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"Break Your Heart"
Song

"Break Your Heart" is a song by British recording artist Taio Cruz. It was written by Cruz and Fraser T. Smith and produced by Smith. The song serves as the lead single from his second album, Rokstarr. It was first released in the United Kingdom and Ireland on 20 September 2009, followed by a release in the United States and other markets in early 2010. The official remix version features American rapper Ludacris; that version was the single released in North American countries. The song, originally penned for Cheryl Cole, is an uptempo R&B song with electro and dance-pop elements, accompanied by Cruz's auto-tuned vocals. The song is lyrically a warning to someone about being a heartbreaker.

The song received mixed to positive reviews, critics commending its infectious sound, but noting that it was generic. The song peaked at number one in Canada, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States, and also within the top ten of many other countries. The accompanying music video features several scenes of Cruz on escapades with different women, including a speedboat compared to classic Diddy and a club scene with Ludacris in the American version.

Background

"Break Your Heart" was one of two songs penned by Cruz for UK pop/R&B singer Cheryl Cole for her debut solo studio album, 3 Words.[1] After Cruz did not hear back from Cole's label about "Break Your Heart", Cruz reworked the song for a male and made it the first song off his second album, Rokstarr.[1] Cruz told MTV News UK that after he released the song, Cole's people would have liked the song for her after all.[1] The latter track by Cruz, "Stand Up" made it onto the final tracklist on Cole's album.[1]

However, according to the song's other co-writer Fraser T. Smith in an interview with HitQuarters, "Break Your Heart" was rejected by Cole's Polydor label boss Ferdy Unger-Hamilton felt it was too similar to "Heartbreaker" by will.i.am, the executive producer of 3 Words.[2]

Writing and remix version

Speaking of the song's lyrical background, Cruz told Pete Lewis of Blues & Soul,

"Its about breaking a girl's heart, but in a way that's kinda not on purpose. It's more that I'm just a single guy, trying to be single and trying to remain single. And sometimes, when you are in that place, you get girls who wanna be a part of what you're about – but, because you're not really ready for a relationship, those girls can end up being heartbroken. So what I'm basically saying is 'I might just break your heart. But I'm only gonna break your heart if you come through this way right now'."[3]

Cruz also has called his song "catchy" with a "good melody" and "fun topic", stating that "both girls and guys can get into this character".[4] In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Cruz elaborated and said they song was partially based on a personal situation, and rather an "exaggeration of an experience".[4]

In addition to re-working his album for an American release, Cruz tapped American rapper Ludacris on a remix of the American version of the song. On collaborating with Ludacris, Cruz said, "With Ludacris, pretty much every track he's ever featured on sounds amazing. I gave him a quick call and asked him if he could get on the record, and he recorded it and sent it over. As I expected, there was nothing I needed to change. It sounded perfect. He put my name in there, which is great — so people know to pronounce it now properly, hopefully."[5] The version featuring Ludacris was originally released digitally as the b-side to "No Other One" in November 2009, before in the United States in February 2010.[6][7]

Composition

"Break Your Heart" (Remix)
A 31-second sample of the remix version of Break Your Heart featuring Cruz's vocals and Ludacris' rap-intro
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Break Your Heart" is an electropop song featuring a "surging dance-pop" sound, accompanied with Cruz's auto-tuned R&B vocals.[8][9][10][11] It is written in the key of E♭ major described as a "medium dance groove", and Cruz's vocals span from B♭4 to B♭5.[12] According to Jason Draper of Yahoo! Music UK, the song is a mix of European and American urban music.[13] It includes several tempo changes, which have been compared to that of Jay Sean's "Down".[10] The song is filled with boasting lyrics about being a heartbreaker rather than being heartbroken.[9]

Critical reception

Although BBC Music called the song a "cheese-fest", the reviewer said "in a weird way it's kind of beautiful", investing in the "Ibiza-inspired R&B trend".[9] The review also compared the song to Dizzee Rascal and Cruz's "layered vocals" and "slick production" to OneRepublic and Timbaland's 'Apologize".[9] Michael Menachem of Billboard said that the "stateside version" turns up the heat with Ludacris' feature as "Cruz's breezy vocals on this electro-pop number have all the warmth of smooth R&B, while producer Fraser T. Smith sets up the right ratio of catchy vocals and tempo changes to make a hit".[10] Ash Dosanjh of New Musical Express said that Cruz's downfall was when he acts the player, as on "Break Your Heart" and "Dirty Picture".[14] Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian said Cruz was "proficient but generic" in the song, but his "autotuned vocals could have been anyone's, and this facelessness is a problem Cruz rarely surmounts."[8] Chris Ryan of MTV Buzzworthy said that the song "perfectly embodies Cruz's infectious, dancefloor-friendly sound and sleek, immaculate production", and compares it to Jason Derülo and Akon.[11]

Chart performance

The song debuted at number one in the United Kingdom becoming Cruz's first song to reach the pole position in that territory.[15] The song remained at the top of the chart for three weeks.[15] The song also peaked at number one in Switzerland, and in the top ten in several other countries across Europe.[16] It also charted at number two in Australia, and peaked at the top position in the United States.[17] With the jump from fifty-three to one on the Billboard Hot 100, Cruz also set the record for largest jump to the top of the chart by a debut act.[17] The record was previously held by American singer Kelly Clarkson, who jumped fifty-two to one with her American Idol coronation song, "A Moment Like This", and whom which also holds the record for the biggest non-debut jump on the chart, moving from ninety-seven to one with "My Life Would Suck Without You".[17] It originally moved 31,000 digital copies in the US for a partial sales week prompting its original Hot 100 entry, and shifted 273,000 downloads in its first full week of availability, claiming the top debut on Hot Digital Songs.[17] It also marked Ludacris' fifth number one song. The song eventually dominated US airplay also, peaking at number one on the Pop Songs chart.[18] Cruz became the twelfth male artist to have his first solo single peak at the top of the chart, and was the fifth since October 2008, following Jay Sean, Jason Derülo, Iyaz, and B.o.B.[18]

Music video

Cruz and his love interest on a speedboat in the music video.

The original music video was filmed in Marbella, Spain in July 2009, including model Nadya Nepomnyashaya with new parts filmed in Miami, Florida in February 2010 to include Ludacris[19] resulting in two versions of the video.[20] The video features Cruz addressing his girlfriend at the beginning of the video, with him she will be heartbroken because he is a heartbreaker, and she is challenging him. Then scenes are shown in several venues, including walking through a city, a club, a beachfront party and a speedboat, and later in room. Ludacris' scenes for the U.S. video feature Cruz and Ludacris in a white concrete backdrop with a flashing light, and a club scene. When asked if an old-school Diddy was an influence on the video, Cruz said, "Probably on some kind of subconscious level. I just love supermodels, I love sunshine, and I love sports cars. And this time we also added a speedboat. So you go the four S’s in there."[4] In an interview with Rap-Up, when talking about the video portraying him as a heartbreaker, Cruz said, "No, not really. I suppose maybe 20%. It was more of just playing a character and having fun, just going out there and making a real cool, fun, cocky video. Not everyone has seen the whole plot of the video, but it’s actually myself and my girlfriend both going out with the intention of breaking everyone’s hearts."[21]

Track listing

UK CD single/digital maxi-single[22]
  1. "Break Your Heart" – 3:23
  2. "Break Your Heart" (Vito Benito FF radio remix) – 3:22
  3. "Break Your Heart" (Paul Thomas remix) – 7:41
  4. "Break Your Heart" (Cassette Club remix) – 7:22
UK iTunes single[23]
  1. "Break Your Heart" – 3:23
  2. "Break Your Heart" (Paul Thomas remix) – 7:41
U.S. iTunes single[6]
  1. "Break Your Heart" (featuring Ludacris) – 3:05

Credits and Personnel

Source[24]

Charts, certifications, and procession

Charts

Chart procession

Preceded by Canadian Hot 100 number-one single
May 08, 2010 – May 22, 2010 		Succeeded by
Preceded by U.S. Billboard Hot 100 number-one single
March 20, 2010 		Succeeded by
Preceded by U.S. Billboard Pop Songs number-one single
May 29, 2010 – June 12, 2010 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Swiss Music Charts
May 16, 2010 		Succeeded by
"Wavin' Flag" by K'naan
Preceded by UK Singles Chart number-one single
September 20, 2009 – October 04, 2009 		Succeeded by
"Oopsy Daisy" by Chipmunk featuring Dayo Olatunji
Preceded by UK R&B Chart number-one single
September 20, 2009 – October 04, 2009

Release history

Region Date Format Label
United Kingdom 13 September 2009[23] Digital download Island Records
14 September 2009[51] CD single
United States 2 February 2010[52] Mainstream and rhythmic airplay Mercury Records
25 February 2010[6] Digital download
United States 11 May 2010[53] Urban airplay Island Records

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Taio Cruz Talks Cheryl And Sugababes". MTV News UK. MTV Networks. 30 September 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  2. ^ "Interview With Fraser T Smith". HitQuarters. 22 March 2010. Retrieved 29 March 2010.
  3. ^ "ROKSTARR IN THE MAKING -TAIO CRUZ INTERVIEW BY PETE LEWIS". Blues and Soul. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
  4. ^ a b c Markovitz, Adam (3 March 2010). "Taio Cruz talks 'Break Your Heart', his new album and getting 'Dirty' with Ke$ha". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  5. ^ Bhansali, Akshay (19 March 2010). "Taio Cruz Talks Collaborating With Ludacris, Ke$ha". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
  6. ^ a b c "Break Your Heart (feat. Ludacris) - Single by Taio Cruz". iTunes Music Store. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  7. ^ "No Other One - Single by Taio Cruz". UK iTunes. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  8. ^ a b Sullivan, Caroline (15 September 2010). "Taio Cruz: Rokstarr". guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  9. ^ a b c d "Taio Cruz - 'Break Your Heart'". BBC Music. 12 September 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  10. ^ a b c Menachem, Michael (5 March 2010). "Taio Cruz featuring Ludacris, "Break Your Heart"". Billboard. MTV Networks. Retrieved 12 May 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help); Unknown parameter |1&Ne= ignored (help)
  11. ^ a b Ryan, Chris (12 March 2010). "The Buzz On Taio Cruz". MTV Buzzworthy. MTV Networks. Retrieved 12 May 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  12. ^ "Taio Cruz Break Your Heart - Digital Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. Alfred Publishing. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  13. ^ Draper, Jason (27 October 2009). "Taio Cruz - Rokstarr". Yahoo! Music UK. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  14. ^ Dosanjh, Ash (9 October 2009). "Album review: Taio Cruz - 'Rokstarr'". NME'. Retrieved 12 May 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  15. ^ a b "Taio Cruz". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
  16. ^ "Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris - Break Your Heart (song)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
  17. ^ a b c d Pietroluongo, Silvio (10 March 2010). "Taio Cruz Cruises To Record No. 1 Jump on Hot 100". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 30 May 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help); Unknown parameter |1&Ne= ignored (help)
  18. ^ a b Trust, Gary (18 May 2010). "Pop Songs: Where The Boys Are". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 30 May 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  19. ^ "Important Taio Cruz Dates". In4merz Magazine. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  20. ^ "Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris - Break Your Heart (version 2)". Clipland. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  21. ^ Upmalis, Jordan. "10 Questions for Taio Cruz". Rap-Up. {{cite web}}: Text "accessdate-2010-05-29" ignored (help)
  22. ^ "music: Break Your Heart (2009)". HMV. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  23. ^ a b "Break Your Heart - EP by Taio Cruz". UK iTunes. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  24. ^ Break Your Heart (Media notes). Island Records. 2009. {{cite AV media notes}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |artist= ignored (|others= suggested) (help)
  25. ^ "Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris – Break Your Heart". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2010-03-18..
  26. ^ "Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris – Break Your Heart" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2010-04-24..
  27. ^ "Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris – Break Your Heart" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2010-04-24..
  28. ^ "Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-03-13..
  29. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 10. týden 2010 in the date selector. Retrieved 2010-03-13..
  30. ^ "Taio Cruz – Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris". Tracklisten. Retrieved 2010-03-13..
  31. ^ "Taio Cruz – Chart Search" Billboard European Hot 100 Singles for Taio Cruz. Retrieved 2010-03-13.. [dead link]
  32. ^ "Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris: Break Your Heart" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 2010-03-13..
  33. ^ "Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris – Break Your Heart" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 2010-04-24..
  34. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  35. ^ "Chart Track: Week 38, 2009". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2010-03-13..
  36. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 22, 2010" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  37. ^ "Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris – Break Your Heart". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 2010-03-13..
  38. ^ "Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris – Break Your Heart". VG-lista. Retrieved 2010-03-13..
  39. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200945 into search. Retrieved 2010-03-13..
  40. ^ "Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris – Break Your Heart". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 2010-03-13..
  41. ^ "Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris – Break Your Heart". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2010-03-13..
  42. ^ "Taio Cruz: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2010-03-13..
  43. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2010-04-24..
  44. ^ "Taio Cruz Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-03-13..
  45. ^ "Taio Cruz Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-03-13..
  46. ^ "Taio Cruz Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-04-24..
  47. ^ "ARIA Charts — Accreditations – 2010 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
  48. ^ "Bundesverband Musikindustrie: Gold-/Platin-Datenbank". Media Control Charts (in German). Retrieved 11 August 2010.
  49. ^ "Swedish Singles Chart Veckolista Singlar - Vecka 6, 12 februari 2010". Sverigetopplistan (in Swedish). 23 March 2010. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
  50. ^ "Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
  51. ^ "Break Your Heart [Single]". amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  52. ^ "Top 40/R Future Releases". Allaccess. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  53. ^ "R&R Future Releases: Urban". Radio & Records. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
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