"Me and My Broken Heart" is a song by the English group, Rixton.
Written by Benny Blanco, Ammar Malik, Steve Mac, Wayne Hector, and Rob Thomas, and produced
by Blanco and Mac, "Me and My Broken Heart" was released on March 14, 2014 as the lead
single from Rixton's upcoming debut studio album.
The song is notable for its sampling of Thomas' 2005 single, "Lonely No More".
Background and composition
Band members Jake Roche and Danny Wilkin wrote songs in a caravan belonging to Wilkin's parents,
three years prior to the formation of their band.
After being introduced to Charley Bagnall through mutual friends, the trio met Lewi
Morgan who subsequently joined them to form the band, Rixton.
After establishing a loyal following on YouTube for their covers of hit singles by Taylor
Swift, Chris Brown and Rita Ora among others, the group was signed to Interscope Records
and three of its sub labels by talent manager Scooter Braun and songwriter/record producer,
Benny Blanco.
When speaking about their signing to the label(s) and the experience of recording their first
extended play, Rixton commented, "It's overwhelming to have gone from writing songs in Danny's
caravan to seeing the world performing our music.
We've worked extremely hard and have had a blast recording the EP.
The songs are very eclectic and we think there's something for everyone!".
"Me and My Broken Heart" interpolates parts of Rob Thomas's 2005 single, "Lonely No More".
Band member Jake Roche discussed the sample in an article for Billboard: "We've been a
huge fan of his, so we took a lot of inspiration from him and wanted to give him a tip of the
hat".
While Thomas has responded positively to the use of the sample, "Me and My Broken Heart"
has been criticised online for using elements of Thomas' song.
After working with Benny Blanco in the recording studio, "Me and My Broken Heart" was released
as the lead single from the group's forthcoming debut studio album on March 14, 2014.
The group's first extended play, also titled Me and My Broken Heart followed on March 18,
2014.
"Me and My Broken Heart" was released to radio on March 11, 2014 and made its premiere on
KIIS FM in Los Angeles during one of JoJo Wright's shows.
Music video The song's accompanying music video, which
runs for approximately three minutes and sixteen seconds, was released on 27 March 2014 via
the group's Vevo account on YouTube.
It was directed by Cameron Duddy who is known for his work with Bruno Mars and OneRepublic.
The video centres on the band members of Rixton who "fall victim to attractive female con
artists".
Live performances In April 2014, the band performed the song
on the second live show of The Voice U.S..
In May 2014, the band made their television debut on a talk show with a performance of
the song on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
Track listings Chart performance
"Me and My Broken Heart" has performed moderately well worldwide, reaching the top forty on
the majority of charts it has entered.
During the week of its release in the United Kingdom, "Me and My Broken Heart" led the
mid-week chart, outselling its closest rival, "Your Love" by Nicole Scherzinger by 12,000
copies and subsequently debuted at number-one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the group's
first number-one hit.
In the United States, "Me and My Broken Heart" debuted at number eighty-seven on the US Billboard
Hot 100 and eventually peaked at number-fourteen, giving Rixton their first top twenty hit in
the US.
It has sold more than 500,000 copies since its release and is therefore eligible for
a Gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America.
The song has also enjoyed success on other Billboard charts, reaching the top five of
the Adult Top 40, the top ten of the Mainstream Top 40 and the top twenty of the Adult Contemporary
charts.
Charts References