Breaking the Habit (song)

{{Infobox song

| name = Breaking the Habit

| cover = linkin park breaking the habit.png

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Linkin Park

| album = Meteora

| B-side =

"Crawling" {{small|(live)}}
"Session"

| released = June 14, 2004

| format =

| recorded = 2002

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

{{flatlist|

Alternative rock{{Cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2017/07/ranking-every-alternative-rock-hit-from-worst-to-best/|title=Ranking Every Alternative Rock No. 1 Hit from Worst to Best|work=Consequence of Sound|date=5 July 2017 |access-date=9 October 2019}}
electronic rock{{Cite web|url=https://pianosheetmusiconline.com/breaking-the-habit-linkin-park/|title=Breaking The Habit – Linkin Park Sheet Music|date=9 December 2012 |publisher=Piano Sheet Music Online|access-date=6 October 2021}}

}}

| length = 3:16

| label = Warner Bros.

| writer = Mike Shinoda (Credited to Linkin Park){{ref|writecred|1}}

| producer =

Don Gilmore
Linkin Park

| prev_title = From the Inside

| prev_year = 2004

| next_title = Numb/Encore

| next_year = 2004

| misc =

{{External music video|{{YouTube|v2H4l9RpkwM|"Breaking the Habit"}}}}

}}

"Breaking the Habit" is a song by American rock band Linkin Park. It is the ninth track from their second studio album, Meteora, and was released as the fifth and final single from the album. The song was a hit and it became the fifth consecutive single from Meteora to reach number one on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, a feat unmatched by any other artist in the history of that chart. It was also the third single from the album to reach number one on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/linkin-park/chart-history/mrt/|title=Linkin Park Breaking The Habit Chart History|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2018-02-17}} The song also peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was certified Gold by the RIAA.{{Cite news|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?advance_search=1&tab_active=awards_by_album&awardal=G&formatal=Single&typeal=&type_optional=ST&col=title&ord=asc#search_section|title=Gold & Platinum - RIAA|work=RIAA|access-date=2018-02-17|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=http://nmpa.org/press_release/nmpa-announces-top-gold-platinum-songwriters-for-august-2017/|title=NMPA Announces Top Gold & Platinum Songwriters for August 2017|website=nmpa.org|date=29 September 2017 |access-date=2018-02-17}} The song was also successful in many other countries, except in the UK where it became their first single to chart outside of the top thirty, faring only better than their previous single "From the Inside" which failed to chart. On September 4, 2012, "Breaking the Habit", "Shadow of the Day", "New Divide", and "Burn It Down" were released in the "Linkin Park Pack 02" as downloadable content for the music rhythm video game, Rock Band 3.{{cite web|url=http://www.rockband.com/blog/linkin-park-pack-02-dlc |title=Four Linkin Park Hits Come To The Rock Band Music Store! |date=August 31, 2012 |author=Harmonix |author-link=Harmonix |publisher=Harmonix Music Systems |work=RockBand.com |access-date=July 28, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222022322/http://www.rockband.com/blog/linkin-park-pack-02-dlc |archive-date=February 22, 2014 }}

Background

"Breaking the Habit" features a strong electronica-influenced opening, live strings, and guitar. It is an exception from their previous nu metal/rap rock performances as no distorted guitar riffs are included nor are there any rapping vocals from Mike Shinoda, a style they would further explore on their later albums.

A common misconception about the song is that it was written by lead singer Chester Bennington due to his struggles with substance abuse. Band member Mike Shinoda began composing the song before he met Bennington. In the album notes, it was said that the song was originally going to be an instrumental track lasting a little over three and a half minutes, but Shinoda was convinced by the band to change it. The instrumental was later released on the Underground 9.0 Fan Club as a demo track titled "Drawing".

The concept for the song came from Shinoda having a lyrical idea of an emotion he had been trying to express for 5 to 6 years before the production of Meteora. To him, the lyrics had sounded wrong until listening to the "Drawing" demo one night and they fell together.{{Cite web|url=http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=2622|title=Breaking The Habit by Linkin Park Songfacts|website=www.songfacts.com|language=en|access-date=2018-02-17}} He showed the lyrics he wrote to Bennington, who read them and teared up, relating to the words to a point where he had difficulty performing the song live for almost a year after the release of Meteora; the band would eventually perform it live for the first time at the 2003 Smokeout Festival.

An original 2002 demo of this song with different lyrics and Shinoda on lead vocals appears on LP Underground XIV.

Music video

The music video for "Breaking the Habit" was animated by Gonzo;{{cite book |title=The Anime Encyclopedia: A Guide to Japanese Animation Since 1917|last1=Clements|first1=Jonathan|last2=McCarthy|first2=Helen|year=2006|publisher=Stone Bridge Press|isbn=978-1-933330-10-5|page=224}}

it was directed by Joe Hahn and co-produced by Eric Calderon. It uses an anime stylization which was supervised by Kazuto Nakazawa, who had previously directed the animated segment of Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill: Volume 1 among other things.Steve Hochman: [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-may-16-ca-popeye16-story.html Anime finds its match in Linkin Park], Los Angeles Times, May 16, 2004Jeffrey Rotter: [https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/30/arts/music-video-faith-hope-and-anime.html?pagewanted=print MUSIC VIDEO; Faith, Hope And Anime], The New York Times, May 30, 2004 The video was shot of the band performing the song and was later rotoscoped.Jon Wiederhorn: [https://web.archive.org/web/20040603073559/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1486959/20040512/linkin_park.jhtml Linkin Park Avoid Bodily Harm In New Video By Using Anime Stand-Ins], MTV.com, May 17, 2004 The video has gone on to be a favorite amongst MTV viewers, going as far as winning the 2004 MTV VMA Viewer's Choice Award.

As the video begins, a deceased man is shown lying on a car's roof. The surrounding area has been taped off and is littered with investigating police officers as well as onlookers. The video cuts to another character, a girl who breaks a mirror, then writes "I'm nothing" onto a sheet of paper. She picks up a shard of glass, clenches it in her hand, and smears her blood on the note. Throughout the different scenes, a wisp of smoke meanders around the characters as their stories play out, and the human face of Chester Bennington singing the song flashes various times. Another character is a young woman throwing tomatoes at a man. At a point, the ubiquitous smoke drifts over the deceased man's body and enters his mouth, and the video begins to seemingly rewind itself, the woman throwing tomatoes at the man who is her husband or boyfriend, is shown coming home to see the man with another woman in bed suggesting they just had sex. The body of the deceased man begins to rise, falling in reverse, towards the roof of a tall building. It is revealed that the body is that of Chester, who had apparently fallen to his death. Upon landing on the roof, he joins with the rest of the band in performing the remainder of the song.

There is also a second music video, titled "Breaking the Habit (05.28.04 3:37 PM)", showing the band in their studio performing the song. The video was directed by Kimo Proudfoot and is available on the Breaking the Habit DVD.{{cite web | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2H4l9RpkwM | title = Breaking the Habit (Official Video) on Youtube| website = YouTube| date = 23 October 2009}} from Linkin Park's Youtube Channel{{cite web | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acgvRle07GI | title = Breaking the Habit (Official Video) on Youtube| website = YouTube}} from the Warner Bros. Records{{Cite web|date=2012|title=Linkin Park - Breaking the Habit {{!}} Official Alternate Version Music Video|website=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1GNc3EN8C4}}

=iTunes=

The video for "Breaking the Habit" is available on iTunes, along with a live video version of the video. The live video was taken from the Road to Revolution: Live at Milton Keynes DVD concert.{{cite web | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TJzaQYEKe8 | title = Breaking the Habit (Live at Milton Keynes) on Youtube| website = YouTube}} From the Warner Bros. Records Youtube Channel{{cite web | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGgmRKxL4J4 | title = Breaking the Habit (Live at Milton Keynes) on Youtube| website = YouTube| date = 10 November 2008}} From Linkin Park's Youtube Channel{{cite web | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdyAvLnVLlc | title = Breaking the Habit (5.28.04 3:37 PM) on Youtube| website = YouTube| date = 12 March 2012}} From ShinikLP's Youtube Channel

Reception

“Breaking the Habit” has been ranked among the best Linkin Park songs by Billboard (6th),{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7873865/chester-bennington-dead-greatest-linkin-park-songs|title=The 15 Greatest Linkin Park Songs|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2019-12-26}} Stereogum (2nd),{{Cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/1943004/the-10-best-linkin-park-songs/franchises/list/|title=The 10 Best Linkin Park Songs|date=2017-05-26|website=Stereogum|access-date=2019-12-26}} and The Independent.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/chester-bennington-linkin-park-suicide-best-songs-numb-crawling-a8455886.html|title=8 of the best Linkin Park songs|date=2018-07-20|website=The Independent|language=en|access-date=2019-12-26}}

Live performances

"Breaking the Habit" was not initially performed in the tour for Meteora, until it received a full performance on November 15, 2003, in San Bernardino. Since then, it has found itself in the majority of their concerts. From its debut up until the end of the tour cycle for the band's 3rd album, Minutes to Midnight, "Breaking the Habit" was played with a piano intro, where the first verse and chorus were played, and after that, the actual song would start. "Breaking the Habit" is also sometimes played live with an extended outro consisting of an a cappella performance of the chorus. After Linkin Park's 'Concert for the Philippines' on January 11, 2014, "Breaking the Habit" was dropped from the band's setlist. It would not be played live again until May 17, 2015, at Rock on the Range in Columbus, Ohio.{{citation needed|date=August 2016}}

Track listing

{{Track listing

|all_writing = Linkin Park

|title1 = Breaking the Habit

|length1 = 3:16

|title2 = Crawling

|note2 = Live

|length2 = 3:30

|title3 = Breaking the Habit

|note3 = Video

|length3 = 3:16

}}

Personnel

;Linkin Park

Chester Bennington – lead vocals
Rob Bourdon – drums
Brad Delson – guitar
Joe Hahn – turntables, samples
Dave "Phoenix" Farrell – bass guitar
Mike Shinoda – keyboards, strings arrangement, samples

Additional musicians

Joel Derouin, Charlie Bisharat, Alyssa Park, Sara Parkins, Michelle Richards, Mark Robertson – violins
Evan Wilson, Bob Becker – violas
Larry Corbett, Dan Smith – cellos
David Campbell – strings arrangement

Charts

=Weekly charts=

scope="col"\| Chart (2004) !scope="col"\| Peak position
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+2004 weekly chart performance for "Breaking the Habit"
{{single chart\|Australia\|23\|artist=Linkin Park\|song=Breaking the Habit\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Austria\|43\|artist=Linkin Park\|song=Breaking the Habit\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 26, 2020}}
scope="row"\| Canada CHR/Pop Top 30 (Radio & Records){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-RandR/2000s/2004/RR-2004-09-24.pdf\|title=R&R Canada CHR/Pop Top 30\|magazine=Radio & Records\|issue=1574\|page=50\|date=September 24, 2004\|access-date=May 27, 2024}} \| 4
scope="row"\| Canada Rock Top 30 (Radio & Records){{Cite web\|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2004/RR-2004-08-27.pdf\|title=RR Canada Rock Top 30\|page=56\|access-date=October 7, 2019}} \| 2
scope="row"\| Croatia (HRT){{cite web\|url=http://www.hrt.hr/hr/top20/maineng.html\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040929040123/http://www.hrt.hr/hr/top20/maineng.html\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=September 29, 2004\|title=Top Lista Hrvatskog Radija\|publisher=Croatian Radiotelevision\|access-date=April 14, 2023}} \| 7
scope="row"\| Czech Republic (IFPI){{Cite web\|title=Oficiální Česká Hitparáda - Pro týden 4/2005\|url=http://www.ifpicr.cz/radio.htm\|publisher=IFPI ČR\|language=cs\|access-date=January 12, 2020\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050204135508/http://www.ifpicr.cz/radio.htm\|archive-date=February 4, 2005\|url-status=dead}} \| 4
{{single chart\|France\|27\|artist=Linkin Park\|song=Breaking the Habit\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 26, 2020}}
{{single chart\|Germany\|25\|artist=Linkin Park\|song=Breaking the Habit\|songid=6174\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 26, 2020}}
{{single chart\|Hungarysingle\|2\|year=2004\|week=32\|rowheader=true\|access-date=September 29, 2023}}
{{single chart\|Ireland2\|46\|artist=Linkin Park\|song=Breaking the Habit\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 26, 2020}}
{{single chart\|Dutch40\|19\|artist=Linkin Park\|song=Breaking the Habit\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 26, 2020}}
{{single chart\|Dutch100\|41\|artist=Linkin Park\|song=Breaking the Habit\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 26, 2020}}
{{single chart\|New Zealand\|27\|artist=Linkin Park\|song=Breaking the Habit\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 26, 2020}}
{{single chart\|Scotland\|41\|date=20040619\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Switzerland\|56\|artist=Linkin Park\|song=Breaking the Habit\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|UK\|39\|date=20040619\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|UKrock\|3\|artist=Linkin Park\|date=20040613\|song=Breaking the Habit\|rowheader=true\|access-date=June 21, 2020}}
{{single chart\|Billboardhot100\|20\|artist=Linkin Park\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Billboardadultpopsongs\|25\|artist=Linkin Park\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Billboardalternativesongs\|1\|artist=Linkin Park\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Billboardmainstreamrock\|1\|artist=Linkin Park\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Billboardpopsongs\|15\|artist=Linkin Park\|rowheader=true}}

scope="col"\| Chart (2017) !scope="col"\| Peak position \|+2017 weekly chart performance for "Breaking the Habit"
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
{{single chart\|Czechdigital\|69\|year=2017\|week=30\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 1, 2017}}
{{single chart\|Slovakdigital2\|99\|year=2017\|week=30\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 1, 2017}}
{{single chart\|Billboardrocksongs\|12\|artist=Linkin Park\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 3, 2017}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+2004 year-end chart performance for "Breaking the Habit"
scope="col"\| Chart (2004) !scope="col"\| Position
scope="row"\| Brazil (Crowley){{cite web\|url=https://maistocadas.mus.br/2004/\|title=Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 2004\|publisher=Crowley Broadcast Analysis\|date=April 3, 2018\|access-date=January 30, 2022}} \| 24
scope="row"\| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine\|url={{Google books\|1BMEAAAAMBAJ\|pg=PA63\|plainurl=yes}}\|title=Year in Music & Touring: Hot 100 Singles & Tracks\|magazine=Billboard\|volume=116\|issue=52\|page=YE-23\|date=December 25, 2004\|issn=0006-2510\|access-date=December 6, 2021}} \| 79
scope="row"\| US Adult Top 40 (Billboard){{cite magazine\|title=2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Adult Top 40 Songs\|magazine=Billboard Radio Monitor\|volume=12\|issue=51\|page=26\|date=December 17, 2004}} \| 85
scope="row"\| US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=http://www.billboard.com/bb/biz/yearendcharts/2004/rtttitl.jsp\|title=2004 Year End Charts: Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks Titles\|magazine=Billboard\|date=December 25, 2004\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050507131602/http://www.billboard.com/bb/biz/yearendcharts/2004/rtttitl.jsp\|archive-date=May 7, 2005\|access-date=April 17, 2025}} \| 17
scope="row"\| US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard){{cite magazine\|title=2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs\|magazine=Billboard Radio Monitor\|volume=12\|issue=51\|page=22\|date=December 17, 2004}} \| 75
scope="row"\| US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url={{Google books\|1BMEAAAAMBAJ\|pg=RA1-PA30\|plainurl=yes}}\|title=Year in Music & Touring: Hot Modern Rock Tracks\|magazine=Billboard\|volume=116\|issue=52\|page=YE-70\|date=December 25, 2004\|issn=0006-2510\|access-date=April 17, 2025}} \| 8

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+2004 year-end chart performance for "Breaking the Habit"

scope="col"| Chart (2004)

!scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| Brazil (Crowley){{cite web|url=https://maistocadas.mus.br/2004/|title=Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 2004|publisher=Crowley Broadcast Analysis|date=April 3, 2018|access-date=January 30, 2022}}

| 24

scope="row"| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine|url={{Google books|1BMEAAAAMBAJ|pg=PA63|plainurl=yes}}|title=Year in Music & Touring: Hot 100 Singles & Tracks|magazine=Billboard|volume=116|issue=52|page=YE-23|date=December 25, 2004|issn=0006-2510|access-date=December 6, 2021}}

| 79

scope="row"| US Adult Top 40 (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Adult Top 40 Songs|magazine=Billboard Radio Monitor|volume=12|issue=51|page=26|date=December 17, 2004}}

| 85

scope="row"| US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/bb/biz/yearendcharts/2004/rtttitl.jsp|title=2004 Year End Charts: Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks Titles|magazine=Billboard|date=December 25, 2004|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050507131602/http://www.billboard.com/bb/biz/yearendcharts/2004/rtttitl.jsp|archive-date=May 7, 2005|access-date=April 17, 2025}}

| 17

scope="row"| US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs|magazine=Billboard Radio Monitor|volume=12|issue=51|page=22|date=December 17, 2004}}

| 75

scope="row"| US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine|url={{Google books|1BMEAAAAMBAJ|pg=RA1-PA30|plainurl=yes}}|title=Year in Music & Touring: Hot Modern Rock Tracks|magazine=Billboard|volume=116|issue=52|page=YE-70|date=December 25, 2004|issn=0006-2510|access-date=April 17, 2025}}

| 8

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+2005 year-end chart performance for "Breaking the Habit" !scope="col"\| Chart (2005) !scope="col"\| Position
scope="row"\| Brazil (Crowley){{cite web\|url=https://maistocadas.mus.br/2005/\|title=Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 2005\|publisher=Crowley Broadcast Analysis\|date=April 3, 2018\|access-date=January 30, 2022}} \| 80

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+2005 year-end chart performance for "Breaking the Habit"

!scope="col"| Chart (2005)

!scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| Brazil (Crowley){{cite web|url=https://maistocadas.mus.br/2005/|title=Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 2005|publisher=Crowley Broadcast Analysis|date=April 3, 2018|access-date=January 30, 2022}}

| 80

Certifications

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=single|award=Gold|artist=Linkin Park|title=Breaking the Habit|relyear=2004|certyear=2024|access-date=December 19, 2024|id=14675}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=single|award=Platinum|artist=Linkin Park|title=Breaking the Habit|relyear=2004|certyear=2023|access-date=July 31, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=single|award=Gold|artist=Linkin Park|title=Breaking the Habit|relyear=2004|certyear=2024|access-date=December 28, 2024|id=13779}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|award=Platinum|artist=Linkin Park|title=Breaking the Habit|relyear=2004|certyear=2024|access-date=December 28, 2024|source=radioscope}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|award=Gold|artist=Linkin Park|title=Breaking The Habit|relyear=2004|certyear=2024|id=16284-2062-1|access-date=May 24, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|award=Gold|artist=Linkin Park|title=Breaking the Habit|relyear=2004|certyear=2017|access-date=March 25, 2020}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20080917000906/http://linkinpark.com/lyrics/Singles/breaking_the_habit-1#1 Breaking the Habit official lyrics]
{{YouTube|7ezSGqbuo0g|Breaking the Habit music video}}

Category:2003 songs

Category:2004 singles

Category:Linkin Park songs

Category:Songs written by Mike Shinoda

Category:Warner Records singles

Category:Songs based on actual events

Category:Songs about drugs

Category:Animated music videos

Category:Anime-influenced animation