Break the Rules (Charli XCX song)

"Break the Rules" is a song by English singer Charli XCX from her second studio album, Sucker (2014). It was released on 19 August 2014 as the album's second single. In a 2020 interview with Red Bull, XCX stated that she regrets recording the track.

Composition
"Break the Rules" is an electro-rock and alternative rock song, set against a "propulsive" synth-pop groove. The song is written in the key of E♭ major in common time with a tempo of 124 beats per minute. "Break the Rules" follows a chord progression of C 5 –B♭ 5 –A♭ 5 –E♭ 5 –F 5, and Charli's vocals span from B♭3 to C5.

Critical reception
Cosmopolitan listed "Break the Rules" at number five on its 2014 best songs list. Ahead of the release of her 2022 album Crash, Consequence of Sound ranked the song as Charli's best, which she disagreed with.

Music video
The music video for "Break the Rules" was directed by Marc Klasfeld and premiered on 25 August 2014. The video was filmed at Birmingham High School while class was in session, so the lyrics "getting high and getting wrecked" had to be muted during playbacks. According to Charli, the video draws inspiration from films such as Carrie (1976), The Craft (1996) and Jawbreaker (1999). It features a cameo from actress Rose McGowan, the star of Jawbreaker, as a school chaperone.

Usage in media
The song was used in trailers for the 2015 film Goosebumps. It was also featured in the 2016 film Good Kids. The song was also used in a 2016 Dish Network commercial and as the theme song of season 7 of Vietnam's Next Top Model. It is also used in both trailers for the 2020 film My Spy.

Track listings

 * Digital download
 * 1) "Break the Rules" – 3:23


 * Digital download – Remixes
 * 1) "Break the Rules" (Tiësto Remix) – 4:25
 * 2) "Break the Rules" (Odesza Remix) – 4:00
 * 3) "Break the Rules" (Broods Remix) – 2:52


 * German CD single
 * 1) "Break the Rules" – 3:23
 * 2) "Break the Rules" (Tiësto Remix) – 4:25


 * Australian CD single – Schoolies Edition
 * 1) "Break the Rules" – 3:23
 * 2) "Break the Rules" (Tiësto Remix) – 4:25
 * 3) "Break the Rules" (ODESZA Remix) – 4:00
 * 4) "Break the Rules" (Broods Remix) – 2:52
 * 5) "Boom Clap" – 2:49

Credits and personnel
Credits for "Break the Rules" are adapted from CD liner notes
 * Recording locations
 * Recorded at Rokstone Studios, London
 * Recorded at Westlake Audio, Los Angeles
 * Mixed at Hot Rock Studios
 * Personnel


 * Songwriting – Charlotte Aitchison, Dan Omelio, Magnus August Høiberg, Tor Erik Hermansen, Steve Mac
 * Mixing – Rob Orton
 * Engineering – Chris Laws, Dann Pursey, Tony Lake
 * Producing – Cashmere Cat, Stargate, Steve Mac
 * Programming – Cashmere Cat


 * Bass – Steve Pearce
 * Drums – Chris Laws
 * Guitar – Dan "Robopop" Omelio
 * Keyboards – Steve Mac
 * Percussion – Daniel Pursey
 * Vocals – Bea Rexstrew, Charli XCX, Katie Littlewood, Kirstin Hume, Macy McCutcheon