創作背景
Lea于2013年6月初步完成專輯的錄制，這時的專輯裡并沒有Cannonball這首歌。2013年7月，Lea的男友、Glee男主Cory Monteith去世，之後這首歌被加到專輯中，并最終被選作為專輯首單。
Lea在MTV.com的采訪中曾說，Cannonball這首歌可以說是她失去Cory之後的心理寫照，這首歌鼓舞了她，讓她變得更堅強，幫助她走出Cory去世的陰影。她認為用Cannonball作為專輯的首單十分合适，因為她時常用這首歌激勵自己，她也希望這首歌能幫到更多的人，在人們遇到困境時給予他們勇氣和力量 。
歌詞
Breakdown. Breakdown.
失控，崩潰
Breakdown.I was scared to death.
失控，我曾怕到要死
I was losing my mind.
我曾喪志理智
Breakdown.I couldn't close my eyes.
崩潰，我曾無法合眼。
I was pacing all night.
我整夜踱步
I think I found the light at the end of the tunnel.
我以為，我見到了曙光
I couldn't find the truth.
我無法找到真相
I was going under.
我逐漸失去知覺
But I won't hide inside.
但我不會再躲藏
I gotta get out, gotta get out.
我要擺脫，要出去
gotta get out. gotta get out.
要擺脫，要出去
Lonely inside and light the fuse.
内心的孤寂點燃導火索
Light it now. Light it now. Light it now.
現在點燃，現在點燃，就現在。
And now I will start living today.
從現在起，我要開始新生活
Today. Today. I close the door.
就今日，我關上了悲傷之門
I got this new beginning and
我将有一個新開始
I will fly, i will fly, like a cannonball.
我将起飛，如同炮彈一樣一飛沖天
Like a cannonball. Like a cannonball.
如同炮彈一樣，如同炮彈一樣
I'll fly, I'll fly, I'll fly, like a cannonball
我将起飛，我将起飛，我将起飛，如同炮彈一樣
Freedom
自由
I let go of fear and the peace came quickly
我放開恐懼，内心的甯靜很快到來
Freedom
自由
I was in the dark and then it hit me
我曾在黑暗中，突然領悟
I chose suffering and pain in the falling rain
是我自己選擇在瓢潑大雨中痛苦掙紮
I know, I gotta get out into the world again
我知道，我應該要走出陰霾，重歸生活
But I won't hide inside.
但我不會再躲藏
I gotta get out, gotta get out.
我要擺脫，要出去
gotta get out. gotta get out.
要擺脫，要出去
Lonely inside and light the fuse.
内心的孤寂點燃導火索
Light it now. Light it now. Light it now.
現在點燃，現在點燃，就現在
And now I will start living today.
從現在起，我要開始新生活
Today. Today. I close the door.
就今日，我關上了悲傷之門
I got this new beginning and
我将有一個新開始
I will fly, i will fly, like a cannonball.
我将起飛，如同炮彈一樣一飛沖天
Like a cannonball. Like a cannonball.
如同炮彈一樣，如同炮彈一樣
I'll fly, I'll fly, I'll fly, like a cannonball
我将起飛，我将起飛，我将起飛，如同炮彈一樣
Breakdown. I was scared to death,
失控，我曾怕到要死
I was losing my mind.
我曾喪志理智
Breakdown, I gotta get out into the world again
崩潰，我應該要走出陰霾，重歸生活
And now I will start living today.
從現在起，我要開始新生活
Today. Today. I close the door.
就今日，我關上了悲傷之門
I got this new beginning and
我将有一個新開始
I will fly, i will fly, like a cannonball.
我将起飛，如同炮彈一樣一飛沖天
Like a cannonball. Like a cannonball.
如同炮彈一樣，如同炮彈一樣
I'll fly, I'll fly, I'll fly, like a cannonball
我将起飛，我将起飛，我将起飛，如同炮彈一樣
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
歌曲鑒賞
《滾石》雜志的樂評者Ron Blistein給這首歌很高的評價，他寫道：“這首歌十分朗朗上口，令人印象深刻，這一方面是由于這首歌的制作者都是經常創造熱單的作者，包括Sia Furler、Benny Blanco等。更重要的是Lea的強大的聲音力量讓這首歌與衆不同，她的聲音在那種百老彙式飚唱和她在Glee中被訓練的流行唱法中轉換自如。
樂評原文：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的樂評者給Cannonball打了三顆半星（五顆星滿分），他寫道：“經常被稱贊為Glee中最好的歌手的Lea Michele又一次證明了自己演唱這種具有強大力量的抒情大歌的能力。而她的個人經曆（指Cory的去世）與歌曲的聯系使得這首歌更加具有說服力。”
樂評原文：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分兩階段完成MV的錄制，分别在2013年的11月和12月。MV是由Robert Hales導演、Estee Stanley設計的。Stanley在采訪中曾這樣解釋這支MV的創意：“我們不希望這支MV有太過花哨的場景和服裝，我們希望突出Lea她本人和音樂。”
這支MV于2014年1月9日在Lea的VEVO官方頻道首播。截至2014年6月4日，已經有近一千萬的播放量。
