"Break Your Heart" was one of two songs penned by Cruz for Cheryl Cole for her debut solo album, 3 Words.

[1] However, according to the song's other co-writer Fraser T Smith in an interview with HitQuarters, "Break Your Heart" was rejected by Cole's Polydor label boss Ferdy Unger-Hamilton felt it was too similar to "Heartbreaker" by will.i.am, the executive producer of 3 Words.

Speaking of the song's lyrical background, Cruz told Pete Lewis of Blues & Soul: "It's about breaking a girl's heart, but in a way that's kinda not on purpose.

"[4] Cruz also has called his song "catchy" with a "good melody" and "fun topic", stating that "both girls and guys can get into this character".

[5] In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Cruz elaborated and said the song was partially based on a personal situation, and rather an "exaggeration of an experience".

[6] Massey and Werner's belief in the single's potential within the United States and relentless promotional push they gave it helped the song reach the Billboard Hot 100 top spot.

[6] In addition to re-working his album for a US release, Cruz tapped US rapper Ludacris on a remix for the US version of "Break Your Heart".

"[7] The version featuring Ludacris was originally released digitally as the b-side to "No Other One" in November 2009, before in the United States in February 2010.

[8][9] "Break Your Heart" is an electropop song featuring a "surging dance-pop" sound, accompanied with Cruz's Auto-Tuned R&B vocals.

[10][11][12][13] It is written in the key of E♭ major described as a "medium dance groove", Cruz's vocals span from B♭3 to B♭4, and it's tempo has 122 beats per minute.

[11] Although BBC Music called the song a "cheese-fest", the reviewer said "in a weird way it's kind of beautiful", investing in the "Ibiza-inspired R&B trend".

[11] The review also compared the song to Dizzee Rascal and Cruz's "layered vocals" and "slick production" to OneRepublic and Timbaland's "Apologize".

[12] Ash Dosanjh of New Musical Express said that Cruz's downfall was when he acts the player, as on "Break Your Heart" and "Dirty Picture".

"[10] Chris Ryan of MTV Buzzworthy said that the song "perfectly embodies Cruz's infectious, dancefloor-friendly sound and sleek, immaculate production", and compares it to Jason Derulo and Akon.

[20] Cruz became the twelfth male artist to have his first solo single peak at the top of the chart, and was the third since October 2008, following Jay Sean and Jason Derulo.

[24] The video begins with Cruz and his girlfriend, played by Uzbekistan-born supermodel Nadya Nepomnyashaya, sitting together in a sports car near a pier.

For the version with Ludacris, there are scenes with him and Cruz in a white concrete backdrop with a flashing light, as well as the two of them together with a large group of people in another club.