Break the Rules (Charli XCX song)

After reaching mainstream success in 2013 with her and Icona Pop's song I Love It, Charli had been frustrated the music industry^[3] and went to Sweden to go record new material, distancing herself from her label. Over the course of a month, said material became a punk-inspired album. Mainly working with Patrik Berger, she reflected in an interview that the process was "not thought-about, everything really spontaneous [...] We don't think – it's like the first thing that comes out of my mouth is the cut on the record."^[4][5] The material was eventually scrapped to be more "pop-oriented".^[6]

Inspired by the sessions, she wrote "Break The Rules" while at a writing camp to give songs to artists, alongside fellow musicians Benny Blanco and Stargate. While originally intending to give it to another artist, recollecting in later interviews that she thought "whoever sings this song is an idiot.", Charli then realized she was responsible for recording the track.^[7][8] According to Charli, the song is "about not giving a fuck."^[9]

"Break the Rules" (2014)

A 20-second sample of "Break the Rules", an electronic rock song.

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"Break the Rules" is a pop-punk, electro-rock, and alternative rock song,^[10][11][12] set against a "propulsive" synth-pop groove.^[13] The song is written in the key of E♭ major in common time with a tempo of 124 beats per minute. "Break the Rules" follows a chord progression of C5–B♭5–A♭5–E♭5–F5, and Charli's vocals span from B♭₃ to C₅.^[14]

Michael Nelson of Stereogum described it as "one of the best" of Charli's songs, in which he positively compared it to Joan Jett and Skrillex.^[15] Cosmopolitan listed "Break the Rules" at number five on its 2014 best songs list.^[16] Ahead of the release of her 2022 album Crash, Consequence of Sound ranked the song as Charli's best,^[17] which she disagreed with.^[18]

The music video for "Break the Rules" was directed by Marc Klasfeld and premiered on 25 August 2014.^[19][20] The video was filmed at Birmingham High School while class was in session, so the lyrics "getting high and getting wrecked" had to be muted during playbacks.^[21] According to Charli, the video draws inspiration from films such as Carrie (1976), The Craft (1996) and Jawbreaker (1999).^[20][22] It features a cameo from actress Rose McGowan, the star of Jawbreaker, as a school chaperone.^[20]

The song was used in trailers for the 2015 film Goosebumps. It was also featured in the 2016 film Good Kids.^[23] The song was also used in a 2016 Dish Network commercial and as the theme song of season 7 of Vietnam's Next Top Model. It is also used in both trailers for the 2020 film My Spy. Also the song was used in episode 4 of Quantico season 1.

• Digital download^[24]

1. "Break the Rules" – 3:23

• Digital download – Remixes^[25]

1. "Break the Rules" (Tiësto Remix) – 4:25
2. "Break the Rules" (Odesza Remix) – 4:00
3. "Break the Rules" (Broods Remix) – 2:52

• German CD single^[26]

1. "Break the Rules" – 3:23
2. "Break the Rules" (Tiësto Remix) – 4:25

• Australian CD single – Schoolies Edition^[27]

1. "Break the Rules" – 3:23
2. "Break the Rules" (Tiësto Remix) – 4:25
3. "Break the Rules" (ODESZA Remix) – 4:00
4. "Break the Rules" (Broods Remix) – 2:52
5. "Boom Clap" – 2:49

Credits for "Break the Rules" are adapted from CD liner notes^[1][28]

Recording locations

• Recorded at Rokstone Studios, London
• Recorded at Westlake Audio, Los Angeles
• Mixed at Hot Rock Studios

Personnel