"Break Free" is the second single and fifth track from Ariana Grande's sophomore album, My Everything. It features Zedd. The song was released through Republic Records, on July 2, 2014,
The song peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming her third highest-peaking single (alongside "No Tears Left To Cry"), and third as a lead artist, as well as a commercial success. The music video was released on August 12, 2014.
Background
Zedd was at the backstage in the Universal Records showcase when he heard Grande sing. At the time, he didn't know who it was but he wanted to work with whoever's voice it was.
Grande first confirmed she had recorded a song with Zedd in an interview with Billboard on April 28, 2014. She then talked about "Break Free" at the 2014 Wango Tango and stated that she wanted the song to be the next single.[1][2][3] Throughout the month of June, Grande hinted about her second single but did not reveal that it was the collaboration with Zedd until June 21 where she also revealed the title of the track, "Break Free."[4] On June 22, 2014, she started a ten-day online countdown to the release of the song where she officially confirmed that Zedd would be a featured artist on the track.[5]
Music video
The music video was filmed from June 10, 2014 to June 12, 2014.[6] Grande began hinting at the video by posting photos of aliens and space. She later revealed that the video was inspired by the 1968 science fiction film Barbarella, Star Wars, and space in general. It was released on August 12, 2014, on Grande's Vevo channel. In the video, Grande fights aliens who are trying to capture her and frees the caged hostages. She also puts on lipstick in the form of a lightsaber, shoots rockets out of her chest, and floats around in zero gravity. Zedd, the credited featuring producer of the track also made a feature in the video.
Trivia
- This song was originally intended for Austin Mahone as a ballad. The lyrics were a little bit different.
- After Zedd heard Grande at the Universal event, a couple weeks ago, Max Martin called him and he's like, "Hey, I am in the studio with Ariana. Remember that song we made together? Could you imagine making it for her? You’d have to transpose the song to her key, change a couple of lyrics around." Then Zedd was like "Yeah, I actually really want to work with her."
- Zedd and Grande didn't actually meet until the 2014 Wango Tango after the song was finished.
- Grande said she doesn't get the context of the lyrics.
- At concerts, Grande often adds "Said", before the line "I only wanna die alive".
- Grande premiered the song on a TV special titled "Total Ariana Live"
- Jai Brooks was on the set of the music video.
- According to Billboard, "Break Free" is one of her favorite modern hymns in favor of the LGBTIQ community of 2013+.
- The music video of the song was inspired by 'Star Wars' and 'Barbarella'.
- "Break Free" is featured on Ubisoft's dance game Just Dance 2015 as a free downloadable bonus content.
Videos
Gallery
“deep breaths, tight chest, life, death” To view the Break Free gallery, click here.
|
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
If you want it, take it
I should've said it before
Tried to hide it, fake it
I can't pretend anymore
[Pre-Chorus]
I only wanna die alive
Never by the hands of a broken heart
I don't wanna hear you lie tonight
Now that I've become who I really are
[Chorus]
This is the part when I say I don't want ya
I'm stronger than I've been before
This is the part when I break free
Cause I can't resist it no more
This is the part when I say I don't want ya
I'm stronger than I've been before
This is the part when I break free
Cause I can't resist it no more
[Verse 2]
You were better, deeper
I was under your spell, yeah
Like a deadly fever yeah, babe
On the highway to hell
[Pre-Chorus]
I only wanna die alive
Never by the hands of a broken heart
I don't wanna hear you lie tonight
Now that I've become who I really are
[Chorus]
This is the part when I say I don't want ya
I'm stronger than I've been before
This is the part when I break free
Cause I can't resist it no more
This is the part when I say I don't want ya
I'm stronger than I've been before
This is the part when I break free
Cause I can't resist it no more
[Bridge]
Thought of your body, I came alive
It was lethal, it was fatal
In my dreams it felt so right
But I woke up every time, oh baby
[Chorus]
This is the part when I say I don't want ya
I'm stronger than I've been before
This is the part when I break free
Cause I can't resist it no more
This is the part when I say I don't want ya
I'm stronger than I've been before
This is the part when I break free
Cause I can't resist it no more
References
| My Everything | |
|---|---|
| August 22, 2014 • 40:31 • Republic Records | |
| Songs | |
| Released | Bang Bang • Be My Baby • Best Mistake • Break Free • Break Your Heart Right Back • Cadillac Song • Hands On Me • Intro • Just A Little Bit Of Your Heart • Love Me Harder • My Everything • One Last Time • Only 1 • Problem • Too Close • Why Try • You Don't Know Me |
| Unreleased | Ain't About What You Got • In The Morning • Lighter • Not Afraid of Love • Nothing Lasts Forever • Ridiculous • The Way It Is |
| Artists | |
| Ariana Grande • A$AP Ferg • Big Sean • Cashmere Cat • Childish Gambino • Iggy Azalea • Jessie J • Miley Cyrus • Nicki Minaj • The Weeknd • Tori Kelly • Zedd | |
| Tour | |
| The Honeymoon Tour | |