Break My Heart Again
"Break My Heart Again" is a song by American singer-songwriter Finneas. It was released by OYOY as a single on February 9, 2018, for digital download and streaming. It was later re-released on the deluxe edition of his debut EP, Blood Harmony (2019). An indie pop ballad, the song's lyrics address Finneas breaking up with his girlfriend through on and off texting. The song received mainly positive reviews from music critics, several of whom praised the music and lyrical content.
| "Break My Heart Again" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Finneas | ||||
| Released | February 9, 2018 | |||
| Genre | Indie pop | |||
| Length | 3:58 | |||
| Label | OYOY | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Finneas | |||
| Finneas singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Break My Heart Again" on YouTube | ||||
A one-take music video was released on April 18, 2019, and was directed by Sam Bennett. In it, the camera turns around the singer as he sings to about losing his loved one. Finneas performed the track during a 50-minute livestream for Verizon Communications in April 2020.
Background and composition
"Break My Heart Again" was released as a standalone single for digital download and streaming through his record label OYOY on February 9, 2018.[1] It was later re-released on the deluxe edition of his debut EP Blood Harmony, on August 7, 2020.[2] The track was written and produced by Finneas.[2]
Critical commentary described the track as an indie pop ballad.[3][4][5] Chris Riemenschneider, writing for the Star Tribune, compared the track to the works of John Legend, calling it a "John Legend-style romantic piano ballad".[4] At the start of the song, a stripped back piano appears and accompanies Finneas' vocals. The sound of typing and sending messages can be heard for almost the whole song. "Hey you/I'm just now leaving/Can I come around/Later on this evening?/Or do/You need time?/Yes of course/That's fine."[3][6] "Break My Heart Again" is almost entirely composed of real texts between himself and a former lover.[7][8] Finneas explained in a statement: "The lyrics in the verses are basically verbatim text conversations I had with an ex-girlfriend. I thought it'd be cool to double illustrate that point so I added text and typing sounds to the production."[6] As the chorus begins, Finneas switches from talking about his interactions with his loved one to admitting his emotions. His voice starts to become layered.[3]
He confesses to being constantly hurt by the one he cares about, leaving him hurt and confused. He then admits it gets to a point that he's thinking his loved one is wrong for constantly hurting him. He then realizes if he's wrong for always allowing the former to do so. "So go ahead and break my heart again/Leave me wonderin' why the hell I ever let you in/Are you the definition of insanity?/Or am I? Oh, it must be nice/To love someone who lets you break them twice."[3] The bridge takes suggests that the singer is confronting his lover about their issues. Finneas is pressured as he admits that he thought his lover was “the one”, but their actions revealed that all they can do is break up and that their relationship is over.[3] Finneas then reveals they reunite five years later, and the song comes to a stop. The song starts over again with just piano and Finneas' vocals. He says that even though time has passed, the person he loves is still the same. The chorus is then repeated, and more stripped back.[3]
Critical reception
"Break My Heart Again" received mainly positive reviews from music critics. Kasey Caminiti writing for DuJour labeled the song as "soft" and "relatable". And further mentions that it "highlight[s] the insanity of millennial love stories".[6] Tanis Smither of Earmilk described the song as "raw" and "startlingly honest".[7] Music Connection's Dan Kimpel commended the lyrical content and melody, which, according to him, are "gorgeous".[8] Writing for Atwood Magazine, Nicole Almeida cited the track as a "soothing song for the brokenhearted" and stated it is "proof of O'Connell's supreme talent".[3] Shaad D'Souza of Paper magazine stated that "Break My Heart Again" is a "traditional-sounding ballad", and complimented that it has "masterful production work" and the listeners should "stay for the twists".[5] Modestas Mankus, writing for Our Culture Mag, described the song as "purely emotional" and "simply stunning". He further noted that it is "an emotional and attaching piece that grows on you as it progresses with its subtle touches and its genuineness".[9]
Promotion
A music video for "Break My Heart Again" was uploaded to Finneas' official YouTube channel on April 18, 2019.[10] The video was directed by Sam Bennett and choreographed by Monika Felice Smith, while shot in one take and in black and white.[10][11] In the visual, the camera revolves around the singer as he sings 'So go ahead and break my heart again/Leave me wondering/why the hell I ever let you in/Are you the definition of insanity?/Or am I?/Oh, it must be nice/To love someone/Who lets you break them twice".[7][11] As the video continues, Finneas begins to tug and pull his shirt, portraying how hard it is of letting go of something that you love. A stripped-back piano accompanies the singer as he sings, and includes the sounds of typing and sending text messages in the background.[11] The music video was positively received by music critics upon its release. Smither described the visual as a "monochromatic canvas".[7] Writing for Alternative Press, Alex Darus called the video a "heart-wrenching black and white video that really put us in our feels".[10] Evelin Mercedes of CelebMix labeled the visual as "creatively put[ting] a spin on the idea of meeting someone after experiencing heartbreak and fitting the lyrics perfectly".[11] In April 2020, Finneas performed "Break My Heart Again" during a 50-minute livestream for Verizon Communications.[12]
Release history
| Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | February 9, 2018 | OYOY |
References
- "Break My Heart Again by Finneas on iTunes". iTunes Store. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
- Kenneally, Cerys (August 10, 2020). "Finneas releases deluxe edition of debut EP with new version of 'Let's Fall In Love For The Night'". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
- Almeida, Nicole (February 8, 2018). "Premiere: Modern Love And Heartbreak in Finneas' 'Break My Heart Again'". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
- Riemenschneider, Chris (June 1, 2019). "Hitmaker Billie Eilish's producer and only songwriting partner? Her brother". Star Tribune. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
- D'Souza, Shaad (August 7, 2020). "Sound Off: 10 New Songs You Need to Hear Now". Paper. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
- Caminiti, Kasey. "Meet a Musician From a Family of Indie Darlings". DuJour. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
- Smither, Tanis. "Artist to Watch: Finneas talks influence and production". Earmilk. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
- Kimpel, Dan (July 17, 2018). "Songwriter Profile: Finneas". Music Connection. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
- Mankus, Modestas (February 10, 2018). "Finneas presents 'Break My Heart Again'". Our Culture Mag. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
- Darus, Alex (April 18, 2019). "Billie Eilish's Brother, Co-Writer Finneas Drops New Heartbreaking Song". Alternative Press. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
- Mercedes, Evelin (April 18, 2019). "Finneas Debuts Black & White Visuals For 'Break My Heart Again' Music Video". CelebMix. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
- "Watch Billie Eilish perform hits like 'Bad Guy' acoustically and explain the meanings of her songs in an intimate, 50-minute livestream". Insider. Retrieved April 29, 2020.