Breakaway is the second studio album by American singer Kelly Clarkson, released on November 30, 2004, by RCA Records. The album is a follow-up to her successful debut album, Thankful (2003). Executive produced by Clive Davis, Breakaway sees Clarkson collaborating with various producers and songwriters for the first time, primarily Dr. Luke, Max Martin, John Shanks, Kara DioGuardi, Ben Moody, and David Hodges; the latter two are former members of American rock band Evanescence. Despite the established commercial success of Thankful, music critics still continued to typecast Clarkson as an American Idol winner and were also critical of her attempts of establishing a commercial appeal on her own. Wanting to stray from those, she was convinced by Davis to work with Dr. Luke and Martin in Stockholm, and with Moody and Hodges in Los Angeles, in pursuit of a pop rock direction. This also led her to part ways with her manager Simon Fuller and hire the management services of Jeff Kwatinetz before the album's release. Breakaway is predominately a pop rock album with elements of rock and soul music, marking a departure from the R&B-oriented sound of Thankful; its lyrics explore themes of heartbreak, love, and escapism.

 

Breakaway received a positive response from music critics, with many commending the album's new-found pop rock sound and Clarkson's vocal performances. It received several awards and nominations, including winning two Grammy Awards and receiving a nomination for a Juno Award. The album became a commercial success worldwide. By selling over 12 million copies worldwide, Breakaway is Clarkson's best selling album of her career so far, and one of the best-selling albums of the 21st century. After debuting at number three on the Billboard 200 in the United States, it stayed on the top twenty of the chart for more than a year, eventually being certified 6× multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of more than six million copies.

 

Breakaway's singles "Since U Been Gone", "Behind These Hazel Eyes", "Because of You", "Walk Away", and "Breakaway" became worldwide hits and have become some of Clarkson's signature songs. Their successes prompted Billboard to credit her for landscaping the core sound of mainstream pop music as an uptempo dance-oriented sound in the 2000s. Furthermore, Breakaway established Clarkson as one of the four highest-selling acts of Sony BMG in the 2000s. Internationally, the album topped the music charts of Ireland and the Netherlands and became the world's 7th biggest-selling release of 2005, eventually being certified platinum in over 17 countries. To promote the album, Clarkson embarked on three international concert tours from 2005 to 2006: the Breakaway World Tour, Hazel Eyes Tour, and the Addicted Tour. Billboard placed the album 77th in the Greatest of All Time Billboard 200 Albums.

 

Track listing

Breakaway – Standard edition[1][105]

No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length

1. "Breakaway"

Matthew Gerrard Bridget Benenate Avril Lavigne

John Shanks 3:57

2. "Since U Been Gone"

Max Martin Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald

Martin Dr. Luke

3:08

3. "Behind These Hazel Eyes"

Kelly Clarkson MartinGottwald

Martin Dr. Luke

3:19

4. "Because of You"

Clarkson David Hodges Ben Moody

Hodges Moody

3:39

5. "Gone"

Kara DioGuardi Shanks

Shanks 3:25

6. "Addicted"

Clarkson Hodges Moody

Hodges Moody

3:57

7. "Where Is Your Heart"

Chantal Kreviazuk Clarkson DioGuardi

Raine Maida Kreviazuk

4:39

8. "Walk Away"

Kreviazuk Maida DioGuardi Clarkson

Maida DioGuardi Kreviazuk

3:09

9. "You Found Me"

DioGuardi Shanks

Shanks 3:40

10. "I Hate Myself for Losing You"

DioGuardi Jimmy Harry Shep Solomon

Clif Magness 3:20

11. "Hear Me"

Clarkson DioGuardi Magness

Magness 3:53

12. "Beautiful Disaster" (Live)

Matthew Wilder Rebekah Jordan

4:37

 

 

 

Singles:

 

"Since U Been Gone"

 

"Behind These Hazel Eyes"

 

"Because of You"

 

"Walk Away"

 

"Breakaway"

 

Commercial performance:

 

Breakaway is currently Clarkson's most successful release to date, with sales of over 12 million copies worldwide.[71] On the week ending December 18, 2004, the album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 album chart in the United States with 250,000 copies sold,[72][73] which were 47,000 less than her first week sales of Thankful.[74] Music commercial analysts noted that Clarkson's commercial appeal has endured beyond American Idol, but also commented on its slumping performance.[74][75] Billboard director Geoff Mayfield noted the lackluster performance may have been caused by being released in a competitive holiday market.[74] Despite failing to top the chart, the record stayed on the top twenty of the Billboard 200 for 61 consecutive weeks,[76] and became the first title in five years to spend its entire year in the top twenty of the chart.[77] By the end of 2005, Breakaway became the year's third best-selling album in the United States, according to Nielsen Soundscan.[78] It was certified 6× multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on May 23, 2007,[79] and as of September 2017, it has sold over 6,355,000 copies in the United States, becoming her best-selling record in the region.[80]

 

Breakaway has also enjoyed commercial success internationally; it became her first album to chart in over nineteen regions. By the end of 2005, the album became the world's seventh best-selling release of the year according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.[81] In the United Kingdom, it debuted on the Official UK Albums Chart at number ten with 17,631 copies.[82] At the beginning of 2006, the album ascended to number three on the chart.[83] As of 2012, it has sold over 1,571,278 copies in the region.[84] In Australia, Breakaway debuted on the ARIA Albums Chart at number twenty-nine, and also spent its entire year on the top fifty, peaking at number two.[85] In Ireland, the album debuted on the IRMA Artist Albums chart at number twenty-one, and topped the chart in 2006.[86] Together with the Australian Recording Industry Association, the Irish Recorded Music Association certified the record as 7× multi-platinum, its highest certification overall.[87][88] In the Netherlands, the album debuted on the Mega Album Top 100 at number forty-seven and topped the chart for three weeks.[89] Additionally, Breakaway peaked in the top five in the national charts of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, New Zealand, Portugal, and Switzerland; and has attained top twenty positions in six additional regions worldwide.[63]

THE ALBUM OF THE 2000'S

This is such a mammoth of an album and a perfect case study for avoiding the sophomore slump. The run of singles from Since U Been Gone to Walk Away is flawless. Even album tracks like Gone and You Found Me would have been worthy singles. I still can't get over how different Kelly looks between that album cover posted above to the UK album cover. :lol: She looks like an entirely different person, no?

oh I didn't know there was a different cover for UK/EU?!!!

This one: :D I much prefer it tbh.

 

ICONIC ALBUM

The greatest album of all time for me. It's just perfect from start to finish and is for SURE a lesson in how to launch an artist. It's very easy to slump with the 2nd album, but this was so perfectly crafted and felt extremely natural.

 

The singles campaign is one of, if not THE, greatest singles campaign. Absolutely perfect. I remember borrowing this album from my friend and hearing this album for the first time just blew me away. I immediately played it on repeat for the rest of the day, gave it back the day after and bought my own version of it. Flawless.

 

No skips.

PERFECTION in an album honestly. Very little other artists can pull of what she did here, the singles campaign I agree is one of the very best (the best that immediately comes to mind for sure)

I never really got into Kelly but I have heard this album and it’s really good. I miss when female artists put out albums like this. An era *.*

Just to echo what others have said amazing album, a great run of singles.

 

My rate would be:-

 

1. Since You Been Gone

2. Breakaway

3. Because of You

4. Behind Those Hazel Eyes

5. Walk Away

Rank Time:

 

1. Behind Those Hazel Eyes

2. Because of You

3. Since You Been Gone

4. Breakaway

5. Walk Away

I've shamefully never heard this album in full but that singles run is f l a w l e s s so I probably should

1) Behind These Hazel Eyes

2) Hear Me

3) Gone

4) Addicted

5) Because Of You

 

One of my favourite albums of all time. In fact, the only thing I don't like about it is the awful original album cover - so glad that the international versions got a better one.

Favourite singles run of all time.

 

SINGLES RANKING:

 

1. Behind These Hazel Eyes

2. Because of You

3. Walk Away

4. Breakaway

5. Since U Been Gone (still love this song, just overplayed)

Edited April 28, 20205 yr by Prettylittlebry

1. Because Of You

2. Behind These Hazel Eyes

3. Since U Been Gone

(Gone)

(You Found Me)

4. Walk Away

5. Breakaway

 

That top 3 though is just perfect. Pop rock and pop balladry at its finest. I still can't believe Clive Davis didn't like Because Of You. :drama: What a fool!

A great album indeed, easily her best. The single run was brilliant (although I don't remember breakaway as a single) I was hooked from Since U Been Gone!

 

My singles rating

1. Since u been gone

2. Because of you

3. Walk away

4. Behind those hazel eyes

5. Breakway

 

There is literally nothing separating singles 2-4 for me, all 3 are just brilliant (well all 5 really)

Such a classic album. I'm tempted to give this another listen myself soon (as well as the All Saints one I said I'd do also!).

 

The singles were so strong :wub:

Love love love this album!

 

1. Breakaway

2. Walk Away

3. Since U Been Gone

4. Behind These Hazel Eyes

5. Because of You.

 

 

The quality of the rest of the album doesn’t match up to these singles in the slightest but it’s a testament to how amazing the singles run is because the album is still fantastic!

The best singles run of all time, imo. My favourite album of all time.

 

The moment I became a full on Kelly stan! Just love this so much.