Breakaway (Irma Thomas song)
Encyclopedia
"Breakaway" is a song written by Jackie DeShannon
and Sharon Sheeley
. It was originally recorded by Irma Thomas
in 1964 and released as the B-Side of her biggest hit, the US #17 hit single "Wish Someone Would Care". (A demo version performed by DeShannon was also recorded but remained unreleased until a 1994 compilation).
The original version of "Breakaway" was never a hit -- it did not make the Billboard Hot 100, nor the Bubbling Under charts, and the extensive chart archive at ARSA http://www.las-solanas.com/arsa does not record a single instance of any radio station anywhere in North America placing the track on its playlist. Nevertheless, "Breakaway" is today generally considered a better-remembered song than the A-Side of Thomas' record http://www.kolumbus.fi/soulexpr/irmathomas.htmhttp://www.offbeat.com/artman/publish/printer_1285.shtml, a situation that may be partly due to Tracey Ullman
's hit 1980s cover. It has become a staple in Thomas' live performances and appears on several recent Irma Thomas and "New Orleans music" compilations.
"Breakaway" was Tracey Ullman
's 1983 debut single in the UK, and reached #4 in the UK charts. The track then appeared on Ullman's album You Broke My Heart In 17 Places
, which was released in 1984.
In North America, "Breakaway" was actually Ullman's second single, being released after her hit "They Don't Know
". It charted at a modest #70 in the US in 1984, although the video for Ullman's version received significant play on the then-fledgling MTV
and Canada's MuchMusic
.
The songs lyrics speak of the singer's inability to find the strength to leave an abusive relationship and describe a situation where the song's first person
protagonist is repeatedly on the verge of running away from the bad situation only to find at the last moment she does not have the strength of will to follow through.
It is sometimes assumed that the song's lyrics and message were inspired by Irma Thomas' real marriage at the time which ended in 1966.http://www.kolumbus.fi/soulexpr/irmathomas.htmhttp://www.helsinki.fi/~ilva/irma.html However, as Thomas had no part in writing the song, this seems unlikely.
The song, as performed both by Thomas and Ullman has a fast tempo and a perky happy-sounding beat that stands out in stark irony to the song's gloomy lyrics; Unlike the Scooter Lee cover, which is much slower.
In 2010, a version of this song by the Detroit Cobras was used in commercials for the NFL RedZone channel.
This song should not be confused with a song of the same title recorded by Kelly Clarkson
.
Jackie DeShannon
Jackie DeShannon is an American singer-songwriter with a string of hit song credits from the 1960s onwards. She was one of the first female singer-songwriters of the rock 'n' roll period.- Life and early career :...
and Sharon Sheeley
Sharon Sheeley
Sharon Sheeley was an American songwriter, born in California, who wrote songs for Glen Campbell, Ricky Nelson, Brenda Lee, and Sheeley's former fiancé, Eddie Cochran.-Life:...
. It was originally recorded by Irma Thomas
Irma Thomas
Irma Thomas is an American Grammy Award-winning soul and rhythm and blues singer from New Orleans. She is known as the "Soul Queen of New Orleans"....
in 1964 and released as the B-Side of her biggest hit, the US #17 hit single "Wish Someone Would Care". (A demo version performed by DeShannon was also recorded but remained unreleased until a 1994 compilation).
The original version of "Breakaway" was never a hit -- it did not make the Billboard Hot 100, nor the Bubbling Under charts, and the extensive chart archive at ARSA http://www.las-solanas.com/arsa does not record a single instance of any radio station anywhere in North America placing the track on its playlist. Nevertheless, "Breakaway" is today generally considered a better-remembered song than the A-Side of Thomas' record http://www.kolumbus.fi/soulexpr/irmathomas.htmhttp://www.offbeat.com/artman/publish/printer_1285.shtml, a situation that may be partly due to Tracey Ullman
Tracey Ullman
Tracey Ullman is a British stage and television actress, comedienne, singer, dancer, screenwriter and author ....
's hit 1980s cover. It has become a staple in Thomas' live performances and appears on several recent Irma Thomas and "New Orleans music" compilations.
"Breakaway" was Tracey Ullman
Tracey Ullman
Tracey Ullman is a British stage and television actress, comedienne, singer, dancer, screenwriter and author ....
's 1983 debut single in the UK, and reached #4 in the UK charts. The track then appeared on Ullman's album You Broke My Heart In 17 Places
You Broke My Heart In 17 Places
You Broke My Heart In 17 Places, is a studio album by singer-actress-comedienne, Tracey Ullman. It peaked at number 14 on the UK album chart and number 34 on the Billboard 200 in the U.S., in the Spring of 1984....
, which was released in 1984.
In North America, "Breakaway" was actually Ullman's second single, being released after her hit "They Don't Know
They Don't Know (Kirsty MacColl song)
"They Don't Know" is a popular song, written and composed by singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl, the daughter of singer-songwriter Ewan MacColl. Ms. MacColl recorded it in 1979. It became popular on radio in the United Kingdom, reaching #2 on the Music Week airplay chart...
". It charted at a modest #70 in the US in 1984, although the video for Ullman's version received significant play on the then-fledgling MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
and Canada's MuchMusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
.
The songs lyrics speak of the singer's inability to find the strength to leave an abusive relationship and describe a situation where the song's first person
First-person narrative
First-person point of view is a narrative mode where a story is narrated by one character at a time, speaking for and about themselves. First-person narrative may be singular, plural or multiple as well as being an authoritative, reliable or deceptive "voice" and represents point of view in the...
protagonist is repeatedly on the verge of running away from the bad situation only to find at the last moment she does not have the strength of will to follow through.
It is sometimes assumed that the song's lyrics and message were inspired by Irma Thomas' real marriage at the time which ended in 1966.http://www.kolumbus.fi/soulexpr/irmathomas.htmhttp://www.helsinki.fi/~ilva/irma.html However, as Thomas had no part in writing the song, this seems unlikely.
The song, as performed both by Thomas and Ullman has a fast tempo and a perky happy-sounding beat that stands out in stark irony to the song's gloomy lyrics; Unlike the Scooter Lee cover, which is much slower.
In 2010, a version of this song by the Detroit Cobras was used in commercials for the NFL RedZone channel.
This song should not be confused with a song of the same title recorded by 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,...
.