I Can't Break It to My Heart

For the Tracy Lawrence song, see Can't Break It to My Heart.

"I Can't Break It to My Heart" is the fourth single from Delta Goodrem's third studio album Delta. It was released to radio on 12 July 2008. Goodrem confirmed the single in an article in the Australian issue of Cosmopolitan.

"I Can't Break It to My Heart"
Single by Delta Goodrem
from the album Delta
Released	16 August 2008[1]
Recorded	Henson Studios, Hollywood, Spere Studio, London
Genre	Pop
Length	4:00
Label	Sony BMG
Songwriter(s)	Delta Goodrem Kristian Lundin Savan Kotecha
Producer(s)	John Shanks
Delta Goodrem singles chronology
"You Will Only Break My Heart" (2008) "I Can't Break It to My Heart" (2008) "Mistakes" (2010)
Alternative cover
Limited edition cover
Music video
"I Can't Break It To My Heart" on YouTube

Critical reception

Bill Brothetorn from Boston Herald said that: "Her strong, soaring soprano impresses throughout, especially on piano ballads 'I Can't Break It to My Heart'."^[2]

Music video

Goodrem claimed on radio that the music video would be of Behind The Scenes footage most likely from the intimate concert, 'A Night With Delta Goodrem'. The music video debuted on Sunrise on 17 July 2008^[3] and features various behind the scenes clips of Goodrem from the past few months, including photo shoots for the Australian release of Delta, travelling around Japan and the US, and many candid moments which, as her official site explains, "captures Delta out of the limelight as her natural, gorgeous self". These are all intertwined with a performance of "I Can't Break It to My Heart" from her special A Night with Delta Goodrem.

Performance and production

Both the CD single and the iTunes EP went on sale on Saturday 16 August. The single received heavy promotion (a marked change from the previous single) in the form of three instore performances and signings, and appearances on morning programme Sunrise and interview programme Rove Live. The instore promotion appeared in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. In an out-of-the-ordinary move, the CD single was made available for only $1.99, and the iTunes EP (containing four songs) was sold for $1.69.

Track listing

CD single^[4]

1. "I Can't Break It to My Heart" – 4:00
2. "In This Life" (Diamond Cut Mix) – 4:53
3. "Burn for You" (Live at The Chapel) – 3:33

iTunes Australia EP

1. "I Can't Break It to My Heart" – 4:00
2. "In This Life" (Diamond Cut Mix) – 4:53
3. "Burn for You" (Live at The Chapel) – 3:33
4. "Edge of Seventeen" (Live Medley) [Seymour Centre] – 3:55

Katherine Jenkins version

Opera singer Katherine Jenkins performed a version of the song on her album Daydream. She also released the song as a single.

Chart performance

Although reaching number one on the ARIA Physical Singles Chart, on 24 August, the single only debuted at No. 13 on the Australian Singles Chart. The following week the song dropped out of the top 40 to No. 42, making it Goodrem's second least successful single, after her debut single "I Don't Care" which peaked at No. 64 in 2001. The 29 spot drop was the fifth biggest drop within the top 50 of this decade, after Psycho Teddy's "Psycho Teddy" (No. 5 to No. 70) and Francesca's "Way of the world" (Number 3 to out of chart), Paul "The Chief" Harragon's "That's Gold" (No. 8 - No. 47) and Joel Turner's "Funk U Up" (No. 13 - No. 44). It also dropped from the number one spot in the Physical Singles Chart to No. 14.

Charts

Chart (2008)	Peak position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart[5]	13

End-of-year charts

Year	Chart	Ranking
2008	ARIA End-of-Year Australian Singles	46[6]
	ARIA End-of-Year Physical Singles	56[7]