You know that feeling when a song just hits different? Back in 2004, you couldn't turn on a radio without hearing the soaring chorus of "Breakaway." It became the ultimate anthem for anyone stuck in a small town dreaming of something bigger. Most people associate it purely with Kelly Clarkson—it was the title track of her massive second album, after all. But the paper trail of who wrote the song breakaway actually leads back to a completely different pop-punk princess.
It wasn't Kelly.
The song was actually co-written by Avril Lavigne.
Think about that for a second. If you listen closely to the lyrics now, the "Avril-ness" of it all starts to bleed through the polished pop production. The yearning for change, the "buildings and the houses" imagery, the slightly moody but hopeful vibe. It's pure Let Go era songwriting. Lavigne penned the track alongside veteran songwriters Bridget Benenate and Matthew Gerrard.
The Song That Almost Didn't Exist
Writing a hit is rarely a straight line. In 2002, Avril Lavigne was working on her debut album, Let Go. She was a teenager from Ontario with a skateboard and a massive chip on her shoulder regarding the "pop star" label. She sat down with Benenate and Gerrard to hammer out some tracks. "Breakaway" was one of them.
Honestly, it's wild to think it almost stayed in a drawer.
Lavigne eventually decided the song didn't quite fit the specific "sk8er girl" aesthetic she was cultivating for her first record. It was a bit too mid-tempo, maybe a little too earnest for the girl singing "Sk8er Boi." So, she passed on it. It became what the industry calls a "leftover."
Usually, leftovers just die. They sit on a hard drive until the technology becomes obsolete. But "Breakaway" had a different fate.
From the Cutting Room Floor to The Princess Diaries 2
Fast forward a couple of years. Disney was looking for a flagship song for the soundtrack of The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. They needed something that captured the journey of Anne Hathaway’s character, Mia Thermopolis—moving from her humble roots to the literal throne of Genovia.
Enter Kelly Clarkson.
Kelly was in a weird spot at the time. She had won American Idol, but her first album, Thankful, was a bit of a mixed bag of styles. She wanted more grit. She wanted to be taken seriously as a pop-rock artist. When she heard "Breakaway," she saw the potential that Avril had left behind.
She recorded it as a one-off for the movie soundtrack. Nobody—not the label, not the producers, not even Kelly herself—really expected it to become a career-defining juggernaut.
It exploded.
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It spent a staggering 20 weeks at number one on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. It stayed on the charts for almost a full year. It was so successful that Kelly decided to scrap her existing plans and name her entire second album after the song.
Breaking Down the Writing Credits
When we look at who wrote the song breakaway, we have to give credit to the technical architects who built the melody and structure.
Bridget Benenate is a name you might not know, but you’ve definitely heard her work. She’s written for everyone from Celine Dion to Alice Cooper. In interviews, she’s mentioned that the song started with a simple demo and a feeling of wanting to "fly" away from your current circumstances.
Matthew Gerrard provided the pop-rock scaffolding. He’s a Canadian producer and songwriter who became a staple in the Disney music machine, working on High School Musical and Hannah Montana. He knew how to make a song sound massive.
And then there's Avril. Even though she didn't perform it, her DNA is all over the lyrics. "I'll grow up and make it high," "Out of the darkness and into the sun"—these are classic coming-of-age tropes that Lavigne excelled at in the early 2000s.
Why the Song Resonated So Deeply
Why does it still work? Honestly, it's the bridge.
The way the music drops out and Kelly (or the demo version of Avril) sings about "buildings and the houses" creates a visceral sense of place. It’s grounded. It’s not just a generic "I want to be famous" song. It’s a song about the fear and excitement of leaving home.
Interestingly, there's a demo version of Avril Lavigne singing "Breakaway" that leaked online years ago. It’s fascinating to compare the two. Avril’s version is thinner, more nasal, and has a distinct "indie-rock" garage feel. Kelly’s version, produced by John Shanks, turned it into an arena anthem.
Shanks is a legend for a reason. He’s the guy who helped Sheryl Crow and Michelle Branch find their sound. He took the Avril/Benenate/Gerrard skeleton and gave it muscles. He added the crashing drums and the soaring guitar swells that made it a radio staple for the last two decades.
The Financial Side of a Passed-On Hit
People often ask if Avril regrets giving it away.
In the music business, "regret" is balanced by "royalties." Because Lavigne is a credited writer on the track, she has made a fortune from Kelly Clarkson’s version. Every time it plays in a grocery store, on a throwback radio station, or gets streamed on Spotify, Avril gets a check.
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It’s actually the smartest move a songwriter can make. If a song doesn't fit your "brand," give it to someone whose brand it does fit. You get the money without having to do the world tour to promote it.
Misconceptions About the Song's Origin
One of the biggest myths is that Kelly Clarkson wrote it herself about her experience on American Idol.
It makes sense why people think that. The lyrics "I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly" perfectly mirror her trajectory from a waitress in Texas to a global superstar. But Kelly has always been transparent about the fact that she’s a phenomenal interpreter of songs as much as she is a writer.
While Kelly did co-write many of the other tracks on the Breakaway album (like "Because of You," which she wrote when she was 16), the title track was a gift from the Avril Lavigne camp.
Another common mistake? People thinking it was written specifically for the Disney movie. Nope. As we've seen, it was written years prior for a completely different artist's debut. It just happened to fit the movie's vibe perfectly.
The Legacy of a Masterpiece
"Breakaway" changed the trajectory of Kelly Clarkson's career. It moved her away from the "Idol" stigma and into the realm of legitimate rock-pop stars. It also proved that Avril Lavigne had some serious songwriting chops beyond just her own hits.
The song has been covered by dozens of artists, from Bellefire to Katie DeGroot. It’s a favorite on singing competition shows because it allows a vocalist to show off both their "small" intimate voice and their "powerhouse" belt.
Ultimately, the story of who wrote the song breakaway is a story about the messy, collaborative, and often unpredictable nature of the music industry. It’s a reminder that a "no" from one artist can lead to a "yes" that changes the world for another.
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What You Should Do Next
If you’re a fan of the song or an aspiring songwriter, here are a few ways to dive deeper into the history of this track:
- Listen to the Avril Lavigne Demo: Search for it on YouTube. It’s a masterclass in how production can change the entire "genre" of a song while keeping the lyrics identical.
- Check the Credits on Your Favorite Hits: You’d be surprised how many stars sing songs written by their "rivals." For instance, Jessie J wrote "Party in the U.S.A." for Miley Cyrus, and Ed Sheeran wrote "Love Yourself" for Justin Bieber.
- Analyze the Structure: If you’re a writer, look at how the lyrics of "Breakaway" move from specific imagery (the rain, the buildings) to universal themes (growing up, making a change). That’s why it stayed on the charts for so long.
- Watch The Princess Diaries 2: See how the song is used in the context of the film. It’s a perfect example of "needle dropping" where the song’s narrative perfectly syncs with the visual story.
Understanding the origin of a song doesn't take away the magic; it just makes you appreciate the craft that goes into making a three-minute pop song last for twenty years.