Included on his 1983 album, I Don't Speak the Language, the single went to number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number four in the UK in January/February 1984. On the US Cash Box chart, Wilder's single reached the number two position, where it remained for two weeks in early February. A remix version reached the top 20 on the dance chart, and the song additionally hit the BillboardHot Black Singles chart, staying there for four weeks. Though "Break My Stride" was Matthew Wilder's only UK hit, he also reached the US pop chart with his next two singles, "The Kid's American" and "Bouncing Off the Walls", before turning to behind-the-scenes work on other artists' recordings.
In 1996, Austrian duo Unique II had its most successful hit by covering "Break My Stride". This dance version of the 1983 Matthew Wilder song was the first international success for the band, peaking at number 1 in Austria and New Zealand, and at number 2 in Australia. The single also charted in Ireland, Italy, Canada and Scandinavia.
Critical reception
from Billboard wrote, "Yep, this is a dance-leaning cover of the Matthew Wilder '80s pop chestnut. It has already saturated radio airwaves throughout Europe, with a number of programmers here already giving it positive feedback. Highly videogenic Viennese songbird Jade Davies chirps her way through the track's Ace of Base-like reggae-inflected groove with engaging energy. She'll have little to no trouble successfully carrying this one into the hearts of folks who prefer familiarity over adventure." Australian music channelMax placed the song at number 903 in their list of1000 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2013.
Track listings
;CD maxi
"Break My Stride" — 3:16
"Break My Stride" — 4:57
"Break My Stride" — 5:14
;CD maxi — The Remixes
"Break My Stride" — 5:38
"Break My Stride" — 4:37
"Break My Stride" — 3:16
;CD maxi — Re-Work 2002
"Break My Stride" — 2:50
"Break My Stride" — 4:57
"Break My Stride" — 4:20
"Break My Stride" — 3:16
Charts
;Weekly charts
Chart
Peak position
1 2002 remix ;Year-end charts
Chart
Position
Australian Singles Chart
10
Austrian Singles Chart
5
Chart
Position
New Zealand
20
Certifications
Blue Lagoon version
In 2004, "Break My Stride" was covered by German band Blue Lagoon and became a hit in several European countries, including Austria, Germany, Sweden and Denmark, where it reached the top ten.
The song was featured in the closing credits of the 2011 film Cedar Rapids. It was featured in a 2012 television commercial for State Insurance of New Zealand. In 2019, it was featured in a U.S. television commercial for Santander Bank. The song gained more notoriety in 2020 on TikTok, as it was frequently used in TikTok videos - where users would text their friends the lyrics of the song. Matthew Wilder was thrilled at these memes, saying that the results are often bizarre but hilarious. Afterwards, Wilder posted an official lyric video that featured text messages of the song's lyrics. The song is also believed by some to be the unofficial anthem of the fanbase of Thomas & Friends, first appearing in a video from Sodor Island Fansite discussing the original model series of the show in 2004, it has since then became a favourite in the fanbase with creators even going as far as fully covering the song.