Take A Look Around

Album: Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water (2000)
Charted: 3 115
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The Mission: Impossible franchise went nu metal in 2000 with "Take A Look Around," Limp Bizkit's reworking of the iconic theme for the movie Mission: Impossible 2. An instrumental section of the song plays in the opening scene where Tom Cruise does some harrowing rock climbing to retrieve his mission.

    The Mission: Impossible TV series ran from 1966-1973, but for the movies, the studio wanted contemporary takes on the theme song. The first film, released in 1996, used a modern reworking by Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen of U2. By 2000, nu metal was the hot sound, and no nu metal band was hotter than Limp Bizkit, whose 1999 album Significant Other debuted at #1 in America and sold over 7 million copies.
  • The song first appeared on the Mission: Impossible 2 soundtrack in May 2000 and a short time later was released as a single. In October, it appeared on Limp Bizkit's third album, Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water, which went straight to #1 in America.
  • Fred Durst drew energy from his detractors, and in this song, he uses that energy in the chorus:

    I know why you wanna hate me
    'Cause hate is all the world has even seen lately


    His lyric is personal and has nothing to do with the Mission: Impossible 2 film. Also, the title never shows up in the lyric.
  • Because he wrote the lyric, Fred Durst is the only band member credited on this track. Also credited is Lalo Schifrin, who composed the original Mission: Impossible theme song on which the track is based.
  • Tom Cruise couldn't appear in the video, so Limp Bizkit contrived a storyline involving espionage at a diner. Like most of their videos, it was directed by Fred Durst. MTV played it a lot, as Limp Bizkit was one of their biggest stars.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Macabre Mother Goose: The Dark Side of Children's Songs

Macabre Mother Goose: The Dark Side of Children's SongsSong Writing

"London Bridge," "Ring Around the Rosie" and "It's Raining, It's Pouring" are just a few examples of shockingly morbid children's songs.

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce PavittSong Writing

The man who ran Nirvana's first label gets beyond the sensationalism (drugs, Courtney) to discuss their musical and cultural triumphs in the years before Nevermind.

Little Richard

Little RichardFact or Fiction

Was Long Tall Sally a cross-dresser? Did he really set his piano on fire? See if you know the real stories about one of rock's greatest innovators.

Richard Marx

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.

Janet Jackson

Janet JacksonFact or Fiction

Was Janet secretly married at 18? Did she gain 60 pounds for a movie role that went to Mariah Carey? See what you know about Ms. Jackson.

Song Titles That Inspired Movies

Song Titles That Inspired MoviesSong Writing

Famous songs that lent their titles - and in some cases storylines - to movies.