Break the Rules (Charli XCX song)

Last updated

"Break the Rules"
Charli XCX - Break the Rules.png
Single by Charli XCX
from the album Sucker
Released19 August 2014 (2014-08-19)
Recorded2013–2014
Studio
Genre
Length3:24
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Charli XCX singles chronology
"Boom Clap"
(2014)		"Break the Rules"
(2014)		"Doing It"
(2015)
Music video
"Break the Rules" on YouTube

"Break the Rules" is a song by British singer Charli XCX from her second studio album, Sucker (2014). It was released on 19 August 2014 as the album's second single. In a 2020 interview with Red Bull, XCX stated that she regrets recording the track. [3]

Contents

Background

According to Charli, the song is "about not giving a fuck." [4]

Composition

Gnome-mime-audio-openclipart.svg
"Break the Rules" (2014)
A 20-second sample of "Break the Rules", an electronic rock song.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Break the Rules" is an electro-rock and alternative rock song, [5] [6] set against a "propulsive" synth-pop groove. [7] The song is written in the key of E♭ major in common time with a tempo of 124 beats per minute. "Break the Rules" follows a chord progression of C5–B♭5–A♭5–E♭5–F5, and Charli's vocals span from B♭3 to C5. [8]

Critical reception

Michael Nelson of Stereogum described it as "one of the best" of Charli's songs, in which he positively compared it to Joan Jett and Skrillex. [9] Cosmopolitan listed "Break the Rules" at number five on its 2014 best songs list. [10] Ahead of the release of her 2022 album Crash , Consequence of Sound ranked the song as Charli's best, [11] which she disagreed with. [12]

Music video

The music video for "Break the Rules" was directed by Marc Klasfeld and premiered on 25 August 2014. [13] [14] The video was filmed at Birmingham High School while class was in session, so the lyrics "getting high and getting wrecked" had to be muted during playbacks. [15] According to Charli, the video draws inspiration from films such as Carrie (1976), The Craft (1996) and Jawbreaker (1999). [14] [16] It features a cameo from actress Rose McGowan, the star of Jawbreaker, as a school chaperone. [14]

Usage in media

The song was used in trailers for the 2015 film Goosebumps . It was also featured in the 2016 film Good Kids. [17] The song was also used in a 2016 Dish Network commercial and as the theme song of season 7 of Vietnam's Next Top Model . It is also used in both trailers for the 2020 film My Spy . Also the song was used in episode 4 of Quantico season 1

Track listings

  1. "Break the Rules" – 3:23
  1. "Break the Rules" (Tiësto Remix) – 4:25
  2. "Break the Rules" (Odesza Remix) – 4:00
  3. "Break the Rules" (Broods Remix) – 2:52
  1. "Break the Rules" – 3:23
  2. "Break the Rules" (Tiësto Remix) – 4:25
  1. "Break the Rules" – 3:23
  2. "Break the Rules" (Tiësto Remix) – 4:25
  3. "Break the Rules" (ODESZA Remix) – 4:00
  4. "Break the Rules" (Broods Remix) – 2:52
  5. "Boom Clap" – 2:49

Credits and personnel

Credits for "Break the Rules" are adapted from CD liner notes [22] [23]

Recording locations
Personnel

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Break the Rules"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [52] Platinum70,000^
Canada (Music Canada) [53] Gold40,000‡
Germany (BVMI) [54] Gold200,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ) [55] Gold7,500*
United Kingdom (BPI) [56] Silver200,000‡
United States (RIAA) [57] Gold500,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Break the Rules"
RegionDateFormatLabelRef.
Canada19 August 2014Digital download Atlantic [58]
United States [59]
Australia10 October 2014 [60]
Ireland
 [61]
United Kingdom12 October 2014 [62]
Finland17 October 2014Atlantic [63]
Norway [64]
Sweden [65]
France27 October 2014 [66]
Ireland31 October 2014Digital download (remixes)
  • Asylum
  • Atlantic
 [67]
United Kingdom2 November 2014 [68]
France3 November 2014Atlantic [69]
Australia21 November 2014
  • CD single
  • digital download (remixes)
 Warner [21] [70]
United States24 November 2014Digital download (remixes)Atlantic [71]
Germany16 January 2015CD singleWarner [20]

References

  1. ↑ "Break the Rules" (CD liner notes). Charli XCX. Warner Music International. 2014.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ↑ "Break the Rules" (CD liner notes). Charli XCX. Warner Music International. 2014.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. ↑ Cooper, Wilbert L. "A Conversation with Charli XCX". Red Bull . Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  4. ↑ Gordon, Jeremy (18 August 2014). "Charli XCX Announces New Album Sucker, Shares "Break the Rules"". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on 12 February 2025.
  5. ↑ Villa, Lucas (19 August 2014). "Charli XCX premieres 'Break the Rules' single, announces new album 'Sucker'". AXS. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  6. ↑ Menyes, Carolyn (18 August 2014). "LISTEN: Charli XCX Drops Defiant New Single 'Break The Rules', Announces New Album 'Sucker' for October [AUDIO]". Music Times.
  7. ↑ Wood, Mikael (2 December 2014). "Rising recording star Charli XCX brings her 'pop circus' to town". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  8. ↑ "Break the Rules". www.musicnotes.com. 15 January 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  9. ↑ Nelson, Michael (18 August 2014). "Charli XCX – "Break The Rules"". Stereogum . Archived from the original on 28 April 2025.
  10. ↑ Thompson, Eliza (1 December 2014). "The 50 Best Songs of 2014". Cosmopolitan . Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  11. ↑ Jones, Abby (16 March 2022). "Charli XCX's 10 Best Songs". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  12. ↑ Charli [@charli_xcx] (16 March 2022). "Agree" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022– via Twitter.
  13. ↑ Wilson, Ethan (25 August 2015). "Charli XCX "Break The Rules" (Marc Klasfeld, dir.)". VideoStatic. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  14. 1 2 3 Lipshutz, Jason (25 August 2014). "Charli XCX's 'Break the Rules' Video: Watch The 'Boom Clap' Star Defy Rose McGowan". Billboard . Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  15. ↑ Ganz, Caryn (12 December 2014). "Charli XCX: Up All Night With 2014's Breakout Pop Star". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  16. ↑ Schillaci, Sophie (25 August 2015). "EXCLUSIVE: On Set With Charli XCX for Her Prom-Themed 'Break the Rules' Video". Entertainment Tonight . Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  17. ↑ Charli XCX (9 July 2015). ""Break The Rules" on the new Goosebumps Movie trailer..." Retrieved 15 November 2015– via Facebook.
  18. ↑ "iTunes – Music – Break the Rules – Single by Charli XCX". iTunes Store (United Kingdom). 19 August 2014.
  19. ↑ "iTunes – Music – Break the Rules (Remixes) – Single by Charli XCX". iTunes Store (United Kingdom). 31 October 2014.
  20. 1 2 "Break the Rules (2track)" (in German). Amazon.de . Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  21. 1 2 "Break The Rules: Schoolies Edition by Charli XCX". Sanity. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  22. ↑ "Break the Rules" (CD liner notes). Charli XCX. Warner Music International. 2014.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. ↑ "Charli XCX – Break the Rules (2015, CD)". Discogs .
  24. ↑ "Charli XCX – Break the Rules". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  25. ↑ "Charli XCX – Break the Rules" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  26. ↑ "Charli XCX – Break the Rules" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  27. ↑ "Charli XCX – Break the Rules" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  28. ↑ "Charli XCX Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  29. ↑ "Chart Search". Billboard Canada CHR/Top 40 for Charli XCX. Retrieved 19 April 2016.[ permanent dead link ]
  30. ↑ Charli XCX — Break the Rules. TopHit. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  31. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 03. týden 2015 in the date selector. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  32. ↑ "Charli XCX Chart History (Euro Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  33. ↑ "Charli XCX – Break the Rules" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  34. ↑ "Top de la semaine" . Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  35. ↑ "Charli XCX – Break the Rules" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  36. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 42, 2014". Irish Singles Chart.
  37. ↑ "Charli XCX Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  38. ↑ "Charli XCX – Break the Rules". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  39. ↑ "Charli XCX – Break the Rules". VG-lista. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  40. ↑ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Dance Top 50. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  41. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  42. ↑ "Charli XCX – Break the Rules". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  43. ↑ "Charli XCX: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  44. ↑ "Charli XCX Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  45. ↑ "Charli XCX Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  46. ↑ "Charli XCX Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  47. ↑ "Jahreshitparade Singles 2015". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  48. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 2015". Ultratop. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  49. ↑ "Rapports Annuels 2015". Ultratop. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  50. ↑ "Top de l'année Top Singles 2015" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  51. ↑ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  52. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2015 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  53. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Charli XCX – Break the Rules". Music Canada . Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  54. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Charli XCX; 'Break the Rules')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie . Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  55. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Charli XCX – Break the Rules". Radioscope. Retrieved 31 January 2025.Type Break the Rules in the "Search:" field.
  56. ↑ "British single certifications – Charli XCX – Break the Rules". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  57. ↑ "American single certifications – Charli XCX – Break the Rules". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  58. ↑ "Break The Rules (Explicit) (2014) | Charli XCX". 7digital (CA). Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  59. ↑ "Break The Rules (Explicit) (2014) | Charli XCX". 7digital (US). Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  60. ↑ "Break The Rules (Explicit) (2014) | Charli XCX". zdigital (AU). Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  61. ↑ "Break The Rules (Explicit) (2014) | Charli XCX". 7digital (IE). Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  62. ↑ "Break The Rules (Explicit) (2014) | Charli XCX". 7digital (UK). Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  63. ↑ "Break The Rules (Explicit) (2014) | Charli XCX". 7digital (FI). Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  64. ↑ "Break The Rules (Explicit) (2014) | Charli XCX". 7digital (NO). Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  65. ↑ "Break The Rules (Explicit) (2014) | Charli XCX". 7digital (SE). Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  66. ↑ "Break The Rules (Explicit) (2014) | Charli XCX" (in French). 7digital (FR). Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  67. ↑ "Break The Rules (Remixes) (2014) | Charli XCX". 7digital (IE). Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  68. ↑ "Break The Rules (Remixes) (2014) | Charli XCX". 7digital (UK). Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  69. ↑ "Break The Rules (Remixes) (2014) | Charli XCX" (in French). 7digital (FR). Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  70. ↑ "Break The Rules (2014) | Charli XCX". zdigital (AU). Archived from the original on 6 April 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  71. ↑ "Break The Rules (Remixes) (2014) | Charli XCX". 7digital (US). Archived from the original on 30 September 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
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