I Can Do It with a Broken Heart

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"I Can Do It with a Broken Heart"
Song by Taylor Swift
from the album The Tortured Poets Department
ReleasedApril 19, 2024 (2024-04-19)
Studio
Genre
Length3:38
LabelRepublic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Taylor Swift
  • Jack Antonoff
Lyric video
"I Can Do It with a Broken Heart" on YouTube

"I Can Do It with a Broken Heart" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department (2024). Swift wrote and produced the song with Jack Antonoff. An upbeat electropop and dance-pop track, "I Can Do It with a Broken Heart" incorporates house elements, percolating synth arpeggios, and a dance-friendly bubblegum beat.

The song's lyrics reflect her tumultuous state of mind while on the early run of her Eras Tour in 2023, claiming that she was going through a heartbreak while having to show up professionally to perform. Some critics considered the track a standout on the album, highlighting its upbeat production; several others considered the lyrics insubstantial. "I Can Do It with a Broken Heart" peaked at number five on the Billboard Global 200 and charted in the top 10 in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Background and release[edit]

Swift started working on The Tortured Poets Department immediately after she submitted her tenth studio album, Midnights, to Republic Records for release in 2022. She continued working on it in secrecy throughout the US leg of the Eras Tour in 2023.[1] The album's conception took place around the time the media reported that Swift's six-year relationship with the English actor Joe Alwyn had ended, which was also when she was on the early run of her Eras Tour.[2] She described The Tortured Poets Department as her "lifeline" album which she "really needed" to make.[3] Republic Records released it on April 19, 2024;[4] "I Can Do It with a Broken Heart" is 13th on the track list.[5]

Music and lyrics[edit]

Swift wrote and produced "I Can Do It with a Broken Heart" with Jack Antonoff, who programmed the track and played the drums, piano, and synthesizer. The track was recorded by Laura Sisk and Oli Jacobs, who provided background vocals, percussion, and a spoken word.[6] "I Can Do It with a Broken Heart" is an upbeat electropop[5][7] and dance-pop song.[8] Its incorporation of house elements[9] and a bubblegum- and dance-friendly beat is a contrast to the album's predominantly moody atmosphere.[10][11] It is instrumented by percolating synth arpeggios.[12][13] Critics compared the song's production to Swift's 2022 track "Mastermind"[12][14] and the music of other artists such as Robyn[15] or the Pet Shop Boys.[13][16]

The song is lyrically a "pep talk" to oneself about persevering in the face of being a public figure despite personal heartbreak.[17] Joel Calfee of Harper's Bazaar considered it to be a "deceptively upbeat" song, wherein "Swift gets candid about what it was like to perform through the heartbreak".[18] Music journalists suggested "I Can Do It with a Broken Heart" discusses Swift's need to hide her negative emotions regarding the breakup while performing on her tour ("All the pieces of me shattered as the crowd was chanting 'more'.").[7][19][20][21] Will Harris of Q wrote that the lyrics showcased "romantic confusion and heartbreak", citing the lyrics, "I'm so depressed, I act like it's my birthday every day/ I'm so obsessed with him, but he avoids me like the plague."[22]

Critical reception[edit]

Variety gave the song a positive review in its review of the parent album, considering it to be the album's climax and suggested it was "sure to be one of the most talked-about and replayed tracks".[23] In a ranking of all 31 tracks of The Anthology edition of The Tortured Poets Department, Billboard ranked the song in eighth place, considering the song "rollicking, snarky and strikingly funny".[12] Clash's Lauren Webb described the track as "triumphantly-erupting".[24] Josh Kurp of Uproxx selected "I Can Do It with a Broken Heart" as one of the album's "strong songs",[25] while Alex Hudson from Exclaim! opined that its production makes it the only track that stands out on the album.[10] Jonathan Keefe of Slant Magazine opined that the song was a "viable radio [hit]".[26]

Writing for The Guardian, Laura Snapes considered the lyric "lights, camera, bitch smile" to be "meme-worthy" and "makes clear why she wanted [her music] back on TikTok."[13] In NME, Laura Molloy deemed "I Can Do It with a Broken Heart" "poised for internet virality than anything more substantial".[27] Olivia Horn from Pitchfork similarly suggested that the lyrics were "versed in memespeak" and the music was too familiar to Swift and Antonoff's past collaborations.[14] By contrast, Tom Breihan of Stereogum wrote that the song showcased "a musical energy and inventiveness" that suggested a new path for Swift's artistry, praising the vocals and keyboard instrumentation.[9]

Commercial performance[edit]

In the United States, despite not being released as a single, "I Can Do It with a Broken Heart" debuted at number 37 on the Adult Pop Airplay chart.[28]

Personnel[edit]

  • Taylor Swift – vocals, songwriter, producer
  • Jack Antonoff – producer, songwriter, drums, piano, synthesizer, percussion, programming
  • Oli Jacobs – background vocals, percussion, spoken word, recording engineer
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing
  • Bryce Bordone – mix engineer
  • Laura Sisk – recording engineer
  • Jon Sher – assistant recording engineer
  • Jack Manning – assistant recording engineer
  • Lauren Marquez – assistant recording engineer
  • Joe Caldwell – assistant recording engineer
  • Randy Merrill – mastering
  • Ryan Smith – mastering

Charts[edit]

Chart performance for "I Can Do It with a Broken Heart"
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Argentina (Argentina Hot 100)[29] 64
Australia (ARIA)[30] 5
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[31] 11
Belgium (Billboard)[32] 15
Brazil (Brasil Hot 100)[33] 61
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[34] 4
Croatia (Billboard)[35] 19
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[36] 21
Denmark (Tracklisten)[37] 19
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[38] 47
France (SNEP)[39] 72
Global 200 (Billboard)[40] 5
Greece International (IFPI)[41] 10
India (IMI)[42] 11
Indonesia (Billboard)[43] 24
Ireland (IRMA)[44] 5
Italy (FIMI)[45] 76
Latvia (LAIPA)[46] 12
Lithuania (AGATA)[47] 30
Luxembourg (Billboard)[48] 15
Malaysia (Billboard)[49] 19
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[50] 35
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[51] 6
Norway (VG-lista)[52] 27
Philippines (Billboard)[53] 10
Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100)[54] 59
Portugal (AFP)[55] 14
Singapore (RIAS)[56] 6
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[57] 28
South Africa (Billboard)[58] 19
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[59] 39
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[60] 17
UK Singles (OCC)[61] 8
US Billboard Hot 100[62] 3
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[63] 37

References[edit]

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