"Disaster" premiered as the album's first single on US radio on August 29, 2011 via Interscope Records and it was made available for digital download on September 6, 2011.

The song received generally positive reviews from contemporary music critics, who noted its similarities to JoJo's 2006 single, "Too Little Too Late", and Jordin Sparks's "Battlefield".

The song's accompanying music video was directed by Benny Boom and shot in downtown Los Angeles.

[2] On December 21, 2018, JoJo re-recorded and re-released the song as a stand-alone single from her own label Clover Music.

"[3] "Disaster" was announced as the lead single from JoJo's third studio album, which was titled Jumping Trains at the time, in August 2011.

JoJo described the song being about "a relationship, this young passionate love that takes a turn for the worst.

[10][11] A physical version of the new single was released to radio stations in the United States and was sold in concerts during the Joe Jonas & Jay Sean Tour.

[16] JoJo performed the Jorj N Andy Remix version of "Disaster" live during an appearance at Club Krave in Las Vegas on January 14, 2012.

[18] The decision to re-record the singles and albums came from the removal of all of JoJo's original music released under Blackground Records from all streaming and digital selling platforms.

[19][20][21] JoJo had sought to get the original songs and albums back on streaming and digital sales platforms, but could never come to an agreement with the label.

JoJo's lawyer stated they’d reached the end of the statute of limitations on the re-record clause which gave her the rights to “cover” her own music.

[26] Backed by a drum and acoustic guitar, JoJo sings of a relationship turned sour, "I'm trying not to pretend/That it won't happen again and again like that Never thought it would end/Cause you got up in my head/In my head like that.

"[29] "Disaster" received generally positive reviews from contemporary music critics, who noted similarities to JoJo's "Too Little Too Late" (2006), as well as Jordin Sparks's "Battlefield" (2009).

[31] Bradley Stern of MuuMuse rated the song 4.5 out of five stars, also noting its similarities to "Battlefield" while praising "The crashing drums, dramatic strings and triumphantly marching mega-beat" and her "growth as both a vocalist and an individual.

[36] On a tour stop in Philadelphia JoJo gave a short acoustic Studio performance of the song with Q102 radio.

I kind of like snapped in the recording process, I kinda lost my mind but it was great it was perfect, it was exactly what needed to happen.

The music video for "Disaster" was directed by Benny Boom and English actor, Rafi Gavron was chosen to portray her love interest.

In an interview with Idolator.com she said that she "...wanted to show young, crazy love and how passionate it can be — how you get wrapped up in it, and it’s awesome and it’s fun and sexy...This video is a little rock and roll.

“I had seen Rafi Gavron in Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist and thought he was a great actor and a natural choice for me.