a less nasty but even hookier version of Pink
Pink (singer)
Alecia Beth Moore , better known by her stage name Pink , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and actress....
's lounge-lizard-repelling 'U + Ur Hand
U + Ur Hand
"U + Ur Hand" is a song by American singer and songwriter Pink. It was lined up as the third single from her fourth studio album I'm Not Dead . It was released in August, 2006 to ignite controversy due to its explicit lyrical content and strong language.The song was written by Pink, Max Martin and Dr...
'." The song begins with thudding beats, accompanied by "serious-sounding" violas and violins. David Hyland of WMUR-TV
WMUR-TV
WMUR-TV is the ABC-affiliated television station for the state of New Hampshire that is licensed to Manchester. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 9 from a transmitter on the south peak of Mount Uncanoonuc in Goffstown. Owned by Hearst Television, the station has studios...
wrote that it utilizes "cheesy guitar flourishes" in the chorus. Hyland referred it to as a feminist
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
anthem due to the "brutality and directness to the lyrics". He wrote, "Robyn sounds undeniably sweet as she defies and then details the seedy exploits of a controlling bar owner who seeks to be her paramour. She trounces him in a manner we're not accustomed to in normally breezy confines of pop music." Danny Corvini of Australian website Samesame.com.au
Samesame.com.au
Samesame.com.au is an Australian LGBT website created by Tim Duggan and a partner. The website is run by Sound Alliance in the Sydney suburb of Surry Hills...
wrote that the song is about "boyfriends who can’t keep up". In the chorus, Robyn tells the man, "You’re a selfish, narcissistic, psycho-freaking, bootlicking Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
creep/And you can’t handle me." The North American version of Robyn censors the word "Nazi".
Critical reception
Nick Levine of Digital SpyDigital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
awarded "Handle Me" four out of five stars, and wrote, "[Robyn]'s on rum old form on 'Handle Me', her follow-up tune [to "With Every Heartbeat"], taking it upon herself to put a very arrogant young man in his place." He concluded his review, saying that due the song's backdrop, beats and blips, "Robyn sounds as if she's been beamed in from Mars. In the best possible way, of course." Talia Kraines of BBC Music
BBC Music
BBC Music is a team working in the department of Audio and Music Interactive at the BBC. Responsible for the BBC Music website - the portal site to music content across the BBC website....
wrote that "Jamelia
Jamelia
Jamelia Niela Davis , best known mononymously as Jamelia, is an English singer-songwriter, model, entertainer, television presenter and actress. She is most famous for her use of a cappella and prolific work in the R&B genre...
would kill for a ballad as elegant as 'Handle Me'." Dan Cairns of The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
wrote that it includes the "unforgettable put-down: “You’re a selfish narcissistic psycho freaking bootlicking Nazi creep.” The line comes, it should be noted, at the end of a killer chorus. A killer pop chorus." David Hyland of WMUR-TV wrote, "The record's most striking track is "Handle Me," not only because of it has the potential to be a monster hit, but also because it's an interesting combination of contradictory impulses."
Chart performance
"Handle Me" debuted at number forty-three on the UK Singles ChartUK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
on the issue dated 3 November 2007. The following week, it reached its peak of number seventeen. The song spent a total of eleven weeks on the chart. In New Zealand, the song entered at number thirty-six on the issue dated 10 December 2007. After ascending on the chart for several weeks, the song reached its peak of number nineteen on the issue dated 21 January 2008, and stayed in that position for two weeks. In the United States, "Handle Me" debuted on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart at number forty-nine on the issue dated 24 May 2008. The song steadily ascended during the following weeks and reached its peak of number five on the issue dated 26 July 2008. In the Flanders region in Belgium, the song peaked at number thirty-six and spent four weeks on the chart. "Handle Me" also reached number fifty-seven in Ireland, sixty-seven in the Netherlands, and eighty-six in Germany.
Music videos
The first music video for "Handle Me" was directed by Fredrik Skogkvist for the album's Swedish release. Speaking of the video, Robyn said, "It's an older video and it was done at a point where all the videos that I made for the album were made here in Sweden. They were made here when the album was first released, and were very low budget videos. Which I think is great – I don't mind working with low budget kind of videos." Robyn asked director and singer Johan RenckJohan Renck
Bo Johan Renck is a Swedish director of music videos, TV and film. He is an occasional recording artist using the moniker Stakka Bo.-Music videos:...
for advice when she started her own record label. At the time, Robyn said that she "hardly had any money to make music videos – and [Renck] doesn't do low-budget stuff – so he hooked me up with people who could help me out." The video begins with Robyn and a group of people outside at night. Robyn wears a tank top and several gold necklaces around her neck. Other scenes show her wearing a hooded sweatshirt, and others wearing a red dress while bicycling.
In an interview with About.com
About.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
in February 2008, Robyn explained that the album's UK release in 2007 inspired her to make new music videos for "Handle Me" and "Be Mine!" She enlisted Renck for the new video for "Handle Me" because she wanted a challenge. She said, "I like people I work with to challenge me and that's what I get with Johan. He is unafraid to take risks. Some directors are so focused on their original idea that they freak out as soon as you try something new. They miss out on the possibilities." The clip features various solo shots of Robyn while she is dancing in colored boxes and others showing only her head. Several shots include showing her in silhouette and with various props such as a chair, life jackets and smaller boxes.
The second music video premiered on 9 October 2007. A writer for music website Stereogum
Stereogum
Stereogum was one of the first MP3 blogs. It was created by Scott Lapatine in January 2002 with a focus on independent and alternative music news, downloads, videos, and gossip. Stereogum has received several awards and citations, including the 2008 Plug Award for best music blog, Blender's...
praised Robyn for making good videos. The writer said, "This must be why [her eyebrows are] black while the top’s not in this vid for “Handle Me,” one of Robyn‘s many vid-worthy songs. In it she’s doing her “I’m fly” boasting, representing your inability to handle her via breaking out of boxes and jump cuts to her humping a stuffed animal and a dancing ninja. Don’t analyze, just enjoy."
Track listing
- Digital download
- "Handle Me" (Radio Edit) – 3:16
- Digital EP
- "Handle Me" – 3:47
- "Handle Me" (Soul SeekerzSoul SeekerzSoul Seekerz are a dance music group and remix/production outfit based in the UK, consisting of DJs and producers Julian Napolitano, Simon Langford and Andrew Galea.-Members:...
Extended Mix) – 5:57 - "Handle Me" (Soul Seekerz Dirty Dub) – 8:27
- "Handle Me" (Soul Seekerz Radio Edit) – 3:01
- "Handle Me" (Williams Dub) – 7:33
- "Handle Me" (Williams Vocal Mix) – 7:32
- "Handle Me" (OrtzRoka Death to Disco Remix) – 3:47
- "Handle Me" (Chewy Chocolate Cookies Psycho Freakin' Dub) – 4:53
- "Handle Me" (Bjorn Remix) – 2:57
- Germany CD single
- "Handle Me" (Original Radio Edit) – 3:16
- "Handle Me" (Soul Seekerz Radio Edit) – 3:01
- "Handle Me" (VooDoo & Serano Radio Edit) – 5:47
- "Handle Me" (Bjorn Remix) – 2:57
- "Konichiwa BitchesKonichiwa Bitches"Konichiwa Bitches" is a song by Swedish recording artist Robyn, taken from her self-titled fourth studio album. It was released in the United Kingdom on 26 March 2007 as the first international single from the album. The term "Konichiwa Bitches" originates from a sketch with American comedian Dave...
" (TrentemøllerTrentemøllerAnders Trentemøller is a Danish electronic music producer and multi-instrumentalist based in Copenhagen, Denmark.-History:...
Remix) – 6:25 - "Handle Me" (Video)
- Germany digital EP
- "Handle Me" (Original) – 3:16
- "Handle Me" (Original Radio Edit) – 3:16
- "Handle Me" (Soul Seekerz Radio Edit) – 3:01
- "Handle Me" (Soul Seekerz Remix) – 5:57
- "Handle Me" (Soul Seekerz Dirty Dub) – 8:27
- "Handle Me" (OrtzRoka Death to Disco Remix) – 3:47
- "Handle Me" (Williams Dub) – 7:33
- "Handle Me" (VooDoo & Serano Remix) – 5:46
- "Handle Me" (VooDoo & Serano Radio Edit) – 2:58
- "Handle Me" (Bjorn Remix) – 3:00
- "Handle Me" (Chewy Chocolate Cookies Psycho Freakin' Dub) – 4:58
- "Handle Me" (Williams Vocal Mix) – 7:33
- "Handle Me" (Instrumental) – 3:49
- US digital download
- "Handle Me" – 3:47
Personnel
- Klas ÅhlundKlas ÅhlundKlas Frans Åhlund is a Swedish songwriter, record producer, and guitarist. He is the founding member of the Swedish rock band Teddybears...
– music, lyrics, production, mixing - RobynRobynRobin Miriam Carlsson , better known by her stage name Robyn, is a Swedish recording artist, singer, and songwriter. Robyn became known in the late nineties for her worldwide dance-pop hit "Do You Know " from her debut album Robyn Is Here . She co-wrote the song "Du gör mig hel igen" for...
– mixing - Ollie and Henrik – mixing
Source:
Charts
| Chart (2007/2008) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Germany (Media Control AG Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... ) |
86 |
Release history
| Country | Release date | Format(s) | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland | 22 October 2007 | Digital download Music download A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment... |
Island Records Island Records Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group... |
| United Kingdom | |||
| Belgium | 27 October 2007 | Digital EP Extended play An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact... |
|
| United Kingdom | 29 October 2007 | CD single | |
| Germany | 7 March 2008 | Digital EP, CD single | Ministry of Sound Ministry of Sound Ministry of Sound London, commonly referred to as simply Ministry of Sound or MoS, is a nightclub based in London, United Kingdom and an associated record label. It was ranked fourth in the 2010 DJ Magazine top 100 clubs poll 2010. As well as the nightclub in London, there is another in Egypt and... |
| United States | 1 April 2008 | Digital download | Interscope Records Interscope Records Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:... |