Say What You Want to Say? Zoom Reviving “Breakout,” yet another ’80s Classic?
Say What You Want to Say? Zoom Reviving “Breakout,” yet another ’80s Classic?

Corinne Drewery and Andy Connell of Swing Out Sister via Wikimedia Commons.

When my wife first explained Zoom, all I could hear was Aretha Franklin singing “Who’s Zoomin’ Who.’’ Now, she’s going into detail about a meeting on Breakout Rooms, and it’s happening again.

“Wait, wait, I know exactly what these are all about: another ’80s song,’’ I say, frantically setting my iPad on the kitchen table and rushing to YouTube.

I can’t recall the band's name, so I type “Breakout,’’ and Google suggests “1980s song?’’ That’s it.

There are many good songs called “Breakout’’ and even more called “Breakaway,’’ but few explain Zoom Breakout rooms and their purpose better than “Breakout’’ by Swing Out Sister.

Let them dance again, even in a Zoom meeting

And just like “Who’s Zoomin’ Who,’’ this is a song you can dance to. It moves you, and we need to be moved now.

The music and words have me bouncing, bobbing my head. If you’re feeling down or blue, “Breakout’’ is just what you need to get you slightly goofy and child-like again.

“When explanations make no sense, when every answer’s wrong,’’ it starts — almost like a poem or an old-fashioned jingle you can’t get out of your head. “You’re fighting with lost confidence. All expectations are gone.’’

Before you think about meds to heal your emotions, please consider playing some songs like “Breakout.’’ They might help. They certainly have no negative side effects.

Like classic American standards such as “Put on a Happy Face’’ or songs that drive my wife crazy like “The Candy Man,’’ this is a true peppy “up’’ song. You prefer being anxious, serious, and scared? Then “Breakout’’ isn’t for you.

This is a song about freedom of expression and joyful freedom itself. It’s about becoming who you were created to be. The key message:

“The time has come to make or break. Move on, don’t hesitate. Breakout. Don’t stop to ask — and now you’ve found a break to make at last. You’ve got to find a way. Say what you want to say. Breakout.’’

Yes, I know the seriously self-righteous will dismiss this song as ’80s candy syrup, but that’s OK. I’ll beam and enjoy the music while they brood.

“Breakout’’ includes a “wall of bright sound’’ combining horns, synthesizers that sound like a string section with drums, and (of course) the joyous sounds of xylophones. Everyone mixed it for dance clubs. And we felt happy.

The song soared to №1 on the UK charts, and the group was nominated for Grammys for Best New Artist and Best Vocal Performance by a Group or Duo.

These are the kinds of songs that allow Barry Manilow to remain popular long past the time he would have otherwise been forgotten. John Kennedy got elected to the White House with a similarly perky “He’s Got High Hopes.’’

Even George Bush Senior, famously mocked by Newsweek for “Fighting the Wimp Factor,’’ became the first sitting president since Martin Van Buren (and one of just two vice presidents in modern times) to run and win the top job. He even won 40 of the 50 states (before being crushed by Bill Clinton in 1992).

Did Bush do so well in 1988 because of the popularity of Ronald Reagan or the power of Bush’s chipper 1988 campaign song, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy?’’

When you’re feeling blue, a peppy “up’’ song gets you going again. Like Katrina and the Waves singing “I’m Walking on Sunshine,’’ this song tells us to find a way, say what you feel like saying, don’t bow to authority but establish your own.

And in a time of fear, and a time when you feel trapped inside a little room within a room on Zoom, what better song is there to sing?
['Joseph Serwach']
['Music Voices', 'Music', 'Lyrics', 'Culture', 'Technology']