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Singer ] wrote the song while recovering from a fractured skull from an equestrian accident. Swing Out Sister had a two-song deal with Mercury Records, and the first song failed to impact the charts. Mercury said the band had to have the second demo in by the next Monday morning or risk being dropped, causing the band to compose "Breakout" under stress. This influenced the lyrics, as wellasDrewery'sdesire to quitherdayjob as a fashion designer andbe a singer. There was some controversy around the Bass line claiming the band had taken it from an unpublished Elezze records track and the band sayingitwasinspiredby the ] TV theme in Britain.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.songwritingmagazine.co.uk/how-i-wrote/breakout-swing-out-sister|title=How I Wrote 'Breakout' by Swing Out Sister |last=Slater|first=Aaron|website= Songwriting Magazine|date=14 July 2018 |accessdate=13 December 2022}}</ref>
Lead singer ] wrote the song while recovering from a fractured skull she had suffered in an equestrian accident. Swing Out Sister had already signed a two-song deal with ], but the first song had failed to chart. Mercury said the band had to have the second demo in by the next Monday morning or risk being dropped, causing the band to compose "Breakout" under stress. This influenced the lyrics, as Drewery was inspired primarily by her decision to give up on a much more secure career as a fashion designer to pursue her dream of being a singer. There was some controversy around the bass line used in the song; it was claimed that the band had taken it from an unpublished Elezze Records track, and the band argued that they had created the line on their own after listening to the ] TV theme in Britain.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.songwritingmagazine.co.uk/how-i-wrote/breakout-swing-out-sister|title=How I Wrote 'Breakout' by Swing Out Sister |last=Slater|first=Aaron|website= Songwriting Magazine|date=14 July 2018 |accessdate=13 December 2022}}</ref>
Lead singer Corinne Drewery wrote the song while recovering from a fractured skull she had suffered in an equestrian accident. Swing Out Sister had already signed a two-song deal with Mercury Records, but the first song had failed to chart. Mercury said the band had to have the second demo in by the next Monday morning or risk being dropped, causing the band to compose "Breakout" under stress. This influenced the lyrics, as Drewery was inspired primarily by her decision to give up on a much more secure career as a fashion designer to pursue her dream of being a singer. There was some controversy around the bass line used in the song; it was claimed that the band had taken it from an unpublished Elezze Records track, and the band argued that they had created the line on their own after listening to the 1986 FIFA World Cup TV theme in Britain.
Music video
The music video for "Breakout" features lead singer Corinne Drewery as a fashion designer, who with the assistance of the other two band members designs and makes her own dress, and later makes a successful runway debut, modelling the garment while her bandmates open a bottle of champagne and toast to her success. There are two versions of this video; the official monochrome version and the alternate color version. The video was directed by Nick Willing.
Critical reception
Jerry Smith of the Music Week magazine praised "Breakout", describing it a "bubbling, dynamic number with irresistible rhythm and powerful, melodic vocals, backed by rousing horns and sweeping strings", and deemed it a potential hit. Similarly, Stuart Bailie of Record Mirror stated the song "is breezy, buoyant and it's tasteful" and "a good record". In the same issue of the magazine, James Hamilton complimented the N.A.D. mix as being a "rather pleasant and convincing jazz-funk".
