Barely Breathing

"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, having been released to radio in May 1996. 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
Songwriter(s)Duncan Sheik
Producer(s)Rupert Hine
Duncan Sheik singles chronology
"Barely Breathing"
(1996)		 "She Runs Away"
(1997)
Audio sample
  • file
  • help

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 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 Adult Alternative Songs 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] and number eight on their 40 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the 90s list. 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]

Music video

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

Track listings and formats
  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]

Charts

Release history
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States May 3, 1996
Atlantic [24]
October 29, 1996 Contemporary hit radio [25]
November 12, 1996
  • CD
  • cassette

Cover versions

"Barely Breathing" was one of the songs covered by the cast of Glee during the October 12, 2012, episode "The Break Up".[26]

References
  1. Kelly McCartney. "Duncan Sheik – Duncan Sheik". AllMusic. Retrieved October 31, 2019. the pop/rock hit 'Barely Breathing.'
  2. Flick, Larry (November 9, 1996). "Reviews & Previews – Singles" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 45. p. 68. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  3. "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. "Duncan Sheik Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  6. "Duncan Sheik Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2011.
  7. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3176." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  8. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3197." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  9. "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.
  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 13 December 2021.
  14. 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)
  15. 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)
  16. 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)
  17. Duncan Sheik (Inlay cover). Duncan Sheik. Atlantic. 1996. 82879-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  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. "RPM '97 Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Retrieved August 16, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  21. "Billboard Top 100 – 1997". Archived from the original on June 11, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  22. "Greatest of All Time Adult Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  23. "Greatest of All Time Adult Pop Songs : Page 1". Billboard. March 18, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  24. Reece, Doug (April 5, 1997). "Atlantic's Tireless Efforts Break Sheik". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 14. p. 9.
  25. "Selected New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1169. October 25, 1996. p. 41. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  26. "Barely Breathing (Glee Cast Version)". Amazon.com. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
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