Breakeven (song) explained

Breakeven
Cover:	Breakeven TS The Script.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	The Script
Album:	The Script
B-Side:	None the Wiser
Released:	24 November 2008
Recorded:	2008
Genre:	Pop rock
Length:	4:21
Label:	Sony Music
Prev Title:	The Man Who Can't Be Moved
Prev Year:	2008
Next Title:	Talk You Down
Next Year:	2009

"Breakeven", also titled "Breakeven (Falling to Pieces)" is a song by the Irish pop rock band The Script. It was released on 24 November 2008 as the third single from their first album, The Script (2008). The song peaked at number 10 in Ireland, number 21 in the United Kingdom, number 12 in the United States Billboard Hot 100 and number 3 in Australia.

Composition

According to Musicnotes, "Breakeven" is in the key of B♭ Major with a tempo of 88 beats per minute.^[1]

Music video

The music video premiered on BBC Radio 1's website on 29 September 2008.^[2] It was recorded at the Great South Wall in Dublin. Before recording began, the Dublin radio station FM104 had a competition for a listener to appear in the music video. The music video shows clips of the band's home city of Dublin, Ireland and the band performing.

The video almost created minor controversy when Danny O'Donoghue's ex-girlfriend was supposed to be cast as an extra but this was avoided when the producers chose a different girl.^[3] The video was number 2 on the 2010 VH1's Top 40 Videos of the Year.

Live performances

• The band performed "Breakeven" on an episode of The Paul O'Grady Show which was shown on 30 October 2008.
• As a support act for U2 on the third concert of their 360° Tour at Croke Park, the band included this song in their set.^[4]
• On 14 October 2009, they performed the song on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in the United States.^[5]

Track listing

• CD single^[6]

1. "Breakeven" - 4:21
2. "None the Wiser" (Guardian Demo)

• German CD single^[7]

1. "Breakeven" - 4:21
2. "Lose Yourself" (Radio 1 Live Lounge Session)

• German Maxi single^[8]

1. "Breakeven" - 4:21
2. "None the Wiser" (Guardian Demo)
3. "Lose Yourself" (Radio 1 Live Lounge Session)
4. "Breakeven" (Music Video) - 4:15

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (2009)	Position
Australia (ARIA)^[11]	24
UK Singles (OCC)^[12]	129

Chart (2010)	Position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)^[13]	62
US Billboard Hot 100^[14]	27
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[15]	9
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)^[16]	2
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)^[17]	21

All-time charts

Cover versions

On 19 November 2012, Samantha Jade performed "Breakeven" during The X Factor Australia series four grand final performance show.^[20] Her performance of the song debuted at number 87 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart.^[21] On 25 August 2013, Jade and The X Factor Indonesia series one runner-up Novita Dewi released a cover version of "Breakeven" on the iTunes Store through Sony Music Australia.^[22]

Canadian singer Tate McRae performed a cover of the song during her North American tour in March - April 2022.^[23]

See also

• List of Billboard Adult Contemporary number ones of 2010

Notes and References

1. Web site: Daniel. O'Donoghue. Mark. Sheehan. Will. Adams. James. Barry. Script. The. will.i.am. 28 November 2008. Breakeven. 9 June 2021. Musicnotes.com.
2. Web site: The Script . The Script . 29 September 2008 . 1 May 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090903031329/http://www.thescriptmusic.com/gb/news_and_diary/news/breakeven_the_video/ . 3 September 2009 . dead.
3. Web site: Breakeven video shoot . Daily Star . 23 November 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110708070359/http://thescriptmusic.blogspot.com/2008/09/breakeven-video-shoot-daily-star.html . 8 July 2011 .
4. Web site: The Script Setlist. Setlist.fm. 11 July 2013.
5. http://www.thetunemusic.com/2009/10/video-script-breakeven-live-on-ellen.html The Script - Breakeven: Live on Ellen
6. Web site: Breakeven by The Script . amazon.co.uk.
7. Web site: Breakeven by The Script . amazon.co.uk.
8. Web site: Breakeven by the Script . amazon.co.uk.
9. Web site: Philippines Hot 100 - Billboard Philippines. Billboard Philippines. 3 July 2024. 29 November 2024.
10. Web site: 2008 Year-End UK Charts. UK Charts Plus. 16 May 2020.
11. Web site: ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2009. ARIA. 7 November 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120126102330/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-singles-2009.htm. 26 January 2012.
12. Web site: Charts Plus Year end 2009. UK Charts Plus. 19 July 2010.
13. Web site: Year-End Charts: Canadian Hot 100 (2010). Billboard. 2 May 2010.
14. Web site: Year-End Charts: Hot 100 Songs (2010). Billboard. 29 November 2024.
15. Web site: Year-End Charts: Adult Contemporary Songs (2010). Billboard. 29 November 2024.
16. Web site: Year-End Charts: Adult Pop Songs (2010). Billboard. 29 November 2024.
17. Web site: Year-End Charts: Pop Songs (2010). Billboard. 29 November 2024.
18. Web site: Year-End Charts: Adult Contemporary Songs (2011). Billboard. 29 November 2024.
19. Web site: Greatest of All Time: Adult Pop Songs. Billboard. 29 November 2024.
20. Web site: The X Factor Grand Final Song List! . . . https://web.archive.org/web/20121130125459/http://au.tv.yahoo.com/x-factor/news/article/-/15416644/grand-final-song-list/ . 30 November 2012 . dead.
21. Web site: Ryan . Gavin . Macklemore and Ryan Lewis Spend Third Week Atop ARIA Chart . Noise11. Noise Network . 16 December 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121220112700/http://www.noise11.com/news/macklemore-and-ryan-lewis-spend-third-week-atop-aria-chart-20121216 . 20 December 2012 . dead.
22. Web site: Breakeven – Single by Novita Dewi & Samantha Jade. iTunes Store (Australia). Apple. 23 November 2014.
23. Web site: Tate McRae Sells Out Two Nights At Irving Plaza. NYS Music. Ambika. Verna. 3 April 2022. 2 December 2022.