In popular music a break is an instrumental or percussion section or interlude during a song derived from or related to stop-time - being a "break" from the main parts of the song or piece.
In DJ parlance, a break is where all elements of a song (e.g., pads, basslines, vocals), except for percussion, disappear for a time. This is distinguished from a breakdown, a section where the composition is deliberately deconstructed to minimal elements (usually the percussion or rhythm section with the vocal re-introduced over the minimal backing), all other parts having been gradually or suddenly cut out. (Brewster and Broughton 2003, p.79)
The distinction between breaks and breakdowns may be described as, "Breaks are for the drummer; breakdowns are for hands in the air" (ibid). Breaks are virtuoso solos, while breakdowns are created to structure the music for dancing and creating contrast and climaxes.
In hip hop and electronica, a short break is also known as "the drop", and is sometimes accented by cutting off everything, even the percussion.
"Breakdown" is a song co-written by American singer Mariah Carey and Stevie J. for Carey's seventh album, Butterfly (1997). Co-produced by Carey, Stevie and Puff Daddy, it features raps by Bone Thugs-n-Harmony (with an emphasis on rapped parts from Krayzie Bone and Wish Bone).
"Breakdown" is a song written and played by Jack Johnson. It is the eleventh track on the album In Between Dreams which was released in February 2005. It was released as a single in January 2006. The video features Jack Johnson surfing in Pichilemu, Chile.
The song was originally featured on the A Brokedown Melody Soundtrack.
A remix of the song was produced by the hip-hop duo, Handsome Boy Modeling School. It is a more upbeat version of the original song, and was featured on their 2004 album, White People.
"Breakdown" is the first single from Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers' self-titled debut album.
Breakdown is the seventh track on the Guns N' Roses album Use Your Illusion II. Axl Rose has stated that the vocal ending to the song is the only thing he was not satisfied with on the Use Your Illusion albums. Additionally, Slash has stated that it was one of the most complicated songs to record on the album. According to him, the guitar, drum , and piano parts were hard to synchronize--drummer Matt Sorum "lost it" a couple of times trying to get the drums just right.
"Breakdown" is the first single released by the rock band Tantric, and the first single released from their self titled album Tantric (album).
It is considered the band's most popular song on the radio.
