Potential Breakup Song

"Potential Breakup Song" is a song co-written and performed by pop rock duo Aly & AJ and is the first single from their third studio album, Insomniatic. It was released on June 26, 2007, going on to top many video countdowns, and becoming Aly & AJ's most successful single to date. In November 2020, the song saw a resurgence in popularity due to its widespread use on the app TikTok, receiving over 26 million viewers for the month.

"Potential Breakup Song"
Single by Aly & AJ
from the album Insomniatic
B-side"Careful with Words"
ReleasedJune 26, 2007
Recorded2006
Genre
Length3:39
LabelHollywood
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Antonina Armato
  • Tim James
Aly & AJ singles chronology
"Greatest Time of Year"
(2006)		 "Potential Breakup Song"
(2007)		 "Like Whoa"
(2008)
Music video
Potential Breakup Song on YouTube

The song was certified platinum by the RIAA for sales over 1,000,000 copies. Time magazine ranked "Potential Breakup Song" the ninth best song of 2007.[2][3] The song received generally positive reviews from other music critics as well, many praising its lyrical content and its maturity, as well as the "adventurous" synth-based production.

In December 2020, the duo released a re-recording of the song with explicit lyrics.

Background and composition

There are two versions of this song played on the radio. One is the official album version, which is played on mainstream radio, while a version with all of the violence and sexual innuendo removed is played on Radio Disney. In the Radio Disney chorus, when Aly and AJ sing, "gettin' me", the edited version adds a to between gettin' and me. Also, in the spoken word middle-eight, when Aly sings, "without me, you're gonna die," die is replaced with cry.

A departure from the duo's earlier guitar-based sound, "Potential Breakup Song" is primarily a pop song. It makes heavy use of vocal processing effects during the verses; and its lyrical content is, as the title states, about a break-up, mentioning that "our album needs just one".

Release

The single was released on Radio Disney on May 12, 2007, containing the edited lyrics rather than the official version of the single. The song was made available for sale on the US iTunes Store on June 26, 2007,[4] along with a pre-order offer for their second studio album, Insomniatic.

The single was released digitally in the UK on October 1, 2007, followed by a physical CD single release on October 8. The album followed two weeks later on October 22. The song served as the group's second UK single when it was released in October, after their debut UK single, "Chemicals React" failed to chart in the UK in May 2007. Also, the bonus track for the United States Wal-Mart collector's edition "Careful With Words" serves as the B-side of the CD single in the United Kingdom.

After a resurgence in popularity of the song due to widespread use on TikTok, and requests from fans,[5] the duo released a re-recording of the song as a promotional single on December 29, 2020. The new recording has reworked vocals and production, with some changes in the lyrics such as replacing "stupid birthday" with "fucking birthday" that had previously been performed live. The duo dedicated the song to "breaking up" with 2020.[6]

Critical reception

Upon its release, "Potential Breakup Song" has received generally positive reviews from critics. Digital Spy said that, "by Disney Channel standards at least, 'Potential Breakup Song' is fairly adventurous, riding its bassline and tango-inflected rhythm track to a chipper, synth-fueled chorus."[7] The Celebrity Cafe said that the song "has an electronica-like melody to it that is perfect to be played in listeners' dance clubs."[8] Tommy2.Net said that "several tracks [on the Insomniatic album] point toward synth rock by the use of samples, loops and vocal processing including the lead single, 'Potential Breakup Song,' which proves to be a good barometer for the direction they're heading."[9] BBC Music said that they "already introduced 'Potential Breakup Song' on Back of the Sofa Tunes pt.2, after I bullied Steve P into listening to it until the poor lad was quite overcome by its brilliance and subsequently forced to bully Fraser into covering it."[10] Time voted it the ninth best song of the year, describing it as "winking pop that doesn't skimp on the hook ... or the emotion."[1]

Music video

The music video, directed by Chris Applebaum,[11] was shot on May 17, 2007, and was premiered on TRL on June 18, 2007.[12] It debuted at number ten on TRL on August 21, 2007, and peaked at number six on August 28, 2007.[13] On July 18, 2007, the video reached number one on AOL Music's Top 10 Video Countdown.

The video shows Aly and AJ singing the song on a grey set dressed in black, and oftentimes acting like DJ's assembling sets of drum machines. At the end of the video, the black ink floating on the air stains a blank paper, forming the group's new logo, as well as the sequence of letters XOXO. It also includes the web address to PotentialBreakup.com.

In the Disney Channel version of the video, the Radio Disney lyrics are used. The version also does not include the web address at the end. The music video was sometimes shown on Nickelodeon Asia.

Chart performance

"Potential Breakup Song" debuted at number 77 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on July 14, 2007.[14] The song peaked at number 17, becoming the group's best performing single on the Hot 100. As the song began to fall down the chart, dropping to number 50 about a month after its peak, it recovered and bounced back up to number 41 after Aly and AJ co-hosted MTV's TRL for one week.[15] As of March 2009, the song has sold over 1,000,000 digital downloads in the United States, enabling it to be certified Platinum by the RIAA.

In the United Kingdom, the single was released to download on October 1, 2007, and debuted at number 33 on the UK Singles Chart. Following the release of the physical CD, the song later peaked at number 22 in Britain.

Uses in pop culture
  • "Potential Breakup Song" is played in the video game Thrillville: Off the Rails.
  • "Potential Breakup Song" is played in episode two of The Miley and Mandy Show.
  • "Potential Breakup Song" Is played in the ending credits for the Japanese horror film X-Cross.
  • "Potential Breakup Song" is played in episode six of the third season of The Hills.

Track listing
CD single and digital download[16]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Potential Breakup Song (Radio Disney edit)"
  • Alyson Michalka
  • Amanda Michalka
  • Antonina Armato
  • Tim James
3:39
2."Careful with Words"
  • Al. Michalka
  • Am. Michalka
2:20
Total length:5:59

Charts

Sales and certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[27] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[28] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Date Region Format Version Label
May 12, 2007 United States Radio Disney Original Hollywood
June 26, 2007 Mainstream radio
Digital download
October 1, 2007 United Kingdom EMI
October 8, 2007 CD single
December 29, 2020 Various
  • Digital download
  • streaming
  • 7” Vinyl
 Explicit Self-released

Ami Suzuki version
"Potential Breakup Song"
Single by Ami Suzuki
from the album Dolce
LanguageJapanese
B-side"Feel the Beat"
ReleasedNovember 28, 2007 (2007-11-28)
Genre
Length3:57
LabelAvex Trax
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Sugiurumn
Ami Suzuki singles chronology
"Free Free/Super Music Maker"
(2007)		 "Potential Breakup Song"
(2007)		 "One"
(2008)
Music video
Potential Breakup Song on YouTube

"Potential Breakup Song" was covered by Japanese singer Ami Suzuki under the label Avex Trax. It was released on November 28, 2007.[29]

The song was used in the Japanese horror film X-Cross, in which Suzuki had a lead role, alongside the original Aly & AJ version. The single was produced by Japanese DJ Sugiurumn and has a stronger club feel than Aly & AJ's version.

In June 2008, it was announced that the single would be Suzuki's final "joins" single.

Track listing

All music is arranged by Sugiurumn.

CD single
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Potential Breakup Song"
  • Fumihito Morita
  • Ami Suzuki
  • Alyson Michalka
  • Amanda Michalka
  • Antonina Armato
  • Tim James
  • Al. Michalka
  • Am. Michalka
  • Armato
  • James
3:57
2."Feel the Beat"SugiurumnSugiurumn8:18
3."Potential Breakup Song" (Sugiurumn Remix)
  • Morita
  • Suzuki
  • Al. Michalka
  • Am. Michalka
  • Armato
  • James
  • Al. Michalka
  • Am. Michalka
  • Armato
  • James
8:15
4."Potential Breakup Song" (Instrumental)  3:56
Total length:24:27
DVD
No.TitleLength
1."Potential Breakup Song" (Music clip) 

Charts

Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)

Release Chart Peak position First week sales Total sales
November 28, 2007 Oricon Daily Singles Chart 16 4,151 5,315
Oricon Weekly Singles Chart 34

References
  1. Tyrangiel, Josh (December 9, 2007). Stengel, Richard (ed.). "Top 10 Songs". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. OCLC 1311479. Archived from the original on March 28, 2010. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  2. Tyrangiel, Josh; "The Best Top 10 Lists of the Year"; "The 10 Best Songs"; Time magazine; December 24, 2007; Page 39.
  3. Tyrangiel, Josh (December 9, 2007). "Time magazine's Top 10 Songs of 2007 at". Time.com. Archived from the original on December 12, 2007. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  4. 6/26 Mainstream Archived January 1, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. FMQB.com. Retrieved on July 31, 2007.
  5. "Aly & AJ Came to F––k 2021 Up". Vulture. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  6. "Let's break up with 2020". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  7. "Aly & AJ: 'Potential Breakup Song' - Music Singles Review". Digital Spy. October 8, 2007. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  8. Sari N. Kent (August 16, 2007). "Insomniatic". TheCelebrityCafe.com. Archived from the original on September 29, 2011. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  9. "Tommy2.Net". Tommy2.Net. July 10, 2007. Archived from the original on February 19, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  10. "Chart Blog: Aly & AJ - 'Potential Breakup Song'". BBC. October 4, 2007. Archived from the original on December 20, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  11. "Potential Breakup Song | Aly & AJ | Music Video". MTV. 2007. Archived from the original on January 16, 2009. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  12. "The TRL Archive - Recap: June 2007 - Classic ATRL". classic.atrl.net. Archived from the original on May 17, 2018. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  13. "The TRL Archive - Recap: August 2007 - Classic ATRL". classic.atrl.net. Archived from the original on May 17, 2018. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  14. "Potential Breakup Song" Debut Position on the Billboard Hot 100 Archived June 21, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. Billboard. Retrieved on August 8, 2007.
  15. "Potential Breakup Song" chart trajectory Archived 2009-07-22 at the Wayback Machine. Aly & AJ Reaction
  16. "Aly & AJ "Potential Breakup Song" Digital download". Musicbrainz.org. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  17. "Aly & AJ Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  18. "Aly & AJ – Chart Search" Billboard European Hot 100 Singles for Aly & AJ.
  19. "Chart Track: Week 41, 2007". Irish Singles Chart.
  20. "Aly & AJ – Potential Breakup Song" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  21. "Aly & AJ – Potential Breakup Song". VG-lista.
  22. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  23. "Aly & AJ: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  24. "Aly & AJ Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  25. "Pop Rock" (in Spanish). Record Report. December 1, 2007. Archived from the original on July 2, 2007.
  26. "Aly & AJ Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  27. "British single certifications – Aly & AJ – Potential Break Up Song". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  28. "American single certifications – Aly & AJ – Potential Breakup Song". Recording Industry Association of America.
  29. (in Japanese) Hot News｜鈴木 亜美（すずき あみ）avex Official WebSite Archived 2008-03-17 at the Wayback Machine

Aly & AJ version

Ami Suzuki version

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