This Is How a Heart Breaks

"This Is How a Heart Breaks"
Single by Rob Thomas
from the album ...Something to Be
Released	June 13, 2005 (2005-06-13)
Studio	The Hit Factory (New York City) BiCoastal Music (Ossining, New York) Conway, Henson (Los Angeles)
Length	3:50
Label	Atlantic Melisma
Songwriter(s)	Rob Thomas Bloodshy & Avant H. Jonback
Producer(s)	Matt Serletic
Rob Thomas singles chronology
"Lonely No More" (2005) "This Is How a Heart Breaks" (2005) "Ever the Same" (2005)
Music video
"This Is How A Heart Breaks" on YouTube

"This Is How a Heart Breaks" is the second single from Matchbox Twenty frontman Rob Thomas's debut album, ...Something to Be (2005). Released in June 2005, the song was moderately successful on the charts, peaking at number 52 in the United States and number 13 in Australia. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling over 500,000 copies, and in 2006, it was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Solo.^[1]

Music video

The video, directed by Pedro Romhanyi, begins with images of New York City before cutting to Thomas singing as he walks along the street. He suddenly sees someone and runs away, chased through the New York streets by this individual. As the video progresses, Thomas escapes from the pursuer and sings a few lines while walking along another part of the city. Just as he finishes the second verse, the hooded pursuer catches up again and Thomas runs through a bar, escaping through the bar's basement door.

Thomas loses the pursuer again and goes into an elevator in another building. Once the elevator opens, he runs up the stairs to the fire exit and when gets to the rooftop where he encounters the pursuer chasing again. The chase continues again as Thomas tries to climb down a fire escape only to fall into a trash pile at the bottom. Thomas then runs on top of some parked cars only to run into a fence which he can't climb. Cornered, Thomas finds himself face to face with the chaser. As the video ends we get a very quick glimpse of the pursuer's face, who reveals himself as Rob Thomas, meaning Thomas was chasing himself for the whole video.

Track listings

US maxi-CD single[2] "This Is How a Heart Breaks" (That Kid Chris club mix) – 9:47 "This Is How a Heart Breaks" (Ford club mix) – 7:31 "This Is How a Heart Breaks" (Pull Defibrillator mix) – 6:31 "This Is How a Heart Breaks" (B&B club mix) – 6:22 "This Is How a Heart Breaks" (Ford dub mix) – 7:31 UK CD single[3] "This Is How a Heart Breaks" "Lonely No More"

UK DVD single[4] "This Is How a Heart Breaks" "This Is How a Heart Breaks" (5.1 Surround Sound mix) "I Am an Illusion" (courtesy of Yahoo! Music) "This Is How a Heart Breaks" (video) Australian CD single[5] "This Is How a Heart Breaks" "Lonely No More" (courtesy of Yahoo! Music) "I Am an Illusion" (courtesy of Yahoo! Music)

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the Australian CD single liner notes and the ...Something to Be booklet.^[5][6]

Studios

• Recorded at The Hit Factory (New York City), BiCoastal Music (Ossining, New York), Conway Studios, and Henson Studios (Los Angeles)
• Mixed at The Hit Factory (New York City)
• Mastered at Gateway Mastering (Portland, Maine, US)

Personnel

• Rob Thomas – writing, vocals
• Wendy Melvoin – guitar
• Jeff Trott – guitar
• Kevin Kadish – guitar
• Mike Elizondo – bass
• Matt Serletic – keys, production
• Gerald Heyward – drums
• Greater Anointing – background vocals
• Jimmy Douglass – recording, mixing
• Greg Collins – recording
• Mark Dobson – recording, digital editing
• John O'Brien – programming
• Bob Ludwig – mastering
• Ria Lewerke – art direction
• Norman Moore – art direction
• Chris Cuffaro – photography

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2005–2006) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[7] 13 Canada CHR/Pop Top 30 (Radio & Records)[8] 28 Canada Hot AC Top 30 (Radio & Records)[9] 1 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[10] 24 Scotland (OCC)[11] 48 UK Singles (OCC)[12] 67 US Billboard Hot 100[13] 52 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[14] 25 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[15] 3 US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[16] 7

Year-end charts Chart (2005) Position Australia (ARIA)[17] 96 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[18] 16

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[19]	Gold	500,000^*
^* Sales figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	June 13, 2005	Hot adult contemporary radio	Atlantic Melisma	[20]
Australia	July 18, 2005	CD		[21]
United Kingdom	September 19, 2005	CD DVD		[22]

In popular culture

In 2013, Straight No Chaser covered the song with Thomas on their Under the Influence album.^[23]

References

1. Finn, Bob (December 8, 2005). "Grammy award nominees". Boston.com. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
2. This Is How a Heart Breaks (US maxi-CD single liner notes). Rob Thomas. Atlantic Records, Melisma Records. 2005. 2-94010.
3. This Is How a Heart Breaks (UK CD single liner notes). Rob Thomas. Atlantic Records, Melisma Records. 2005. AT0219CD, 7567 93846 2.
4. This Is How a Heart Breaks (European DVD single liner notes). Rob Thomas. Atlantic Records, Melisma Records. 2005. AT0219DVD, 7567-93942-2.
5. This Is How a Heart Breaks (Australian CD single liner notes). Rob Thomas. Atlantic Records, Melisma Records. 2005. 7567938452.
6. ...Something to Be (US CD album booklet). Rob Thomas. Atlantic Records, Melisma Records. 2005. 2-93435.
7. "Rob Thomas – This Is How a Heart Breaks". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
8. "R&R Canada CHR/Pop Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1620. August 19, 2005. p. 27. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
9. "R&R Canada Hot AC Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1621. August 26, 2005. p. 48. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
10. "Rob Thomas – This Is How a Heart Breaks". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
11. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
12. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
13. "Rob Thomas Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
14. "Rob Thomas Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
15. "Rob Thomas Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
16. "Rob Thomas Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
17. "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2005". ARIA. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
18. "2005 The Year in Music & Touring: Hot Adult Top 40 Songs". Billboard. Vol. 117, no. 52. December 24, 2005. p. YE-76.
19. "American single certifications – Rob Thomas – This Is How a Heart Breaks". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
20. "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1610. June 10, 2005. p. 19. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
21. "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 18th July 2005" (PDF). ARIA. July 18, 2005. p. 29. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 19, 2005. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
22. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. September 17, 2005. p. 27.
23. Collar, Matt. "Under the Influence – Straight No Chaser". AllMusic. Retrieved November 2, 2014.