"Breaking Me" is a song by German DJ Topic and Swedish singer A7S. It was released on 19 December 2019 through Virgin and Universal. Since its release, the song became Topic's signature song and biggest hit single to date, reaching number one in Belgium (Wallonia)'s Ultratop chart, Israel, Portugal, and Romania, as well as the top 10 in many other countries, including Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The video for the song was shot in several locations around Lisbon, Portugal, mainly Cais do Sodré pink street, Santa Justa Lift and LX Factory.
"Breaking Me" was nominated for Top Dance/Electronic Song at the Billboard Music Awards, but lost to "Roses" by Saint Jhn.
Background In talking about their song, German DJ Topic and Swedish singer A7S revealed that it's the "sweet spot between a heartache and energetic beats". According to Topic, the song "is about a situation in a relationship with a certain dependency, in which one always gives a little more and "breaks" because of that". The song was written during songwriting sessions in Berlin and Miami over the course of two months.
Critical reception Rachel Kupfer of EDM described the song as "vaguely tropical house" which is made for "both dimly lit dance floors and pop-inspired festival sets". He also noted how much A7S's vocals "match a bouncy bass line and clubby synths". Critics also cited the fact that despite A7S' anonymity, the song all the more benefits from the hook sung by the Swedish artist.
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (2020) Peakposition Bulgaria Airplay (PROPHON) 1 Croatia International Airplay (Top lista) 3 Estonia (Eesti Tipp-40) 10 Germany Airplay (BVMI) 1 Greece International (IFPI) 5 Iceland (Tónlistinn) 6 Italy Airplay (EarOne) 1 Latvia Streaming (LaIPA) 42 Lebanon (Lebanese Top 20) Note: Select the "Chart history" tab to obtain the corresponding chart peak. 2 Lithuania (AGATA) 5 Romania (Airplay 100) 1 San Marino Airplay (SMRTV Top 50) 5 Slovenia Airplay (SloTop50) 1 US Rolling Stone Top 100 75
+ Chart (2023–2026) Peakposition Belarus Airplay (TopHit) 156 Moldova Airplay (TopHit) 114 Romania Airplay (TopHit) 61
Monthly charts + Chart (2026) Peakposition Kazakhstan Airplay (TopHit) 82 Year-end charts Chart (2020) Position Australia (ARIA) 16 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) 5 Belgium (Ultratop Flanders) 6 Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia) 8 Bulgaria Airplay (PROPHON) 3 Canada (Canadian Hot 100) 34 Croatia (HRT) 10 Denmark (Tracklisten) 13 France (SNEP) 42 Germany (Official German Charts) 5 Hungary (Dance Top 40) 14 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40) 6 Hungary (Single Top 40) 1 Hungary (Stream Top 40) 3 Iceland (Tónlistinn) 17 Ireland (IRMA) 15 Italy (FIMI) 12 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 3 Netherlands (Single Top 100) 9 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) 38 Norway (VG-lista) 17 Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100) 6 Portugal (AFP) 15 Romania (Airplay 100) 4 Russia Airplay (Tophit) 17 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) 21 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 4 UK Singles (OCC) 15 Ukraine Airplay (Tophit) 15 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard) 8 Chart (2021) Position Australia (ARIA) 99 CIS (Tophit) 53 Germany (Official German Charts) 66 Global 200 (Billboard) 129 Hungary (Dance Top 40) 8 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40) 44 Hungary (Stream Top 40) 36 Portugal (AFP) 68 Russia Airplay (Tophit) 103 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 66 Ukraine Airplay (Tophit) 23 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard) 19 Chart (2024) Position Lithuania Airplay (TopHit) 91 Chart (2025) Position Lithuania Airplay (TopHit) 157
Certifications
Release history Region Date Format Label United States 7 July 2020 Contemporary hit radio
See also List of Airplay 100 number ones of the 2020s List of German airplay number-one songs of 2020 List of number-one singles of 2020 (Portugal)
References