Breakeven (song)

Composition

According to Musicnotes, "Breakeven" is in the key of B♭ major with a tempo of 88 beats per minute.

Music video

The music video premiered on BBC Radio 1's website on 29 September 2008. It was recorded at the Great South Wall in Dublin. Before recording began, the Dublin radio station FM104 had a competition for a listener to appear in the music video. The music video shows clips of the band's home city of Dublin, Ireland, and the band performing.

The video almost created minor controversy when Danny O'Donoghue's ex-girlfriend was supposed to be cast as an extra but this was avoided when the producers chose a different girl. The video was number 2 on the 2010 VH1's Top 40 Videos of the Year.

Live performances

• The band performed "Breakeven" on an episode of The Paul O'Grady Show which was shown on 30 October 2008.
• As a support act for U2 on the third concert of their 360° Tour at Croke Park, the band included this song in their set.
• On 14 October 2009, they performed the song on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in the United States.

Track listing

• CD single

1. "Breakeven" - 4:21
2. "None the Wiser" (Guardian Demo)

• German CD single

1. "Breakeven" - 4:21
2. "Lose Yourself" (Radio 1 Live Lounge Session)

• German Maxi single

1. "Breakeven" - 4:21
2. "None the Wiser" (Guardian Demo)
3. "Lose Yourself" (Radio 1 Live Lounge Session)
4. "Breakeven" (Music Video) - 4:15

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Cover versions

On 19 November 2012, Samantha Jade performed "Breakeven" during The X Factor Australia series four grand final performance show. Her performance of the song debuted at number 87 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart. On 25 August 2013, Jade and The X Factor Indonesia series one runner-up Novita Dewi released a cover version of "Breakeven" on the iTunes Store through Sony Music Australia.

Canadian singer Tate McRae performed a cover of the song during her North American tour in March–April 2022.

On 27 May 2025, Jourdan Blue performed a cover of the song during America's Got Talent season 20, earning a Golden Buzzer from Howie Mandel.

References

References

1. (2008). "Breakeven".
2. (29 September 2008). "The Script". The Script.
3. "Breakeven video shoot". Daily Star.
4. "The Script Setlist". Setlist.fm.
5. [http://www.thetunemusic.com/2009/10/video-script-breakeven-live-on-ellen.html The Script - Breakeven: Live on ''Ellen''] {{webarchive. link. (22 October 2009)
6. "Breakeven by The Script". amazon.co.uk.
7. "Breakeven by The Script". amazon.co.uk.
8. "Breakeven by the Script". amazon.co.uk.
9. (May 30, 2025). "Philippines Hot 100 - Billboard Philippines".
10. "2008 Year-End UK Charts". [[UK Charts Plus]].
11. "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2009". ARIA.
12. "Charts Plus Year end 2009". [[UK Charts Plus]].
13. (September 2025). "Year-End Charts: Canadian Hot 100 (2010)". [[Billboard (magazine).
14. "Year-End Charts: Hot 100 Songs (2010)". [[Billboard (magazine).
15. "Year-End Charts: Adult Contemporary Songs (2010)". [[Billboard (magazine).
16. "Year-End Charts: Adult Pop Songs (2010)". [[Billboard (magazine).
17. "Year-End Charts: Pop Songs (2010)". [[Billboard (magazine).
18. "Year-End Charts: Adult Contemporary Songs (2011)". [[Billboard (magazine).
19. "Philippines Hot 100 (Year of 2025)".
20. Grein, Paul. (17 July 2013). "Week Ending July 14, 2013. Albums: Jay-Z Back On The Throne".
21. "The X Factor Grand Final Song List!". [[Yahoo!7]].
22. Ryan, Gavin. (16 December 2012). "Macklemore and Ryan Lewis Spend Third Week Atop ARIA Chart". Noise11. Noise Network.
23. "Breakeven – Single by Novita Dewi & Samantha Jade". [[iTunes Store]] (Australia). [[Apple Inc..
24. Verna, Ambika. (3 April 2022). "Tate McRae Sells Out Two Nights At Irving Plaza". NYS Music.
25. (27 May 2025). "Jourdan Blue's "Breakeven" Cover Receives a GOLDEN BUZZER From Howie Mandel! ". [[America's Got Talent]].