13 Marvelous Break Songs | Playlist 🎧

13 Marvelous Break Songs features Beyoncé, Lana Del Rey, Lizzo, PinkPantheress, Ruben, and Sam Smith.

Are you in need of a BREAK? Well, how about a musical break? If you enjoy some good tunes, you’ll want to check out the 69th musical compendium on The Musical Hype, in the year of our Lord, 2022, 🎧 13 Marvelous Break Songs. It should come as no surprise what the keyword is, in some form or fashion.

Also, shouldn’t be surprising that the five B-R-E-A-K songs that graced Break: 5ive Songs No. 38 (2022) reappear on this expanded list.

🎧 13 Marvelous Break Songs isn’t the end all, be all of BREAK songs.  Still, 13 musical selections – well – that’s pretty good, right? 🎧 13 Marvelous Break Songs features music courtesy of 🎙 Beyoncé, 🎙 Lana Del Rey, 🎙 Lizzo, 🎙 PinkPantheress, 🎙 Ruben, and 🎙 Sam Smith among others. So, take a BREAK, and check out these 🎧 13 Marvelous Break Songs!

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1. Beyoncé, “Break My Soul”

💿 RENAISSANCE • 🏷 Parkwood Entertainment LLC / Columbia • 🗓 2022

After six long years, the most awarded woman in 🏆 Grammy history, 🎙 Beyoncé, began her 💿 RENAISSANCE 🤘. She gets off to an electrifying start with 🎵 “Break My Soul”, which features no shortage of writers including  🎼 ✍ Terius The-Dream Nash and 🎼 ✍ Christopher “Tricky” Stewart, who also produce. The boisterous intro by 🎙 Big Freedia gets you hyped for what’s to come (sampling 🎵 “Explode” from 2014). “Break My Soul” establishes itself as a house-driven pop/R&B joint, contrasting what Beyoncé has served up in the past. It’s a positive thing.

The record features an infectious, danceable groove, led by beloved, archetypical house keys, bass synth, and beat. Beyoncé produces alongside The-Dream and Tricky, who kill it. Lyrically, “Break My Soul” features its fair share of inspirational lyrics, including the titular lyric – “You won’t break my soul” – as well as exudes confidence. (“Motivation / I’m lookin’ for a new foundation, yeah / And I’m on that new vibration / I’m buildin’ my own foundation, yeah / Hold up, oh, baby, baby”). Besides singing, Beyoncé also serves up a rapped verse, keeping things interesting.  Furthermore, can’t fail to mention those lovely, harmonized backing vocals, sigh – such a V-I-B-E!  Honestly, there’s lots to heart on this bop, ready-made for summer!

Appears in 🔻:

• Awesome Songs: June 2022
• Break: 5ive Songs No. 38 (2022)

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2. The Weeknd, “Don’t Break My Heart”

💿 Dawn FM • 🏷 Republic • 📅 2022

The beat is light but lit 🔥 on 🎵 “Don’t Break My Heart.” “Don’t Break My Heart” marks another synth-tastic, ear-catching moment from 💿 Dawn FM, the fifth studio album by 🎙 The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye).  Another success by the 🏆 Grammy-winning musician, Dawn FM hasn’t quite had the same commercial impact as his previous albums. BUMMER!

“You snatch my soul, I’m crucified / I feel paralyzed / I’m so mesmerized by you…” Oh my, Abel! In the context of Dawn FM, following 🎵 “Every Angel is Terrifying”, the tables are totally turned.  How so, you ask? Well, The Weeknd was breaking hearts before. But now, Tesfaye fears the same from her happening to him.  He’s enamored mind you, as the excerpt from the first verse suggests, but sometimes, things seem far too good to be true.

“Just don’t break my heart

Don’t let me down please

Don’t you break my heart

I don’t know if I can take it anymore.”

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3. Lizzo, “Break Up Twice”

💿 Special • 🏷  Nice Life / Atlantic • 🗓 2022

🎵 “Break Up Twice” samples the beloved 🎙 Lauryn Hill no. 1 hit, 🎵 “Doo Wop (That Thing)” and 🎵 “Private Number” by 🎙 Judy Clay and 🎙 William Bell.  “Break Up Twice” is one of the most soulful numbers on 💿 Special, the sophomore album by 🏆 Grammy-winning pop standout, 🎙 Lizzo. Yes,  Lizzo is, indeed, “the whole damn meal!” Woo!

It’s not surprising, with 🎛 Ricky Reed and 🎛 Mark Ronson behind the boards, two producers who do a fine job integrating retro elements.  Thematically, Lizzo sings about love taking time, and a willingness to work things out. That said, she also gives a clear warning to that boy that wants a second chance: “‘Cause, boy, you know me better / You know me so much better / You know that I don’t break up twice.” Better heed her warning!

Appears in 🔻:

• Break: 5ive Songs No. 38 (2022)

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4. Mark Ronson, “Nothing Breaks Like a Heart” (Ft. Miley Cyrus)

💿 Late Night Feelings • 🏷 Sony • 📅 2019

“This world can hurt you / It cuts you deep and leaves a scar / Things fall apart, but nothing breaks like a heart / And nothing breaks like a heart.” Sigh, so true, so true. 🏆 Grammy-winning producer 🎙 🎛 Mark Ronson returns behind the boards, assisted by 🎙 Miley Cyrus (vocals) on a stellar, retro country-pop record, 🎵 “Nothing Breaks Like a Heart”.’ Released as a single in 2018, “Nothing Breaks Like a Heart” graces Ronson’s 2019 album, 💿 Late Night Feelings.

“Nothing Breaks Like a Heart” features some of the beloved, expected Mark Ronson cues, specifically those retro, more soulful elements.  That said, knowing that his collaborator Miley Cyrus is no soul diva, he embraces a more suitable folksy, countrified pop sound. Cyrus, who possesses a distinct set of pipes, was made for the neo-outlaw country vibe Ronson assembles that deals with – you guessed it – heartbreak (“We got all night to fall in love / But just like that, we fall apart / We’re broken, we’re broken”).

Appears in 🔻:

• 13 Songs That Address Matters of the Heart

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5. Ruben, “As Long As I Break Your Heart”

🎵 “As Long As I Break Your Heart”  • 🏷 Plexus / Universal Music AS, Norway • 📅 2019 

“As long as I break your heart / I don’t care how I do it, as long as I go through with it.” Phew, that sounds totally mean, selfish, and vindictive – a total asshole move.  Reading the lyrics from 🎵 “As Long As I Break Your Heart” without hearing Norwegian pop artist 🎙 Ruben (Ruben Markussen) sing them may lead you to believe he’s a bad person.  That’s not the case when you hear him sing with the most gorgeous tone of voice, exhibiting utmost expressiveness and vulnerability on this stripped ballad.

Backtracking from the excerpted chorus filled with Ruben’s retaliation, the listener gets more context on why he’s searching for atoning schadenfreude if you will.  In the first verse, he references his lover’s bad ego, expounding on it in the following pre-chorus:

“You did everything to lift yourself up

But I know you’re just dirty beneath your makeup

So, I’ma do my best to stir some shit up

Goin’ all dramatic with no safe zone.”

Oh snap! In the brief second verse, Markussen plays mind games – gets psychological about how he wants her to feel about him.  “See I want you to worry,” he sings, continuing, “About if I’m un-lonely.” Of course, he concludes this guitar-accompanied gem with an extended version of the chorus, again, stating his heartbreaking intentions.  Safe to say, he does a damn good job of “stirring shit up.” All told, “As Long as I Break Your Heart” is a terrific record.  The vocals are sensational, the songwriting thoughtful, and the stripped production perfectly suited for such a heartbroken affair.

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6. Ariana Grande, “Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored”

💿 Thank U, Next • 🏷 Republic • 📅 2019 

“You got me some type of way / Ain’t used to feelin’ this way / I do not know what to say / But I know I shouldn’t think about it.” Hmm, yield not to temptation! In the context of 💿 thank u, next, 🎵 “Break up with Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored” marks a worthwhile moment from 🏆 Grammy-winning pop superstar, 🎙 Ariana Grande.

Grande shines with stunning vocals – when doesn’t she, to be honest? Furthermore, “Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored” features slick production work, courtesy of 🎛 Max Martin and 🎛 ILYA. Also, the songwriting is entertaining and ultimately, sound.  The theme of the record is pretty obvious, right? Right.  Ariana wants him to break up with her and be with her.  See Exhibit A: the chorus.

“Break up with your girlfriend

Yeah, yeah, ‘cause I’m bored

You could hit it in the mornin’

Yeah, yeah, like it’s yours

I know it ain’t right

But I don’t care

Break up with your girlfriend

Yeah, yeah, ‘cause I’m bored.”

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7. Zach Williams, “Chain Breaker”

💿 Chain Breaker • 🏷 Provident / Sony Music Entertainment • 📅 2017

Sometimes, we all need inspiration – a pick me up.  What better than a little J-E-S-U-S? No, not a little J-E-S-U-S, but a great big, awesome, omniscient JESUS! No false idols here, but a legitimate 🎵 “Chain Breaker”.  That’s what Christian rock singer 🎙 Zach Williams gives us on the title track from his 2017 album, 💿 Chain Breaker. 

“If you’ve got pain, He’s a pain taker

If you feel lost, He’s a way maker

If you need freedom or saving, He’s a prison-shaking Savior

If you got chains, He’s a chain breaker.”

Zach Williams offers encouragement on this rousing, well-put-together CCM joint.  He wrote “Chain Breaker” with 🎼 ✍ Jonathan Smith and 🎼 ✍ Mia Fieldes.  Lyrically, the team does a fine job of leading those discouraged or lost to ‘The Great I Am.’  Musically, the dynamic, exuberant sounds don’t hurt either – piano, organ, guitar, drums, choral backing vocals.  Even if you’re not a believer, or more casual when it comes to spiritual matters, you might dig this one 😜.

Appears in 🔻:

• Zach Williams, “Chain Breaker”: Sunday Refresh 🙏 3 (2021)
• 11 Intriguing Songs Associated with Chains ⛓
• 13 More Songs That Provide That Spiritual Refresh
• Break: 5ive Songs No. 38 (2022)

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8. Dua Lipa, “Break My Heart”

💿 Future Nostalgia • 🏷 Warner • 📅 2020

“I wonder, when you go, if I stay on your mind / Two can play that game, but you win me every time.” 🎵 “Break My Heart” ranks among the best of the best gracing 💿 Future Nostalgia, the stellar,  🏆 Grammy-winning pop album by English pop star,  🎙 Dua Lipa. “Break My Heart” is fueled by an 🎙 INXS sample, 🎵 “Need You Tonight”.  Furthermore, Dua Lipa works with an elite production team (🎛 Watt and 🎛 The Monsters and Strangerz) who helps her to #slay.

How does Dua slay, you ask? With her attitude, feistiness, and sassiness – WOO! In the chorus, she asserts:

“I would’ve stayed at home

‘Cause I was doing better alone

But when you said, ‘Hello’

I knew that was the end of it all.”

Ultimately, she asks herself at the end of the chorus, “Am I feeling in love with the one that could break my heart?” Seems like that’s the case, Dua.  Regardless, she says herself, “Everyone before you was a waste of time / Yeah, you got me.” The infatuation is lit 🔥.

Appears in 🔻:

• Break: 5ive Songs No. 38 (2022)

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9. Sam Smith, “Breaking Hearts”

💿 Love Goes • 🏷 Capitol • 📅 2020

“A poisoned chalice, thorn in my side / I’m so numb from your lies.” Woo! The love pain – the broken-heartedness – is real from 🏆 Academy Award and Grammy Award winner, 🎙 Sam Smith. 🎵 “Breaking Hearts” appears as the eighth track from Smith’s 2020 album, 💿 Love Goes. As the excerpted lyrics from the first verse suggest, Smith has been wronged and isn’t taking heartbreak well in the least.

The good news is that “Breaking Hearts” maintains the pleasantness of Love Goes which was a bit underrated but delivered another respectable album by the nonbinary, genderqueer talent.  Although it’s relatively brief, the length is ultimately sufficient. Sam has one foot in the door of past and present, which is a great spot for them.  It’s contemporary, yet the piano, strings, and soulful vibes definitely sound older and more vintage.  Not much explanation is needed, all told.  The chorus, the centerpiece, lays out what Smith is going through.

“While you were busy breakin’ hearts

I was busy breakin’

I was giving all my love

You were busy takin’

Summer haze of summer wine

Reminded me of better times

But I let you in my heart

So now it’s busy breakin’.”

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10. Lana Del Rey, “Breaking Up Slowly”

💿 Chemtrails Over the Country Club • 🏷 Interscope • 📅 2021

🎵 “Breaking Up Slowly” is a gorgeous highlight from 💿 Chemtrails Over the Country Club, one of two albums released by 🏆 Grammy-nominated pop artist, 🎙 Lana Del Rey in 2021. Even though it’s ear-catching, it can also be described as ‘agonizing.’ “Breaking Up Slowly” was co-written by 🎙 🎼 ✍ Nikki Lane, who also duets with Del Rey, marvelously.

“Breakin’ up slowly is a hard thing to do

I love you only, but it’s makin’ me blue

So don’t send me flowers like you always do

It’s hard to be lonely, but it’s the right thing.”

Nikki Lane gets first blood on “Breaking Up Slowly.” She sings the chorus (excerpted above) and the first verse before Del Rey joins her in the following chorus. Lane delivers a bullet at the end of her verse: “I don’t wanna live with a life of regret / I don’t wanna end up like Tammy Wynette.” Ooh wee – 🎵 “Stand By Your Man”! Del Rey, of course, gets her solo moment in the second verse: “George got arrested out on the lawn / We might be breakin’ up after this song.” Never a dull moment when Lana Del Rey is involved!

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11. PinkPantheress, “Break it off”

💿 to hell with it • 🏷 Parlophone • 📅 2021

“What’s stopping you? / Ah, what’s stopping you?” 🎵 “Break it off,” a drum and bass-infused pop record, appears as the 10^th and final track from 💿 to hell with it, the debut mixtape by English musician, 🎙 PinkPantheress. Critics loved PP’s mixtape, which received a robust Metascore of 86. Woo – let’s go! “Break it off,” which appears as a ‘bonus’ track actually served as the promo single from the tape. This was PP’s breakthrough single.  She tells Apple Music, “I think it got 100,000 likes on TikTok when I wasn’t really getting likes in that number before.” “Break it off” is brief, running just over one and a half minutes, but it’s a surefire vibe.

“Break it off” features an awesome groove from the onset. I love the prominence of the upright bass, which is old school Why you ask? Well, notably, “Break it off” samples the 1997 🎙 Adam F joint, “Circles”, which contributes to its distinct sounds.  Of the sampled record, PinkPantheress comments to Apple Music, “I fell in love with the original [Adam F’s 1997 single ‘Circles’] and I just wanted to hear what a top line would sound like on the track.” Besides the instrument, we get beautiful vocals from PinkPantheress. I love the lightness and poise of her vocals.  What does PP sing about? Why, matters of the heart, of course! “Wish I could go back to lying beside you on the bed / Why’d you, oh, why’d you break it off? (What’s stopping you?).”

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12. Ricky Dillard, “Breakthrough”

💿 Breakthrough: The Exodus (Live) • 🏷 Motown Gospel • 📅 2022

“Breakthrough, breakthrough / And my faith is in You God / ‘Cause you’re all I’ve got / I’m trusting, and I’m believing You.”  Now that is a good, inspiring, and uplifting word! Amen 👏 🙌! Indeed, on the 🎙 Ricky Dillard gem 🎵 “Breakthrough” (penned by 🎼✍ Zebulon Ellis), the spiritual refresh is lit 🔥!  On “Breakthrough,” the title track from his 2022 live album, 💿 Breakthrough: The Exodus (Live), Dillard is not only joined by his anointed choir, but also by the powerful pipes of 🎙 D’Shondra.  After Dillard and the choir set the tone, D’Shondra takes the reins in the second half of the song, singing with incredible authenticity, touting the mercifulness of the Lord.

The message is loud and clear on “Breakthrough.” God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and can do all things.  If you are in need and in search of your breakthrough, you should look to Him – put your faith and trust in Him.  This simple yet rousing number does an awesome job of highlighting this.  Besides the moving lyrics and anointed vocals, we also get marvelous music.  What about those modulations? What about the harmonic progressions fueling the fire? After listening to 🎵 “Breakthrough”, how could you NOT want to break through? Blessings upon blessings 🙏!

 

Appears in 🔻:

• Ricky Dillard, “Breakthrough”: Sunday Refresh 🙏 3 (2022)
• Awesome Songs: January 2022
• Break: 5ive Songs No. 38 (2022)

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13. Queen, “I Want to Break Free”

💿 Bohemian Rhapsody (The Original Soundtrack) • 🏷 Hollywood • 📅 2018 

“God knows, God knows I want to break free.” 🎵 “I Want to Break Free” is undoubtedly one of the greatest hits by 🎙 Queen. Amazingly, the 🎙 Freddie Mercury-fronted rock collective NEVER won a Grammy – ain’t that a big, fat, stinky load of 💩 ? Focusing on the song at hand, “I Want to Break Free” brought the band some controversy.

It’s not the escapist lyrics that are controversial – many people can relate to those in some capacity. It’s the music video, where the band famously dressed up as the cast of the British soap opera, Coronation Street (us Americans are more familiar with Victor Newman and The Young and the Restless, of course).  Flamboyant, as we often associate with Freddie, we come to find out the liberating music video wasn’t actually his idea – now that is shocking.  Unique video aside, the song is Queen through and through with powerful vocals and a rocking backdrop.

Appears in 🔻:

• Free 🆓: A Compendium of 30 Songs
• WANT 2.0: 15 Songs Where Want, or Lack Thereof, is Real

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13 Marvelous Break Songs [📷: Atlantic, Brent Faulkner, Hollywood, Interscope, Motown Gospel, The Musical Hype, Nice Life, Parlophone, Plexus, Provident, Republic, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music AS, Norway, Warner, wendy CORNIQUET from Pixabay]

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