Break Free

Break Free
Ariana Grande feat. Zedd
publication	3rd July 2014
length	3:34
Genre (s)	Electronic dance music , pop
Author (s)	Savan Kotecha, Max Martin , Anton Zaslavski
album	My everything

Break Free ( English : "Get rid") is a song of the American pop singer Ariana Grande , in cooperation with the German - Russian EDM - musicians Zedd . The piece is the second single from her second studio album My Everything .

Creation and artwork

The song was composed by Savan Kotecha, Max Martin and Anton Zaslavski (Zedd), the latter two also produced the single. In addition, Zedd instrumentalized, mixed and programmed the song alone. The single was mastered under the direction of Tom Coyne and Aya Merrill. The single was arranged by Cory Bice, Sam Holland, Ryan Shanahan and Jesse Taub. The song was released under the Republic Records music label . On the cover of the maxi singles - next to the artist's inscription and the song title - a lip print can be seen against a white background.

Publication and promotion

Ten days before the planned release of Break Free , Grande started an online countdown on June 22, 2014, and she confirmed on the same day that Zedd was a guest musician on the piece. On June 28, 2014, she uploaded a teaser video for the song on Instagram . Finally, on July 3, 2014, the single was first released as a digital release in the United States. A release in Germany , Austria and Switzerland followed a month later on August 8, 2014. The single is still only available as a single download track.

BreakFree premiered on 2 July 2014 than it is in the half-hour special broadcast Total Ariana Live of MTV telecast Total Request Live was sung by Grande. A few hours later it was offered for download . Shortly thereafter, the title reached number one on the iTunes charts . To promote the song that followed, among other solo performances Grandes during the awarding of the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards , during the 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards and during the American Music Awards 2014. In German-speaking Grande entered only once live with Breakfree , in the course her award with the Bambi 2014 in the Newcomer category on television.

background information

Zedd mentioned in an interview that he wanted to work with Grande after hearing her voice at a Universal Music Group event . He said, “I was backstage and I heard someone sing. And I didn't know who it was, and I just said, 'I want to do a song with whoever is singing.' I didn't know who it was, and it turned out to be her. And luckily, there's a song here! ”Grande announced in an interview with Billboard in late April 2014 that she had worked with Zedd on a song. She said that this song is “fantastic and super experimental to me. I never thought I would do a song with electronic dance music , it was an eye-opening experience, and now all I want to do is dance. ”At the 2014 Wango Tango concert, she mentioned that the piece was her next Should be single.

content

The lyrics to Break Free are written entirely in English, the title translated into German means “Liberate”. The music and the text were written jointly by Savan Kotecha, Max Martin and Anton Zaslavski. Musically, the song moves in the realm of pop and electronic dance music . Only Grande's voice can be heard throughout the song, Zedd is only responsible as an instrumentalist.

"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. " - Refrain, original excerpt

“That's the section where I say I don't want you. I am stronger than I was before. This is the section where I break free. Because I can't take it anymore. " - Refrain, translation

Music video

The music video for Break Free was released 10-12. Filmed on June 12th 2014 and premiered on August 12th 2014 on Grande's YouTube account. The television premiere came three days later during the Disney Channel film How to Build a Better Boy . In the run-up, Grande gave indications for the video by uploading photos of aliens and space to Twitter . She later announced that the video was inspired by the 1968 science fiction film Barbarella , Star Wars, and space in general. She described it as the "space age", "return" and " camp ". Directed by Chris Marrs Piliero.

Contributors

Song production Cory Bice: arrangement Tom Coyne: Mastering Ariana Grande : vocals Sam Holland: arrangement Savan Kotecha: composer Max Martin : composer, music producer Aya Merrill: Mastering Ryan Shanahan: arrangement Jesse Taub: arrangement Zedd : Mixing , instrumentation , composer, music producer, programming

Artwork Chris Marrs Piliero: Director (Music Video) Companies Republic Records : music label Universal Music Group : Distribution

reception

Reviews

Carolyn Menyes of the Music Times wrote that the piece was "fantastic and perfect for summer" as well as "dance bliss". She also compared the piece 's message to Destiny's Child's old songs.

Rachel Sonis from Isolator called the song " the club anthem of summer" and Grande "dips her toes in interesting new waters for her upcoming record". Lucas Villa from AXS also praised her new direction: "While some singers get lost in heavy electro-pop production, Grande is developing into an emancipated dance floor diva."

Larry Fitzmaurice of Pitchfork Media praised both the production and the vocals: “From the sweeping synthesizer line at the beginning to the impressive beats of the verse, Break Free certainly suggests comparisons to the Swedish pop genius Robyn ; As always, Grande brings her great voice in top form, so vocally the comparisons don't stick. ”He compared the message of the title with Kelly Clarkson's Since U Been Gone .

Charts and chart placements

Break Free reached position twelve in the single charts in Germany and stayed in the charts for a total of 35 weeks. In Austria, the single reached position five and stayed in the top 10 for two weeks and in the charts for 29 weeks. In Switzerland the single reached position 15 in 28 chart weeks. In the United Kingdom the single reached position 16 in 26 chart weeks. In the United States, the single reached position four and stayed in the top 10 for eight weeks and 22 weeks in the charts . Furthermore reached BreakFree number one on the US dance club charts. In 2014, Break Free was in the German annual singles chart at position 84, in Austria at position 71 and in the United States at position 37.

For Grande as an interpreter, this is the eighth chart success in her home country, as well as the fourth in the United Kingdom and the second in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. In the United States, it's her third top 10 achievement, after The Way and Problem .

For Zedd as an interpreter, this is the fourth chart success in Germany, as well as the third in Austria, the United Kingdom and the United States and the second in Switzerland. In the United States it is his second Top 10 success after Clarity , and in Austria it is his first. After Stay the Night , a single was placed in the DA-CH , UK and US charts for the second time . For Zedd as an author, it is the fifth chart success in Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States as well as the fourth in Austria and the third in Switzerland. In the United States it is his third top 10 success after Beauty and a Beat and Clarity , and in Austria it is his first. For Zedd as a producer, Break Free is his fifth chart success in Germany and the United States, as well as the fourth in Austria and the United Kingdom and the third in Switzerland. In the United States it is his third top 10 success after Beauty and a Beat and Clarity , and in Austria it is his first.

Chart placements Charts Top ranking Weeks Chart placements  Germany (GfK) 12 (35 weeks) 35  Austria (Ö3) 5 (29 weeks) 29  Switzerland (IFPI) 15th (28 weeks) 28  United Kingdom (OCC) 16 (26 weeks) 26th  United States (Billboard) 4th (22 weeks) 22nd

Annual charts Charts (2014) placement Annual charts (2014)  Germany (GfK) 84  Austria (Ö3) 71  United States (Billboard) 37

Awards for music sales

Break Free was awarded a gold record in Germany for over 200,000 units sold almost a year and a half after its release. This was the first gold / platinum award for Zedd in his home country. Worldwide, the single has so far been awarded gold three times and platinum 23 times. According to musical awards and sources, the song has sold over 3.7 million times.

Country / Region	Award	Sales
Awards for music sales (country / region, Award, Sales)
Australia (ARIA)	4 × platinum	280,000
Germany (BVMI)	gold	200,000
Italy (FIMI)	2 × platinum	100,000
Japan (RIAJ)	gold	100,000
Canada (MC)	3 × platinum	240,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)	gold	7,500
Netherlands (NVPI)	2 × platinum	60,000
Norway (IFPI)	3 × platinum	30,000
Sweden (IFPI)	4 × platinum	160,000
Spain (Promusicae)	platinum	40,000
United States (RIAA)	3 × platinum	1,900,000
United Kingdom (BPI)	platinum	600,000
All in all	3 × gold 23 × platinum	3,717,500

Main article: Zedd / Music Sales Awards

Web links

• Music video for "Break Free" on YouTube

Individual evidence

1. ^ Ariana Grande featuring Zedd - Break Free. discogs.com, accessed September 14, 2014 . 
2. ↑ Ariana Grande - My Everything. discogs.com, accessed September 14, 2014 . 
3. ↑ Ariana Grande: 10 days until my new single Break Free ft. @Zedd # 10daysUntilBreakFree . June 22, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
4. ^ Ariana Grande: "Break Free" teaser video . June 28, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
5. ↑ MTV, Ariana Grande Reviving 'TRL' for One Day to Debut New Song 'Break Free' . June 25, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
6. ↑ New Music: Ariana Grande (feat. Zedd) - 'Break Free' . Retrieved July 11, 2014.
7. ↑ Break Free [feat. Zedd]: Ariana Grande: MP3 Downloads . Retrieved July 11, 2014.
8. ^ Brian Cantor: Ariana Grande's "Break Free" Climbs iTunes Sales Chart . July 3, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
9. ↑ Caitlin White: Ariana Grande Will Perform 'Break Free' Live At The 2014 VMAs! . Retrieved July 3, 2014.
10. Jump up ↑ Caitlin White: Break Free & Problem - Medley - Ariana Grande - LIVE . Archived from the original on November 18, 2014. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
11. ↑ Watch: Zedd talks Ariana Grande collab . ( Memento of July 29, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) kbgo.com, May 12, 2014, accessed on August 28, 2019 (English).
12. ↑ Jason Lipshutz: Ariana Grande Talks 'Problem' Single & Second Album, Due Out August / September . April 28, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
13. ^ Maria Sherman: Ariana Grande Is Going EDM With Zedd on New Album . April 28, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
14. ^ Carl Smith: Ariana Grande releases new single with Zedd: 'It's so different for me' . May 13, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
15. ↑ Kathleen Perricone: Ariana Grande Wants Next Single to Be Her Zedd Collaboration . May 12, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
16. ↑ Abby Devora: Need To Know: Ariana Grande Wrapped Up Shooting Her Next Music Video . June 13, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
17. ↑ Ariana Grande: Official 'Break Free' Music Video Debut. hollywoodlife.com, accessed September 14, 2014 . 
18. ↑ Christina Garibaldi: Is Ariana Grande Channeling Sexy Barbarella? See A Few More 'Hints' . June 18, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
19. ↑ Christina Lee: Ariana Grande Dresses Up As Barbarella: Is A New Video On The Way? . SpinMedia. June 18, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
20. ↑ Abby Devora: Need To Know: Ariana Grande Gives Her Fans Homework And Maybe Another Music Video Hint . June 19, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
21. ↑ ^{a b} Ryan Seacrest: Ariana Grande Announces Exclusive Content . June 28, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
22. ↑ Disney Parks: Ariana Grande Celebrates Her 21st Birthday at Walt Disney World . June 25, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
23. ↑ Ariana Grande f / Zedd “Break Free” (Chris Marrs Piliero, dir.). videostatic.com, accessed September 14, 2014 . 
24. ↑ Carolyn Menyes: REVIEW: Ariana Grande & Zedd Will 'Break Free' from R&B Roots With 'My Everything' New Single . July 2, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
25. ↑ Sonis, Rachel. "Ariana Grande & Zedd's" Break Free ": Review Revue" , Idolator , accessed on July 3, 2014.
26. ↑ Villa, Lucas. "Listen: Zedd helps Ariana Grande 'Break Free' on new dance track" , AXS , accessed July 3, 2014.
27. ↑ Fitzmaurice, Larry. "Ariana Grande:" Break Free "[ft. Zedd]" , Pitchfork , accessed July 3, 2014.
28. ^ ^{A b} Artists / Ariana Grande / Chart History. billboard.com, accessed September 14, 2014 . 
29. ↑ Ariana Grande feat. Zedd, Break Free. officialcharts.de, accessed on September 14, 2014 . 
30. ↑ Ariana Grande feat. Zedd - Break Free (Song). austriancharts.at, accessed on September 14, 2014 . 
31. ↑ Ariana Grande feat. Zedd - Break Free. swisscharts.com, accessed September 14, 2014 . 
32. ^ Ariana Grande featuring Zedd. officialcharts.com, accessed February 24, 2015 . 
33. ↑ Top 100 annual single charts 2014. officialcharts.de, accessed on April 6, 2018 . 
34. ↑ Annual Hit Parade Singles 2014. austriancharts.at, accessed on April 6, 2018 . 
35. ↑ Year End 2014 Hot 100 Songs. billboard.com, accessed December 30, 2014 . 
36. ^ Gary Trust: Ask Billboard: Ariana Grande's Career Album & Song Sales. billboard.com, April 22, 2018, accessed August 29, 2018 .