I Can't Break Down
Encyclopedia
"I Can't Break Down" is a song written by Sinéad Quinn
, Pete Glenister and Deni Lew and produced by Glenister and Lew for Quinn's debut album, Ready to Run
. It was released as her debut single from the album in March 2003 and reached a peak position of number two in the UK Singles Chart
, losing out on a number-one single to t.A.T.u.
's "All the Things She Said
". The single release sold around 70,000 copies, finishing in 65th place for the best selling UK singles of 2003.
behind David Sneddon
. She signed a record deal with Mercury Records
a week after the final and revealed that she would release her debut single on 10 February 2003. Sneddon had a number one single with "Stop Living the Lie
in January 2003.
The song was written by Quinn during her time on Fame Academy
. Fame Academy differed from the similar Pop Idol
in that the contestants were able to develop their all-round musical talents and write original material during their time on the show. In an interview with the BBC
she revealed how her experience on Fame Academy had changed her music style for this song. She said "Before I went in, I wouldn't have been into commercial stuff...my tunes might not have been so radio-friendly, but I'm working on it. I wouldn't have got that much of a hook into my songs. I think the hook is very important."
lesser programmes.
Sinéad Quinn
Sinéad Quinn and graduate of the University of Hull was a contestant in the first series of the UK BBC TV series Fame Academy in 2002. She later went on to sign a recording contract, released an album, and had a #2 UK single. She is married to Paul Stewart, drummer with The Feeling...
, Pete Glenister and Deni Lew and produced by Glenister and Lew for Quinn's debut album, Ready to Run
Ready to Run
Ready to Run is a 2000 Disney Channel Original Movie.-Plot summary:Ready to Run is the story of 14-year-old Corrie Ortiz, an energetic girl who dreams of becoming a jockey in the predominantly male sport of Thoroughbred horse racing...
. It was released as her debut single from the album in March 2003 and reached a peak position of number two in the UK Singles Chart
UK 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 ...
, losing out on a number-one single to t.A.T.u.
T.A.T.u.
t.A.T.u. was a duo formed in Moscow, Russia in 1999 by Ivan Shapovalov. The group consisted of Lena Katina and Yulia Volkova.Their debut single "Ya Soshla S Uma" was released in December 2000. The single had a huge success in Russia and Eastern Europe...
's "All the Things She Said
All the Things She Said
"All the Things She Said" is a song by Russian recording duo t.A.T.u., which was for their first English-language studio album 200 km/h in the Wrong Lane . The song was written by Sergio Galoyan, Trevor Horn, Martin Kierszenbaum, Elena Kiper and Valeriy Polienko, while produced by Horn...
". The single release sold around 70,000 copies, finishing in 65th place for the best selling UK singles of 2003.
Background and writing
Quinn finished as the runner-up in the first series of Fame AcademyFame Academy
Fame Academy is a televised competition to search for and educate new musical talents. The winner received a chance to become a successful music artist. The prize consisted of a £1m recording contract with a major record company, plus the use of a luxury apartment in London and a sports car for one...
behind David Sneddon
David Sneddon
David Sneddon is a Scottish musician and singer-songwriter.He has performed on British television, radio and theatre. Sneddon won the first BBC UK series of Fame Academy in 2002...
. She signed a record deal with Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
a week after the final and revealed that she would release her debut single on 10 February 2003. Sneddon had a number one single with "Stop Living the Lie
Stop Living the Lie
Stop Living the Lie was written by musician, singer and songwriter David Sneddon, and was his No 1 debut release single 2003. The single was released on January 13, 2003 and during its first week it charted at number one in the UK singles chart, as well as reaching number seven in Ireland. The...
in January 2003.
The song was written by Quinn during her time on Fame Academy
Fame Academy
Fame Academy is a televised competition to search for and educate new musical talents. The winner received a chance to become a successful music artist. The prize consisted of a £1m recording contract with a major record company, plus the use of a luxury apartment in London and a sports car for one...
. Fame Academy differed from the similar Pop Idol
Pop Idol
Pop Idol is a British television series which debuted on ITV on 6 October 2001. The show was a talent contest to decide the best new young pop singer in the United Kingdom, based on viewer voting and participation. Two series were broadcast - one in 2001-02 and a second in 2003...
in that the contestants were able to develop their all-round musical talents and write original material during their time on the show. In an interview with the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
she revealed how her experience on Fame Academy had changed her music style for this song. She said "Before I went in, I wouldn't have been into commercial stuff...my tunes might not have been so radio-friendly, but I'm working on it. I wouldn't have got that much of a hook into my songs. I think the hook is very important."
Critical reception
The song received mixed reviews from music critics. Michael Hubbard (writing for musicOMH) described Quinn's voice as "rich" in comparison to her vocal performance on Fame Academy but commented "if Sinéad wants a career that is more than a flash in the pan, she's going to have to get a lot more dangerous than this". He did, however, commend her for avoiding being like a "karaoke star-turn of the genre'sReality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
lesser programmes.