Breaking Out

What stands out the most when listening to Breaking Out is its fast-paced rhythm and that vocal hook that repeats like a heartbeat. The song doesn’t stick to a standard beat: Arranger Robbie Buchanan gave it an irregular pulse that keeps it moving, with subtle changes that prevent it from sounding repetitive. Producer Jack White polished every note, using a clean sound but with enough body so that Laura Branigan’s voice stands out without losing strength. If you pay attention to the bass, you’ll notice it doesn’t follow traditional rhythm: it weaves into a pattern that gives it that sense of urgency, as if the song were about to break free.

Recorded in 1984 for the album Self Control, this track emerged at a time when Branigan had already defined the style she wanted to impose: pop with touches of electronic music, yet without losing the warmth of her voice. Producer Robbie Buchanan —who also arranged the song— took a more organic approach than the rest of the album, using layers of synthesizers that don’t compete with the main melody. Internationally, Breaking Out wasn’t the most successful single from the album, but in Europe and Canada it received a good reception, reaching the top five on some charts. In the United States, although it didn’t enter the Billboard Hot 100, its version of The Lucky One —another track from the same album— did reach position 20, showing that the record had strength in the mainstream market.