Breakeven (song)

"Breakeven"
Single by The Script
from the album The Script
B-side"None the Wiser"
Released24 November 2008
Recorded2008
GenrePop rock
Length4:21
LabelSony Music
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Andrew Frampton
  • Steve Kipner
The Script singles chronology
"The Man Who Can't Be Moved"
(2008) 		"Breakeven"
(2008) 		"Talk You Down"
(2009)
Audio sample

"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

  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

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[39] 5× Platinum 350,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[40] Platinum 90,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[41] Gold 25,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[42] 3× Platinum 1,800,000‡
United States (RIAA)[44] 2× Platinum 2,709,000[43]
Streaming
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[45] Gold 900,000†

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

On 19 November 2012, Samantha Jade performed "Breakeven" during The X Factor Australia series four grand final performance show.[46] Her performance of the song debuted at number 87 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart.[47] 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.[48]

Canadian singer Tate McRae performed a cover of the song during her North American tour in March–April 2022.[49]

References

  1. ^ Daniel, O'Donoghue; Mark, Sheehan; Will, Adams; James, Barry; Script, The; will.i.am (28 November 2008). "Breakeven". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  2. ^ "The Script". The Script. 29 September 2008. Archived from the original on 3 September 2009. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  3. ^ "Breakeven video shoot". Daily Star. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2008.
  4. ^ "The Script Setlist". Setlist.fm. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  5. ^ The Script - Breakeven: Live on Ellen Archived 22 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Breakeven by The Script". amazon.co.uk.
  7. ^ "Breakeven by The Script". amazon.co.uk.
  8. ^ "Breakeven by the Script". amazon.co.uk.
  9. ^ "The Script – Breakeven". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  10. ^ "The Script – Breakeven" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  11. ^ "The Script Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  12. ^ "The Script Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  13. ^ "The Script Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  14. ^ "The Script Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  15. ^ "The Script – Breakeven" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  16. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Breakeven". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  17. ^ "The Script Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  18. ^ "The Script – Breakeven" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  19. ^ "Philippines Hot 100 - Billboard Philippines". Billboard Philippines. 17 January 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  20. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  21. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200911 into search. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  22. ^ "The Script – Breakeve". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 29 November 2024n.
  23. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  24. ^ "The Script Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  25. ^ "The Script Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  26. ^ "The Script Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  27. ^ "The Script Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  28. ^ "The Script Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  29. ^ "2008 Year-End UK Charts" (PDF). UK Charts Plus. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  30. ^ "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2009". ARIA. Archived from the original on 26 January 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
  31. ^ "Charts Plus Year end 2009" (PDF). UK Charts Plus. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
  32. ^ "Year-End Charts: Canadian Hot 100 (2010)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  33. ^ "Year-End Charts: Hot 100 Songs (2010)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  34. ^ "Year-End Charts: Adult Contemporary Songs (2010)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  35. ^ "Year-End Charts: Adult Pop Songs (2010)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  36. ^ "Year-End Charts: Pop Songs (2010)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  37. ^ "Year-End Charts: Adult Contemporary Songs (2011)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  38. ^ "Greatest of All Time: Adult Pop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  39. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2019 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  40. ^ "Danish single certifications". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  41. ^ "Italian single certifications – The Script – Breakeven" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 12 February 2019. Select "2019" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "Breakeven" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  42. ^ "British single certifications – Script – Breakeven". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  43. ^ Grein, Paul (17 July 2013). "Week Ending July 14, 2013. Albums: Jay-Z Back On The Throne". Yahoo Music. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  44. ^ "American single certifications – The Script – Breakeven". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
  45. ^ "Danish single certifications". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  46. ^ "The X Factor Grand Final Song List!". The X Factor Australia. Yahoo!7. Archived from the original on 30 November 2012.
  47. ^ Ryan, Gavin (16 December 2012). "Macklemore and Ryan Lewis Spend Third Week Atop ARIA Chart". Noise11. Noise Network. Archived from the original on 20 December 2012.
  48. ^ "Breakeven – Single by Novita Dewi & Samantha Jade". iTunes Store (Australia). Apple. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  49. ^ Verna, Ambika (3 April 2022). "Tate McRae Sells Out Two Nights At Irving Plaza". NYS Music. Retrieved 2 December 2022.

See also