Breakaway (Donna Summer song)

"Breakaway" is a song from the album Another Place and Time by Donna Summer, recorded in 1989. The song was released in October 1989 as the fourth single from the album by Atlantic Records and Warner Bros. Records (Europe) and was a top 50 hit in UK. The song was written and produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman.

"Breakaway"
Single by Donna Summer
from the album Another Place and Time
B-side	"Thinkin' Bout My Baby"
Released	October 1989 (US) December 31, 1990 (UK)^[1]
Recorded	1989 at PWL, London
Genre	Pop, dance, soul, R&B
Length	4:10 (Album version) 3:34 (Remix) 6:44 (Remix Full Version)
Label	Atlantic Records (U.S.) Warner Bros. Records (Europe)
Songwriter(s)	Matt Aitken, Mike Stock, Pete Waterman
Producer(s)	Stock, Aitken & Waterman
Donna Summer singles chronology
"Love's About to Change My Heart" (1989) "Breakaway" (1989) "When Love Takes Over You" (1989)

Background and release

The album was written by popular British production team Stock, Aitken & Waterman and produced four UK hit singles, including the international smash "This Time I Know It's For Real". Three of these hits later turned up on a Europe-only compilation album entitled The Best of Donna Summer, released in 1990 by Warner Bros. Records. The album also included "Breakaway" which had previously only been released as a single in the US. However, due to the album's popularity and following the re-release of the 1982 hit "State of Independence" a brand new remixed version of "Breakaway" by Phil Harding and Ian Curnow was issued in the single form.

The original 1989 release of "Breakaway" was the third and final single to be released in the United States from Another Place and Time. The song was serviced to radio stations on promo 45s and cd singles. The track was also remixed by Tony Humphries as "The Extended Power Mix" and "The Power Radio Mix" for the US 12" single. The "Breakaway" US 12" single was backed with the extended version of "I Don't Wanna Get Hurt", which had already been released in the UK as the follow-up to "This Time I Know It's For Real". Despite its original A/C feel and house influenced remixes, the track did not chart in the US.

Critical reception

A reviewer from Music & Media commented, "...originally produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman, this is the remix by Harding/Curnow. One of the most added records this week, it's bound to be a winter hit for Donna."^[2] Pop Rescue stated that "Breakaway" "musically sounds like nothing else" on Another Place and Time, noticed "its slight Latin sound" which it considered as the possible reason for which it achieved success in Brazil, but added that "this isn't the strongest song that SAW release despite its positive and uplifting lyrics".^[3]

Chart performance

"Breakaway" managed to enter the UK top 50, peaking at number 49.^[4] Even though the single was not very successful in most English-speaking countries, it proved to be surprisingly well received in Latin America, where it charted in countries such as Peru and Argentina. In Brazil, packed by the telenovela Despedida de Solteiro the single was her seventh number one in the country and the accompanying music video received extensive airplay and they are, to date, among Summer's most recognizable tunes.

Track listings

1989 US 7" single

1. "Breakaway" – 4:10
2. "Thinkin' Bout My Baby" – 6:18

1991 UK 7" single

1. "Breakaway (Remix)" – 3:34 (remixed by Phil Harding & Ian Curnow)
2. "Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger)" – 4:17

1989 US 12" single

1. "Breakaway (The Extended Power Mix)" – 6:08 (remixed by Tony Humphries)
2. "Breakaway (The Power Radio Mix)" – 4:02 (remixed by Tony Humphries)
3. "I Don't Wanna Get Hurt (12" Version)" – 6:58

1991 UK 12" single / UK CD single

1. "Breakaway (Remix Full Version)" – 6:44 (remixed by Phil Harding & Ian Curnow)
2. "Breakaway (Remix Edit)" – 3:34 (remixed by Phil Harding & Ian Curnow)
3. "Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger)" – 4:17

Charts

1991 weekly chart performance for "Breakaway"

Chart (1991)	Peak position
Europe (European Airplay Top 50)^[5]	38
UK Singles (OCC)^[6]	49
UK Dance (Music Week)^[7]	45

2022 weekly chart performance for "Breakaway"

Chart (2022)	Peak position
Hungary (Single Top 40)^[8]	37

References

1. "D Summer singles".
2. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. February 2, 1992. p. 17. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
3. "REVIEW: "ANOTHER PLACE AND TIME" BY DONNA SUMMER (CD, 1989)". Pop Rescue. January 6, 2016. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
4. "The Official Charts Company: Donna Summer". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
5. "European Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 6. 9 February 1991. p. 24. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 5 September 2021 – via World Radio History.
6. "Official Charts > Donna Summer". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
7. "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 19 January 1991. p. XII. Retrieved 30 August 2023 – via World Radio History.
8. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 11 August 2022.