Break My Stride

"Break My Stride" is a song performed by American recording artist Matthew Wilder. It was released in 1983 as the lead single from his debut album, I Don't Speak the Language, and became a major hit single for him in 1983 and 1984.

"Break My Stride"
Single by Matthew Wilder
from the album I Don't Speak the Language
B-side"Break My Stride (instrumental)"
ReleasedAugust 1983[1]
Format
  • 7" vinyl
  • 12" vinyl
Recorded1983
Genre
Length3:05
LabelPrivate-I
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Peter Bunetta
  • Rick Chudacoff
  • Bill Elliot
Matthew Wilder singles chronology
"Break My Stride"
(1983)		 "The Kid's American"
(1984)

The song has been covered by many artists throughout the years, including Unique II in 1996 and Blue Lagoon in 2004 (whose versions both charted highly in various places) and, in interpolations, Puff Daddy in 1997. In 2009 it was interpolated by Matisyahu in the song "Jerusalem".

Matthew Wilder version

Personnel

Track listings
7" single
  1. "Break My Stride" — 3:05
  2. "Break My Stride" (instrumental) — 3:05
12" single [2]
  1. "Break My Stride" (Remix / Club Version) — 5:10
  2. "Break My Stride" (Dub Version) — 4:02

Chart performance

Included on his 1983 album, I Don't Speak the Language, the single went to number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number four in the UK in January/February 1984. On the US Cash Box chart, Wilder's single reached the number two position, where it remained for two weeks in early February.

A remix version reached the top 20 on the dance chart, and the song additionally hit the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart, staying there for four weeks. Though "Break My Stride" was Matthew Wilder's only UK hit, he also reached the US pop chart with his next two singles, "The Kid's American" (#33) and "Bouncing Off the Walls" (#52), before turning to behind-the-scenes work on other artists' recordings.

Chart performance

Weekly singles charts
Chart (1983-84) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[3] 6
Austrian Singles Chart[4] 8
Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart[5] 3
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[6] 5
Dutch Singles Chart[7] 5
Irish Singles Chart[8] 3
New Zealand Singles Chart[9] 3
Norwegian Singles Chart[10] 1
Poland (LP3)[11] 27
South African Singles Chart 4
Swedish Singles Chart[12] 14
Swiss Singles Chart[13] 22
UK Singles Chart[14] 4
US Billboard Hot 100[15] 5
US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary[16] 4
US Billboard Hot Black Singles[17] 76
US Billboard Dance/Disco Top 80[18] 17
US Cash Box Top 100[19] 2
West Germany (Official German Charts)[20] 7
Chart (2020) Peak
position
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[21] 53
Scotland Singles Chart 58

Year-end charts
Chart (1984) Position
Australia [22] 37
Canada [23] 41
New Zealand [24] 42
South Africa [25] 18
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 [26] 27
U.S. Cash Box [27] 28

Certifications
Country Certification Date Sales certified
Australia[28] Gold 2020 35,000
UK[29] Silver 1984 200,000

Unique II version
"Break My Stride"
Single by Unique II
from the album Level II
B-side"Remixes"
ReleasedAugust 23, 1996
Format
Recorded1995
GenreEurodance
Length3:10
Label
  • Columbia
  • Dance Pool
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Unique II
Unique II singles chronology
"Do What You Please"
(1996)		 "Break My Stride"
(1996)		 "For Tonight"
(1996)
Music video
"Break My Stride" on YouTube

In 1996, Austrian duo Unique II had its most successful hit by covering "Break My Stride". This dance version of the 1983 Matthew Wilder song was the first international success for the band, peaking at number 1 in Austria and New Zealand, and at number 2 in Australia. The single also charted in Ireland, Italy, Canada and Scandinavia.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Yep, this is a dance-leaning cover of the Matthew Wilder '80s pop chestnut. It has already saturated radio airwaves throughout Europe, with a number of programmers here already giving it positive feedback. Highly videogenic Viennese songbird Jade Davies chirps her way through the track's Ace Of Base-like reggae-inflected groove with engaging energy. She'll have little to no trouble successfully carrying this one into the hearts of folks who prefer familiarity over adventure."[30] Australian music channel Max placed the song at number 903 in their list of 1000 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2013.[31]

Track listings
CD maxi
  1. "Break My Stride" (FM Track) — 3:16
  2. "Break My Stride" (Prolongation) — 4:57
  3. "Break My Stride" (Native Track) — 5:14
CD maxi — The Remixes
  1. "Break My Stride" (Marc McCan Edit) — 5:38
  2. "Break My Stride" (Next Level Edit) — 4:37
  3. "Break My Stride" (Radio Edit) — 3:16
CD maxi — Re-Work 2002
  1. "Break My Stride" (Panamericana Radio Edit) — 2:50
  2. "Break My Stride" (Extended Version) — 4:57
  3. "Break My Stride" (Big Club Mix) — 4:20
  4. "Break My Stride" (Original) — 3:16

Charts

Certifications
Country Certification Date Sales certified
Australia[45] Platinum 1997 70,000
Austria[46] Platinum November 18, 1996 30,000

Blue Lagoon version
"Break My Stride"
Single by Blue Lagoon
from the album Club Lagoon
B-sideExtended + "Love Is the Key"
ReleasedAugust 9, 2004
FormatCD single, CD maxi
Length3:04
LabelSME, Universal Music
Songwriter(s)Gregory Prestopino
Matthew Wilder
Producer(s)Felix J. Gauder
Blue Lagoon singles chronology
"Break My Stride"
(2004)		 "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me"
(2005)

In 2004, "Break My Stride" was covered by German band Blue Lagoon and became a hit in several European countries, including Austria, Germany, Sweden and Denmark, where it reached the top ten.


Track listings
CD single
  1. "Break My Stride" (radio edit) — 3:04
  2. "Break My Stride" (extended version) — 5:10
  3. "Love Is the Key" — 3:27
CD maxi
  1. "Break My Stride" (radio edit) — 3:01
  2. "Break My Stride" (extended version) — 5:08
  3. "Love Is the Key" — 3:26
  4. "Break My Stride" (a capella reprise) — 1:05
  5. "Break My Stride" (video)

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Germany (BVMI)[58] Gold 150,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

The song was featured in the closing credits of the 2011 film Cedar Rapids.[59] It was featured in a 2012 television commercial for State Insurance of New Zealand.[60] In 2019, it was featured in a U.S. television commercial for Santander Bank.[61] The song gained more notoriety in 2020 on TikTok, as it was frequently used in TikTok videos - where users would text their friends the lyrics of the song. Matthew Wilder was thrilled at these memes, saying that the results are often bizarre but hilarious.[62] Afterwards, Wilder posted an official lyric video that featured text messages of the song's lyrics.[63]

The song is also believed by some to be the unofficial anthem of the fanbase of Thomas & Friends, with creators even going as far as fully covering the song.[64]

References
  1. "Matthew Wilder - Break My Stride" – via www.45cat.com.
  2. "Discogs.com - Matthew Wilder "Break My Stride" 12"". Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  3. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 Singles 1984". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on December 31, 2016. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
  4. "Break My Stride", Austrian Singles Chart "Archived copy". Archived from the original on April 22, 2009. Retrieved July 20, 2008.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) (Retrieved July 20, 2008)
  5. "Matthew Wilder - Break My Stride". ultratop.be.
  6. "Top Singles - Volume 39, No. 24". (RPM). February 18, 1984. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  7. "Break My Stride", Dutch Singles Chart "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) (Retrieved July 27, 2011)
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 8, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. "Break My Stride", New Zealand Singles Chart "Archived copy". Retrieved July 27, 2011. (Retrieved July 27, 2011)
  10. "Break My Stride", Norwegian Singles Chart "Archived copy". Archived from the original on April 22, 2009. Retrieved July 20, 2008.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) (Retrieved July 20, 2008)
  11. "Notowanie nr 99" (in Polish). March 10, 1984. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  12. "Break My Stride", Swedish Singles Chart (Retrieved July 20, 2008)
  13. "Break My Stride", Swiss Singles Chart "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2008.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) (Retrieved July 20, 2008)
  14. "Break My Stride", UK Singles Chart "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 12, 2008. Retrieved June 25, 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) (Retrieved July 20, 2008)
  15. "Matthew Wilder - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
  16. "Break My Stride", US Hot AC (Retrieved July 20, 2008)
  17. "Break My Stride", US Hot Black Singles (Retrieved July 20, 2008)
  18. "Break My Stride", US Hot Dance (Retrieved July 20, 2008)
  19. "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending January 28, 1984". Cash Box. Archived from the original on October 1, 2012.
  20. "Offiziellecharts.de – Matt Wilder – Break My Stride". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  21. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 202005 into search. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  22. BigKev. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts – 1984". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on May 16, 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  23. "Top 100 Singles of 1984 – Volume 41, No. 17, January 05 1985". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on 9 May 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  24. "End of Year Charts 1984". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  25. "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1984". Retrieved December 26, 2018.
  26. "Top 100 Hits of 1984/Top 100 Songs of 1984". www.musicoutfitters.com.
  27. "Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles,". Cash Box. December 31, 1984. Archived from the original on September 30, 2012. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
  28. "ARIA Accreditations 2020". ARIA. January 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  29. "Break My Stride", BPI certification (Retrieved July 20, 2008)
  30. "Billboard: Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  31. "THE TOP 1,000 GREATEST SONGS OF ALL TIME – 2013". Max. 2013. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  32. "Australian-charts.com – Unique II – Break My Stride". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  33. "Austriancharts.at – Unique II – Break My Stride" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  34. "Canada AC peak". Archived from the original on April 12, 2015. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  35. "Canada Dance peak". Archived from the original on April 12, 2015. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  36. "Canada Top Singles peak".
  37. "Top 10 Czech Republic" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  38. "Top 10 Denmark" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  39. "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  40. Israel Top-30 19.11.1996
  41. "Charts.nz – Unique II – Break My Stride". Top 40 Singles.
  42. 1997 Australian Singles Chart Aria.com Archived September 12, 2009, at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved June 21, 2009)
  43. 1996 Austrian Singles Chart Austriancharts.at (Retrieved June 21, 2009)
  44. "End of Year Charts 1997". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
  45. Australian certifications aria.com Archived June 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved June 21, 2009)
  46. Austrian certifications ifpi.at Archived June 8, 2009, at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved June 21, 2009)
  47. "Austriancharts.at – Blue Lagoon – Break My Stride" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  48. "Ultratop.be – Blue Lagoon – Break My Stride" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  49. "Ultratop.be – Blue Lagoon – Break My Stride" (in French). Ultratip.
  50. "Danishcharts.com – Blue Lagoon – Break My Stride". Tracklisten.
  51. "Lescharts.com – Blue Lagoon – Break My Stride" (in French). Les classement single.
  52. "Offiziellecharts.de – Bluelagoon – Break My Stride". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  53. "Dutchcharts.nl – Blue Lagoon – Break My Stride" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  54. "Swedishcharts.com – Blue Lagoon – Break My Stride". Singles Top 100.
  55. "Swisscharts.com – Blue Lagoon – Break My Stride". Swiss Singles Chart.
  56. 2004 Austrian Singles Chart Austriancharts.at (Retrieved July 20, 2008)
  57. "Single Jahrescharts 2004" (in German). MTV. Retrieved January 16, 2010.
  58. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank ('Break My Stride')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  59. "Cedar Rapids (2011) Soundtrack". 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  60. "State Insurance -- Ain't Nothing Gonna Break My Stride". The Coopers - Sound Design. 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2019 – via YouTube.
  61. "The Marathon: Santander Bank :60". Santander Bank. 2019. Retrieved August 17, 2019 – via YouTube.
  62. Savage, Mark (January 30, 2020). "Break My Stride singer 'thrilled' by TikTok revival". BBC News. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  63. Deville, Chris (January 29, 2020). ""Break My Stride" Singer Matthew Wilder Is Making The Most His Surprise TikTok Celebrity". Stereogum. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  64. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvAEbleGugo&t=7s
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