Breakin' Dishes
Encyclopedia
"Breakin' Dishes" is a song by Barbadian
recording artist Rihanna
, from her third studio album Good Girl Gone Bad
(2007). The song was co-written by Christopher Stewart
and The-Dream
, with production completed by the former. The song received positive reviews from music critics, who agreed that the song was one of the highlights of the album. "Breakin' Dishes" also charted at number four on the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart in both 2008 and 2009. The songs only live televised performance was at the Pepsi Smash Show Super Bowl game in 2009, and was also included on all three of Rihanna's arena tours; the Good Girl Gone Bad Tour (2007–09), Last Girl on Earth Tour
(2010–11) and the Loud Tour
(2011).
, with the former producing the song. The song appears as the fourth track on Good Girl Gone Bad. Lyrically, "Breakin' Dishes" is about "a downtrodden wife who exacts revenge on her cheating husband", according to Nick Levine of Digital Spy
. According to the digital music sheet published by EMI Publishing
, the song is written in the key of B minor
and is set in common time
with a Moderate Techno Rock beat
, with a metronome of 124 beats per minute. Rihanna's vocal range in the song spans from the low note of G
3 to the high note of C♯5. Musically, "Breakin' Dishes" is piano and guitar driven, incorporating elements of R&B
and Dance-pop
.
" and "Take a Bow
". Upon the release of Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded (2008), Levine criticized the choice of "Take a Bow" being released as the lead single to promote the re-release (one of three new songs on the re-release), commenting that "Breakin' Dishes" was more likely to be successful due to it previously having chart at number four on the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart in February 2008. Neil Drumming of Entertainment Weekly
described the song as an "appropriately frantic romp", with regard to the lyrics "Is he cheating?/Maybe, I don't know/I'm looking around for something else to throw", whilst Sarah McIntyre of Raidió Teilifís Éireann
described the song as "ultra-sassy" and "aggressive", writing that the mood of the album changes once "Breakin' Dishes" plays, compared to the first three songs "Umbrella
", "Push Up On Me" and "Don't Stop the Music
". Sal Cinquemani of Slant
magazine criticized the name of the song, as well as others from Good Girl Gone Bad, writing "Good Girl might have the most consistently hilarious song titles of the year ('Breakin' Dishes,' 'Shut Up And Drive,' 'Sell Me Candy,' just to name a few), but the songs themselves just don't live up to their campy names."
", "Disturbia
" and "Rehab
"; the set featured Rihanna wearing "an all-black outfit that was a mixture of bondage gear and a space-age hockey uniform [and] thigh-high boots" Rihanna started her performance with "Disturbia" and incorporated elements of The White Stripes
' "Seven Nation Army
", which led into "Breakin' Dishes". After performing the song with backing dancers, who wore outfits that matched Rihanna's, the singer performed "Rehab" and "Shut Up And Drive". The song was also featured on the set of all three of Rihanna's arena tours; the Good Girl Gone Bad Tour (2007–09), Last Girl on Earth Tour
(2010–11) and the Loud Tour
(2011). "Breakin' Dishes" appeared as the fifth song on Canadian, North American and European legs of the Good Girl Gone Bad Tour, and the second song during the Asian and Oceanic legs. Sean Sennett The Australian
described the song as a "highlight" of the concert. For the Last Girl on Earth Tour, the song appeared as the eighteenth song on the set list for the North American and Australian legs, but was performed as the twentieth song for the European and Asian legs. For the Loud Tour, "Breakin' Dishes" appeared as the eleventh song on the set list for all legs of the tour.
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Good Girl Gone Bad.
on her 2011 album "In The Spotlight
".
Barbadian people
Barbadians are people originating on the Caribbean island of Barbados whether they live there or in the Barbadian diaspora.Rihanna is by far the most popular Barbadian on the planet.-Diaspora:...
recording artist Rihanna
Rihanna
Robyn Rihanna Fenty , better known as simply Rihanna, is a Barbadian recording artist. Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, Rihanna moved to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue a recording career under the guidance of record producer Evan Rogers...
, from her third studio album Good Girl Gone Bad
Good Girl Gone Bad
Good Girl Gone Bad is the third studio album by Barbadian R&B singer Rihanna, released May 30, 2007, on Def Jam Recordings. Recording sessions for the album took place during October 2006 to April 2007 at Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles. Rihanna worked with producers Christopher "Tricky"...
(2007). The song was co-written by Christopher Stewart
Christopher Stewart (music producer)
Christopher "Tricky" Stewart is an American songwriter, music producer, music publisher, executive producer, recording industry executive and recording studio owner. In a career spanning 16 years, Stewart, at the helm of his company RedZone Entertainment, is responsible for over 25 million...
and The-Dream
The-Dream
Terius Youngdell Nash , better known by his stage name The-Dream, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. He is known for co-writing "Umbrella" for Rihanna and "Single Ladies " for Beyoncé, as well as for his three solo albums, Love Hate, Love vs...
, with production completed by the former. The song received positive reviews from music critics, who agreed that the song was one of the highlights of the album. "Breakin' Dishes" also charted at number four on the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart in both 2008 and 2009. The songs only live televised performance was at the Pepsi Smash Show Super Bowl game in 2009, and was also included on all three of Rihanna's arena tours; the Good Girl Gone Bad Tour (2007–09), Last Girl on Earth Tour
Last Girl on Earth Tour
The Last Girl on Earth Tour was the third concert tour by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna. Visiting Europe, Asia, North America and Australia, the tour supported her fourth studio album, Rated R . The tour was announced through MTV News in December 2009...
(2010–11) and the Loud Tour
Loud Tour
The Loud Tour is the fourth concert tour by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna. Performing in over twenty countries in the Americas and Europe, the tour supports Rihanna’s fifth studio album, Loud...
(2011).
Music and lyrics
"Breakin' Dishes" was written by Christopher "Tricky" Stewart and The-DreamThe-Dream
Terius Youngdell Nash , better known by his stage name The-Dream, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. He is known for co-writing "Umbrella" for Rihanna and "Single Ladies " for Beyoncé, as well as for his three solo albums, Love Hate, Love vs...
, with the former producing the song. The song appears as the fourth track on Good Girl Gone Bad. Lyrically, "Breakin' Dishes" is about "a downtrodden wife who exacts revenge on her cheating husband", according to Nick Levine of Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
. According to the digital music sheet published by EMI Publishing
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
, the song is written in the key of B minor
B minor
B minor is a minor scale based on B, consisting of the pitches B, C, D, E, F, G, and A. The harmonic minor raises the A to A. Its key signature has two sharps .Its relative major is D major, and its parallel major is B major....
and is set in common time
Common Time
"Common Time" is a science fiction short story written by James Blish. It first appeared in the August 1953 issue of Science Fiction Quarterly and has been reprinted several times: in the 1959 short-story collection Galactic Cluster; in The Testament of Andros ; in The Penguin Science Fiction...
with a Moderate Techno Rock beat
Tempo
In musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...
, with a metronome of 124 beats per minute. Rihanna's vocal range in the song spans from the low note of G
G minor
G minor is a minor scale based on G, consisting of the pitches G, A, B, C, D, E, and F. For the harmonic minor scale, the F is raised to F. Its relative major is B-flat major, and its parallel major is G major....
3 to the high note of C♯5. Musically, "Breakin' Dishes" is piano and guitar driven, incorporating elements of R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
and Dance-pop
Dance-pop
Dance-pop is dance-oriented pop music that originated in the early 1980s. Developing from post-disco, it is generally up-tempo music intended for clubs with the intention of being danceable or merely dancey...
.
Reception
The song received positive reviews from critics. Levine of Digital Spy called the song a "surefire smash" and "one of the album's standout tracks", arguing that it should have been granted a full release ahead of "Hate That I Love YouHate That I Love You
"Hate That I Love You" is a song by Barbadian R&B singer Rihanna, released as the third single from her third studio album, Good Girl Gone Bad on August 21, 2007. It features R&B singer Ne-Yo, who had worked with Rihanna previously, contributing to her 2006 hit "Unfaithful". The song was produced...
" and "Take a Bow
Take a Bow (Rihanna song)
"Take a Bow" is a song by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna, taken from the re-release, Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded , of her third studio album Good Girl Gone Bad . The song was written and produced by Tor Erik Hermansen, Mikkel Eriksen and Shaffer Smith, under their stage names Stargate and Ne-Yo...
". Upon the release of Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded (2008), Levine criticized the choice of "Take a Bow" being released as the lead single to promote the re-release (one of three new songs on the re-release), commenting that "Breakin' Dishes" was more likely to be successful due to it previously having chart at number four on the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart in February 2008. Neil Drumming of Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
described the song as an "appropriately frantic romp", with regard to the lyrics "Is he cheating?/Maybe, I don't know/I'm looking around for something else to throw", whilst Sarah McIntyre of Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
described the song as "ultra-sassy" and "aggressive", writing that the mood of the album changes once "Breakin' Dishes" plays, compared to the first three songs "Umbrella
Umbrella (song)
"Umbrella" is a song recorded by Barbadian singer Rihanna, featuring a rap verse by Jay-Z. The song was written by The-Dream, Christopher Stewart, Kuk Harrell and Jay-Z, and was produced by Stewart and The-Dream for Rihanna's third studio album, Good Girl Gone Bad...
", "Push Up On Me" and "Don't Stop the Music
Don't Stop the Music (Rihanna song)
"Don't Stop the Music" is a dance-pop song performed by Barbadian R&B singer Rihanna from her third studio album, Good Girl Gone Bad. It was the third single from the album in most of Europe, the second single in Germany and Spain and the fourth single in the rest of the world...
". Sal Cinquemani of Slant
Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine is an online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York Film Festival.- History :...
magazine criticized the name of the song, as well as others from Good Girl Gone Bad, writing "Good Girl might have the most consistently hilarious song titles of the year ('Breakin' Dishes,' 'Shut Up And Drive,' 'Sell Me Candy,' just to name a few), but the songs themselves just don't live up to their campy names."
Live performances
"Breakin' Dishes" only live televised performance was at the Pepsi Smash Show in January 2009. The set included previous singles from Good Girl Gone Bad, "Shut Up and DriveShut Up and Drive (Rihanna song)
"Shut Up and Drive" is a song by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna, from her third studio album Good Girl Gone Bad . Released as album's second single, the song was solicited to the US radios on June 12, 2007 and was physically released on August 27, 2007 in the United Kingdom...
", "Disturbia
Disturbia (song)
"Disturbia" is a song by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna, taken from the re-release, Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded , of her third studio album Good Girl Gone Bad . The song was released as the third single from the reloaded edition of the album, and seventh overall...
" and "Rehab
Rehab (Rihanna song)
"Rehab" is a song by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna, released as the eighth and final single from her third studio album, Good Girl Gone Bad . Def Jam Recordings released the song to contemporary hit radio in the United States on October 6, 2008...
"; the set featured Rihanna wearing "an all-black outfit that was a mixture of bondage gear and a space-age hockey uniform [and] thigh-high boots" Rihanna started her performance with "Disturbia" and incorporated elements of The White Stripes
The White Stripes
The White Stripes was an American rock band, formed in 1997 in Detroit, Michigan. The group consisted of the songwriter Jack White and drummer Meg White . Jack and Meg White were previously married to each other, but are now divorced...
' "Seven Nation Army
Seven Nation Army
"Seven Nation Army" is the first track on the album Elephant by American alternative rock band The White Stripes. It was released as a single in 2003. "Seven Nation Army" reached #1 on the Modern Rock Tracks for three weeks and won 2004's Grammy Award for Best Rock Song. The song is known for its...
", which led into "Breakin' Dishes". After performing the song with backing dancers, who wore outfits that matched Rihanna's, the singer performed "Rehab" and "Shut Up And Drive". The song was also featured on the set of all three of Rihanna's arena tours; the Good Girl Gone Bad Tour (2007–09), Last Girl on Earth Tour
Last Girl on Earth Tour
The Last Girl on Earth Tour was the third concert tour by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna. Visiting Europe, Asia, North America and Australia, the tour supported her fourth studio album, Rated R . The tour was announced through MTV News in December 2009...
(2010–11) and the Loud Tour
Loud Tour
The Loud Tour is the fourth concert tour by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna. Performing in over twenty countries in the Americas and Europe, the tour supports Rihanna’s fifth studio album, Loud...
(2011). "Breakin' Dishes" appeared as the fifth song on Canadian, North American and European legs of the Good Girl Gone Bad Tour, and the second song during the Asian and Oceanic legs. Sean Sennett The Australian
The Australian
The Australian is a broadsheet newspaper published in Australia from Monday to Saturday each week since 14 July 1964. The editor in chief is Chris Mitchell, the editor is Clive Mathieson and the 'editor-at-large' is Paul Kelly....
described the song as a "highlight" of the concert. For the Last Girl on Earth Tour, the song appeared as the eighteenth song on the set list for the North American and Australian legs, but was performed as the twentieth song for the European and Asian legs. For the Loud Tour, "Breakin' Dishes" appeared as the eleventh song on the set list for all legs of the tour.
Formats and track listings
- Album version (Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded)
- "Breakin' Dishes" – 3:20
- Album version (Good Girl Gone Bad: The Remixes)
- "Breakin' Dishes" (Soul Seekerz Remix) – 3:19
Credits and personnel
- Robyn "Rihanna" Fenty – VocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
- Tricky Stewart – SongwritingSongwriterA 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...
, ProductionRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - The-DreamThe-DreamTerius Youngdell Nash , better known by his stage name The-Dream, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. He is known for co-writing "Umbrella" for Rihanna and "Single Ladies " for Beyoncé, as well as for his three solo albums, Love Hate, Love vs...
– Songwriting - Phil Tan – MixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
at Soapbox Studio, Atlanta, GA - Joshua Houghkirk – Assistant mixer
- Judi Acosta-Stewart – Production manager
- Rebecca Sweatman – Production assistant
- Kurk Harrel – Vocal production, RecordingSound recording and reproductionSound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
at Triangle Sound, Atlanta, GA; Pacifique Recording Studio, Hollywood, CA and Westlake Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA - Mike Tocci – Recording at Westlake Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Good Girl Gone Bad.
Covers
"Breakin Dishes" was also recorded by Suzi QuatroSuzi Quatro
Susan Kay "Suzi" Quatro is an American singer-songwriter, bass player, and actor.She scored a string of hit singles in the 1970s that found greater success in Europe and Australia than in her homeland, and had a recurring role on the popular American sitcom Happy Days.-Music:Quatro began her...
on her 2011 album "In The Spotlight
In the Spotlight
In the Spotlight is the fifteenth studio album by the American singer-songwriter and bass guitar player Suzi Quatro.Quatro has sold 50 million records worldwide....
".
Charts
On February 9, 2008, "Breakin' Dishes" peaked at number four on the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart, where it remained for a further week. The song spent a total of 16 weeks on the chart in 2008. On May 30, 2009, the release of Good Girl Gone Bad: The Remixes caused the song to peak at number four on the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart, and once again spent two weeks at the same position as it did the year before. "Breakin' Dishes" spent a total of 14 weeks on the chart in 2009, two weeks less than the previous year.| Chart (2008) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Hot Dance Club Songs | 4 |
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
| US Hot Dance Club Songs | 4 |