Break My Face
{{short description|2019 song by AJR}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Break My Face
| cover = Break My Face Single.jpg
| alt = The official cover artwork for "Break My Face".
| caption = Cover artwork for the apptronic version of "Break My Face"
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = AJR
| album = Neotheater
| released = {{start date|2019|4|26}}
| recorded = 2019
| studio =
| genre = * Pop
- hip hop
- EDM{{cite magazine |last=Dolan|first=Jon|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/ajr-neotheater-album-review-827903/|title=Review: AJR Dance Through Coming of Age Reality on 'Neotheater'|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en|date=April 26, 2019|accessdate=August 1, 2024}}
| length = 3:46, 2:33 {{small|(apptronic)}}
| label = * AJR Productions
- S-Curve{{Cite web |author=BMG|url=https://www.bmg.com/us/news/AJR-debut-atop-the-US-charts-with-new-album-Neotheater.html|title=US: AJR debut atop the US charts with new album Neotheater|website=BMG|language=en|date=May 7, 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201111305/https://www.bmg.com/us/news/AJR-debut-atop-the-US-charts-with-new-album-Neotheater.html|archive-date=December 1, 2020|access-date=August 1, 2024}}
| writer = * Adam Met
- Jack Met
- Ryan Met
| producer = Ryan Met
| prev_title = Dear Winter
| prev_year = 2019
| next_title = Dear Winter 2.0
| next_year = 2019
| misc = {{External music video|header=Audio|{{YouTube|RxqmePJL6t8|"Break My Face"}}}}{{External music video|{{YouTube|Ww9kThI5orY|"Break My Face" (Apptronic Version)}}}}
}}
"Break My Face" is a song by American pop band AJR. Released on April 26, 2019, the track appears fifth on their third studio album, Neotheater (2019). It was distributed via the band's label AJR Productions and S-Curve, additionally receiving an Amazon Music exclusive version as a promotional single and music video on August 15. The song utilizes a stuttered pop melody with piano and trumpet while lyrically presenting confidence in personality over physical appearance, embracing imperfections connected to the latter.
Background
"Break My Face" was one of the final songs written for Neotheater (2019). For it, AJR wanted to create a track with a meaning less complex than others on the album, taking inspiration from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The song's first draft took the title literally, discussing plastic surgery and the Kardashians. This was scrapped,{{cite AV media |last=Sang|first=Zach|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcT_PUmYJXE|title=AJR Breaks Down Their New Album Neotheater|medium=YouTube video|publisher=Zach Sang Show|language=English|time=25:41|date=April 29, 2019|access-date=August 1, 2024}} and the band instead chose to parallel "100 Bad Days" from the same album, using a Friedrich Nietzsche aphorism for the message:{{cite web |last=Davis|first=Talia|url=https://www.breezejmu.org/culture/ajr-takes-a-risk-with-a-new-but-familiar-sound-on-new-album/article_d52e5c4e-69d9-11e9-8bf3-d3633703a161.html|title=AJR takes a risk with a new but familiar sound on new album|website=The Breeze|language=en|date=May 1, 2019|accessdate=August 1, 2024}} It is off-quoted as "what doesn’t kill you makes you ugly". This was done to put the phrase through a more realistic and relatable lens, contrasting the mainstream usage of the original version.{{cite magazine |last=Greene|first=Andy|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/how-i-wrote-this-ajr-100-bad-days-835778/|title=How I Wrote This: AJR Break Down Their Single '100 Bad Days'|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en|date=May 17, 2019|accessdate=August 1, 2024}} Neotheater was released on April 26, 2019, featuring "Break My Face" as the fifth track.{{cite web |last=Hudelson|first=Molly|url=https://substreammagazine.com/2019/03/ajr-neotheater-world-tour-dates/|title=AJR share dates for Neotheater World Tour|website=Substream Magazine|language=en|date=March 15, 2019|accessdate=August 1, 2024}}
Composition
"Break My Face" is a high-energy song, with Skyler Simpson of The Knight Crier describing its composure as a "catchy, feel-good vibe".{{cite web |last=Simpson|first=Skyler|url=https://www.knightcrier.org/top-stories/2019/04/29/album-review-neotheater-by-ajr/|title=Album Review: Neotheater by AJR|website=The Knight Crier|language=en|date=April 29, 2019|accessdate=August 1, 2024}} The track primarily includes digital instrumentation in a hip hop style,{{cite web |last=Nuttall|first=Luke|url=https://thesoundboardreviews.com/2019/04/29/album-review-neotheater-by-ajr/|title=ALBUM REVIEW: 'Neotheater' by AJR|website=The Soundboard|language=en|date=April 29, 2019|accessdate=July 30, 2024}} using piano chords placed in stuttering intervals, programmed drums, and trumpets.{{cite web |last=Estes|first=Noah|url=https://www.examiner-enterprise.com/story/news/2019/05/09/ajr-8217-s-8216-neotheater/5211939007/|title=AJR's 'Neotheater' obnoxious mess|website=Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise|language=en|date=May 9, 2019|accessdate=August 1, 2024}} The latter has artificial harmonies applied to it, created by an Auto-Tune effect inspired by Daft Punk's "Get Lucky". Throughout Neotheater, various elements and lyrics are reprised between other songs, acting as easter eggs to create an experience comparable to Broadway. In "Break My Face", a melodic sample of "Birthday Party" is included.{{cite web |last=Tache|first=Jeremy|url=https://www.fivereasonssports.com/voices/ajrs-neotheater-transcends-pop-music/|title=AJR's "Neotheater" transcends Pop Music|website=Five Reasons Sports Network|language=en|date=May 2, 2019|accessdate=August 1, 2024}}
Apptronic version
An alternate recording of "Break My Face" was released as a promotional single on August 15, 2019, exclusively streamable through Amazon Music. On the service, it is subtitled "(Amazon Original)",{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/Break-My-Face-Amazon-Original/dp/B07W89ZXJ4|title=Break My Face (Amazon Original) by AJR|website=Amazon Music|language=en|date=August 15, 2019|accessdate=August 1, 2024}} while its music video on YouTube is subtitled "(Apptronic Version)".{{cite web |author=Wow Keren|url=https://www.wowkeren.com/video/play/ajr_break_my_face_apptronic_version_/|title=AJR - Break My Face (Apptronic Version)|website=Wow Keren|language=id|date=August 15, 2019|accessdate=August 1, 2024}} The video, additionally released on August 15, shows AJR performing the song only using digital instruments from Amazon tablets.{{cite web |last=Virgin|first=Tim|url=https://www.q101.com/2019/08/15/check-out-ajr-playing-break-my-face-with-just-apps/|title=Check out AJR playing "Break My Face" with just apps!|website=Q101|language=en|date=August 15, 2019|accessdate=August 1, 2024}}
Personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.{{cite web |url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/107106109/credits|title=Credits / Neotheater / AJR|publisher=Tidal|date=April 26, 2019|accessdate=August 1, 2024}}
{{div col}}
- Adam Met – instruments, composer
- Jack Met – lead vocals, instruments, composer
- Ryan Met – vocals, instruments, composer, producer, programming
- Chris Gehringer – mastering
- Joe Zook – mixing
- Drew Allsbrook – live engineering, bass
- JJ Kirkpatrick – trumpet
- Samia Finnerty – additional vocals
{{div col end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{AJR songs}}
{{authority control}}