Break My Stride Explained

Break My Stride
Cover:Matthew Wilder - Break My Stride.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Matthew Wilder
Album:I Don't Speak the Language
B-Side:Break My Stride (instrumental)
Released:July 1, 1983
Recorded:1983
Genre:
Length:3:04
Label:Private-I
Producer:
  • Peter Bunetta
  • Rick Chudacoff
  • Bill Elliot
Next Title:The Kid's American
Next Year:1984

"Break My Stride" is a song performed by American recording artist Matthew Wilder. It was released in August 1983 as the lead single from his debut album, I Don't Speak the Language, and became a major worldwide hit single for him in late 1983 and spring 1984, reaching number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Cash Box Top 100.

The song has been covered by many artists throughout the years, including Unique II in 1996 and Blue Lagoon in 2004 (whose versions both charted highly in various places) and, in interpolations, Puff Daddy with his 1997 hit "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down" and Aaron Carter on the song "Stride (Jump on the Fizzy)" from his 2001 album Oh Aaron. In 2009, it was interpolated by Matisyahu in the song "Jerusalem".

Composition

Industry executive Clive Davis signed Wilder to Arista Records in 1981 or 1982, but Wilder was not getting the results he or the producers wanted with finding the style of music that worked for him. Poor and near the end of a frustrating period with the record label, he self-financed the recording of "Break My Stride" in the early hours of the morning at the studio of producer Spencer Proffer. "My relationship with Clive Davis was precisely the impetus for my writing the song. There are lyrics in there that are indirectly referring to the circumstances that were governing my life at that point," said Wilder. They threw a party after the recording, and had the music production team sing the chorus, which can be heard at the end of the song. However, Davis did not see potential in the song or any of the others, and his label let Wilder go. Since Arista had not paid Wilder for any of the songs, he was free to shop them around.

Wilder managed to connect with record promoter Joe Isgro, who had a history of doing legally questionable things to promote and chart certain songs. Isgro released "Break My Stride" off his new record label, Private-I, and created the illusion that it was a massive hit, prompting other radio stations to start playing the song, and propelling Wilder's single into the top 5 of the US Billboard charts.[4]

In musical notation, "Break My Stride" is written in the key of E-flat major with a tempo of 108 beats per minute. The song shifts to F major for the first two choruses and then G major for the final chorus.[5]

Matthew Wilder version

Personnel

Track listings

7" single
  1. "Break My Stride" – 3:05
  2. "Break My Stride" (instrumental) – 3:05
12" single[6]
  1. "Break My Stride" (Extended Mix) – 5:10
  2. "Break My Stride" (Dub Version) – 4:02

Chart performance

Included on his 1983 album, I Speak the Language, the single went to number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number four in the UK in January/February 1984. On the US Cash Box chart, Wilder's single reached the number two position, where it remained for two weeks in early February.

A remix version reached the top 20 on the dance chart, and the song additionally hit the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart, staying there for four weeks. Though "Break My Stride" was Wilder's only UK hit, he also reached the US pop chart with his next two singles, "The Kid's American" (no. 33) and "Bouncing Off the Walls" (no. 52), before turning to behind-the-scenes work on other artists' recordings.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1983–1984)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[7] 6
Austrian Singles Chart[8] 8
Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart[9] 3
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[10] 5
Dutch Singles Chart[11] 5
Irish Singles Chart[12] 3
New Zealand Singles Chart[13] 3
Norwegian Singles Chart[14] 1
South African Singles Chart4
Swedish Singles Chart[15] 14
Swiss Singles Chart[16] 22
UK Singles Chart[17] 4
US Billboard Hot 100[18] 5
US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary[19] 4
US Billboard Hot Black Singles[20] 76
US Billboard Dance/Disco Top 80[21] 17
US Cash Box Top 100[22] 2

Year-end charts

Chart (1984)Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[23] [24] 37
Canada[25] 41
New Zealand[26] 42
South Africa[27] 18
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[28] 27
U.S. Cash Box[29] 28

Certifications

Unique II version

Break My Stride
Cover:Break_my_stride_(Unique_II).jpg
Type:single
Artist:Unique II
Album:Level II
Released:August 23, 1996
Genre:Dance
Length:3:10
Label:Dance Pool
Producer:Unique II
Prev Title:Do What You Please
Prev Year:1996
Next Title:For Tonight
Next Year:1996

In 1996, Austrian duo Unique II had its most successful hit by covering "Break My Stride". This version of the song was the first international success for the band, peaking at number one in Austria and New Zealand, as well as number two in Australia. The single also charted in Ireland, Italy, Canada, and Scandinavia.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Yep, this is a dance-leaning cover of the Matthew Wilder '80s pop chestnut. It has already saturated radio airwaves throughout Europe, with a number of programmers here already giving it positive feedback. Highly videogenic Viennese songbird Jade Davies chirps her way through the track's Ace of Base-like reggae-inflected groove with engaging energy. She'll have little to no trouble successfully carrying this one into the hearts of folks who prefer familiarity over adventure."[30] Australian music channel Max placed the song at number 903 on their list of the "1000 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2013.[31]

Chart performance

"Break My Stride" peaked at number-one in Austria and New Zealand. It also entered the top 10 in Australia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, and Ireland. On the Eurochart Hot 100, it peaked at number 33 in September 1996. "Break My Stride" was also a hit in Israel, where it peaked at number six, and in Canada, reaching number 18 on the RPM 100 Hit Tracks and number 19 on the RPM Dance chart. The single was awarded with a platinum record in Australia and Austria. In 2002, a new remix of the song peaked at number 55 in Austria.

Track listings

CD maxi

  1. "Break My Stride" (FM Track) – 3:16
  2. "Break My Stride" (Prolongation) – 4:57
  3. "Break My Stride" (Native Track) – 5:14

CD maxi — The Remixes

  1. "Break My Stride" (Marc McCan edit) – 5:38
  2. "Break My Stride" (Next Level edit) – 4:37
  3. "Break My Stride" (radio edit) – 3:16

CD maxi — Re-Work 2002

  1. "Break My Stride" (Panamericana radio edit) – 2:50
  2. "Break My Stride" (extended version) – 4:57
  3. "Break My Stride" (Big club mix) – 4:20
  4. "Break My Stride" (original) – 3:16

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1996–1997)Peak
position
Czech Republic (IFPI CR)[32] 3
Denmark (IFPI)[33] 9
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[34] 33

Year-end charts

Chart (1997)Position
Australia (ARIA)[36] 10
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[37] 20

Certifications

Blue Lagoon version

Break My Stride
Cover:Break_my_stride.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Blue Lagoon
Album:Club Lagoon
B-Side:Love Is the Key
Released:August 9, 2004
Length:3:04
Label:
Producer:Felix J. Gauder
Next Title:Do You Really Want to Hurt Me
Next Year:2005

In 2004, "Break My Stride" was covered by German band Blue Lagoon and became a hit in several European countries, including Austria, Germany, Sweden and Denmark, where it reached the top ten.

Track listings

CD single

  1. "Break My Stride" (radio edit) – 3:04
  2. "Break My Stride" (extended version) – 5:10
  3. "Love Is the Key" – 3:27

CD maxi

  1. "Break My Stride" (radio edit) – 3:01
  2. "Break My Stride" (extended version) – 5:08
  3. "Love Is the Key" – 3:26
  4. "Break My Stride" (a capella reprise) – 1:05
  5. "Break My Stride" (video)

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (2004)Position
Austrian Singles Chart[39] 75
German Singles Chart[40] 16

Certifications

In popular culture

The song serves as the closing credits music for the 2011 film Cedar Rapids.[41] It was featured in a 2012 television commercial for State Insurance of New Zealand.[42] In 2019, it was featured in a U.S. television commercial for Santander Bank.[43]

The song gained more notoriety in 2020 on TikTok, as it was frequently used in TikTok videos – where users would text their friends the lyrics of the song. Matthew Wilder was thrilled at these memes, saying that the results are often bizarre but hilarious.[44] Afterwards, Wilder posted an official lyric video that featured text messages of the song's lyrics.[45]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Got To Keep On Movin': How Matthew Wilder's '80s Deep Cut "Break My Stride" Broke TikTok. Brodsky. Rachel. 2020-02-11. 2024-01-14.
  2. Web site: The TikTok Revival of Matthew Wilder’s 1983 Hit ‘Break My Stride’ Is Just the Latest Turn in His Unpredictable Career. Lyons. Patrick. 2020-02-18. 2024-01-14.
  3. Book: Breihan, Tom. Puff Daddy - "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down" (Featuring Mase). November 15, 2022. The Number Ones: Twenty Chart-Topping Hits That Reveal the History of Pop Music. Hachette Book Group. New York. 227.
  4. Web site: Matthew Wilder – "Break My Stride". Pollock. Bruce. October 19, 2012. Songfacts. February 18, 2021.
  5. https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0122515
  6. Web site: Discogs.com – Matthew Wilder "Break My Stride" 12". Discogs. 1983 . March 25, 2017.
  7. Web site: Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 Singles 1984 . Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien . December 31, 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161231075129/http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=27161&pages=2 . December 31, 2016 .
  8. "Break My Stride", Austrian Singles Chart Web site: Matthew Wilder – Break My Stride – austriancharts.at . July 20, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090422191116/http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Matthew%20Wilder&titel=Break%20My%20Stride&cat=s . April 22, 2009 . (Retrieved July 20, 2008)
  9. Web site: Matthew Wilder – Break My Stride. ultratop.be.
  10. Web site: Top Singles – Volume 39, No. 24. RPM) . February 18, 1984. June 13, 2017.
  11. "Break My Stride", Dutch Singles Chart Web site: Dutchcharts.nl – Matthew Wilder – Break My Stride . July 27, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110927201019/http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Matthew%20Wilder&titel=Break%20My%20Stride&cat=s . September 27, 2011 . (Retrieved July 27, 2011)
  12. Web site: Archived copy . August 30, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120208042331/http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement?page=2 . February 8, 2012 . dead .
  13. "Break My Stride", New Zealand Singles Chart Web site: Archived copy . July 27, 2011 . (Retrieved July 27, 2011)
  14. "Break My Stride", Norwegian Singles Chart Web site: Norwegiancharts.com – Matthew Wilder – Break My Stride . July 20, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090422065627/http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Matthew+Wilder&titel=Break+My+Stride&cat=s . April 22, 2009 . (Retrieved July 20, 2008)
  15. "Break My Stride", Swedish Singles Chart http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Matthew+Wilder&titel=Break+My+Stride&cat=s (Retrieved July 20, 2008)
  16. "Break My Stride", Swiss Singles Chart Web site: Matthew Wilder – Break My Stride – hitparade.ch . July 20, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121110072301/http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Matthew+Wilder&titel=Break+My+Stride&cat=s . November 10, 2012 . (Retrieved July 20, 2008)
  17. "Break My Stride", UK Singles Chart Web site: Archived copy . June 25, 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081012195559/http://www.everyhit.com/searchsec.php . October 12, 2008 . (Retrieved July 20, 2008)
  18. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=matthew wilder|chart=all}} Matthew Wilder – Chart History ]. . February 4, 2013.
  19. "Break My Stride", US Hot AC http://www.billboard.com/charts/1984-01-07/adult-contemporary (Retrieved July 20, 2008)
  20. "Break My Stride", US Hot Black Singles http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=367&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Hot+R%26amp%3BB%2FHip-Hop+Songs&ci=3000003&cdi=6000308&cid=11%2F26%2F1983 (Retrieved July 20, 2008)
  21. "Break My Stride", US Hot Dance http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=359&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Hot+Dance+Club+Play&ci=3003534&cdi=6141435&cid=03%2F03%2F1984 (Retrieved July 20, 2008)
  22. CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending January 28, 1984 . . dead . October 1, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121001104422/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19840128.html.
  23. Web site: Kent Music Report No 548 – 31 December 1984 > National Top 100 Singles for 1984. Kent Music Report. Imgur.com. January 23, 2023.
  24. Web site: Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts – 1984 . BigKev . Australian-charts.com . Hung Medien . January 30, 2017 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170516171201/http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=27161&pages=2 . May 16, 2017 .
  25. Web site: Top 100 Singles of 1984 – Volume 41, No. 17, January 05 1985 . . . July 14, 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160509051421/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.9638&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062 . May 9, 2016 . dmy-all .
  26. Web site: End of Year Charts 1984 . . July 17, 2017 .
  27. Web site: Top 20 Hit Singles of 1984. December 26, 2018.
  28. Web site: Top 100 Hits of 1984/Top 100 Songs of 1984. musicoutfitters.com.
  29. Web site: Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles . https://web.archive.org/web/20120930234839/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1984YESP.html . Cash Box . December 31, 1984 . September 30, 2012 . July 14, 2018.
  30. Billboard: Single Reviews. Billboard. January 24, 2018.
  31. Web site: THE TOP 1,000 GREATEST SONGS OF ALL TIME – 2013 . . 2013 . April 26, 2020 . March 1, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190301111911/https://www.maxtv.com.au/max-the-top-1000-greatest-songs-of-all-time . dead .
  32. Top National Sellers. Music & Media. 14. 15. 15. April 12, 1997. March 5, 2018.
  33. Top National Sellers. Music & Media. 13. 46. 22. November 16, 1996. March 5, 2018.
  34. Eurochart Hot 100. Music & Media. 13. 39. 20. September 28, 1996. March 5, 2018.
  35. Web site: Jahreshitparade Singles 1996. de. December 24, 2023.
  36. Web site: ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1997. ARIA. December 24, 2023.
  37. Web site: End of Year Charts 1997. Recorded Music NZ. December 4, 2017.
  38. Web site: OLiS – oficjalna lista airplay. OLiS. pl. July 15, 2024. Select week 06.07.2024–12.07.2024..
  39. 2004 Austrian Singles Chart Austriancharts.at (Retrieved July 20, 2008)
  40. Web site: Single Jahrescharts 2004 . MTV . de . January 16, 2010 . February 6, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130206153344/http://www.mtv.de/musikvideos_artist/6514-matthew-wilder . dead .
  41. Web site: Cedar Rapids (2011) Soundtrack . . 2011 . May 28, 2020.
  42. Web site: State Insurance – Ain't Nothing Gonna Break My Stride . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/8nTeTPZ8RzE . December 19, 2021 . live. The Coopers – Sound Design . 2012 . August 17, 2019 . YouTube.
  43. Web site: The Marathon: Santander Bank :60 . Santander Bank . 2019 . August 17, 2019 . YouTube.
  44. News: Savage. Mark. Break My Stride singer 'thrilled' by TikTok revival. January 30, 2020. BBC News. February 15, 2020.
  45. News: Deville . Chris . "Break My Stride" Singer Matthew Wilder Is Making The Most His Surprise TikTok Celebrity . February 11, 2020 . Stereogum . January 29, 2020.

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