I Can't Break Down

"I Can't Break Down" is a song written by Sinéad Quinn, Pete Glenister, and Deni Lew for Quinn's debut album, Ready to Run (2003). Produced by Glenister and Lew, it was released as her debut single from the album in February 2003 and reached a peak position of number two in the UK Singles Chart and finished in 65th place for the best-selling UK singles of 2003.

"I Can't Break Down"
Single by Sinéad Quinn
from the album Ready to Run
Released	10 February 2003
Genre	Pop rock
Length	3:31
Label	Mercury
Songwriter(s)	Sinéad Quinn, Pete Glenister, Deni Lew
Producer(s)	Pete Glenister, Deni Lew
Sinéad Quinn singles chronology
"I Can't Break Down" (2003) "What You Need Is..." (2003)

Background and writing

Quinn finished as the runner-up in the first series of Fame Academy behind David Sneddon.^[1] She signed a record deal with Mercury Records a week after the final and revealed that she would release her debut single on 10 February 2003.^[2] Sneddon had a number one single with "Stop Living the Lie" in January 2003.

The song was written by Quinn during her time on Fame Academy. Fame Academy differed from the similar Pop Idol in that the contestants were able to develop their all-round musical talents and write original material during their time on the show.^[3] In an interview with the BBC she revealed how her experience on Fame Academy had changed her music style for this song. She said "Before I went in, I wouldn't have been into commercial stuff...my tunes might not have been so radio-friendly, but I'm working on it. I wouldn't have got that much of a hook into my songs. I think the hook is very important."^[3]

Critical reception

The song received mixed reviews from music critics. Michael Hubbard (writing for musicOMH) described Quinn's voice as "rich" in comparison to her vocal performance on Fame Academy but commented "if Sinéad wants a career that is more than a flash in the pan, she's going to have to get a lot more dangerous than this". He did, however, commend her for avoiding being like a "karaoke star-turn of the genre's lesser programmes."^[4]

Track listings

UK CD single^[5]

1. "I Can't Break Down
2. "Don't Speak"
3. "I Try" (acoustic)

UK cassette single^[6]

1. "I Can't Break Down"
2. "I Try" (acoustic)

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2003) Peak position Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[7] 10 Ireland (IRMA)[8] 11 Scotland (OCC)[9] 1 UK Singles (OCC)[10] 2

Year-end charts Chart (2003) Position UK Singles (OCC)[11] 65

References

1. "David wins Fame Academy". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 14 December 2002. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
2. "Fame Academy's Sinead signs deal". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 20 December 2002. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
3. Mytton, Leigh (10 February 2003). "Playing the Fame Game". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
4. Hubbard, Michael. "Sinead Quinn - I Can't Break Down - Track reviews". musicOMH. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
5. I Can't Break Down (UK CD single liner notes). Sinéad Quinn. Mercury Records. 2003. 063 728-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
6. I Can't Break Down (UK cassette single sleeve). Sinéad Quinn. Mercury Records. 2003. 063 728-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
7. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 21, no. 10. 1 March 2003. p. 11. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
8. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I Can't Break Down". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
9. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
10. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
11. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2003" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 18 May 2018.