Breaking Up the Girl

"Breaking Up the Girl" was written and recorded by Garbage between April 2000 and May 2001 at Smart Studios in Madison, Wisconsin during the year-long writing sessions for Beautiful Garbage.{{cite web|title=Beautiful Garbage Credits|url=http://www.discogs.com/Garbage-Beautifulgarbage/release/2655688|publisher=Discogs.com|accessdate=August 4, 2011}} At some point in this period of time, Shirley Manson had overheard the rest of the band working on the body of the song, and was inspired to write the melody and lyrics.{{cite book|last=Arnopp|first=Jason|title=Garbage: Beautiful Album Revealed!|publisher=Kerrang!|location=UK|url=http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/boylikearose/Garbage%20Memorabilia/001.jpg?t=1311981794|page=4|date=July 7, 2001}}

During the development of the song, Garbage experimented with Beatles-like harmonies and ad-libs over the coda.{{cite web|url=http://www.garbage.com/news/journal.php?uid=37 |title=STUDIO DIARY #25 |publisher=Garbage.com |accessdate=February 3, 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061019225618/http://www.garbage.com/news/journal.php?uid=37 |archivedate=October 19, 2006 }} and layered a vocal from Manson onto a matching guitar part.{{cite book|url=http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun02/articles/garbage.asp |title=Recording Beautiful Garbage |publisher=Sound on Sound |date=June 1, 2002 |first=Sam |last=Inglis |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828132511/http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun02/articles/garbage.asp |archivedate=August 28, 2008 }} "We sampled her going 'aah' and Duke played guitar," Butch Vig explained,"and that made it sound like a weird little melodic quote, not necessarily a vocal part". Although it was one of the album's straightforward rock songs, Garbage couldn't agree on the bass/kickdrum pattern in the chorus, trying various transmutations of a one-bar phrase. Using his Fender Precision Bass and pick, session musician Daniel Shulman created a McCartney-esque bass movement for the verse.{{cite web | url=http://www.geocities.com/boylikearose/articles-bass-mar2002.html| title=Track By Track; Daniel Shulman on Garbage's Beautiful Garbage | publisher=Bass Player | accessdate=February 3, 2008|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20091025174949/http://www.geocities.com/boylikearose/articles-bass-mar2002.html| url-status=dead|archivedate=October 25, 2009}} Vig felt that the strumming of the guitar chords gave the song a Big Star feel.

A decade earlier, when her Scottish band Angelfish were struggling, Manson had lived in South Queensferry where her friends included Andrew Greig, the poet Iain Banks, Duncan McLean and Alan Warner. At the time she felt washed up, and became reclusive with depression."It was Andrew who came by every morning and knocked on my door. He forced me out of bed and dragged me along the beach. He'd say "If you just keep going along the beach you'll get back on track", Manson later recalled. "He kept me moving. And I did get back on track. Very shortly after that, I got the call to go and join Garbage". Manson credited Greig with saving her career, a debt she tacitly acknowledged by quoting the line "I'm afraid there is much to be afraid of" from his 1994 long poem Western Swing.{{cite news|title=The changing face of Shirley Manson|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/the-changing-face-of-shirley-manson-1.836831|newspaper=Sunday Herald|accessdate=2011-07-23|date=2008-04-27}} Lyrically Manson felt that "Breaking Up the Girl" was "a cautionary tale. It's basically saying the world we're living in is harsh and you've got to live in the moment. Focus on the now. If there's something in your life that isn't good then get rid of them."{{cite web|title=Shirley Manson interview, 5 Night Stand|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKKnzfdH984 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/UKKnzfdH984 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|publisher=MTV News|accessdate=2011-07-23|date=2002-04-01}}{{cbignore}} Duke Erikson expanded, "the light, poppy, melodic feel to the song belies the seriousness of the lyrics".

Interscope Records released "Breaking Up the Girl" as the second North American single from Beautiful Garbage, to the Triple A radio format from the week of November 19, 2001.{{cite book|title=Garbage; Breaking Up the Girl trade advertisement, Interscope Records|date=December 14, 2001|publisher=Hits magazine|location=USA|url=https://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Hits/00s/2001/Hits-2001-12-14.pdf|page=50}} Garbage were booked on the support slot on U2's Elevation Tour throughout December;{{cite web |url=http://www.elevation-tour.com/tour222.html |title=Showing dates for U2's Elevation Tour 3rd leg: North America|publisher=Elevation-Tour.com|accessdate=January 21, 2011}} the band then spent December promoting the Beautiful Garbage album in the United States, recording a VH1 Behind The Music special (for broadcast after the new year) and performing "Breaking Up the Girl" on The Tonight Show on December 12. Ahead of the Daria premiere, "Breaking Up the Girl" began to pick up station adds. Interscope re-serviced the song to adult radio{{cite book|last=Taylor|first=Chuck|title=Reviews and Previews; Singles; Pop|date=February 16, 2002|publisher=Billboard|pages=21|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FBAEAAAAMBAJ&q=Garbage%20%22Breaking%20Up%20The%20Girl%22&pg=PA21}} where it peaked at #12 on the Triple A chart.

The UK release of "Breaking Up the Girl" was scheduled to follow the band's concert tour in April 2002. The band performed the song on cd:uk prior to the commencement of the live dates, which ran for eight consecutive nights. On April 8, Mushroom Records issued the single as a 3×CD single set backed with three b-sides: "Confidence", an out-take from Beautiful Garbage and featured drums performed by Matt Chamberlain;{{cite book|last=Budofsky|first=Adam|title=Butch Vig of Garbage; Breaking the Sound Barrier|date=June 1, 2002|publisher=Modern Drummer|location=UK|pages=64–73}} "Happiness Pt.2", a discarded demo reworked by Butch Vig while he was recovering from a Hepatitis infection the previous year;{{cite web|last=Vig|first=Butch|title=11.21.01 BV's update - Los Angeles|url=http://www.garbage.com/news/journal.php?uid=210|publisher=Interscope|accessdate=July 24, 2011|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061019230342/http://www.garbage.com/news/journal.php?uid=210|archivedate=October 19, 2006}} and a cover version of Velvet Underground's "Candy Says", featuring a bass guitar part by the band's engineer Billy Bush and recorded during tour rehearsals. The three tracks were spread out over the three discs, as were an acoustic version and a QuickTime music video of the title track, and two remixes of "Breaking Up the Girl" produced by Brothers In Rhythm{{cite web|last=Watson|first=Rob|title=Breaking Up the Girl UK CD1|url=http://www.garbage-discography.co.uk/butg_uk_cd1.php|publisher=Garbage-Discography|accessdate=July 24, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305121231/http://www.garbage-discography.co.uk/butg_uk_cd1.php|archive-date=March 5, 2009|url-status=dead}} and Timo Maas;{{cite web|last=Watson|first=Rob|title=Breaking Up the Girl UK CD2|url=http://www.garbage-discography.co.uk/butg_uk_cd2.php|publisher=Garbage-Discography|accessdate=July 24, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305121241/http://www.garbage-discography.co.uk/butg_uk_cd2.php|archive-date=March 5, 2009|url-status=dead}} and a version of "Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go!)" by Eli Janney.{{cite web|last=Watson|first=Rob|title=Breaking Up the Girl UK CD3|url=http://www.garbage-discography.co.uk/butg_uk_cd3.php|publisher=Garbage-Discography|accessdate=July 24, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305121251/http://www.garbage-discography.co.uk/butg_uk_cd3.php|archive-date=March 5, 2009|url-status=dead}} The single peaked at #27 on the UK Singles Chart.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20020414/7501/|title=TOP 40 OFFICIAL UK SINGLES ARCHIVE (20th April 2002)|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=January 17, 2010}} The following week, Pepsi Chart Show broadcast a live recording of Garbage performing "Breaking Up the Girl" on-stage at the Brixton Academy during the tour, while Top of the Pops broadcast a performance of the single pre-recorded by the band the previous November.{{cite web|last=Manson|first=Shirley|title=11.16.01 London - November 16th|url=http://www.garbage.com/news/journal.php?uid=209|publisher=Interscope|accessdate=July 24, 2011|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061019231614/http://www.garbage.com/news/journal.php?uid=209|archivedate=October 19, 2006}}

In Europe, PIAS Recordings issued "Breaking Up the Girl" across the continent as a five track enhanced CD maxi collecting together both remixes, "Use Me" (an album out-take released earlier in the United Kingdom and Australia on the b-side of "Cherry Lips") and an enhanced music video section;{{cite web|last=Watson|first=Rob|title=Breaking Up the Girl Europe CDM|url=http://www.garbage-discography.co.uk/butg_eu_cd1.php|publisher=Garbage-Discography|accessdate=July 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305121134/http://www.garbage-discography.co.uk/butg_eu_cd1.php|archive-date=March 5, 2009|url-status=dead}} as a two-track CD single backed with a radio edit of the Timo Maas remix;{{cite web|last=Watson|first=Rob|title=Breaking Up the Girl Europe CDS|url=http://www.garbage-discography.co.uk/butg_eu_cd2.php|publisher=Garbage-Discography|accessdate=July 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305121139/http://www.garbage-discography.co.uk/butg_eu_cd2.php|archive-date=March 5, 2009|url-status=dead}} and an exclusive 12" vinyl format of multiple remixes.{{cite web|last=Watson|first=Rob|title=Breaking Up the Girl Europe 12" vinyl|url=http://www.garbage-discography.co.uk/butg_eu_12.php|publisher=Garbage-Discography|accessdate=2011-07-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305121128/http://www.garbage-discography.co.uk/butg_eu_12.php|archive-date=2009-03-05|url-status=dead}} Garbage returned to tour European rock festivals in June 2002 (follow-up single "Shut Your Mouth" was released to support these dates).{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/75563/garbage-drummer-off-tour-with-ear-infection|title=Garbage Drummer Off Tour With Ear Infection|magazine=Billboard| accessdate=2011-05-25}} Prior to these shows, Garbage performed a special concert for Los 40 Principales and completed a mini-tour of Spain sponsored by telecom company Movistar in Salamanca, Madrid, Bilbao and Barcelona.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/mtv-starting-point-for-fresh-garbage-european-bid/025156|title=MTV starting point for fresh Garbage European bid|date=2002-04-06|magazine=Music Week|accessdate=2013-05-25}} During this time, "Breaking Up the Girl" reached #33 on the Spanish airplay chart.{{cite book|last=Salaverrie|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos. Año a año. 1959-2002|year=2002|publisher=Foundation Author of the General Society of Authors and Editores (SGAE)|location=Madrid}}

Following up Garbage's first Australian top ten hit ("Cherry Lips"),{{cite book|title=ARIA Report (Issue No: 621) |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association |url=http://www.aria.com.au/Issue621.pdf |date=January 21, 2002 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20020220130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020221-0000/www.aria.com.au/Issue621.pdf |archivedate=February 20, 2002 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} FMR scheduled the release of "Breaking Up the Girl" to begin low-key, with the remixes impacting clubs from March 1, 2002, eight weeks in advance of the single's street date.{{cite book|title=New Single: Breaking Up the Girl|year=2002|publisher=FMR press release|location=Australia|pages=1|url=http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/boylikearose/Garbage%20Memorabilia%202008-2011/BreakinguptheGirlAustralianretailsheet.jpg}} The song was serviced to Australian radio stations and the music video to television networks on March 25. FMR issued "Breaking Up the Girl" to stores on April 29.{{cite book|title=ARIA Report; Issue #635; New Release Singles |date=April 29, 2002 |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association |url=http://www.aria.com.au/Issue635.pdf |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20020514140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020515-0000/www.aria.com.au/Issue635.pdf |archivedate=May 14, 2002 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The single was issued as 2×CD single set, backed with "Candy Says", "Confidence" and Eli Janney's remix of "Cherry Lips" on the first disc,{{cite web|last=Watson|first=Rob|title=Breaking Up the Girl Australian CD1|url=http://www.garbage-discography.co.uk/butg_oz_cd1.php|publisher=Garbage-Discography|accessdate=July 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305121149/http://www.garbage-discography.co.uk/butg_oz_cd1.php|archive-date=March 5, 2009|url-status=dead}} and the acoustic version, Brothers in Rhythm and Timo Maas mixes on a limited edition second disc.{{cite web|last=Watson|first=Rob|title=Breaking Up the Girl Australian Limited Edition CD2|url=http://www.garbage-discography.co.uk/butg_oz_cd2.php|publisher=Garbage-Discography|accessdate=July 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305121154/http://www.garbage-discography.co.uk/butg_oz_cd2.php|archive-date=March 5, 2009|url-status=dead}} At the start of May, "Breaking Up the Girl" debuted on the ARIA Charts at #19,{{cite web |url=http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Garbage&titel=Breaking+Up+The+Girl&cat=s |title="Breaking Up the Girl" - Garbage |publisher=AustralianCharts.com |accessdate=January 21, 2011}} the band's second single to reach the top twenty in Australia. The single also debuted at #2 on the ARIA Alternative chart.{{cite book|title=ARIA Report; Issue #636 |date=May 6, 2002 |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association |url=http://www.aria.com.au/Issue636.pdf |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20020514140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020515-0000/www.aria.com.au/Issue636.pdf |archivedate=May 14, 2002 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} FMR launched a television ad campaign during May, with heavy emphasis on "Breaking Up the Girl";{{cite book|title=New Single: Breaking Up the Girl|year=2002|publisher=FMR press release|location=Australia|pages=2|url=http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/boylikearose/Garbage%20Memorabilia%202008-2011/BreakinguptheGirlAustralianretailsheetpg2.jpg}} Beautiful Garbage recharted and reclimbed the album charts chart to #27.{{cite web |url=http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Garbage&titel=Beautifulgarbage&cat=a |title=Garbage - Beautiful Garbage |publisher=AustrianCharts.at |accessdate=February 3, 2011}} At the end of June, "Breaking Up the Girl" eventually bowed out of the Top 100 at #96 after an eight-week run.{{cite book|title=ARIA Music Report; Issue 644|date=July 1, 2002|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|url=http://www.aria.com.au/Issue644.pdf|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20020806140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020807-0000/Issue644.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 6, 2002}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} In New Zealand, Beautiful Garbage rebounded on the RIANZ album chart during April, reaching #16.{{cite web|url=https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Garbage&titel=Beautifulgarbage&cat=a |title=Garbage - Beautiful Garbage |publisher=charts.nz |accessdate=February 3, 2011 }}"Breaking Up the Girl" did not make the RIANZ singles chart.{{cite web |url=https://charts.nz/showperson.asp?name=Garbage |title=GARBAGE; GARBAGE IN NEW ZEALAND CHARTS |publisher=charts.nz |accessdate=February 3, 2011}}

Garbage began a two-month North American tour in mid-April, which was routed into the SoCal area and into Mexico by June;{{cite web|title=Garbage Launches North American Tour |url=http://new.music.yahoo.com/garbage/news/garbage-launches-north-american-tour--12063871 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717072757/http://new.music.yahoo.com/garbage/news/garbage-launches-north-american-tour--12063871 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 17, 2012 |publisher=Yahoo! Music |accessdate=July 7, 2011 }} at that time "Breaking Up the Girl" went into heavy rotation on MTV en Español.{{cite book|title=The Clip List|date=June 1, 2002|publisher=Billboard|pages=71|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ug8EAAAAMBAJ&q=Garbage%20%22Breaking%20Up%20The%20Girl%22&pg=PA71}} Garbage's tour ended at the start of June with a concert at Mexico City's National Auditorium;{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9QsEAAAAMBAJ&q=2002+garbage+tour&pg=PA17|title=Box Score Concert Gross|accessdate=May 25, 2011|date=July 6, 2002}} "Breaking Up the Girl" was subsequently released in Mexico through Universal as a five-track CD maxi.{{cite web|last=Watson|first=Rob|title=Breaking Up the Girl (Mexican CD)|url=http://www.garbage-discography.co.uk/butg_mex_cd1.php|publisher=Garbage-Discography|accessdate=July 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305121144/http://www.garbage-discography.co.uk/butg_mex_cd1.php|archive-date=March 5, 2009|url-status=dead}}

Image:GarbageBUTGVideo-1.JPG perform in the main "Breaking Up the Girl" clip.]] The promotional video for "Breaking Up the Girl" was directed by Francis Lawrence and shot over December 5/6, 2001 in Los Angeles.{{cite web|url=http://www.garbage.com/news/journal.php?uid=196 |title=12.01.01 Tour Diary December 1st |publisher=Garbage.com |accessdate=February 3, 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061019230316/http://www.garbage.com/news/journal.php?uid=196 |archivedate=October 19, 2006 }}

Two version of the video were made. The first version released contained footage lifted from the Daria series mixed with montage footage of Garbage performing and shots of the band filming the video. The video was premiered on January 21, 2002, on MTV during the intermission to the first showing of the Daria movie Is It College Yet?.{{cite book|title=Breaking Up the Girl (trade ad)|date=December 1, 2001|publisher=Hits magazine|location=USA|url=http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/boylikearose/Garbage%20Memorabilia/2001BreakingUpTheGirlUStradead.jpg}} MTV Europe playlisted the video at the end of March.{{cite book|title=The Clip List|date=March 30, 2002|publisher=Billboard|pages=77|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jRAEAAAAMBAJ&q=Garbage+%22Breaking+Up+The+Girl%22&pg=PA77}}

The second released version, which became the main edit of the video, which was broadcast worldwide from February 2002.Q magazine video playlist, March 2002 issue The video began with a CGI shot of a shattered rose, which disintegrated as the band appear. While Manson features heavily during the verses, the band perform together during the choruses. For the latter part of the video, all of the montage shots of Garbage disintegrate like the rose at the beginning, and the video ends with the rose reforming. The pace of the video is kept up using aggressive editing and cutting between shots filmed with zoom and fisheye lenses.

The international edit of the "Breaking Up the Girl" music video was first made commercially available in QuickTime format on the CD-ROM enhanced section of the "Breaking Up the Girl" singles.{{cite web|url=http://www.garbage-discography.co.uk/butg_discography.php/|title=Breaking Up The Girl Discography|publisher=Garbage-Discography.co.uk|accessdate=January 21, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930161725/http://www.garbage-discography.co.uk/butg_discography.php/|archive-date=September 30, 2011|url-status=dead}} The video, like the song, did not appear on 2007's Absolute Garbage.

The CD format of Beautiful Garbage contained an enhanced element where users could remix four tracks from the album, of which "Breaking Up the Girl" was one. Created in conjunction with Sonic Foundry, using a customized version of their drag-and-drop ACID Pro music sequencer software, the remixes utilized samples and loops cut direct from the album masters.{{cite web|url=http://acidgarbage.com/default.asp?subsection=the_contest| title=The Contest|publisher=AcidGarbage.com|accessdate=January 21, 2011|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20020607182554/http://acidgarbage.com/default.asp?subsection=the_contest|archivedate=June 7, 2002}} The enhanced section could be accessed when the user was online; a simplified version of the software featuring only "Androgyny" loops was accessible when the user was offline.Mushroom Records UK Beautiful Garbage & "Androgyny" promotion, marketing, tools and schedule campaign itinerary, published September 2001

In 2007, the Timo Maas remix of "Breaking Up the Girl" was remastered, edited and included on the Absolute Garbage greatest hits album bonus disc Garbage Mixes.{{cite web|url=http://www.garbage.com/news/news.php?uid=336 |title=New Best Of Album |publisher=Garbage.com |accessdate=May 2, 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100501180833/http://www.garbage.com/news/news.php?uid=336 |archivedate=May 1, 2010 }} Four rejected mixes by Jimmy Caulty and Black Dog Productions surfaced in May 2011.{{cite web|title=Garbage - Breaking Up the Girl (Unreleased remixes) |url=http://soundcloud.com/acereject-1/sets/garbage-breaking-up-the-girl |publisher=Mushroom Records |accessdate=July 23, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103213654/http://soundcloud.com/acereject-1/sets/garbage-breaking-up-the-girl |archivedate=November 3, 2012 }}

"Breaking Up the Girl" received a mixed response from contemporary music journalists. Paul Elliot of Q, who had the chance to listen to the track as soon as it was mixed, described the song as being "redolent of vintage Blondie".{{cite book|last=Elliot|first=Paul|title=Radio Friendly Unit Shifters|date=August 27, 2001|publisher=Q, EMAP|location=UK}} Jerry Ewing of Classic Rock wrote that the song was "wonderful, guitar-based rock, with a magic sprinkling of melody"{{cite book|last=Ewing|first=Jerry|title=Pure Rubbish|date=October 1, 2001|publisher=Classic Rock|location=UK|pages=92}} "This serene delight showcases Garbage's softer side," wrote Sunday Mail's Billy Sloan, "Its soft sound contrasts against the spurned vocals; a testament to the chameleon-like style that is the glory of Garbage"{{cite book|last=Sloan|first=Billy|title=Single Reviews|date=April 7, 2002|publisher=Trinity Mirror|location=Scotland}}

A review included in Smash Hits! claimed: "[It's] not as instantly memorable as ["Cherry Lips"]... this radio-friendly rock-tinged pop will have your toes tapping away to the beat in no time". Chuck Taylor of Billboard compared the song to Republica's "Ready to Go" writing "this track conjures up images... of Manson frolicking in a daisy patch. It's all back to Earth with the lyric, which pretty much calls the subject to a loser for hurting a girl. You've been warned, now just enjoy the pace." Jason Arnopp of Kerrang! described "Breaking Up the Girl" as "[It] glides along sultry, sad and dreamy, driven by a practically recognisable acoustic guitar."

{{col-begin}}

{{col-3}}

• UK CD1 Mushroom MUSH101CDS

1. "Breaking Up the Girl" – 3:33
2. "Candy Says" – 4:03
3. "Breaking Up the Girl" (Brothers in Rhythm Therapy mix) – 10:44
4. "Breaking Up the Girl" (video)

• UK CD2 Mushroom MUSH101CDSX

1. "Breaking Up the Girl" – 3:33
2. "Happiness Pt. 2" – 5:57
3. "Breaking Up the Girl" (Timo Maas remix) – 6:42

• UK CD3 Mushroom MUSH101CDSXXX

1. "Breaking Up the Girl" (acoustic version) – 3:20
2. "Confidence" – 3:09
3. "Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go!)" (DJEJ's Go-Go Jam) – 6:13

{{col-3}}

• Europe CD single PIAS Recordings MUSH101CDSE

1. "Breaking Up the Girl" – 3:33
2. "Breaking Up the Girl" (Timo Maas radio edit) – 3:33

• Europe CD maxi PIAS Recordings MUSH101CDM

1. "Breaking Up the Girl" – 3:33
2. "Use Me" – 4:34
3. "Breaking Up the Girl" (Timo Maas remix) – 6:42
4. "Breaking Up the Girl" (Brothers in Rhythm radio edit) – 3:52
5. "Breaking Up the Girl" (video)

• Europe 12" single PIAS Recordings MUSH101T

1. "Breaking Up the Girl" (Timo Maas remix) – 6:42
2. "Breaking Up the Girl" (Brothers in Rhythm Therapy dub) – 8:03
3. "Breaking Up the Girl" (Brothers in Rhythm Therapy mix) – 10:44
4. "Breaking Up the Girl" (Timo Maas dub) – 6:42

{{col-3}}

• Australia CD1 FMR MUSH101CDS

1. "Breaking Up the Girl" – 3:33
2. "Candy Says" – 4:03
3. "Confidence" – 3:09
4. "Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go!)" (DJEJ's Go-Go Jam) – 6:13
5. "Breaking Up the Girl" (video)

• Australia CD2 FMR MUSH101CDSX

1. "Breaking Up the Girl" (acoustic version) – 3:20
2. "Breaking Up the Girl" (Timo Maas remix) – 6:42
3. "Breaking Up the Girl" (Brothers in Rhythm Therapy dub) – 8:03
4. "Breaking Up the Girl" (Brothers in Rhythm Therapy mix) – 10:44
5. "Breaking Up the Girl" (Timo Maas dub) – 6:42

{{col-end}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmcMsRyOKlY "Breaking Up the Girl" music video] [http://vk.com/video-43668481_165913625?noiphone Daria version]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20071008012415/http://www.garbage.com/discog/?v=so&a=1&id=32 "Breaking Up the Girl" lyrics]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110930161725/http://www.garbage-discography.co.uk/butg_discography.php/ "Breaking Up the Girl" release discography]

{{garbage}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Breaking Up The Girl}}

Category:2002 singles

Category:Garbage (band) songs

Category:Rock ballads

Category:Synth-pop ballads

Category:Music videos directed by Francis Lawrence

Category:Song recordings produced by Butch Vig

Category:Songs written by Shirley Manson

Category:Songs written by Duke Erikson

Category:Songs written by Steve Marker

Category:Songs written by Butch Vig