Break My Heart

"Break My Heart (You Really)", also known as "Break My Heart", is a song by British pop act Shakespears Sister, released in 1988 as the lead single from their debut album Sacred Heart. "Break My Heart (You Really)" was released in most territories as a Double A-side with "Heroine", which according to Siobhan Fahey was to "give a more rounded picture of what I'm about". In North American territories however, both songs were released as separate A-side singles. Background "Break My Heart (You Really)" was released as the debut single of Shakespears Sister, the name Siobhan Fahey adopted for her solo career following her departure from Bananarama in 1988. Speaking to Record Mirror in 1988, Fahey revealed, "Going solo was a very liberating experience. Now I can do the stuff I want to do the way I want to do it, and I've done something of which I'm very proud." Music video The music video, directed by Sophie Muller, features a tense-looking man sitting on a chair before a colourful stage. On stage, Fahey sings the song, as various carnival performers – including a juggler, a contortionist, a strongman, a fire eater, dancers, and more – appear alongside her. Critical reception Upon its release, the Birmingham Daily News praised "Break My Heart (You Really)" as "a good up-tempo dance tune" with a "catchy chorus" and "good singing in the Bananarama mode". The reviewer thought it "ought to do well". Chris Heath of Smash Hits commented that it "sounds as if it's supposed to be like one of those huge Dead or Alive hi-energy stompers, except that Siobhan sings in a rather unattractive spook-voice". He concluded, "It's infectiously catchy but hardly inspired."