Break Your Heart
"Break Your Heart" | ||||||||||
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Single by Taio Cruz | ||||||||||
from the album Rokstarr | ||||||||||
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Recorded | 2009 | |||||||||
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"Break Your Heart" is a song by English singer and songwriter Taio Cruz. The song serves as the lead single from his second studio album, Rokstarr (2009). It was written by Cruz and Fraser T Smith and produced by Smith. It was first released in the United Kingdom on 20 September 2009, followed by a release in the United States and other markets on 2 February 2010. The official remix version features American rapper Ludacris; that version was the single released in North American countries. The song, originally penned for Cheryl Cole, is an uptempo R&B song with synthpop and dance-pop elements, accompanied by Cruz's Auto-Tuned vocals. The song is lyrically a warning to someone about being a heartbreaker.
The song received mixed to positive reviews, critics commending its infectious sound, but noting that it was generic. The song peaked at number one in Canada, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States, and also within the top ten of many other countries. The accompanying music video features several scenes of Cruz on escapades with different women, including a speedboat compared to classic Diddy and a club scene with Ludacris in the American version.
Background
"Break Your Heart" was one of two songs penned by Cruz for Cheryl Cole for her debut solo album, 3 Words.[1] After Cruz did not hear back from Cole's label about the song, he reworked the song for a male and made it the first song off his second album, Rokstarr.[1] Cruz told MTV News UK that after he released the song, Cole's people would have liked the song for her after all.[1] The latter track by Cruz, "Stand Up" made it onto the final tracklist on Cole's album.[1]
However, according to the song's other co-writer Fraser T Smith in an interview with HitQuarters, "Break Your Heart" was rejected by Cole's Polydor label boss Ferdy Unger-Hamilton felt it was too similar to "Heartbreaker" by will.i.am, the executive producer of 3 Words.[2] Smith also told This Must Be Pop: "Taio felt the lyric was a bit cocky for him to carry off – I told him he sounded great on it."[3]
Speaking of the song's lyrical background, Cruz told Pete Lewis of Blues & Soul:
"Its about breaking a girl's heart, but in a way that's kinda not on purpose. It's more that I'm just a single guy, trying to be single and trying to remain single. And sometimes, when you are in that place, you get girls who wanna be a part of what you're about – but, because you're not really ready for a relationship, those girls can end up being heartbroken. So what I'm basically saying is 'I might just break your heart. But I'm only gonna break your heart if you come through this way right now'."[4]
Cruz also has called his song "catchy" with a "good melody" and "fun topic", stating that "both girls and guys can get into this character".[5] In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Cruz elaborated and said the song was partially based on a personal situation, and rather an "exaggeration of an experience".[5]
The success of the song in the United Kingdom attracted the attention of David Massey and Daniel Werner from Mercury/Island Def Jam who were excited and aggressive about releasing "Break Your Heart" in the United States on their label.[6] According to Cruz's manager Jamie Binns, the relationship with Monte Lipman at Universal Republic had "gone a bit quiet" by this point and as Taio wanted to be with the label that was most enthusiastic about his music, a move from Universal Republic to Mercury/Island Def Jam was engineered.[6] Massey and Werner's belief in the single's potential within the United States and relentless promotional push they gave it helped the song reach the Billboard Hot 100 top spot.[6]
Ludacris remix
In addition to re-working his album for an American release, Cruz tapped American rapper Ludacris on a remix for the American version of "Break Your Heart". According to Cruz's manager Jamie Binns, Mercury Records president David Massey had suggested that to introduce Cruz to the American market, the single should feature an American rapper with chart credibility.[6] Massey and Mercury A&R manager Daniel Werner engineered an introduction with Ludacris' manager Jeff Dixon, who then played the song to Ludacris, who loved the track and within a week his contribution was complete.[6]
On collaborating with Ludacris, Cruz said, "With Ludacris, pretty much every track he's ever featured on sounds amazing. I gave him a quick call and asked him if he could get on the record, and he recorded it and sent it over. As I expected, there was nothing I needed to change. It sounded perfect. He put my name in there, which is great – so people know to pronounce it now properly, hopefully."[7] The version featuring Ludacris was originally released digitally as the b-side to "No Other One" in November 2009, before in the United States in February 2010.[8][9]
Composition
"Break Your Heart" (Remix)
A 31-second sample of the remix version of "Break Your Heart" featuring Cruz's vocals and Ludacris' rap-intro. | |
Problems playing this file? See media help. |
"Break Your Heart" is an electropop song featuring a "surging dance-pop" sound, accompanied with Cruz's Auto-Tuned R&B vocals.[10][11][12][13] It is written in the key of E♭ major described as a "medium dance groove", and Cruz's vocals span from B♭4 to B♭5.[14] According to Jason Draper of Yahoo! Music UK, the song is a mix of European and American urban music.[15] It includes several tempo changes, which have been compared to that of Jay Sean's "Down".[12] The song is filled with boasting lyrics about being a heartbreaker rather than being heartbroken.[11]
Critical reception
Although BBC Music called the song a "cheese-fest", the reviewer said "in a weird way it's kind of beautiful", investing in the "Ibiza-inspired R&B trend".[11] The review also compared the song to Dizzee Rascal and Cruz's "layered vocals" and "slick production" to OneRepublic and Timbaland's "Apologize".[11] Michael Menachem of Billboard said that the "stateside version" turns up the heat with Ludacris' feature as "Cruz's breezy vocals on this electro-pop number have all the warmth of smooth R&B, while producer Fraser T Smith sets up the right ratio of catchy vocals and tempo changes to make a hit".[12] Ash Dosanjh of New Musical Express said that Cruz's downfall was when he acts the player, as on "Break Your Heart" and "Dirty Picture".[16] Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian said Cruz was "proficient but generic" in the song, but his "autotuned vocals could have been anyone's, and this facelessness is a problem Cruz rarely surmounts."[10] Chris Ryan of MTV Buzzworthy said that the song "perfectly embodies Cruz's infectious, dancefloor-friendly sound and sleek, immaculate production", and compares it to Jason Derülo and Akon.[13]
Chart performance
"Break Your Heart" debuted at number one in the United Kingdom becoming Cruz's first song to reach the pole position in that territory.[17] The song remained at the top of the chart for three weeks.[17] The song also peaked at number one in Switzerland, and in the top ten in several other countries across Europe.[18]
The song also charted at number two in Australia, while peaking at number one in the United States.[19] With the jump from 53 to one on the Billboard Hot 100, Cruz also set the record for largest jump to the top of the chart by a debut act.[19] The record was previously held by American singer Kelly Clarkson, who jumped 52 to one with her American Idol coronation song, "A Moment Like This", and who also holds the record for the biggest non-debut jump on the chart, moving from 97 to one with "My Life Would Suck Without You".[19] It originally moved 31,000 digital copies in the United States for a partial sales week prompting its original Hot 100 entry, and shifted 273,000 downloads in its first full week of availability, claiming the top debut on Hot Digital Songs.[19] It also marked Ludacris' fifth number one song.
The song eventually dominated American airplay also, peaking at number one on the Mainstream Top 40 chart.[20] Cruz became the twelfth male artist to have his first solo single peak at the top of the chart, and was the third since October 2008, following Jay Sean and Jason Derulo.[20] By August 2012, "Break Your Heart" had sold 3,712,000 digital copies in the United States.[21]
Music video
The original music video was filmed in Sotogrande,[22] Spain in July 2009, with new parts filmed in Miami, United States in February 2010 to include Ludacris,[23] resulting in two versions of the video.[24]
The video begins with Cruz and his girlfriend, played by Uzbekistan-born supermodel Nadya Nepomnyashaya, sitting together in a sports car near a pier. She tells him "You know I'm just gonna hurt you." Cruz responds by saying "You know I'm only gonna break your heart, right?" She says "You want a bet?" and he says "Bring It On." They then exit the car, walk down the pier and enter a nearby speedboat. Scenes are then shown in several different venues, including a club, a boat, a beachfront party, the speedboat and a hotel room. Throughout the video, Cruz is on escapades with different women. The video ends with Cruz's girlfriend laughing at his attempts to break her heart and then the two get off the boat they are on and go back onto the speedboat. For the version with Ludacris, there are scenes with him and Cruz in a white concrete backdrop with a flashing light, as well as the two of them together with a large group of people in another club.
When asked if an old school Diddy was an influence on the video, Cruz said "Probably on some kind of subconscious level. I just love supermodels, I love sunshine, and I love sports cars. And this time we also added a speedboat. So you got the four S's in there."[5] In an interview with Rap-Up, when talking about the video portraying him as a heartbreaker, Cruz said "No, not really. I suppose maybe 20%. It was more of just playing a character and having fun, just going out there and making a real cool, fun, cocky video. Not everyone has seen the whole plot of the video, but it's actually myself and my girlfriend both going out with the intention of breaking everyone's hearts."[25]
Covers and other uses
"Weird Al" Yankovic included the chorus in his polka medley "Polka Face" from his 2011 album Alpocalypse.[26] Violinist Lindsey Stirling used the song to perform to in America's Got Talent.
Track listing
- German CD single[27]
- "Break Your Heart" (featuring Ludacris) – 3:05
- "Break Your Heart" (The Wideboys Remix Radio Edit) – 3:46
- UK CD single[28]
- "Break Your Heart" – 3:23
- "Break Your Heart" (Vito Benito FF Radio Remix) – 3:22
- "Break Your Heart" (Paul Thomas Remix) – 7:41
- "Break Your Heart" (Cassette Club Remix) – 7:22
- Digital download[29]
- "Break Your Heart" – 3:23
- "Break Your Heart" (Paul Thomas Remix) – 7:41
- Digital download – EP[30]
- "Break Your Heart" (Vito Benito FF Radio Remix) – 3:22
- "Break Your Heart" (Cassette Club Remix) – 7:22
- "Break Your Heart" (Agent X Remix) – 4:27
Credits and personnel
- Songwriting – Taio Cruz Fraser T Smith, Chris Bridges
- Producing – Taio Cruz, Fraser T Smith
- Engineering – Beatriz Artola
- Mixing – Fraser T Smith
- Mastering – Dick Beetham
Credits adapted from the album liner notes.[31]
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
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Certifications
Year-end charts
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Release history
Region | Date | Format | Label |
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United Kingdom | 13 September 2009[83] | Digital download | Island |
14 September 2009[84] | CD single | ||
United States | 2 February 2010[85] | Mainstream and rhythmic airplay | Mercury |
25 February 2010[8] | Digital download | ||
11 May 2010[86] | Urban airplay |
See also
- List of number-one singles from the 2000s (UK)
- List of UK R&B Chart number-one singles of 2009
- List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of the 2010s
- List of Mainstream Top 40 number-one hits of 2010 (U.S.)
- List of number-one dance airplay hits of 2010 (U.S.)
- List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 2010 (Canada)
- List of number-one hits of 2010 (Switzerland)
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Taio Cruz Talks Cheryl And Sugababes". MTV News UK. MTV Networks. 30 September 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ↑ "Interview With Fraser T Smith". HitQuarters. 22 March 2010. Retrieved 29 March 2010.
- ↑ "Thank You for the Music: Fraser T Smith". This Must Be Pop. 9 October 2010. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
- ↑ "ROKSTARR IN THE MAKING -TAIO CRUZ INTERVIEW BY PETE LEWIS". Blues and Soul. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
- 1 2 3 Markovitz, Adam (3 March 2010). "Taio Cruz talks 'Break Your Heart', his new album and getting 'Dirty' with Ke$ha". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Interview With Jamie Binns". HitQuarters. 18 April 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
- ↑ Bhansali, Akshay (19 March 2010). "Taio Cruz Talks Collaborating With Ludacris, Ke$ha". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
- 1 2 "Break Your Heart (feat. Ludacris) – Single by Taio Cruz". iTunes Music Store. Archived from the original on 4 August 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
- ↑ "No Other One – Single by Taio Cruz". UK iTunes. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- 1 2 Sullivan, Caroline (15 September 2010). "Taio Cruz: Rokstarr". The Guardian. UK. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 "Taio Cruz – 'Break Your Heart'". BBC Music. 12 September 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- 1 2 3 Menachem, Michael (5 March 2010). "Taio Cruz featuring Ludacris, "Break Your Heart"". Billboard. MTV Networks. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- 1 2 Ryan, Chris (12 March 2010). "The Buzz on Taio Cruz". MTV Buzzworthy. MTV Networks. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ↑ "Taio Cruz Break Your Heart – Digital Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. Alfred Publishing.
- ↑ Draper, Jason (27 October 2009). "Taio Cruz – Rokstarr". Yahoo! Music UK. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
- ↑ Dosanjh, Ash (9 October 2009). "Album review: Taio Cruz – 'Rokstarr'". NME'. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- 1 2 "Taio Cruz". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
- ↑ "Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris – Break Your Heart (song)". Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 25 October 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 Pietroluongo, Silvio (10 March 2010). "Taio Cruz Cruises To Record No. 1 Jump on Hot 100". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
- 1 2 Trust, Gary (18 May 2010). "Pop Songs: Where The Boys Are". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
- 1 2 Paul Grein (8 August 2012). "Week Ending Aug. 5, 2012. Songs: Phillip Phillips Is "Home"". Chart Watch. Yahoo Music. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
- ↑ "Taio Cruz – Break Your Heart (version 1)". Clipland. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
- ↑ "Important Taio Cruz Dates". In4merz Magazine. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
- ↑ "Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris – Break Your Heart (version 2)". Clipland. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
- ↑ Upmalis, Jordan. "10 Questions for Taio Cruz". Rap-Up. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
- ↑ "Weird Al Unveils His New Polka (face)". Cover Me. 23 July 2010. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
- ↑ "Break Your Heart (Feat. Ludacris) (2-Tracks): Taio Cruz: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
- ↑ "music: Break Your Heart (2009)". HMV. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
- ↑ https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/break-your-heart-ep/id329493929
- ↑ https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/break-your-heart-ep/id330173074
- ↑ Break Your Heart (Liner notes). Taio Cruz. Island Records. 2009.
- ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris – Break Your Heart". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 18 March 2010..
- ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris – Break Your Heart" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 14 October 2010..
- ↑ "Ultratop.be – Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris – Break Your Heart" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 24 April 2010..
- ↑ "Ultratop.be – Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris – Break Your Heart" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 24 April 2010..
- ↑ "Taio Cruz – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Taio Cruz. Retrieved 13 March 2010..
- ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201010 into search. Retrieved 13 March 2010..
- ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Taio Cruz – Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris". Tracklisten. Retrieved 13 March 2010..
- ↑ "Taio Cruz – Chart history" European Hot 100 for Taio Cruz. Retrieved 13 March 2010..
- ↑ "Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris: Break Your Heart" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 13 March 2010..
- ↑ "Lescharts.com – Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris – Break Your Heart" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 24 April 2010..
- ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris – Break Your Heart". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 21 May 2010..
- ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
- ↑ "Chart Track: Week 38, 2009". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 13 March 2010..
- ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 22, 2010" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40
- ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris – Break Your Heart". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 13 March 2010..
- ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris – Break Your Heart". VG-lista. Retrieved 13 March 2010..
- ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200945 into search. Retrieved 13 March 2010..
- ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris – Break Your Heart" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 14 October 2010..
- ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris – Break Your Heart". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 13 March 2010..
- ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris – Break Your Heart". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 13 March 2010..
- ↑ "Taio Cruz: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 March 2010..
- ↑ "October 2009/ Archive Chart: 10 October 2009" UK R&B Chart. Retrieved 24 April 2010..
- ↑ "Taio Cruz – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Taio Cruz. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
- ↑ "Taio Cruz – Chart history" Billboard Adult Contemporary for Taio Cruz. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
- ↑ "Taio Cruz – Chart history" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Taio Cruz. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
- ↑ "Taio Cruz – Chart history" Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs for Taio Cruz. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
- ↑ "Taio Cruz – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Taio Cruz. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
- ↑ "Taio Cruz – Chart history" Billboard Rhythmic Songs for Taio Cruz. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
- ↑ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
- ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2010 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association.
- ↑ "Austrian single certifications – Taio Cruz – Break Your Heart" (in German). IFPI Austria. Enter Taio Cruz in the field Interpret. Enter Break Your Heart in the field Titel. Select single in the field Format. Click Suchen
- ↑ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – 2010". Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
- ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Taio Cruz – Break Your Heart". Music Canada.
- ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Taio Cruz; 'Break Your Heart')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
- ↑ "Latest Gold / Platinum Singles – RadioScope New Zealand". Radioscope.net.nz. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
- ↑ "Taio Cruz - Break Your Heart" (in Swedish). Grammofon Leverantörernas Förening. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
- ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris; 'Break Your Heart')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
- ↑ "British single certifications – Taio Cruz – Break Your Heart". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Break Your Heart in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
- ↑ "American single certifications – Taio Cruz – Break Your Heart". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
- ↑ "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 5 December 2010. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
- ↑ "Jahreshitparade 2010". Hitradio Ö3 (in German). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 27 February 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
- ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 2010 (Flanders)" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
- ↑ "Rapports annuels 2010 – Singles" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
- ↑ "2010 Year-End Canadian Hot 100 Songs". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 9 December 2009. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
- ↑ "2010 Year-End German Charts" (in German). Media Control Charts. Viva.tv. Archived from the original on 10 January 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
- ↑ "MAHASZ Rádiós TOP 100 2010". Mahasz (in Hungarian). Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- ↑ "2010 Dutch Year-end chart" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 22 November 2010. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
- ↑ "Topul celor mai difuzate piese în România în 2010" (in Romanian). România Liberă. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
- ↑ "2010 Year End Swiss Singles Chart". Swiss Music Charts. 2011. Archived from the original on 12 July 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
- ↑ "2010 Year-End Hot 100 Songs". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
- ↑ "2010 Year-End Pop Songs". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
- ↑ "Break Your Heart – EP by Taio Cruz". UK iTunes. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
- ↑ "Break Your Heart [Single]". amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
- ↑ "Top 40/R Future Releases". Allaccess. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
- ↑ "R&R Future Releases: Urban". Radio & Records. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Taio Cruz. |
- Music video Break Your Heart (version 1) at Clipland
- Music video Break Your Heart (version 2 with Ludacris) at Clipland