“Break Free” is a song by American pop singer Ariana Grande, released in 2014 as the second single from her album “My Everything.” This song was a significant moment in Grande’s career, as it entered the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 in the same week as two other songs she was involved in. This achievement made her the second lead female artist in chart history to accomplish this, after the one and only Adele.
The song is a catchy dance-pop track that explores themes of empowerment, self-discovery, and moving on from toxic relationships. In this article, we will delve deeper into the meaning behind the lyrics of “Break Free.”
Lyrics Interpretation
Before we delve into the story behind this song, let’s take a closer look at each verse of the lyrics.
Verse 1: Embracing Independence
The first verse of “Break Free” sets the tone for the rest of the song.
Grande sings about finally expressing her true feelings and embracing her independence with the lyrics, “If you want it, take it, I should’ve said it before, Tried to hide it, fake it, I can’t pretend anymore.”
Pre-Chorus: A Desire for Freedom
The pre-chorus of the song expresses Grande’s desire for freedom and a life free from pain and heartbreak.
She sings about not wanting to die of a broken heart and not wanting to hear lies with the lyrics, “I only wanna die alive, Never by the hands of a broken heart, Don’t wanna hear you lie tonight, Now that I’ve become who I really are.”
Chorus: Celebrating Independence
The chorus of “Break Free” is the highlight of the song. Here, Grande celebrates her independence and encourages listeners to do the same.
She acknowledges that she is stronger now than she has ever been before and that she cannot resist the urge to break free any longer with the lyrics, “This is the part when I say I don’t want ya, I’m stronger than I’ve been before, This is the part when I break free, ‘Cause I can’t resist it no more.”
Verse 2: Breaking Free from Toxic Relationships
In the second verse of the song, Grande sings about breaking free from toxic relationships with the lyrics, “You were better, deeper, I was under your spell, Like a deadly fever, yeah babe, On the highway to hell, yeah.”
She acknowledges that these relationships were holding her back and that she needed to move on to something better.
Pre-Chorus: A Reminder to Live Life to the Fullest
The pre-chorus is repeated in the song, reminding listeners that it is important to live life to the fullest and not let others hold them back. Grande’s desire for freedom and independence is reiterated here with the lyrics, “I only wanna die alive, Never by the hands of a broken heart, Don’t wanna hear you lie tonight, Now that I’ve become who I really am.”
Chorus: A Celebration of Strength and Resilience
The chorus is repeated in the song, emphasizing the importance of celebrating strength and resilience. Grande sings about being stronger than ever before and being unable to resist the urge to break free any longer with the lyrics, “This is the part when I say I don’t want ya, I’m stronger than I’ve been before, This is the part when I break free, ‘Cause I can’t resist it no more.”
Bridge: Moving Forward and Embracing Change
The bridge of the song is all about moving forward and embracing change.
Grande sings about being a whole vibe and not letting anyone kill her vibe with the lyrics, “No more, baby, ooh, Thought of your body, I came alive, It was lethal, It was fatal, In my dreams it felt so right, But I woke up every time, Oh, baby.”
The bridge of the song is a reminder that it is possible to move on from toxic relationships and find happiness and empowerment.
Chorus: A Final Celebration of Independence
The final chorus of the song is similar to the previous ones, emphasizing the importance of celebrating independence and strength.
Grande’s repetition of the chorus is a powerful statement about the necessity of breaking free from whatever is holding one back and finding the strength to move on with the lyrics, “This is (This is) the part when I say I don’t want ya, I’m stronger than I’ve been before, This is the part when I break free, ‘Cause I can’t resist it no more.”
True Meaning Behind “Break Free”
“Break Free” is a joy-infused song that finds Ariana Grande celebrating her newfound independence from a past love. Produced by Zedd, the song is a departure from Grande’s usual pop ballads and showcases her versatility as an artist.
In an interview with Billboard magazine, Grande called her experience of working with Zedd “fantastic and super-experimental.”
She explained that she never thought she would do an EDM song, but that working with Zedd was an eye-opening experience that inspired her to dance.
One of the most notable aspects of “Break Free” is its awkward lyric, “Now that I become who I really are.” The lyric was written to force a rhyme from the song’s previous line, “Never by the hands of a broken heart.”
Speaking with Time, Grande expressed her discomfort with the erroneous lyric, claiming it was Max Martin’s and not hers.
She initially fought against singing a grammatically incorrect lyric but eventually conceded to Martin’s insistence, seeing it as an opportunity to be less rigid and have some fun.
Despite the awkward lyric, “Break Free” is ultimately a celebration of independence. Grande sings about breaking free from a toxic relationship and finally expressing her true feelings.
The song encourages listeners to take control of their lives and be true to themselves, even if it means breaking away from someone or something that is holding them back.
Music Video
Ariana Grande’s music video for “Break Free” was filmed over three days in June 2014 and directed by Chris Marrs Piliero. The video has an intergalactic theme, inspired by classic sci-fi films like Barbarella and the Star Wars series, as well as space in general.
The plot of the video sees Grande’s character on a fictional planet, fighting against an evil regime of extraterrestrials and freeing prisoners from their cages. She even takes on a giant robot with missiles, but things get a bit tricky when the robot catches her. However, Grande’s character ultimately triumphs over the villain and escapes with the rescued prisoners in a spaceship.
The video premiered on YouTube on August 12, 2014, and quickly became a hit, surpassing 100 million views on October 5. It also made its way onto television screens, with its debut on Disney Channel during How to Build a Better Boy.
Conclusion
“Break Free” is a celebration of independence and strength. The song encourages listeners to take control of their lives and be true to themselves, no matter what anyone else thinks. Through her lyrics, Grande inspires others to break free from toxic relationships and embrace their independence.
The catchy beat and uplifting lyrics of “Break Free” make it a popular hit, but it is the message behind the lyrics that truly resonates with listeners.
By embracing her newfound freedom, Grande encourages others to do the same and celebrate their independence with the lyrics, “I’m stronger than I’ve been before, This is the part when I break free, ‘Cause I can’t resist it no more.” “Break Free” is a testament to the power of self-discovery and the joy of breaking free from anything that holds one back.