"Break the Rules" is a song by English 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.[1]
"Break the Rules" | ||||
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Single by Charli XCX | ||||
from the album Sucker | ||||
Released | 19 August 2014 | |||
Recorded | 2014 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:24 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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Charli XCX singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Break the Rules" on YouTube |
"Break the Rules" is an electro-rock and alternative rock song,[2][3] set against a "propulsive" synth-pop groove.[4] 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.[5]
Cosmopolitan listed "Break the Rules" at number five on its 2014 best songs list.[6] Ahead of the release of her 2022 album Crash, Consequence of Sound ranked the song as Charli's best,[7] which she disagreed with.[8]
The music video for "Break the Rules" was directed by Marc Klasfeld and premiered on 25 August 2014.[9][10] 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.[11] According to Charli, the video draws inspiration from films such as Carrie (1976), The Craft (1996) and Jawbreaker (1999).[10][12] It features a cameo from actress Rose McGowan, the star of Jawbreaker, as a school chaperone.[10]
The song was used in trailers for the 2015 film Goosebumps. It was also featured in the 2016 film Good Kids.[13] 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.
Credits for "Break the Rules" are adapted from CD liner notes[18][19]
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Weekly charts edit
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Year-end charts edit
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA)[47] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
Canada (Music Canada)[48] | Gold | 40,000‡ |
Germany (BVMI)[49] | Gold | 200,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[50] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[51] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
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Canada | 19 August 2014 | Digital download | Atlantic | [52] |
United States | [53] | |||
Australia | 10 October 2014 | [54] | ||
Ireland |
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[55] | ||
United Kingdom | 12 October 2014 | [56] | ||
Finland | 17 October 2014 | Atlantic | [57] | |
Norway | [58] | |||
Sweden | [59] | |||
France | 27 October 2014 | [60] | ||
Ireland | 31 October 2014 | Digital download (remixes) |
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[61] |
United Kingdom | 2 November 2014 | [62] | ||
France | 3 November 2014 | Atlantic | [63] | |
Australia | 21 November 2014 |
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Warner | [17][64] |
United States | 24 November 2014 | Digital download (remixes) | Atlantic | [65] |
Germany | 16 January 2015 | CD single | Warner | [16] |
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)