"Break My Heart (You Really)", also known as "Break My Heart", is a song by British pop act

Shakespears Sister Shakespears Sister are an alternative rock, alternative Pop rock, pop and rock musical duo that was formed in 1988 by Irish people, Irish singer-songwriter Siobhan Fahey, a former member of Bananarama. Shakespears Sister was initially a solo a ...

, released in 1988 as the lead single from their debut album ''

Sacred Heart The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus () is one of the most widely practised and well-known Catholic devotions, wherein the heart of Jesus Christ is viewed as a symbol of "God's boundless and passionate love for mankind". This devotion to Christ is p ...

''. "Break My Heart (You Really)" was released in most territories as a

Double A-side The A-side and B-side are the two sides of vinyl records and cassettes, and the terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side of a single usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or ...

with "Heroine", which according to

Siobhan Fahey Siobhan Maire Deirdre Fahey (; born 10 September 1958) is an Irish singer whose vocal range is a light contralto. She was a founding member of the British girl group Bananarama, who have had ten top-10 hits including the List of Billboard Hot ...

was to "give a more rounded picture of what I'm about". In

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...

n territories however, both songs were released as separate A-side singles.

Background

"Break My Heart (You Really)" was released as the debut single of Shakespears Sister, the name

adopted for her solo career following her departure from

Bananarama Bananarama is an English pop group formed in London in 1980. The group, originally a trio, consisted of friends Sara Dallin, Siobhan Fahey, and Keren Woodward. Fahey left the group in 1988 and was replaced by Jacquie O'Sullivan until 1991, when ...

in 1988. Speaking to ''

Record Mirror ''Record Mirror'' was a British weekly music newspaper published between 1954 and 1991, aimed at pop fans and record collectors. Launched two years after ''New Musical Express'', it never attained the circulation of its rival. The first UK Album ...

'' in 1988, Fahey revealed, "Going solo was a very liberating experience. Now I can do the stuff I want to do the way I want to do it, and I've done something of which I'm very proud."

Music video

The music video, directed by

Sophie Muller Sophie Luise Elisabeth Muller (born 31 January 1962) is an English music video director who has directed over 300 music videos. She won a Grammy Award for Annie Lennox's 1992 ''Diva'' video album, and an MTV Video Music Award for Lennox's song " ...

, features a tense-looking man sitting on a chair before a colourful stage. On stage, Fahey sings the song, as various carnival performers – including a juggler, a contortionist, a strongman, a fire eater, dancers, and more – appear alongside her.

Critical reception

Upon its release, the ''

Birmingham Daily News The ''Birmingham Daily News'', Europe's first free daily newspaper,Birmingham reunion planne ...

'' praised "Break My Heart (You Really)" as "a good up-tempo dance tune" with a "catchy chorus" and "good singing in the

mode". The reviewer thought it "ought to do well". Chris Heath of ''

Smash Hits ''Smash Hits'' was a British music magazine aimed at young adults, originally published by EMAP. It ran from 1978 to 2006, and, after initially appearing monthly, was issued fortnightly during most of that time. The name survived as a brand ...

'' commented that it "sounds as if it's supposed to be like one of those huge

Dead or Alive A wanted poster (or wanted sign) is a poster distributed to let the public know of a person whom authorities wish to apprehend. They generally include a picture of the person, either a photograph when one is available or of a facial composite ...

hi-energy stompers, except that Siobhan sings in a rather unattractive spook-voice". He concluded, "It's infectiously catchy but hardly inspired." Jerry Smith of ''

Music Week ''Music Week'' is a trade publication for the UK record industry distributed via a website and a monthly print magazine. It is published by Future. History Founded in 1959 as ''Record Retailer'', it relaunched on 18 March 1972 as ''Music We ...

'' considered the "dance track" to be "a shot at credibility that falls between pop and hip dance and that could be its failing". Marcus Hodge of the ''

Cambridge Evening News The ''Cambridge News'' (formerly the ''Cambridge Evening News'') is a British daily newspaper. Published each weekday and on Saturdays, it is distributed from its Milton base. In the period December 2010 – June 2011 it had an average daily c ...

'' noted that the "backing is a little harder" than in

's work. He also felt that, in contrast to Bananarama's material "where every second was packed with syrupy melody", Fahey's debut single "has the beef but no tune". Robin Smith of ''

'' was negative in his review. He commented, "I don't know if her ambition has always been to sound like

Hazell Dean Hazell Dean ( Poole; born 27 October 1952) is an English dance-pop singer, who achieved her biggest success in the 1980s as a leading hi-NRG artist. She is best known for the top-ten hits in the United Kingdom "Searchin' (I Gotta Find a Man)", ...

but this single certainly does. All that production and it still sounds completely naff. Better luck next time." Edwin Pouncey of ''

NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming and culture website, bimonthly magazine, and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a "Rock music, rock inkie", the ''NME'' would be ...

'' remarked, "A typical hoofer for the Hippodrome hordes. She should be bard."

Track listing

Double A-side CD single #"Break My Heart (You Really)" (Shep Pettibone House Mix) – 7:25 #"Break My Heart (You Really)" (7" Version) – 3:32 #"Heroine" (Extended Version) – 5:33 Double A-side 7" single #"Break My Heart (You Really)" – 3:29 #"Heroine" – 3:45 US 12" single #"Break My Heart" (Copa Mix) – 6:43 #"Break My Heart" (Break My Dub) – 3:50 #"Break My Heart" (Instrumental) – 3:44 #"Break My Heart" (Yesterday, Today Mix) – 8:08 #"Run Silent" (Revolution Mix) – 7:15 Canadian 12" single #"Break My Heart (You Really)" (Shep Pettibone House Mix) – 7:22 #"Break My Heart (You Really)" (7" Version) – 3:30 #"Break My Heart (You Really)" (Dub Mix) – 6:28 #"You Made Me Come to This" – 3:10 12" promo single #"Break My Heart (You Really)" (Shep Pettibone House Mix) – 7:25 #"Break My Heart (You Really)" (Dub Mix) – 7:53 #"Pretty Boy" – 3:37

Charts

Weekly charts

References

{{authority control 1988 debut singles Shakespears Sister songs Songs written by Marcella Detroit Songs written by Siobhan Fahey Songs written by Richard Feldman (songwriter) 1988 songs FFRR Records singles