Just Breathe (Pearl Jam song)
"Just Breathe" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam. "Just Breathe" was released on October 31, 2009 as the second single from the band's ninth studio album, Backspacer (2009). The song was triggered by a chord from "Tuolumne", an instrumental from Eddie Vedder's soundtrack for the 2007 film Into the Wild.[1]
"Just Breathe" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Pearl Jam | ||||
from the album Backspacer | ||||
A-side | "Got Some" | |||
Released | October 31, 2009 | |||
Recorded | 2009 | |||
Genre | Folk rock | |||
Length | 3:34 | |||
Label | Monkeywrench | |||
Songwriter(s) | Eddie Vedder | |||
Producer(s) | Brendan O'Brien | |||
Pearl Jam singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Just Breathe" on YouTube |
It peaked at number six on the Billboard Alternative chart, which makes it the band's highest-charting follow-up single since "Wishlist" in 1998. While it only reached No. 78 on the Billboard Hot 100, it was a number-one hit in Poland, a top ten hit in Portugal and a top 20 hit in the Netherlands.
On January 22, 2014, "Just Breathe" was certified platinum in digital sales by the RIAA.[2] It is the band's first platinum-certified song.
The song has been featured in several TV shows and movies, including Kodachrome, Castle, One Tree Hill, Brothers & Sisters, Life as We Know It, The Blacklist, The Night Shift and iZombie in addition to the documentaries Buck and Gleason.
Track listing
All lyrics written by Eddie Vedder.
- CD (UK), 7" vinyl single, and digital download (UK)
- "Got Some" (music: Jeff Ament) – 3:01
- "Just Breathe" (music: Vedder) – 3:34
- Digital download (Australia)
- "Got Some" – 3:03
- "Just Breathe" – 3:36
- "Just Breathe" (Live at Austin City Limits video) – 3:52
Charts
Weekly charts
Chart (2009–2010) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[3] | 30 |
Canada Rock (Billboard)[4] | 1 |
Croatia (ARC Top 100)[5] | 80 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[6] | 14 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[7] | 18 |
Portugal (AFP)[8] | 9 |
US Billboard Hot 100[9] | 78 |
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[10] | 20 |
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[11] | 6 |
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[12] | 36 |
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[13] | 1 |
Year-end charts
Chart (2010) | Position |
---|---|
Canadian Hot 100[14] | 95 |
All-time charts
Chart | Position |
---|---|
US Adult Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[15] | 14 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Italy (FIMI)[16] | Gold | 10,000* |
United States (RIAA)[17] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Covers
Willie Nelson released his version of the song on the 2012 album Heroes, as well as a promotional single.
Jennifer Warnes released her version of the song on the 2018 album Another Time, Another Place.
Miley Cyrus released a version of the song on YouTube in 2020.
Dave Matthews Band covered Just Breathe on September 2, 2023 at the Gorge Amphitheater, in tribute to Jimmy Buffett and other friends who “breathed their last this week”.
References
- Pearl Jam: The 'Backspacer' Q&As
- RIAA Gold and Platinum Database Search Archived September 24, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
- "Pearl Jam Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
- "Pearl Jam Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
- "Croatian Airplay Radio Chart Top 100". Retrieved January 18, 2010.
- "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 2, 2010" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
- "Pearl Jam – Just Breathe" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
- "Pearl Jam – Just Breathe". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
- "Pearl Jam Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
- "Pearl Jam Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
- "Pearl Jam Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
- "Pearl Jam Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
- "Pearl Jam Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
- "Charts Year End: Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
- "Greatest of All Time Adult Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- "Italian single certifications – Pearl Jam – Just Breathe" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved January 10, 2015. Select "Tutti gli anni" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Just Breathe" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
- "American single certifications – Pearl Jam – Just Breathe". Recording Industry Association of America.