创作背景
Lea于2013年6月初步完成专辑的录制，这时的专辑里并没有Cannonball这首歌。2013年7月，Lea的男友、Glee男主Cory Monteith去世，之后这首歌被加到专辑中，并最终被选作为专辑首单。
Lea在MTV.com的采访中曾说，Cannonball这首歌可以说是她失去Cory之后的心理写照，这首歌鼓舞了她，让她变得更坚强，帮助她走出Cory去世的阴影。她认为用Cannonball作为专辑的首单十分合适，因为她时常用这首歌激励自己，她也希望这首歌能帮到更多的人，在人们遇到困境时给予他们勇气和力量 。
歌词
Breakdown. Breakdown.
失控，崩溃
Breakdown.I was scared to death.
失控，我曾怕到要死
I was losing my mind.
我曾丧志理智
Breakdown.I couldn't close my eyes.
崩溃，我曾无法合眼。
I was pacing all night.
我整夜踱步
I think I found the light at the end of the tunnel.
我以为，我见到了曙光
I couldn't find the truth.
我无法找到真相
I was going under.
我逐渐失去知觉
But I won't hide inside.
但我不会再躲藏
I gotta get out, gotta get out.
我要摆脱，要出去
gotta get out. gotta get out.
要摆脱，要出去
Lonely inside and light the fuse.
内心的孤寂点燃导火索
Light it now. Light it now. Light it now.
现在点燃，现在点燃，就现在。
And now I will start living today.
从现在起，我要开始新生活
Today. Today. I close the door.
就今日，我关上了悲伤之门
I got this new beginning and
我将有一个新开始
I will fly, i will fly, like a cannonball.
我将起飞，如同炮弹一样一飞冲天
Like a cannonball. Like a cannonball.
如同炮弹一样，如同炮弹一样
I'll fly, I'll fly, I'll fly, like a cannonball
我将起飞，我将起飞，我将起飞，如同炮弹一样
Freedom
自由
I let go of fear and the peace came quickly
我放开恐惧，内心的宁静很快到来
Freedom
自由
I was in the dark and then it hit me
我曾在黑暗中，突然领悟
I chose suffering and pain in the falling rain
是我自己选择在瓢泼大雨中痛苦挣扎
I know, I gotta get out into the world again
我知道，我应该要走出阴霾，重归生活
But I won't hide inside.
但我不会再躲藏
I gotta get out, gotta get out.
我要摆脱，要出去
gotta get out. gotta get out.
要摆脱，要出去
Lonely inside and light the fuse.
内心的孤寂点燃导火索
Light it now. Light it now. Light it now.
现在点燃，现在点燃，就现在
And now I will start living today.
从现在起，我要开始新生活
Today. Today. I close the door.
就今日，我关上了悲伤之门
I got this new beginning and
我将有一个新开始
I will fly, i will fly, like a cannonball.
我将起飞，如同炮弹一样一飞冲天
Like a cannonball. Like a cannonball.
如同炮弹一样，如同炮弹一样
I'll fly, I'll fly, I'll fly, like a cannonball
我将起飞，我将起飞，我将起飞，如同炮弹一样
Breakdown. I was scared to death,
失控，我曾怕到要死
I was losing my mind.
我曾丧志理智
Breakdown, I gotta get out into the world again
崩溃，我应该要走出阴霾，重归生活
And now I will start living today.
从现在起，我要开始新生活
Today. Today. I close the door.
就今日，我关上了悲伤之门
I got this new beginning and
我将有一个新开始
I will fly, i will fly, like a cannonball.
我将起飞，如同炮弹一样一飞冲天
Like a cannonball. Like a cannonball.
如同炮弹一样，如同炮弹一样
I'll fly, I'll fly, I'll fly, like a cannonball
我将起飞，我将起飞，我将起飞，如同炮弹一样
重要演出
2013.12.12 The Ellen DeGeneres Show
2013.12.19 The X Factor USA（Season 3 Finale）
2014-03-04 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2014-03-05 Good Morning America
2014-03-07 Big Morning Buzz Live
Walmart Soundcheck
歌曲鉴赏
《滚石》杂志的乐评者Ron Blistein给这首歌很高的评价，他写道：“这首歌十分朗朗上口，令人印象深刻，这一方面是由于这首歌的制作者都是经常创造热单的作者，包括Sia Furler、Benny Blanco等。更重要的是Lea的强大的声音力量让这首歌与众不同，她的声音在那种百老汇式飚唱和她在Glee中被训练的流行唱法中转换自如。
乐评原文：The track is instantly memorable, not surprising considering the number of top hit-makers behind it, including cowriters Sia Furler and Benny Blanco. Production comes courtesy of the Norwegian duo Stargate. Still, it’s Michele’s powerhouse vocals that take center stage on "Cannonball" as she deftly switches from her Broadway-trained belting and Glee-honed pop chops.
Digital Spy的乐评者给Cannonball打了三颗半星（五颗星满分），他写道：“经常被称赞为Glee中最好的歌手的Lea Michele又一次证明了自己演唱这种具有强大力量的抒情大歌的能力。而她的个人经历（指Cory的去世）与歌曲的联系使得这首歌更加具有说服力。”
乐评原文：Often lauded as Glee's best singer, Michele has proved time and time again that she knows her way around an enormous power ballad. The fact the star is launching her pop campaign following tragic personal circumstances adds weight to her debut single's conviction.
歌曲MV
Lea分两阶段完成MV的录制，分别在2013年的11月和12月。MV是由Robert Hales导演、Estee Stanley设计的。Stanley在采访中曾这样解释这支MV的创意：“我们不希望这支MV有太过花哨的场景和服装，我们希望突出Lea她本人和音乐。”
这支MV于2014年1月9日在Lea的VEVO官方频道首播。截至2014年6月4日，已经有近一千万的播放量。
