Breakaway (Kelly Clarkson song) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids "Breakaway" |
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| Single by Kelly Clarkson | ||||
| from the album The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement: Original Soundtrack and Breakaway | ||||
| Released | July 19, 2004 May 30, 2006 (reissue) |
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| Recorded | 2004; Henson Recording Studios (Hollywood) | |||
| Genre | Folk pop | |||
| Length | 3:57 | |||
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| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) | John Shanks | |||
| Kelly Clarkson singles chronology | ||||
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Breakaway is a popular song by American singer Kelly Clarkson. It was written by Matthew Gerrard, Bridget Benenate, and Avril Lavigne. The song was first meant for Avril Lavigne's album, Let Go, but it didn't quite fit.
So, the song was given to Kelly Clarkson. She recorded it for the movie The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. Kelly was also working on her second album at the time. "Breakaway" became so successful that she decided to name her whole album after it!
The song was first released by Walt Disney Records on July 19, 2004, as part of The Princess Diaries 2 soundtrack. Later, in May 2006, it was released again as the last song from Kelly Clarkson's album, Breakaway.
Music critics really liked "Breakaway." They felt connected to its message and simple words. The song uses acoustic guitars and light drums. Kelly Clarkson's strong voice blends perfectly with the music. The lyrics tell a story about a girl from a small town who follows her dreams to make her life better.
"Breakaway" became a big hit around the world. It reached the top 20 in many European countries. It also made it into the top 10 in Australia, Belgium, Hungary, and the Netherlands. In the United States, the song reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was her third song to reach the top ten there. It also stayed at number one on the US Adult Contemporary chart for a record-breaking 21 weeks. This record is now shared with Céline Dion's "A New Day Has Come" and Adele's "Hello".
Contents
The Story Behind "Breakaway"
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"Breakaway" was written in 2001 by Avril Lavigne, Bridget Benenate, and Matthew Gerrard. Bridget Benenate shared that Avril Lavigne wanted to write a song about her life. Matthew Gerrard started creating the music, and Bridget worked on the words. She wrote many versions of the lyrics to get them just right.
The song was first meant for Avril Lavigne's album, Let Go. But it didn't fit the album's style. So, it was offered to other artists. Eventually, Walt Disney Records chose it for The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement movie soundtrack.
Kelly Clarkson said she recorded "Breakaway" to give her fans new music while she finished her second album. But the song became so popular that she decided to include it on her album and even named the album Breakaway. Kelly felt the song was different from her other music. She said it was simple, and that's what made it beautiful. It showed off the gentle side of her voice, not just her powerful belting.
The song was officially sent to radio stations on July 20, 2004. Years later, in April 2014, Avril Lavigne's original demo version of the song appeared online.
What the Song Sounds Like
"Breakaway" is a folk pop song. It lasts for three minutes and fifty-seven seconds. The song is in the key of C major and has a fast tempo.
Critics praised the song. T.U. Dawood called it the best song on the album. He said it was "enchanting" and had a "gentle chorus" with "inspiring lyrics." Kelly Clarkson's voice covers a wide range in the song. Her vocals float over strummed guitars and light drums. This mix helps to highlight the song's inspiring message. The song mixes calm acoustic parts with a big, soaring pop chorus. Kelly's voice is strong but also controlled.
The words of the song are about growing up and moving forward in life. Natalie Nichols called "Breakaway" Kelly Clarkson's anthem. It's about a small-town girl chasing her dreams. Kelly herself said she could really relate to the song. She explained that it describes how she got into the music business. She grew up in a small town and wanted to find something different for herself. She felt like she didn't quite fit in at school. Kelly believes that many people can relate to feeling bored or wanting something more from their lives.
How "Breakaway" Did on the Music Charts
"Breakaway" first appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number sixty in August 2004. After ten weeks, it jumped into the top ten, becoming Kelly Clarkson's third song to do so. It reached its highest spot, number six, in November 2004. The song stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 for 46 weeks.
The song was certified gold in February 2005. This means it sold over 500,000 copies. "Breakaway" also did well on other US charts. It reached number two on the Pop Songs chart and number two on the Adult Pop Songs chart.
One of its biggest achievements was on the US Adult Contemporary chart. It reached number one in March 2005. It stayed at number one for 20 weeks in a row! Then, it returned to number one for a 21st week in August 2005. This tied the record with Céline Dion's "A New Day Has Come" for the longest time at number one by a female artist. "Breakaway" also holds the record for the longest-running number one song from a movie soundtrack on this chart. As of September 2017, "Breakaway" had sold over 2.1 million digital copies.
Outside the US, "Breakaway" was also very successful.
- In Australia, it reached number ten and was certified gold.
- In New Zealand, it peaked at number twelve.
- It reached number 22 in the United Kingdom and number twelve in Ireland.
- In Europe, it hit number six in Belgium, number eight in Austria, and number nine in the Netherlands.
The Music Video for "Breakaway"
The music video for "Breakaway" was directed by Dave Meyers. It was filmed in two days in July 2004. A younger version of Kelly Clarkson was played by Lindsey Krueger in the video.
Dave Meyers said working with Kelly was great because she was honest and real. He was a bit unsure at first because she came from American Idol. But he found her to be a genuine artist. Since the song was about Kelly's own life, she acted out many of the lyrics in the video.
The video also included scenes from The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. The director found a clever way to include these movie clips. He showed Kelly attending the movie's premiere, which was something she would do in real life.
The video starts with a young Kelly in a car. She sees her family arguing. Then, the video switches to the present day. Kelly Clarkson arrives on a red carpet for the movie premiere. She poses for photos and then goes inside to watch the film.
Later, we see young Kelly sitting on her rooftop, looking at her neighborhood as a plane flies by. The video then shows older Kelly watching the movie on her laptop while on a plane. She also remembers her old job working at a movie theater, singing with her co-workers. Other scenes show Kelly singing with her band at a backyard party. These scenes are mixed with clips from the movie and shots of her family waving goodbye. The video ends with young Kelly praying by her bed.
Critics liked how the video showed the song's main idea. It was about a girl following her dreams. This theme connected the song, the movie, and Kelly's own life story.
Live Performances of "Breakaway"
Kelly Clarkson first performed "Breakaway" on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in August 2004. She also sang it on Saturday Night Live in February 2005 and The Oprah Winfrey Show in September 2005.
During her Breakaway World Tour, Kelly would sing "Breakaway" and sign autographs for fans. She would let the crowd sing the chorus loudly. The song was also part of her 2009 All I Ever Wanted Tour. Critics praised her powerful voice during these performances. In 2012, she performed "Breakaway" as an encore on her Stronger Tour. She told the audience that the song was why people started supporting her.
In 2019, Avril Lavigne also performed "Breakaway" live during her Head Above Water Tour. This was the first time she had ever sung the song live.
Other Artists and Uses in Media
"Breakaway" has been sung by many contestants on TV singing shows.
- Katie Stevens sang it on American Idol season nine. The judges felt her performance wasn't her best.
- Julie Zorrilla also sang it on American Idol season ten.
- The English pop group Belle Amie performed "Breakaway" on The X Factor season seven.
- Megan Hilty sang the song on the TV show Smash in 2012.
- Characters from the musical series Glee also covered the song in 2014.
- For American Idol season thirteen, a cover of "Breakaway" was played when a contestant was voted off the show.
The song has also been used in movies and TV shows:
- It was featured in the trailer for the movie The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.
- It was used in the Brazilian soap opera Malhação.
- It appeared in a 2020 episode of the TV show Little America.
Song Versions
Here are some different versions of the "Breakaway" single:
- US CD single (Walt Disney Records release)
- "Breakaway" (Album Version) – 3:58
- "Breakaway" (Callout Hook) – 0:35
- Australian CD single (Walt Disney Records release)
- "Breakaway" – 3:58
- "Because of You" (Live) – 3:45
- Digital download/CD single (RCA Records reissue)
- "Breakaway" – 3:58
- "Breakaway" (Napster Live) – 4:17
People Who Made the Song
- Recording
- Recorded by Jeff Rothschild at Henson Recording Studios, Hollywood, California.
- Personnel
- Kelly Clarkson – lead vocals, background vocals, and piano
- Avril Lavigne – writer
- Bridget Benenate – writer
- Jeff Rothschild – drums, mixing
- John Shanks – bass, guitar, keyboard, mixing, producer
- Matthew Gerrard – writer
Credits are from the Breakaway album notes.
Charts
Weekly Charts
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Year-end Charts
Decade-end Charts
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Certifications
| Region | Certification | Sales |
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| Australia (ARIA) | Gold | 35,000^ |
| Canada (Music Canada) | Gold | 40,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Silver | 200,000^ |
| United States (RIAA) | Gold | 2,128,000^ |
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*sales figures based on certification alone |
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See also
In Spanish: Breakaway (canción de Kelly Clarkson) para niños
