"Break It Down Again" is a song by English pop rock band Tears for Fears, released in May 1993 by Mercury Records as the first single from their fourth studio album, Elemental (1993). It is one of the band's later songs with the typical late 1980s sound, using synthesizers. The song was the second single released after the departure of Curt Smith from the band (after "Laid So Low (Tears Roll Down)" in 1992). The song reached number 20 in the United Kingdom, number 25 in the United States (their final top 40 hit), and the top 40 in several other countries. It topped the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and was particularly successful in Canada and Iceland, reaching numbers four and two respectively. The song's accompanying music video was directed by Dani Jacobs.

Background

As with the Elemental album, the song featured Roland Orzabal with peripheral Tears for Fears band members Alan Griffiths and Tim Palmer, plus backing vocals by ex-Graduate bandmate John Baker. "Break It Down Again" is the only song that has regularly remained in live setlists following Smith's return.

B-sides

The CD single included two non-album B-sides, of which "Schrodinger's Cat", the first in a number of songs by Orzabal dealing with modern physics, has acquired a cult status. "Schrodinger's Cat is a famous thought experiment attempting to clarify some of the vagaries of quantum physics. This track didn't make it onto the Elemental album because Alan (Griffiths) and I had such a rambling arrangement which we couldn't rationalize until the time restrictions and relaxed mentality of the B-side enabled it to happen by itself. Musically, it's another attempt to rewrite 'I Am the Walrus' interspersed with a piano break reminiscent of 'Something in the Air'."

• Roland Orzabal In addition to the mentioned references, the song also quotes the guitar riff from "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". The chorus line was already hinted at in the Tears for Fears cover of "Ashes to Ashes". The sample of a train announcer saying "Last train to Norwich" that runs through "Schrodinger's Cat" appeared again on the song "Master Plan". The song "Bloodletting Go" is one of the first songs written by Orzabal and Griffiths. Both songs were later included on the B-sides compilation Saturnine Martial & Lunatic.

Music video

The music video for "Break It Down Again" was directed by British music video director and editor Dani Jacobs. It shows Orzabal, Griffiths, and Gail Ann Dorsey (who joined Tears for Fears as a touring member) performing the song on the desert El Mirage Lake, California, where the "Break It Down Again" single and the Elemental album covers were taken.

Track listings

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts