Breakdown

Krayzie Bone, Wish Bone, Mariah Carey

About Breakdown

"Breakdown" is a song by American singer and songwriter Mariah Carey. The song features rap verses by Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. It was released on March 22, 1998, by Columbia Records as the fourth single from her sixth studio album Butterfly (1997). Similar to the treatments of "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. 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. Carey performed the song live during select dates of her Butterfly World Tour in 1998 and Adventures of Mimi Tour in 2006. 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 US, 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 Chart. 


Year:
2010
4:44
91 

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Break break down
Steady breakin' me on down, break break down
Steady breakin' me on down
Break break down, steady breakin' me on down
Break break down, steady breakin' me on down

You called yesterday to basically say
That you care for me
But that you're just not in love
Immediately I pretended
To be feeling similarly
And led you to believe it was okay
To just walk away from the one thing
That's unyielding and sacred to me

Well I guess I'm trying to be
Nonchalant about it
And I'm going to extremes to prove
I'm fine without you
But in reality I'm slowly losing my mind
Underneath a disguise of a smile
Gradually I'm dying inside
Friends ask me how I feel
And I lie convincingly
'Cause I don't want to reveal
The fact that I'm suffering
So I wear my disguise
'Til I go home at night
And turn down all the lights
And then I break down and cry

So what do you do
When somebody you're so devoted to
Suddenly just stops loving you
And it seems they haven't got a clue
Of the pain that rejection is putting you through
Do you cling to your pride
And sing I will survive
Do you lash out and say how dare you leave this way?
Do you hold on in vain as they just slip away

Well I guess I'm trying to be
Nonchalant about it
And I'm going to extremes to prove
I'm fine without you
But in reality I'm slowly losing my mind
Underneath the disguise of a smile
Gradually I'm dying inside
Friends ask me how I feel
And I lie convincingly
'Cause I don't want to reveal
The fact that I'm suffering
So I wear my disguise
'Til I go home at night
And turn down all the lights
And then I break down and cry

It'll break you down
Only if you let it
Everyday crazy situations rocking my mind
Tryin' to break me down
But I won't let it
Forget it (forget it)

I be feelin' like you bringing me down
Taking me around
Stressin' me out
I think i better go and get out
And let me release some stress (stress)

Don't ever wanna feel no pain (pain)
Hoping for the sun
But it looks like rain (rain, rain, rain)
Lord, I just wanna maintain

Yeah, I can feel pressures y'all
But never the less
Krayzie won't fall
It's over, it's ending here (here)

Well I guess I'm trying to be
Nonchalant about it
And I'm going to extremes to prove
I'm fine without you
But in reality I'm slowly losing my mind
Underneath the guise of a smile
Gradually I'm dying inside
Friends ask me how I feel
And I lie convincingly
'Cause I don't want to reveal
The fact that I'm suffering
So I wear my disguise
'Til I go home at night
And turn down all the lights
And then I break down and cry

Well I guess I'm trying to be
Nonchalant about it
And I'm going to extremes to prove
I'm fine without you
But in reality I'm slowly losing my mind
Underneath the guise of a smile
Gradually I'm dying inside
Friends ask me how I feel
And I lie convincingly
'Cause I don't want to reveal
The fact that I'm suffering
So I wear my disguise
'Til I go home at night
And turn down all the lights
And then I break down and cry

Well I guess I'm trying to be
Nonchalant about it
And I'm going to extremes to prove
I'm fine without you
But in reality I'm slowly losing my mind
Underneath the guise of a smile
Gradually I'm dying inside
Friends ask me how I feel
And I lie convincingly
'Cause I don't want to reveal
The fact that I'm suffering
So I wear my disguise
'Til I go home at night
And turn down all the lights
And then I break down and cry

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Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey (born March 27, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut in 1990 under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, and released her self-titled debut studio album, Mariah Carey. The album went multi-platinum and spawned four consecutive number one singles, on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. Following her marriage to Mottola in 1993, a series of hit records, including Emotions (1991), Music Box (1993) and Merry Christmas (1994), established her position as Columbia's highest-selling act. Daydream (1995), made music history when the second single, "One Sweet Day" a duet with Boyz II Men, spent a record sixteen weeks on top of the Billboard Hot 100, and remains… more »

20 fans

Written by: MARIAH CAREY, SEAN COMBS, ANTHONY HENDERSON, STEVEN A JORDAN, CHARLES SCRUGGS

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


12 facts about this song

Collaboration Fact
"Breakdown" is a collaboration between American hip-hop group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and Mariah Carey, one of the best-selling female artists in the history of Billboard.
Release Fact
The song was released on March 22, 1998, as the third single from Carey's sixth studio album, "Butterfly".
Chart Performance Fact
Despite not being officially released in the U.S., the song still achieved chart success. "Breakdown" reached number four in New Zealand, number six in Australia, and number eight in the United Kingdom.
Production Fact
The song was produced by Mariah Carey and Stevie J. It also carries elements of R&B, hip-hop, and pop music.
Video Fact
The music video was shot in the New York City Subway. In it, Carey goes from being an extravagant diva to struggling through a dark, deserted environment with Bone Thugs-N-Harmony appearing as apparitions.
Recognition Fact
In 1998, "Breakdown" was nominated for a Billboard Music Award for Top Hot R&B Single Sales.
Song Theme Fact
The song's lyrics describe the sadness and denial that the end of a relationship brings.
Personal Significance Fact
According to Carey, "Breakdown" is one of her favorite songs.
Rare Fact
"Breakdown" is said to be one of the few songs where rap group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, sing in a song rather than rap.
Commercial Success Fact
The song was more commercially successful outside of the U.S., where it was not officially released as a single.
Creative Influence Fact
The song's fusion of pop, R&B, and hip-hop elements helped Carey transition from her previous adult contemporary sound to a more modern urban aesthetic.
Impact Fact
"Breakdown" is often viewed as a significant release in Carey's discography, highlighting her creative control during the Butterfly era and pushing her music further into the R&B and hip-hop territory.

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