Break My Heart (song)

### Writer(s)

Dua Lipa, Ali Tamposi, Andrew Wotman, Stefan Johnson, Jordan K. Johnson, Michael Hutchence, Blair Gormal and Andrew Farriss

### Label

Warner Records

"**Break My Heart**" is a song by English singer Dua Lipa. It was released on 25 March 2020 through Warner Records as the third single from her second studio album *Future Nostalgia* (2020) and impacted contemporary hit radio on 31 March as the second US single off the album. The song was written by Lipa, Alexandra Tamposi and its producers the Monsters & Strangerz and Andrew Watt. "Break My Heart" samples the melody from "Need You Tonight" (1987) by INXS, thus Michael Hutchence and Andrew Farriss are also credited as songwriters.

"Break My Heart" debuted at number six on the UK Singles Chart and at number 21 on the US *Billboard* Hot 100. It has charted in the top 10 in 10 different countries, including Australia and Ireland. The accompanying 1990s-inspired music video was directed by Henry Scholfield. Lipa has promoted the single with televised live performances on *The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon* and *Big Brother Brasil 20*.

## Background

"Break My Heart" was leaked in January 2020 along with "Physical." Lipa first revealed that the song would serve as the third single from *Future Nostalgia* in March 2020 on the Australian TV show *Sunrise.* Lipa revealed the cover art and announced that the song would be released on 27 March 2020. She later pushed up the release of the song to 25 March 2020 due to a potential and full leak of the album. Lipa said that she sees the song as a "celebration of vulnerability and being open about the vulnerable side of being in love, where I previously saw as weakness. Lipa additionally spoke to Apple Music about the song.

## Composition

Musically, "Break My Heart" is a three-minute and forty-one second dance-pop and disco song with a Europop beat in a "retro-futuristic" style. It features bouncing-ball bass, handclaps, a staccato bass rhythm and an "uplifting retro-inspired dance beat". The song interpolates the melody from "Need You Tonight" by INXS. Lyrically, the song is about being unable to resist the temptation of pursuing love.

In terms of music notation, "Break My Heart" was composed using **4**
**4** common time in the key of E minor, with a tempo of 113 beats per minute. Lipa's vocal range spans from the low note E3 to the high note of B4.

## Critical reception

Mike Neid of *Idolator* called the song a "stone-cold bop". Allie Kenvin of *V* also complimented the song as a whole stating that Lipa is "[continuing] her streak of '80s dance anthems".

## Commercial performance

In the UK, "Break My Heart" debuted at number 76 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart dated 27 March 2020.[23] It later reached number 6 in the UK Singles Chart dated 3 April 2020. In the United States, the song debuted at number 37 on the Mainstream Top 40 chart and entered the *Billboard* Hot 100 the following week, debuting at 21, Lipa's highest debut on the chart.

## Music video

### Background and production

The song's accompanying music video premiered via YouTube premiere on 26 March 2020. It directed by Henry Scholfield who also directed Lipa's videos for "Lost in Your Light", "New Rules" and "IDGAF" The video was shot in Sofia, Bulgaria in January 2020 over the course of five days. It features a set of "'90s-inspired slide clips." While filming the video, Lipa had a case of the flu. To create the video, VFX, wire work and a tilting set were used. The sets for the video were built across three stages and were designed by Mark Connell. On May 9th 2020 Dua released herself an animated music video edited by Dua.