"Take Me or Leave Me" is a song from the musical Rent, written by American composer Jonathan Larson. In the original 1996 Broadway production, the song was performed by Idina Menzel as Maureen and Fredi Walker as Joanne.[1]
Rent is inspired by the opera La Boheme, and the lyrics of the first verse of "Take Me or Leave Me" are based on that of the La Boheme aria "Quando m'en vo'".[2][3]
In the 2005 film adaptation, "Take Me or Leave Me" is performed by Menzel, reprising her role as Maureen, and Tracie Thoms as Joanne, since Walker-Browne was considered too old for the role.[4] Remixes of the song were released on April 11, 2006.[5]