When I Start To (Break It All Down) Explained

When I Start To (Break It All Down)
Cover:Erasure When I Start To (Break It All Down) Single 2011.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Erasure
Album:Tomorrow's World
B-Side:Tomorrow's World
Released:23 September 2011
Genre:
Length:3:34
Label:Mute
Producer:Frankmusik
Prev Title:A Little Respect
Prev Year:2010
Prev Version:HMI Redux
Next Title:Be with You
Next Year:2011

"When I Start To (Break It All Down)" is a song by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released in 2011 as the lead single from their fourteenth studio album Tomorrow's World.[1] The song was written by Andy Bell and Vince Clarke, and produced by Frankmusik.

"When I Start To (Break It All Down)" reached number 172 in the UK Singles Chart in October 2011.[2] It was Erasure's first eligible single (discounting remixed versions of hit singles) since their formation in 1985 not to reach the UK top 100. In November 2011, the song peaked at number 25 on the US Billboard Dance/Club Play Songs chart.[3]

Background

"When I Start To (Break It All Down)" had the demo title "Tender" as it was loosely based on Elvis Presley's "Love Me Tender". Clarke described the finished track as "sound[ing] like Tears for Fears".[4]

Release

"You've Got to Save Me Right Now" was originally due to be the first single from Tomorrow's World until "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" replaced it at short notice. Bell stated, "Usually we don't choose the singles, you kind of have an instinctive feeling sometimes. In this instance, "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" took over from "Save Me" because we thought the song had gone in the direction that sounded really good."[4]

Prior to its release as a single on 23 September 2011,[5] the song received its first play on BBC Radio 2 on 15 August.[6]

Nine remixes were created for the track, not including the album, radio edit and single versions. Four of the remixes were created by the House music duo Steve Smart & Westfunk, three remixes by German DJ/producer Kris Menace, one by Little Loud and one by Frankmusik.[7] The B-side "Tomorrow's World" is an instrumental track, exclusive to the single and written by Richard Denton and Martin Cook. The track was originally recorded in 1980 as the theme for the BBC TV series of the same name.[8]

Music video

Mute Records released a live video clip as the song's official music video. This clip used footage filmed during the duo's Total Pop Tour in the summer of 2011, with much of the footage coming from the first of two Dublin gigs played in June 2011. The video premiered on YouTube on 18 November 2011.[9] In addition, an official rehearsal video was uploaded onto YouTube in early September, featuring the duo in London rehearsing the song prior to the Tomorrow's World tour.[10]

Critical reception

In a review of Tomorrow's World, David Jeffries of AllMusic commented, "Fans get to experience Vince Clarke's fingerprints on 'Fill Us with Fire' and 'When I Start To (Break It All Down),' as the recent reunion of his Yaz project is reflected in the nocturnal synth pop and soul muscle driving these highlights."[11]

Track listing

CD single (UK and Europe)

  1. "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" – 3:34
  2. "Tomorrow's World" – 4:18
  3. "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" (Steve Smart & Westfunk Main Room Mix Edit) – 4:23
  4. "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" (Kris Menace Remix) – 5:24
  5. "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" (Little Loud Remix) – 4:36

CD promotional single (Europe)

  1. "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" (Single Version) – 3:33
  2. "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" (Steve Smart & Westfunk Main Room Radio Edit) – 4:04

CD promotional single (UK)

  1. "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" (Radio Version) – 3:45

CD promotional single (Greece)

  1. "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" (Single Version) – 3:34
  2. "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" (Album Version) – 3:45
  3. "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" (Steve Smart & Westfunk Main Room Radio Edit) – 4:02
  4. "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" (Steve Smart & Westfunk Main Room Edit) – 4:20
  5. "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" (Steve Smart & Westfunk Club Mix) – 6:19
  6. "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" (Steve Smart & Westfunk Main Room Dub Mix) – 6:19
  7. "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" (Kris Menace Club Remix) – 5:12
  8. "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" (Kris Menace Remix) – 5:23

CD promotional single (US)

  1. "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" (Steve Smart & Westfunk Main Room Edit) – 4:21
  2. "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" (Steve Smart & Westfunk Club Mix) – 6:19
  3. "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" (Steve Smart & Westfunk Main Room Dub) – 6:19
  4. "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" (Kris Menace Remix) – 5:12
  5. "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" (Kris Menace Club Remix) – 5:23
  6. "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" (Little Loud Remix) – 4:34

CD promotional single (UK)

  1. "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" (Radio Edit) – 3:35
  2. "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" (Album Version) – 3:45
  3. "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" (Steve Smart & Westfunk Edit) – 4:20
  4. "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" (Steve Smart & Westfunk Mix) – 6:18
  5. "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" (Steve Smart & Westfunk Dub) – 6:18
  6. "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" (Kris Menace Remix) – 5:11
  7. "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" (Kris Menace Club Remix) – 5:22
  8. "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" (Kris Menace Instrumental) – 3:31
  9. "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" (Little Loud Remix) – 4:36
  10. "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" (Frankmusik Remix) – 4:58
  11. "Tomorrow's World" – 4:15

Personnel

Charts

Chart (2011)Peak
position
UK Singles Chart172
US Billboard Dance/Club Play Songs Chart25

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Erasure - When I Start To (Break It All Down) at Discogs . Discogs.com . 2012-04-18 . 2012-06-10.
  2. Web site: CHART: CLUK Update - CHART LOG UK: NEW ENTRIES UPDATE . zobbel.de . 8 October 2011 . 25 March 2022.
  3. Web site: [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=erasure|chart=Dance/Club Play Songs}} Erasure Music News & Info ]. Billboard.com . 2012-06-10.
  4. Web site: ERASURE - Tomorrow's World [Short Film |publisher=YouTube |access-date=2012-06-10].
  5. Web site: iTunes - Music - When I Start To (Break It All Down) [Remixes] - EP by Erasure |publisher=Itunes.apple.com |date=2011-09-23 |access-date=2012-06-10].
  6. Web site: Latest Erasure News . Erasureinfo.com . 2011-08-14 . 2012-06-10.
  7. Web site: Erasure - When I Start To (Break It All Down) at Discogs . Discogs.com . 2012-04-18 . 2012-06-10.
  8. Web site: Richard Denton And Martin Cook* - Tomorrow's World (Vinyl) at Discogs . Discogs.com . 2012-04-05 . 2012-06-10.
  9. Web site: Erasure - When I Start to (Break It All Down) (Official Video) . YouTube.
  10. Web site: ERASURE - When I Start To (Break It All Down) [Rehearsal Video |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-09-09 |access-date=2012-06-10].
  11. Web site: Jeffries . David . Tomorrow's World - Erasure : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards . AllMusic . 2011-10-04 . 2012-06-10.

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