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"Breakdown" is a song by Mariah Carey featuring Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, released as the fourth single from her fifth studio album "Butterfly." The single was released on March 22, 1998 through Columbia Records. The song was written by Mariah Carey, Steven Jordan, Anthony Henderson (Krayzie Bone) and Charles Scruggs (Wish Bone), and produced by Carey, Stevie J and Puff Daddy.[1]

Due to Billboard rules at the time, Breakdown was not allowed to chart on the official Hot 100, but it peaked at #53 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Airplay chart and #41 on Billboard’s R&B chart.[1]

Background[]

In an interview in September 1997, Carey talked about the song: "It's a completely different type of singing for me," she stated. "I love what they [referring to Bone Thugs] do and I think their style is so unique. You can tell in a lot of R&B their style is starting to penetrate. I was very inspired by them when I came up with the song and I told Puffy let's do a Bone Thugs type track. We got Stevie J (Puffy's right hand producer) to lay down the track and I wrote the melody over it. I wrote the song to fit in with that type of style they do and I realised it's really hard to sing those types of rhythm. They make it sound so easy. Now, having experienced the difficulty at first hand. I respect them even more.”[2]

The song was recorded at the Hit Factory in New York City.[1]

Critical reception[]

In his book Mariah Carey Revisited, author Chris Nickson stated: "Breakdow saw Puffy and Mariah behind the boards again, with guest raps from Wish Bone and Krayzie Bone from Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, who also helped out with the backgrounds. Like “Honey,” “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."

Music Video[]

Mariah appeared on MTV Live on December 16, 1997 to premiere the music video, which she co-directed with Diane Martel premiered. In the video, which features cameo appearances by Jermaine Dupri and rapper Redman, Mariah plays a Vegas showgirl.[3]

Live performances[]

Carey debuted the song live on her Butterfly World Tour, which began on January 11, 1998 and was a regular part of the setlist. An acapella version of the song was performed on the Chicago date of the Butterfly World Tour. During her Adventures of Mimi Tour in 2006, Carey performed the song during select dates on the tour. In 2014, the song was also performed on select dates of the The Elusive Chanteuse Show tour. The song 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.[4]

Lyrics[]

[Intro: Krayzie Bone]
Break-breakdown
Steady breaking me on down
Break-breakdown
Steady breaking me on down
Break-breakdown
Steady breaking me on down
Break-breakdown
Steady breaking me on down

[Verse 1: Mariah Carey]
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 I was O.K
To just walk away from the one thing
That's unyielding and sacred to me

[Chorus: Mariah Carey]
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
(Underneath the guise of smile)
Friends ask me how I feel and I lie convincingly
'Cause I don't want to reveal the fact that 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

[Verse 2: Mariah Carey & (Krayzie Bone)]
So, what do you do when somebody you're 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"
(Gotta get control and roll roll roll on)
Do you lash out and say "How dare you leave this way"
(Gotta get control and roll roll roll on)
(Gotta get control and roll roll roll on)
Do you hold on in vain as they just slip away
(Gotta get control and roll roll roll on)

[Chorus: Mariah Carey & Krayzie Bone]
Well, I guess I'm trying to be nonchalant about it
Break-breakdown
And I'm going to extremes to prove I'm fine without you
Steady breaking me on down
But in reality I'm slowly losing my mind (losing my mind)
Break-breakdown
Underneath the guise of a smile gradually I'm dying inside
(Under the smile)
Steady breaking me on down
Friends ask me how I feel and I lie convincingly
(How do I feel?)
Break-breakdown
'Cause I don't want to reveal the fact that that I'm suffering
Steady breaking me on down
So I wear my disguise 'til I go home at night
Break-breakdown
And turn down all the lights and then I break down and cry
Steady breaking me on down
Yeah
Come on, yeah
Come on, come on

[Hook: Mariah Carey & Krayzie Bone]
I don't wanna break down
(Breakdown, breakdown)
Break-breakdown
(Gotta get control and roll roll roll on)
I don't wanna break down
(Breakdown, breakdown)
Steady breaking me on down
(Gotta get control and roll roll roll on)
I don't wanna break down
(Breakdown, breakdown)
Break-breakdown
(Gotta get control and roll roll roll on)
I don't wanna break down
(Breakdown, breakdown)
Steady breaking me on down
(Gotta get control and roll roll roll on)

[Verse 3: Wish Bone]
Gonna break you down
Only if you let it
Everyday crazy situations rocking my mind
Trying to break me down
But I won't let it
Forget it

[Verse 4: Krayzie Bone]
I be feeling like you're breaking me down
Kicking me around, stressing me out
I think you better go and get out
And let me release some stress

[Verse 5: Wish Bone]
Don't ever wanna feel no pain
Hoping for the sun but it looks like rain
Lord, I just wanna maintain

[Verse 6: Krayzie Bone]
Yeah, I'm feeling pressures you all
But nevertheless Krayzie won't fall
It's over, it's ending here

[Chorus: Mariah Carey]
Well, I guess I'm trying to be nonchalant about it
(I'm crying)
And I'm going to extremes to prove I'm fine without you
But in reality I'm slowly losing my mind
(I'm gradually dying inside)
Underneath the guise of a smile gradually I'm dying inside
(In my heart, I'm crying)
Friends ask me how I feel and I lie convincingly
(How do I feel?)
'Cause I don't want to reveal the fact that that I'm suffering
(I'm losing my mind)
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 I breakdown and cry)

[Chorus: Mariah Carey & Krayzie Bone]
Well, I guess I'm trying to be nonchalant about it
Gotta get control and roll roll roll on
And I'm going to extremes to prove I'm fine without you
Gotta get control and roll roll roll on
But in reality I'm slowly losing my mind
Gotta get control and roll roll roll on
Underneath the guise of a smile gradually I'm dying inside
Gotta get control and roll roll roll on
Friends ask me how I feel and I lie convincingly
(How do I feel?)
Gotta get control and roll roll roll on
'Cause I don't want to reveal the fact that that I'm suffering
(What do you think? You gotta know I'm suffering, so I...)
Gotta get control and roll roll roll on
So I wear my disguise 'til I go home at night
(I turn off the lights and breakdown and cry)
Gotta get control and roll roll roll on
And turn down all the lights and then I break down and cry
Gotta get control and roll roll roll on

[Chorus: Mariah Carey & Krayzie Bone]
Well, I guess I'm trying to be nonchalant about it
Break-breakdown
(Cry, cry, cry)
And I'm going to extremes to prove I'm fine without you
Steady breaking me on down
But in reality I'm slowly losing my mind
Break-breakdown
(Cry, cry, cry)
Underneath the guise of a smile gradually I'm dying inside
Steady breaking me on down
(Cry, cry, cry)
Friends ask me how I feel and I lie convincingly
Break-breakdown
'Cause I don't want to reveal the fact that that I'm suffering
Steady breaking me on down
(Cry, cry, cry)
So I wear my disguise 'til I go home at night
Break-breakdown
And turn down all the lights and then I break down and cry
Steady breaking me on down

[Outro: Mariah Carey & Krayzie Bone]
I don't wanna break down
Break-breakdown
(Gotta get control and roll roll roll on)
I don't wanna break down
Steady breaking me on down
(Gotta get control and roll roll roll on)


Gallery[]

References[]

Butterfly
September 16, 1997 • 57:19 • Columbia
Songs
Released ButterflyBreakdownBabydollFly Away (Butterfly Reprise)My AllThe Roof (Back in Time)Fourth of JulyClose My EyesWhenever You CallFly Away (Butterfly Reprise)The Beautiful OnesOutside
Singles
HoneyButterflyThe RoofBreakdownMy All
Artists
Mariah Carey
Tour
Butterfly World Tour
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