Break America

About

Break America was written by Robbie Williams, Kelvin Andrews and Danny Spencer, and produced by Soul Mekanik. It was distributed in December 2007 as a free download for long-term members of Williams’s Inner Sanctum fan club, alongside In and Out of Love. Conceived during the Rudebox sessions, the track continues the tongue-in-cheek tone of that era, combining wry humour with pulsing electronic production.

Williams described Break America as “ironic,” imagining himself as part of an 80s-style rock band trying to conquer the United States. The lyric, filled with surreal wordplay and self-mockery, pokes fun at the idea of British artists’ ambition to “crack America.” The chorus’s chant-like delivery and the playful robotic vocals give it the feel of a parody anthem, celebrating failure as much as aspiration.

“It’s meant to be ironic. It sounds like The Sweet meets acid house meets a pub somewhere in the Midlands. It makes me laugh.”Robbie Williams

With its blend of glam rock attitude and club-inspired rhythm, Break America stands as one of the most eccentric outtakes from the Rudebox era. Williams later reflected on the title with amusement, noting that while he had achieved success across Europe, he had little desire to “break” the American market again. The track remains a fan favourite for its self-awareness, humour and unapologetically British sensibility.