Inspired by the fact that she was trying to find herself again and breaking the creativity chains that surrounded her, Breakthrough deals with themes of growing up, experiencing life, love, making mistakes and learning from them, as well as heartbreak and why everlasting love seems elusive. To help develop her expected sound and lyrics, Caillat worked with previous collaborators, such as Mikal Blue, Ken Caillat and Jason Reeves, while working for the first time with Kara Dioguardi, Rick Nowels, John Shanks, Greg Wells and David Becker.
Breakthrough received generally mixed to favorable reviews from contemporary music critics, with some praising its rich texture and for being a consistent album with catchy tracks, while others dismissing its title and finding issues with some of the song's lyrics. The album was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 52nd Grammy Awards. Commercially, it was successful in the United States, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 106,000 copies in its first week, becoming her first album to top the Billboard charts. Elsewhere, it reached the top-ten in four countries, while failing to replicate the success of her debut album in other territories.
The album produced two singles. The first single, "Fallin' for You", was released on June 29, 2009 and was a success on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching number twelve, while also finding success on the Adult radio. Elsewhere, it was a moderate hit. The second single, "I Never Told You", was released on February 16, 2010, and found similar success on the Adult charts, while being more moderate on the Billboard Hot 100. To promote the record, Caillat embarked on her Breakthrough World Tour (2009-2010).
Donovan - Epistle to Dippy
— John Peel's Playing Now (@dave_sticko) May 29, 2024
Played On Show 12/07/1967https://t.co/mgilP0QC5L pic.twitter.com/b01NFds4cN
Avril Lavigne - Anything but Ordinary
Avril Lavigne - Everything Back but You
Avril Lavigne - Hello Heartache
Avril Lavigne - I Can Do Better
Avril Lavigne - I Don't Have to Try
Avril Lavigne - Keep Holding On
Avril Lavigne - My Happy Ending
Avril Lavigne - One of Those Girls
Avril Lavigne - The Best Damn Thing
Avril Lavigne - Things I'll Never Say
Avril Lavigne - Too Much to Ask
Avril Lavigne - When You're Gone
Katy Perry - By the Grace of God
Katy Perry - Chained to the Rhythm
Katy Perry - Choose Your Battles
Katy Perry - Every Day Is a Holiday
Katy Perry - Hummingbird Heartbeat
Katy Perry - If You Can Afford Me
Katy Perry - I'm Still Breathing
Katy Perry - International Smile
Katy Perry - Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)
Katy Perry - Not Like the Movies
Katy Perry - The One That Got Away
Katy Perry - This Is How We Do
Katy Perry - Waking Up in Vegas
Katy Perry - When There's Nothing Left
Katy Perry - Who Am I Living For?
Madonna - Another Suitcase in Another Hall
Madonna - Don't Cry for Me Argentina
Madonna - Drowned World/Substitute for Love
Madonna - Give Me All Your Luvin'
Madonna - Love Don't Live Here Anymore
Madonna - Me Against the Music
Madonna - Nothing Really Matters
Madonna - The Power of Good-Bye
Madonna - This Used To Be My Playground
Madonna - What It Feels Like for a Girl
Avril Lavigne - Anything but Ordinary
Avril Lavigne - Everything Back but You
Avril Lavigne - Hello Heartache
Avril Lavigne - I Can Do Better
Avril Lavigne - I Don't Have to Try
Avril Lavigne - Keep Holding On
Avril Lavigne - My Happy Ending
Avril Lavigne - One of Those Girls
Avril Lavigne - The Best Damn Thing
Avril Lavigne - Things I'll Never Say
Avril Lavigne - Too Much to Ask
Avril Lavigne - When You're Gone
John Mayer - Who You Love (featuring Katy Perry
Katy Perry - By the Grace of God
Katy Perry - Chained to the Rhythm
Katy Perry - Choose Your Battles
Katy Perry - Every Day Is a Holiday
Katy Perry - Hummingbird Heartbeat
Katy Perry - If You Can Afford Me
Katy Perry - I'm Still Breathing
Katy Perry - International Smile
Katy Perry - Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)
Katy Perry - Not Like the Movies
Katy Perry - The One That Got Away
Katy Perry - This Is How We Do
Katy Perry - Waking Up in Vegas
Katy Perry - When There's Nothing Left
Katy Perry - Who Am I Living For?
Madonna - Another Suitcase in Another Hall
Madonna - Don't Cry for Me Argentina
Madonna - Drowned World/Substitute for Love
Madonna - Give Me All Your Luvin'
Madonna - Love Don't Live Here Anymore
Madonna - Me Against the Music
Madonna - Nothing Really Matters
Madonna - The Power of Good-Bye
Madonna - This Used To Be My Playground
Madonna - What It Feels Like for a Girl
Motorhead - (Don't Let 'em) Grind Ya Down
Motorhead - (Don't Need) Religion
Motorhead - (We Are) The Road Crew
Motorhead - Another Perfect Day
Motorhead - Back at the Funny Farm
Motorhead - Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers
Motorhead - Dancing on Your Grave
Motorhead - Dead Men Tell No Tales
Motorhead - I'll Be Your Sister
Motorhead - I'm Your Witchdoctor
Motorhead - Instro (Instrumental)
Motorhead - Iron Horse / Born to Lose
Motorhead - Keep Us on the Road
Motorhead - Love Me Like a Reptile
Motorhead - Marching Off to War
Motorhead - Nothing Up My Sleeve
Motorhead - Ridin' with the Driver
Motorhead - Shoot You in the Back
Motorhead - Stone Dead Forever
Motorhead - Stone Deaf in the U.S.A
Motorhead - The Chase Is Better Than the Catch