Matthew Gerrard, Bridget Benenate and Avril Lavigne wrote Breakaway, originally for Lavigne's debut album Let Go (2002). The song was judged unsuitable for that album and passed to Kelly Clarkson, who recorded it for the soundtrack of The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004). Clarkson was finishing her second studio album and recorded the song to keep fans engaged until that album's first single. Produced by John Shanks, it was released as the first single from the soundtrack on July 19, 2004, and reissued in May 2006 as the fifth and final single from the album Breakaway (2004), whose title came from the song's success. A folk-pop and pop-punk ballad and power ballad, it uses acoustic guitars, airy drums and Clarkson's controlled voice.
Critics gave positive reviews, relating to its message and simple lyrics. Outside the United States it was a commercial success, reaching the top 20 in several European countries and the top 10 in Australia, Belgium, Hungary and the Netherlands. In the US it peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Adult Contemporary chart for 21 non-consecutive weeks. The music video, directed by Dave Meyers, shows Clarkson as a young girl from a small town who becomes an international star.
