"Barely Breathing" is a song by American singer-songwriter Duncan Sheik from his eponymous debut studio album (1996). It was released as the lead single from the album 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.
Critical reception
Larry Flick of Billboard magazine called the song's hook "breezy and memorable" and its lyrics "intelligent".[2]
Chart performance
"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 BillboardTriple-A chart and number two on the BillboardAdult 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 found success in Iceland, peaking at number 40 on the Íslenski Listinn Topp 40.[9]
Accolades
"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]
^Barely Breathing (US CD single liner notes). Duncan Sheik. Atlantic Records. 1996. 2-87027.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Barely Breathing (US cassette single liner notes). Duncan Sheik. Atlantic Records. 1996. 4-87027.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Barely Breathing (European CD single liner notes). Duncan Sheik. Atlantic Records. 1996. 7567-85464-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
