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"
Released	May 3, 1996 (1996-05-03)
Genre	Pop rock[1] folk-pop[2]
Length	4:15 (album version) 3:56 (radio edit)
Label	Atlantic
Songwriter	Duncan Sheik
Producer	Rupert Hine
Duncan Sheik singles chronology
"Barely Breathing" (1996) "She Runs Away" (1997)
Music video
"Barely Breathing" by Duncan Sheik on YouTube

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 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 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]}

Music video

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

Track listings and formats

• US CD single and cassette^[14][15]

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

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

• Duncan Sheik – lead vocals, harmony vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, E-Bow, piano, sampler
• Pino Palladino – bass
• Jean-Michel Biger – drums
• Rupert Hine – percussion, background vocals
• Fran Banish – slide guitar

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1996–1997) Peak position Canada Top Singles (RPM)[7] 12 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[8] 20 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[9] 40 US Billboard Hot 100[3] 16 US Adult Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[5] 1 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[18] 19 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[6] 2 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[19] 10

Year-end charts Chart (1996) Position US Triple-A (Billboard)[20] 3 Chart (1997) Position Canada Top Singles (RPM)[21] 79 US Billboard Hot 100[22] 18 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[23] 1 US Top 40/Mainstream (Billboard)[24] 27 US Triple-A (Billboard)[25] 32 Chart (1998) Position US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[26] 94

Release history

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

Cover versions

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