Wikipedia

Barely Breathing

"Barely Breathing" is a song by American singer-songwriter Duncan Sheik from his eponymous debut studio album (1996). It was serviced to US modern rock and triple A radio on May 3, 1996, by Atlantic Records. Sheik is the sole writer of the song, while production was helmed by Rupert Hine. The song became a chart hit in North America in early 1997, receiving several accolades in the years following its release.

"Barely Breathing"
Single by Duncan Sheik
from the album Duncan Sheik
B-side"Home"
ReleasedMay 3, 1996 (1996-05-03)
Genre
Length
  • 4:15 (album version)
  • 3:56 (radio edit)
LabelAtlantic
SongwriterDuncan Sheik
ProducerRupert Hine
Duncan Sheik singles chronology
"Barely Breathing"
(1996)		 "She Runs Away"
(1997)
Music video
"Barely Breathing" on YouTube

Critical reception

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Larry Flick of Billboard magazine called the song's hook "breezy and memorable" and its lyrics "intelligent".[2]

Chart performance

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"Barely Breathing" peaked at number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on May 10, 1997, and remained on the chart for 55 weeks.[3] At the time, it was the fourth-longest-running single on the Hot 100.[4] It also reached number one on the Billboard Triple-A chart and number two on the Billboard Adult Top 40 chart.[5][6] In Canada, the song peaked at number 12 on the RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart and number 20 on the RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks chart.[7][8] "Barely Breathing" also charted in Iceland, peaking at number 40 on the Íslenski Listinn Topp 40.[9]

Accolades

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"Barely Breathing" was ranked number 88 on VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of the '90s".[10][better source needed] and number eight on their 40 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the 90s list.[citation needed] Additionally, "Barely Breathing" earned Sheik a Grammy nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance[11] and a BMI Award for Most Played Song of the Year in 1997.[12][better source needed]

Music video

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The music video was directed by Tom Oliphant in Brooklyn, New York, in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.[13]

Track listings and formats

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  1. "Barely Breathing" – 4:15
  2. "Home" – 4:48
  • European CD single[16]
  1. "Barely Breathing" (radio edit) – 3:57
  2. "The End of Outside" (live) – 5:02
  3. "Rubbed Out" (live) – 5:19

Credits and personnel

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Credits and personnel are adapted from the Duncan Sheik album liner notes.[17]

Charts

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Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States May 3, 1996 Atlantic [27]
October 29, 1996 Contemporary hit radio [28]
November 12, 1996
  • CD
  • cassette
 [citation needed]

Cover versions

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"Barely Breathing" was one of the songs covered by the cast of Glee during the October 12, 2012, episode "The Break Up".[29]

References

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  1. ↑ Kelly McCartney. "Duncan Sheik – Duncan Sheik". AllMusic. Retrieved October 31, 2019. the pop/rock hit 'Barely Breathing.'
  2. 1 2 Flick, Larry (November 9, 1996). "Reviews & Previews – Singles" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 45. p. 68. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  3. 1 2 "Duncan Sheik Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Hip Online: Artists: Duncan Sheik". Archived from the original on October 31, 2006. Retrieved December 26, 2006.
  5. 1 2 "Duncan Sheik Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  6. 1 2 "Duncan Sheik Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2011.
  7. 1 2 "Top RPM Singles: Image 3176". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  8. 1 2 "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Image 3197". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  9. 1 2 "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (20.3. '97 – 26.3. '97)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). March 21, 1997. p. 16. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  10. ↑ "VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 90s". www.ultimate-guitar.com.
  11. ↑ "New awakening spurs 2nd Grammy bid for Sheik". DeseretNews.com. February 1, 2008. Archived from the original on June 21, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Duncan Sheik: CV". Archived from the original on November 29, 2006. Retrieved December 26, 2006.
  13. ↑ Flinner, Amanda. "Thom Oliphant: Song Writing". Songfacts. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  14. ↑ Barely Breathing (US CD single liner notes). Atlantic Records. 1996. 2-87027.
  15. ↑ Barely Breathing (US cassette single liner notes). Atlantic Records. 1996. 4-87027.
  16. ↑ Barely Breathing (European CD single liner notes). Atlantic Records. 1996. 7567-85464-2.
  17. ↑ Duncan Sheik (Inlay cover). Atlantic. 1996. 82879-2.
  18. ↑ "Duncan Sheik Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2011.
  19. ↑ "Duncan Sheik Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2011.
  20. ↑ "Airplay Monitor Best of '96: Triple A Tracks". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 4, no. 53. December 27, 1996. p. 24.
  21. ↑ "RPM '97 Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Retrieved August 16, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  22. ↑ "Billboard Top 100 – 1997". Archived from the original on June 11, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  23. ↑ "The Year in Music 1997: Hot Adult Top 40 Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 52. December 27, 1997. p. YE-83.
  24. ↑ "Best of '97: Top 40/Mainstream Singles". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 5, no. 52. December 26, 1997. p. 38.
  25. ↑ "Best of '97: Triple A Tracks". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 5, no. 52. December 26, 1997. p. 28.
  26. ↑ "Most Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 1998". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 6, no. 52. December 25, 1998. p. 55.
  27. ↑ Reece, Doug (April 5, 1997). "Atlantic's Tireless Efforts Break Sheik". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 14. p. 9.
  28. ↑ "Selected New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1169. October 25, 1996. p. 41. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  29. ↑ "Barely Breathing (Glee Cast Version)". Amazon.com. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
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