Breakdown (Mariah Carey song)

"Breakdown" is a song by American singer and songwriter Mariah Carey from her sixth studio album Butterfly (1997). The song features rap verses by two of the five members of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. The song was released on March 22, 1998, by Columbia Records as the fourth single from Butterfly. Similar to the treatments of the "Butterfly" and The Roof", "Breakdown" received a limited worldwide release due to Carey's conflict at the time with Sony. The song's lyrics describe the emotions someone feels when their lover suddenly stops loving and leaves them, and the pain, or breakdown, it causes the person. The song was well received by contemporary music critics.

"Breakdown"
Single by Mariah Carey featuring Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
from the album Butterfly
ReleasedMarch 22, 1998 (1998-03-22)
RecordedFebruary 1997
Studio
Genre
Length4:44
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Mariah Carey singles chronology
"The Roof"
(1998)		 "Breakdown"
(1998)		 "My All"
(1998)
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony singles chronology
"Look into My Eyes"
(1997)		 "Breakdown"
(1998)		 "Ghetto Cowboy"
(1999)

Due to the song's limited release, "Breakdown" did not chart in most major music markets, with the exception of Australia and New Zealand, where it peaked at numbers 38 and four, respectively. In the United States, due to Billboard rules at the time, the song was unable to chart on the Hot 100, but charted at number 53 on the Hot 100 Airplay. In the accompanying music video, Carey goes through a variety of different colorful outfits, with matching make-up. Of the many changes, two scenes predominantly occupy the video. The first in Carey dressed in flamenco-style clothing, while dancing on a chair with two other female dancers. The other features Carey and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony gambling in a casino.

Background
I told Bone Thugs-n-Harmony I wanted to record something with them. Their reaction was something like, 'Okay...?' I think I shock people with the ideas I have, but I believe the result is okay.

—Carey, on her decision to work with Bone Thugs-n-Harmony on Butterfly.[1]

Carey recorded the song at The Hit Factory in New York City throughout 1997.[1][2] "Breakdown" was one of the first of Carey's album tracks to veer in a hip hop direction, and many were surprised when she contacted Bone Thugs-n-Harmony to record the song because she was considered more of a R&B/adult contemporary artist. According to author Chris Nickson, "Breakdown" was an important component of Butterfly: "'Breakdown' showed Mariah treading forcefully into territory that was new for her and making it her own; it had a melody that simmered under her vocal and a groove that was irresistible."[1] When Carey began recording the album, she had slow and sultry ballads such as "Whenever You Call" and "Butterfly," but also had big R&B and hip hop uptempo numbers like "Honey". For this reason, Carey recorded "Breakdown" in order to fill in the midsection of the album and serve as the album's "backbone."[1]

Composition

"Breakdown" is a slow and sultry song which blends R&B and hip hop genres.[3] It incorporates drum notes, including heavy beats and grooves.[1] The song features rap verses by Krayzie and Wish Bone. As part of "layering the song," background vocals are featured throughout the chorus and sections of the bridge. It is set in the signature common time and is written in the key of E major.[4] It features a basic chord progression of A♭-F♭-1.[4] Carey's vocal range in the song spans from the note of B2 to the high note of F♯5; the piano and guitar pieces range from F♭3 to G♭5 as well.[4] The song contains choral lyrics written by Carey, who produced the song's melody and chorus as well. Aside from assisting with its writing and chord progression, Stevie J and Puff Daddy co-produced the song as well.[3]

A different edit of the song, "The Mo' Thugs Remix", features longer raps from Krayzie and Wish Bone and an intro and verse from Layzie Bone, who was absent from the original version. This version can be found on Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's compilation The Collection Volume One (1998).[3]

Release and controversies
Further information: Number 1's (Mariah Carey album) § Background and album title

"Breakdown" was the source of controversy when it came to its release. Carey was having a conflict with Columbia Records over the singles choices, as they were already not happy with the album's hip hop transition.[5] Later, in 1998 when Carey was composing the songs for her first compilation album, #1's, the song was again one of the reasons for continued conflict within the label. They disagreed on what content should compose the album.[5] For this reason, Sony titled the album #1's, as Carey felt the need to express the album's true content, a collection of her number-one hits.[5] Carey has frequently cited "Underneath the Stars" (1996) and "Breakdown" as examples of songs she was unsuccessful in releasing.[6]

Critical reception

"Breakdown" garnered general acclaim from music critics. David Browne from Entertainment Weekly praised the song, writing "for most of the album she keeps her notorious octave-climbing chops at bay. Showing some admirable restraint, she nestles herself into downy-soft beats. In 'Breakdown', she demonstrates she can match the staccato, lite-reggae phrasing of her guests, two members of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony."[7] Rich Juzwiak from Slant called "Breakdown" "the song of Carey's career," noting its "lyrical strokes as broad and obvious as they are naked. Mariah the chanter flawlessly adapts to their singsong style, largely boxing her multi-octave range into a sly, hypnotic melody so that when she really wails at the end, you really feel it. As with 'The Roof', Carey lunges toward musical maturity by embracing, not shunning hip-hop. This is the height of her elegance and maybe hip-hop-soul's, too."[8]

Chart performance

Released as the third single from Butterfly in 1998 in the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Australia only (in Europe "The Roof" was chosen as the third single instead).[1] Because of conflict between Carey and her record label at the time, it was only given a commercial release in Australia, where it performed modestly and remained in the top 40 for three weeks. A remix of the song was promoted to US radio stations and debuted on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart in September–October 1997. However, it wasn't released commercially in the US until April 1998, as a double A-side with "My All."[1] It reached the top-five on the Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart as "My All/Breakdown." However, the song itself independently appeared on the Hot 100 Airplay chart and reached the top 20 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and Rhythmic Airplay charts.[1] In New Zealand, the single performed well, peaking at number four and being certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ), denoting shipments of over 7,500 units.[9]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Breakdown" (released in March 1998) was directed by Carey with the assistance of Diane Martel.[3] It sees her take on the role of various "casino girl" roles, including a cabaret girl, showgirl, cowgirl and lucky charm. The members of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, except for Bizzy Bone, make appearances as well.[3] In the music video, Carey plays her part as a cabaret girl, dancing on a chair accompanied by two other females. Other scenes include Carey in a main casino hall, where Wish and Krayzie Bone make appearances. While they gamble with a large crowd surrounding them, Carey lounges on the table and cheers for them.[3]

Live performances

Carey performed the song live during her 1998 Butterfly World Tour. Throughout the performances, Carey wore a short beige outfit and long semi-teased up hair, accompanied by male and female dancers.[10] During the song's act, Carey would slowly sway hand-in-hand with other male dancers, giving the illusion of sultry compassion.[11] Carey performed the song acapella in Chicago during her 2000 Rainbow World Tour. During her Adventures of Mimi Tour in 2006, Carey performed the song during select dates on the tour. The performance included many exotic female dancers, performing seductive pole dances and other similar routines. Carey, while singing, danced light routines on a chair, while wearing a red one piece suit.[12] The song was also performed on select dates of Carey's 2014 The Elusive Chanteuse Show tour.[13] It was also performed as part of the "Car Ride Medley" during The Sweet Sweet Fantasy Tour in Mexico and Hawaii and The Butterfly Returns in 2020.

Track listing and formats
  1. "My All" – 3:51
  2. "Breakdown" – 4:58
  1. "Breakdown" (Radio Edit) – 4:15
  2. "Breakdown" (The Mo' Thugs Remix) – 4:58
  3. "Breakdown" (Album Version) – 4:44[16]
  4. "Honey" (Morales Dub Club) – 10:58
  5. "Honey" (Mo' Honey Club) – 7:23
  1. "Breakdown" (Radio Edit) – 4:17
  2. "Breakdown" – 4:45
  3. "Breakdown" (The Mo' Thugs Remix) – 4:57

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the Butterfly liner notes.[18]

  • Mariah Carey – vocals, writer (music and lyrics), producer
  • Steven Jordan – writer (music), producer
  • Anthony Henderson – writer (lyrics), vocals
  • Charles Scruggs – writer (lyrics), vocals
  • Sean Combs – producer

Charts and certifications

References
  1. Nickson 1998, pp. 167–168
  2. "Mariah Carey Rolls Out Crave Records". MTV Networks. MTV. February 19, 1997. Retrieved November 13, 2010.
  3. Nickson 1998, p. 166
  4. Abrego 1998, pp. 30–35
  5. Shapiro 2001, p. 116
  6. Higher and Higher. Vibe. LLC. November 12, 1998. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
  7. Browne, David (September 19, 1997). "Music Review – Mariah Carey: Butterfly". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
  8. Juzwiak, Rich (December 18, 2003). "Music Review: Mariah Carey: Butterfly". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on October 3, 2009. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
  9. Scapolo, Dean (2007). The Complete New Zealand Music Charts 1966–2006. ISBN 978-1-877443-00-8.
  10. Argenson 2010, pp. 23–28
  11. Argenson 2010, pp. 29–33
  12. Argenson 2010, pp. 36–44
  13. "Mariah Carey Concert Setlist at Makuhari Messe, Chiba on October 4, 2014 - setlist.fm". setlist.fm. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  14. My All/Breakdown (U.S. CD Single liner notes). Mariah Carey. Columbia Records. 1998. 38K 78821.CS1 maint: others (link)
  15. Breakdown (CD Maxi-Single liner notes). Mariah Carey. Columbia Records. 1998. 665531 2.CS1 maint: others (link)
  16. Breakdown Maxi-Single, retrieved August 29, 2020
  17. Breakdown EP, retrieved August 28, 2020
  18. Carey, Mariah (1997). Butterfly (Liner Notes) (Compact Disc). Mariah Carey. New York City, New York: Columbia Records.
  19. "Australian-charts.com – Mariah Carey feat. Bone Thugs-n-Harmony – Breakdown". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  20. "Charts.nz – Mariah Carey feat. Bone Thugs-n-Harmony – Breakdown". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  21. "Mariah Carey UK Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  22. "Mariah Carey Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  23. "Mariah Carey Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  24. "Mariah Carey Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  25. "The Year in Music: 1998" (PDF). Billboard. December 26, 1998. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 28, 2015. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  26. "New Zealand single certifications – Mariah Carey – Breakdown". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2019.

Further reading
  • Abrego, Jim (2010). Mariah Carey: Butterfly. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 978-0-7935-8986-9.
  • Nickson, Chris (1998). Mariah Carey revisited: her story. St. Martin's Press. ISBN 978-0-312-19512-0.
  • Scapolo, Dean (2007). The Complete New Zealand Music Charts: 1966–2006. Maurienne House. ISBN 978-1-877443-00-8.
  • Shapiro, Marc (2001). Mariah Carey: The Unauthorized Biography. ECW Press. ISBN 978-1-55022-444-3.
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