Mariah wrote “Heartbreaker” during the Glitter movie soundtrack recording sessions. The song, which features rapper Jay-Z and was produced with DJ Clue, is built around a sample from the 1982 Stacy Lattisaw song “Attack of the Name Game.” “Clue and I are friends. We were hanging out and another friend of mine knew he had this track that sounded like it would suit my flavor. She was like, ‘Play that for Mariah. She would want to write to that.’ The movie is set in the '80s, that's why it was kind of retro, cutesy,” Mariah explained. “Jay-Z and all those guys were in the studio going, ‘This is hot, you should put this out now.’ I was like, ‘They're right. I have to get it out. It's a summer record.’ ”
After the film was pushed back, Mariah decided to release “Heartbreaker” as the lead single from a brand new album: Rainbow. “I was like, ‘OK, if I'm going to do this, I'm either going to use some of the songs from the soundtrack, or do a completely different album.’ I just did a completely different album, but it's the quickest album I've ever done,” she explained. “I didn't discuss it with the label. We just did it and they were probably really surprised. It used to be that every little thing I did was a major group discussion. Now I do what I want and what I think is right for me. Sony have found themselves in a position of having to trust my judgement because up to this point in my career my instincts have been pretty much spot on.”
“Heartbreaker” made its worldwide debut with a 30-second a-cappella preview on August 13, 1999. The streaming sample of the song was available for 12 hours and drew more than a half-million hits. The whole song premiered on MSN three days later, on August 16, where it became available for streaming for 12 hours — making its radio premiere via satellite later that same day. “It's pretty much in the classic style of my up-tempo classics like ‘Fantasy’ or ‘Dreamlover,’ ” Mariah told MTV News. “But it's kind of fun and has a new edge to it, I think, and definitely having Jay-Z takes it to a whole another level”
The single was commercially released in the United States on September 21, 1999, and sold 271,000 copies in its first week, marking the biggest first-week singles sales of Mariah's career. “Heartbreaker” reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart during the week of October 9, 1999, becoming Mariah's fourteenth single to do so, and was certified 2X Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on June 14, 2024.
“Heartbreaker” peaked at number five on the United Kingdom's Official Singles Chart during the week of November 6, 1999, and was certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry on April 1, 2022. In Australia, the song spent thirteen consecutive weeks in the Top 20, peaking at number ten, and was certified Platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association on December 24, 1999.
Mariah teamed up with Da Brat and Missy Elliott for the urban remix of “Heartbreaker.” “I'm so excited about the remix,” she told MTV. “It's also gonna go on the album, and it features Missy Elliott and Da Brat, and it's kinda like a girl-power answer record, and it's to the loop of Snoop Dogg's ‘Ain't No Fun.’ They're not ready for that one!” Junior Vasquez was the producer chosen for the dance remixes of “Heartbreaker,” which interpolate lyrics from the 1985 ballad, “If You Should Ever Be Lonely” by Val Young. “That actually was Junior's idea,” Mariah said. “That's one of my favorite songs from growing up and when he started doing it, I said, ‘You know what? we should slow it down.’ I figured it would be hot to slow it down and again those remixes are so much fun for me to do creatively.” The Junior Vasquez remixes of “Heartbreaker” peaked at number two on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.
| Song | Remix | Run time |
|---|---|---|
| Heartbreaker | No Rap Version
|
3:21 |
| Heartbreaker | Radio Edit
|
4:20 |
| Heartbreaker | Remix feat. Da Brat and Missy Elliott
Produced by DJ Clue, Mariah Carey, Ken “Duro” Ifill. |
4:36 |
| Heartbreaker / If You Should Ever Be Lonely | Junior's Club Mix
Produced by Mariah Carey, Junior Vasquez. |
10:18 |
| Heartbreaker / If You Should Ever Be Lonely | Junior's Club Dub
Produced by Mariah Carey, Junior Vasquez. |
10:11 |
| Heartbreaker / If You Should Ever Be Lonely | Junior's Hard Mix
Produced by Mariah Carey, Junior Vasquez. |
10:20 |
MTV was granted backstage access during the filming of the video for the original version of “Heartbreaker,” which made its debut on Making The Video on August 16, 1999. The clip, directed by Brett Ratner, introduced used to Bianca, Mariah's alter ego. “My girlfriends and I are going to the movies, they know that my boyfriend is there cheating on me with this girl. When the girl turns around we realize that I'm playing that girl also,” Mariah explained. “She gets up to go to the bathroom and I follow her and just to be nice and say, ‘I don't know if you realize this, but that's my boyfriend.’ And she turns around and basically smacks me. It was choreographed by Jackie Chan's choreographer. He flew in and it was an amazing experience but I was so sore. It looks like nothing when you see it on the video but I did all the stunts and I had to do them twice because I was both girls.”
Jay-Z was unable to appear on the first music video because he was contractually obligated to restrict his video appearances. Two weeks later, MTV premiered a new version of the video, where Jay-Z and Mariah recreate a scene from the movie Scarface.
Snoop Dogg, Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott, Da Brat, and DJ Clue all join Mariah in the music video for the “Heartbreaker” remix, which was shot in New York in September 1999 and was directed by Diane Martel, who previously worked with Mariah on videos like “Dreamlover” and “Butterfly.”
In the United States, the “Heartbreaker” Single, including the Album Version and the Remix featuring Da Brat and Missy Elliott, was released on CD and Cassette. The maxi single, released on CD, includes three additional remixes of “Heartbreaker / If You Should Ever Be Lonely,” produced by Junior Vasquez. “Heartbreaker” was also released on 12" vinyl, including the Album Version, the Remix and two “Heartbreaker / If You Should Ever Be Lonely” remixes: Junior's Club Mix and Junior's Hard Mix.
Europe saw the release of two “Heartbreaker” CD Singles, two CD Maxi Singles and a 12" Vinyl. The first CD Single includes the Album Version and the Remix featuring Da Brat and Missy Elliott. The second CD single also includes Mariah's cover of “Do You Know Where's You're Going To” as a bonus track. CD Maxi Single 1 includes three versions of “Heartbreaker” (Album Version, Remix and No Rap Version) and the Junior's Club Mix of “Heartbreaker / If You Should Ever Be Lonely.” CD Maxi Single 2 includes the “Heartbreaker” Remix and two additional Junior Vasquez remixes: Junior's Club Dub and Junior's Hard Mix. The European “Heartbreaker” 12" Vinyl includes both the album version of the song and the Junior's Club Mix and Junior's Club Dub remixes of “Heartbreaker / If You Should Ever Be Lonely.”
“Heartbreaker” was released on October 18, 1999, in the United Kingdom. CD 1 was a CD Extra including the Album Version, the Junior Club Mix, the Lil Jon Remix of “Sweetheart,” from Mariah's #1's compilation, and the “Heartbreaker” music video. CD 2 was a strictly limited edition which includes a free double-sided poster, the No Rap Version and Remix of “Heartbreaker” and the Mobb Deep Mix of “The Roof,” from Mariah's Butterfly album. The Cassette Single includes the Album Version and the Remix
In Australia, “Heartbreaker” was released on CD and cassette, both including the Album Version, the Remix, the No Rap Version and the Junior's Club Mix of “Heartbreaker / If You Should Ever Be Lonely.”
In Japan, “Heartbreaker” was released on 5" CD including the Album Version, the No Rap Version and the Remix featuring Da Brat and Missy Elliott.
Retailer Urban Outfitters released a 12" vinyl single of “Heartbreaker” in February 2023 as part of their S11ngles Day campaign. The single, pressed on a limited run of 5000 units on hot pink vinyl, includes the Album Version of “Heartbreaker” and the Junior's Heartbreaker Club Mix of “Heartbreaker / If You Should Ever Be Lonely.”
You gotta do it like this
Gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love
Gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love
Gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love
Gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love
Oh your love's so good
I don't want to let go
And although I should
I can't leave you alone
Cause you're so disarming
I'm caught up in the midst of you
And I cannot resist at all
Boy if I do
The things you want me to (The thing you wanna do)
The way I used to do
Would you love me baby
Or leave me feeling used
Would you go and break
My heart?
Heartbreaker, you got the best of me
But I just keep on coming back incessantly (Keep on and boy oh why)
Oh why did you have to run your game on me
I should have known right from the start
You'd go and break my heart
Gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love (Go and break my heart)
Gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love
Gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love (Don't go and break my heart)
Gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love
It's a shame to be
So euphoric and weak
When you smile at me
And you tell me the things
That you know persuade
Me to relinquish my love
To you
But I cannot resist at all
Boy if I do
The things you want me to (The thing you wanna do)
The way I used to do
Would you love me baby (Love me boy)
Or leave me feeling used
Would you go and break
My heart?
Heartbreaker, you got the best of me (You got the best)
But I just keep on coming back incessantly (I keep on, keep on)
Oh why did you have to run your game on me (Why oh why did you have to run your game)
I should have known right from the start (The start that you'd)
You'd go and break my heart
Jay-Z:
She wanna shop with Jay, play box with Jay
She wanna pillow fight in the middle of the night
She wanna drive my Benz with five of her friends
She wanna creep past the block, spyin' again
She wanna roll with Jay, chase skeeos away
She wanna fight with lame chicks, blow my date
She wanna inspect the rest, kick me to the curb
If she finds one strand of hair longer than hers
She wants love in the jacuzzi, rub up in the movies
Access to the old crib, keys to the newbie
She wanna answer the phone, tattoo her arm
That's when I gotta send her back to her mom's
She call me heartbreaker, when we apart it makes her
Want a piece of paper, scribble down “I hate ya”
But she knows she loves Jay because
She loves everything Jay says, Jay does and all
Mariah:
Heartbreaker, you got the best of me (Oh boy you got the best of me)
But I just keep on coming back incessantly (I keep on coming back)
Oh why did you have to run your game on me (Why did you have to run your game)
I should have known right from the start (Right from the start that you'd)
You'd go and break my heart
Heartbreaker, you got the best of me
But I just keep on coming back incessantly
Oh why did you have to run your game on me (I should have known)
I should have known right from the start (That you would go and break my heart)
You'd go and break my heart
Heartbreaker, you got the best of me
But I just keep on coming back incessantly
Oh why did you have to run your game on me
I should have known right from the start
You'd go and break my heart
Heartbreaker, you got the best of me
But I just keep on coming back incessantly (The way I used to do)
Oh why did you have to run your game on me
I should have known right from the start
You'd go and break my heart
Gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love
Written by Mariah Carey, Jay-Z, Shirley Elliston, Lincoln Chase, Michael Walden, Jeffrey Cohen.
Produced by Mariah Carey, DJ Clue and Ken “Duro” Ifill.
Da Brat:
Guess who's back in the mutherfuckin' house
With two big tig 'ol bitties for your mouth
Heartbreakers must partake in the sensation
So So Def and Clue, hits in the making
Missy Elliott:
Oh, guess who's driving the 5 double 0
Like yipi-yi, yipi-yo, yeah
When I talk smack, y'all better skip back
Like here we go, cause the bitch don't play
Oh your love's so good
I don't wanna let go
And although I should
I can't leave you alone
Cause you're so disarming
I'm caught up in the midst of you
And I cannot resist at all
Boy if I do
The things you want me to
The way I used to do
Would you love me baby
Or leave me feeling used
Would you go and break
My heart?
Heartbreaker
You got the best of me
But I just keep on coming back
Incessantly
Oh why did you have to
Run your game on me
I should have known
Right from the start
You'd go and break my heart
I need someone
To give me some real love
I need someone
To give me some real love
I need someone
To give me some real love
I need someone
To give me some real love
Oh why
When I met you that night baby
I didn't know it wouldn't last
I gave my love to you honey
Wish I could take it all back
See I
I've never met a guy
That was better at telling lies
Should've known you'd break my heart
Da Brat:
Well if Da Brat gave a fuck about a nigga
My heart would be broke
Should've know you were star struck
When I left your stroke
My guards was up in the beginning but then
I gave you my heart and you broke it again
I'm a fool when you smile at me I'm convinced
I get caught up in you and I just can't resist
I know you lie to me, it just drive me nuts
This one kiss could persuade me to believe your bluffs
You set it up and impressed me with gifts and rings
I wish love was dollars cause money ain't a thang
Clueminati and MC move the party
I got a **** ready to play somebody
It's that, tell me you, it's that for each member of my crew
With that I'ma heartbreak you
Lay you flat on your back
You really don't know
So I'd advise you not to trust me yo
Missy Elliott:
Baby, I'm the real thing
So why you got me sweating you consistently, baby
Baby, I got that good thing
So why you're making love to me you crazy baby
I like the way he used to spank me
He used to lie me on my back, take that
He used to have me in the sack, legs back
But now he been buggin' lately
Hey boy why you actin' stinky?
I keep it stiff like wood, baby
So if you wanna keep a good lady
You need to stop with all the heartbreaking
Heartbreaker
You got the best of me
But I just keep on coming back
Incessantly
Oh why did you have to
Run your game on me
I should have known
Right from the start
You'd go and break my heart
Heartbreaker
You got the best of me
But I just keep on coming back
Incessantly
Oh why did you have to
Run your game on me
I should have known
Right from the start
You'd go and break my heart
Written by Mariah Carey, Da Brat, Missy Elliott, Ricardo Emanuel Brown, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Warren Griffin III, Andre Romell Young, Nathaniel Hale.
Produced by DJ Clue, Mariah Carey and Ken “Duro” Ifill.
Gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love
Gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love
Gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love
Gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love
Gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love
Gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love
Gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love
Gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love
Don't go and break my heart, don't go and break my heart
You got the best of me
Don't go and break my heart, don't go and break my heart
You got the best of me
Oh, your love's so good
I don't wanna let go
And although I should
I can't leave you alone
Cause you're so disarming
I'm caught up in the mist of you
And I cannot resist at all
Boy if I do
The things you want me to
The way I used to do
Would you love me baby
Or leave me feeling used
Would you go and break my heart
Heartbreaker you got the best of me (Yeah)
But I just keep on coming back incessantly
Oh why did you have to run your game on me
I should have known right from the start
You'd go and break my heart
Gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love (Oh)
Gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love (Gimme… I want your love)
Gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love (I need your love)
Gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love (Gotta have your love)
It's a shame to be
So euphoric and weak
When you smile at me
And you tell me the things
That you know persuade me
To relinquish my love to you
But I cannot resist at all
Heartbreaker you got the best of me
But I just keep on coming back incessantly
Oh why did you have to run your game on me
I should have known right from the start
You'd go and break my heart
Heartbreaker you got the best of me
But I just keep on coming back incessantly
Oh, why did you have to run your game on me
I should have known right from the start
You'd go and break my heart
I keep on coming back boy (Oh…)
I keep coming right back (I…)
I keep coming right back (I keep on)
I keep coming right back (I keep on)
I keep coming right back (I keep on)
I keep coming right back (I keep on coming back to you)
I keep coming right back (Yeah, I)
I keep coming right back (I, I keep on coming back to you)
I keep coming right back (Oh yeah)
I keep coming right back (Hmm…)
I keep coming right back (Boy why)
I keep coming right back (Do I keep coming back)
Gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love (Gimme)
Gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love (Come on)
Gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love (Don't go and break my heart)
Gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love (Why… you got the best of me)
Don't go and break my heart
Oh I need your love baby
You got the best of me
Think of the times
Moments we shared (Shared)
Heartbreaker you got the best of me
Think of the times
Moments we shared (Shared)
I've been thinking 'bout the way
You haven't treated me right, me right
I've been dreaming 'bout you baby
I can't sleep at night, at night
Cause you know how we make each other feel
We shouldn't be apart (We shouldn't be apart)
So why don't you come on baby
Don't go and break my heart
If you should ever be lonely (Gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love)
Think of the times
Think of the moments we shared
If you should ever be lonely (Gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love)
Think of the times
Think of the moments we shared
You can't lie to me baby
Cause you're not good at lies, at lies
I can see through you baby
Right through your eyes, your eyes
Cause you know how we make each feel
We shouldn't be apart (We shouldn't be apart)
So why don't you come on baby
Don't go and break my heart
If you should ever be lonely (Gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love)
Think of the times
Think of the moments we shared
If you should ever be lonely (Gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love)
Think of the times
Think of the moments we shared
Gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love (Come on)
Gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love (Come on and give me your love)
Gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love (I need it, I want it)
Gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love, gimme your love (Gotta have it, come on and give it to me)
Heartbreaker you got the best of me
But I just keep on coming back incessantly
Oh why did you have to run your game on me
I should have known right from the start
You'd go and break my heart
Heartbreaker you got the best of me
But I just keep on coming back incessantly (Oh…)
Oh why did you have to run your game on me (Why…)
I should have known right from the start (Known right from the start that you)
You'd go and break my heart
Heartbreaker you got the best of me
But I just keep on coming back incessantly (I keep on coming)
Oh why did you have to run your game on me (Why, why)
I should have known right from the start
You'd go and break my heart
Heartbreaker you got the best of me
But I just keep on coming back incessantly
Oh why did you have to run your game on me
I should have known right from the start
You'd go and break my heart
I keep on coming back boy
I keep on coming back boy
I keep on coming back boy
I keep on coming back boy
Don't go and break my heart (Don't go and break my heart)
You got the best of me (Oh…)
Don't go and break my heart (No, no, why, why)
You got the best of me (Did you have to run your game on me)
Don't go and break my heart (Don't go and break my heart)
Oh why
Why baby
Think of the times, moments we shared (You got the best of me, why…)
Think of the times, moments we shared (Why did you go and break my)
Heartbreaker you got the best of me
But I just keep on coming back incessantly
Oh why did you have to run your game on me (Why)
I should have known right from the start (Did your run your game on me)
You'd go and break my heart
Heartbreaker you got the best of me
But I just keep on coming back incessantly (I keep on coming back boy)
Oh why did you have to run your game on me (Why…)
I should have known right from the start
You'd go and break my heart
Heartbreaker you got the best of me
But I just keep on coming back incessantly
Oh why did you have to run your game on me (I love you, I need you)
I should have known right from the start
You'd go and break my heart
Heartbreaker you got the best of me (Oh…)
But I just keep on coming back incessantly (I… I love you baby)
Oh why did you have to run your game on me
I should have known right from the start
You'd go and break my heart
You got the best of me
Written by Mariah Carey, Valaria Young Andrews, Fred Jenkins.
Produced by Mariah Carey and Junior Vasquez.
