Break You
Encyclopedia
"Break You" is a pop rock
song written and produced by the combined efforts of Max Martin
and Lukasz Gottwald, a.k.a "Dr. Luke", for Raven's international debut studio album Here I Am (2005). The track was released as the lead single in Japan
and Norway
and was the second single from the album that was released in Southeast Asia
in 2005.
and Kelly Clarkson
. It represents Raven's scorn and anger towards her ex-boyfriend.
between a Dogsprison and a strip club, was recorded in March 2005 by director Brett Simon. It shows scenes of Raven trashing her ex-boyfriend's apartment, slicing furniture into half and burning the other half at an alley, signifying that she is getting rid of the half that belongs to her ex-boyfriend. There are also instances where Raven lashes out at hands (most likely to be those of her ex-boyfriend) that try to stop her while she continues ruining the house.
Swedish single
Mexican single
that served as a teaser, alongside "Falling Away" and "Here I Am", tracks also found on Set Me Free.
Break You EP
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
song written and produced by the combined efforts of Max Martin
Max Martin
Martin Karl Sandberg, known professionally as Max Martin, is a Swedish music producer and songwriter. Raised in Stenhamra, a suburb of Stockholm, Sweden, he broke through as a producer and songwriter in the mid to late 1990s after crafting a string of hits for pop artists like the Backstreet Boys,...
and Lukasz Gottwald, a.k.a "Dr. Luke", for Raven's international debut studio album Here I Am (2005). The track was released as the lead single in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and was the second single from the album that was released in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
in 2005.
Content
The song's angsty post-grunge vibe and lyrics about bad relationships makes it similar to other artists such as Avril LavigneAvril Lavigne
Avril Ramona Lavigne is a Canadian singer-songwriter. She was born in Belleville, Ontario, but spent most of her youth in the small town of Napanee. By the age of 15, she had appeared on stage with Shania Twain; by 16, she had signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records worth more...
and Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Brianne Clarkson is an American pop rock singer-songwriter and actress. Clarkson came into prominence after becoming the winner of the inaugural season of the television series American Idol in 2002 and would later become the runner-up in the television special World Idol in 2003.In 2003,...
. It represents Raven's scorn and anger towards her ex-boyfriend.
Music video
The music video for the song, shot in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
between a Dogsprison and a strip club, was recorded in March 2005 by director Brett Simon. It shows scenes of Raven trashing her ex-boyfriend's apartment, slicing furniture into half and burning the other half at an alley, signifying that she is getting rid of the half that belongs to her ex-boyfriend. There are also instances where Raven lashes out at hands (most likely to be those of her ex-boyfriend) that try to stop her while she continues ruining the house.
Singles and track listings
Norway and Japan single- "Break You" (Album version)
- "Surfing The Sun" (Japanese Here I Am release version)
Swedish single
- "Break You" (Album version)
- "There I Said It" (Unreleased B-side single)
Mexican single
- "Break You" (Album version)
- Japan promo single
- "Break You" (Album version)
- Exclusive picture sleeve" (CD-Rom Bonus content)
- Different front cover
Reception
- "Break You" is Raven's most successful solo single to date. It anchored Raven as a pop-rock staple in JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, where it managed to claim the top spot on the Oricon International Charts. - "Break You" was at #69 on MTV Asia's end of year (2005) top 100 countdown.
- "Break You" peaked at #5 on Capital DisneyCapital DisneyCapital Disney was a British digital radio station aimed at 8 to 16 year olds which used to broadcast across the UK on DAB Digital Radio . It was also broadcast on Sky Digital, Tiscali TV, Virgin Media, and streaming online. The station announced on 14 May 2007 that it would close down on 29 June...
's "The Top 10" music charts.
Chart performance
| Chart (2005) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Indonesia Singles Charts | 1 |
| Japan Oricon Singles Chart | 1 |
| Norway Top 20 Singles | 9 |
| Sweden Singles Top 60 | 51 |
Controversy
- The song was covered by American singer-songwriterSongwriterA songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
Megan McCauley in late 2006 that sparked rumours that Raven was not including "Break You" in her U.S./CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
/EuropeEuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
2007 debut album, Set Me Free. - This came after Raven left Atlantic RecordsAtlantic RecordsAtlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
, due to "artistic differences", and joined Eleven Seven MusicEleven seven musicEleven Seven Music is a record label founded by Allen Kovac, who is the CEO of 10th Street Entertainment.Eleven Seven has recently enjoyed success with the rejuvenated Buckcherry, whose label debut has been certified Platinum by the RIAA. Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe and Sixx:A.M...
. - McCauley's version of "Break You" could be found on her MySpace page. It was offered up as a free download though it was cut to two minutes.
2007 re-release
"Break You" was released to U.K. radio stations on March 28, 2007 and is her U.K. debut single from Set Me Free. The track was also part of a rumored EPExtended 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...
that served as a teaser, alongside "Falling Away" and "Here I Am", tracks also found on Set Me Free.
Break You EP
- "Break You" (Album version)
- "Falling Away" (Album version)
- "Here I Am" (Album version)