Heartbreaker (will.i.am song)
Encyclopedia
"Heartbreaker" is the second single from rapper will.i.am
's third album Songs About Girls
. The British
single version features guest vocals from Cheryl Cole
; this version was also featured on Cole's debut solo album 3 Words
which was released in October 2009.
television show Passions of Girls Aloud
. In the show, Cole learned the art of street dancing
, and would ultimately audition for the will.i.am music video. She received the part and would also contribute guest vocals to the song, singing a new part of the chorus and replacing the original anonymous female singer in the break down
. will.i.am said the record company suggested Cole, and after meeting her, he felt the idea was perfect. The duo performed the song unedited on The Graham Norton Show
on 24 April 2008. At a promotional appearance on GMTV
, will.i.am said that Cheryl
was "hotter than Nelly Furtado
."
in front of a black background with flashing lights. As the first verse begins, will.i.am sings in front of the black background while controlling and/or holding a glowing red ball a la telekinesis. He is also seen in a convertible
with a girl, while they look at moving stars. will.i.am dances using the famous Michael Jackson
slide from Billie Jean
in front of the black, with a spotlight shining on one of various women posing next to him. One of the women is Cole, who can be seen with will.i.am or singing her lines in front of moving lights. The light turns off of her when her lines have finished, and shots of different women grinding on will.i.am are shown. He moves star-like lights with his hands, like the red ball from the beginning of the music video. The stars, which are people wearing black bodysuits with lights attached, mimic will.i.am's dancing. A number of clips of will.i.am and Cheryl singing and dancing, both together and separately, are shown throughout the remainder of the video.
at number seventy-four on downloads alone, before rising to number forty-nine the next week. The song entered the top twenty two weeks later. After two weeks at number eight, "Heartbreaker" peaked at number four the week of its physical release. The single sold over 250,000 copies, giving the single a silver certificate by the BPI, and became the 31st best selling single of 2008. "Heartbreaker" also debuted at number forty-nine on the Irish Singles Chart
, and has peaked at number seven after spending two weeks at number 10. It is the artist's first hit single since he started his solo project. ECD:UK added two versions of the song but it reached no.1 by one video edit alone. It also marks Cheryl's nineteenth consecutive top ten single and 21st (in total) in the UK, both as a solo act and as part of Girls Aloud
. "Heartbreaker" was Cole's first debut in continental Europe.
Will.i.am
William James Adams, Jr. , better known by his stage name will.i.am and occasionally by his other stage name Zuper Blahq, is an American rapper, musician, songwriter, singer, actor and producer...
's third album Songs About Girls
Songs about Girls
Songs About Girls is the third studio album by rapper will.i.am, known from his work with The Black Eyed Peas. The original title of the album was "Keep the Beeper". The album was released on September 25, 2007. The first single released from the album was a club track titled "I Got It From My...
. The British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
single version features guest vocals from Cheryl Cole
Cheryl Cole
Cheryl Ann Cole is an English pop and R&B recording artist, songwriter, dancer, actress and model. She rose to fame in late 2002 when she auditioned for the reality television show Popstars: The Rivals on ITV. The programme announced that Cole had won a place as a member of the girl group, Girls...
; this version was also featured on Cole's debut solo album 3 Words
3 Words
3 Words is the debut studio album from British pop singer Cheryl Cole, released on 23 October 2009 by Fascination Records. The project is Cole's first solo release following a break from releasing material with her band Girls Aloud whom after seven years have enjoyed five successful albums and...
which was released in October 2009.
Release and reception
Cheryl Cole's vocals and appearance in the music video came as a result of the ITV2ITV2
ITV2 is a 24 hour, free-to-air entertainment television channel in the United Kingdom owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It was launched on 7 December 1998, and is available on digital television via satellite, cable, IPTV and terrestrial platforms. The channel has the...
television show Passions of Girls Aloud
Passions of Girls Aloud
The Passions of Girls Aloud is a four-part television series starring girl group Girls Aloud. The series premiered on ITV2 on 14 March 2008.-Premise:The show is based around each member achieving something they always wanted to do, other than sing:...
. In the show, Cole learned the art of street dancing
Street dance
Street dance, more formally known as vernacular dance, is an umbrella term used to describe dance styles that evolved outside of dance studios in any available open space such as streets, dance parties, block parties, parks, school yards, raves, and nightclubs, etc...
, and would ultimately audition for the will.i.am music video. She received the part and would also contribute guest vocals to the song, singing a new part of the chorus and replacing the original anonymous female singer in the break down
Break (music)
In popular music, a break is an instrumental or percussion section or interlude during a song derived from or related to stop-time – being a "break" from the main parts of the song or piece....
. will.i.am said the record company suggested Cole, and after meeting her, he felt the idea was perfect. The duo performed the song unedited on The Graham Norton Show
The Graham Norton Show
The Graham Norton Show is a British comedy chat show that is broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom. It was originally shown on BBC Two from February 2007 to May 2009 until it moved to BBC One from October 2009...
on 24 April 2008. At a promotional appearance on GMTV
GMTV
GMTV was the national Channel 3 breakfast television contractor, broadcasting in the United Kingdom from 1 January 1993 to 3 September 2010. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of ITV plc. in November 2009. Shortly after, ITV plc announced the programme would end...
, will.i.am said that Cheryl
Cheryl Cole
Cheryl Ann Cole is an English pop and R&B recording artist, songwriter, dancer, actress and model. She rose to fame in late 2002 when she auditioned for the reality television show Popstars: The Rivals on ITV. The programme announced that Cole had won a place as a member of the girl group, Girls...
was "hotter than Nelly Furtado
Nelly Furtado
Nelly Kim Furtado is a Canadian singer-songwriter, record producer and actress. Furtado grew up in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.Furtado first gained fame with her debut album, Whoa, Nelly!, and its single "I'm Like a Bird", which won a 2001 Juno Award for Single of the Year and a 2002 Grammy...
."
Music video
The music video begins with various shots of will.i.am and Cheryl ColeCheryl Cole
Cheryl Ann Cole is an English pop and R&B recording artist, songwriter, dancer, actress and model. She rose to fame in late 2002 when she auditioned for the reality television show Popstars: The Rivals on ITV. The programme announced that Cole had won a place as a member of the girl group, Girls...
in front of a black background with flashing lights. As the first verse begins, will.i.am sings in front of the black background while controlling and/or holding a glowing red ball a la telekinesis. He is also seen in a convertible
Convertible
A convertible is a type of automobile in which the roof can retract and fold away having windows which wind-down inside the doors, converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle...
with a girl, while they look at moving stars. will.i.am dances using the famous Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
slide from Billie Jean
Billie Jean
"Billie Jean" is a dance-pop/R&B song by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It was written, composed, and co-produced by Jackson, and produced by Quincy Jones from the singer's sixth album, Thriller . Originally disliked by Jones, the track was almost removed from the album after he and...
in front of the black, with a spotlight shining on one of various women posing next to him. One of the women is Cole, who can be seen with will.i.am or singing her lines in front of moving lights. The light turns off of her when her lines have finished, and shots of different women grinding on will.i.am are shown. He moves star-like lights with his hands, like the red ball from the beginning of the music video. The stars, which are people wearing black bodysuits with lights attached, mimic will.i.am's dancing. A number of clips of will.i.am and Cheryl singing and dancing, both together and separately, are shown throughout the remainder of the video.
Track listing
UK CD Single- "Heartbreaker" (UK Version) (Feat. Cheryl ColeCheryl ColeCheryl Ann Cole is an English pop and R&B recording artist, songwriter, dancer, actress and model. She rose to fame in late 2002 when she auditioned for the reality television show Popstars: The Rivals on ITV. The programme announced that Cole had won a place as a member of the girl group, Girls...
) (Radio Edit) - 3:15 - "Impatient"
Charts
The album version of the song entered the UK Singles ChartUK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
at number seventy-four on downloads alone, before rising to number forty-nine the next week. The song entered the top twenty two weeks later. After two weeks at number eight, "Heartbreaker" peaked at number four the week of its physical release. The single sold over 250,000 copies, giving the single a silver certificate by the BPI, and became the 31st best selling single of 2008. "Heartbreaker" also debuted at number forty-nine on the Irish Singles Chart
Irish Singles Chart
The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured...
, and has peaked at number seven after spending two weeks at number 10. It is the artist's first hit single since he started his solo project. ECD:UK added two versions of the song but it reached no.1 by one video edit alone. It also marks Cheryl's nineteenth consecutive top ten single and 21st (in total) in the UK, both as a solo act and as part of Girls Aloud
Girls Aloud
Girls Aloud are a British and Irish pop girl group based in London. They were created through the ITV1 talent show Popstars The Rivals in 2002. The group consists of Cheryl Cole , Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh. They are signed to Fascination Records, a Polydor...
. "Heartbreaker" was Cole's first debut in continental Europe.
| Chart 2008 | Peak position |
|---|---|
| European Hot 100 | 11 |