"Barely Breathing" is the first single

Single (music)

In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...

 from singer-songwriter

Singer-songwriter

Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...

 Duncan Sheik

Duncan Sheik

Duncan Scott Sheik is an American singer-songwriter and composer. Sheik initially found success as a singer, most notably for his 1996 debut single "Barely Breathing". He later expanded his work to include compositions for motion pictures and the Broadway stage, leading him to involvement in the...

's self-titled debut album

Duncan Sheik (album)

Duncan Sheik is the Gold-certified, self-titled debut album by American singer/songwriter/producer Duncan Sheik. It was released in 1996 through Atlantic Records and featured the Grammy-nominated hit single "Barely Breathing." The song was a major radio hit, staying on the Billboard Hot 100...

. Originally intended as a "throwaway" track written to complete the album, the song catapulted Sheik to fame as his breakout hit, entering the top 20 of the U.S. Billboard charts

Billboard charts

The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...

, peaking at #16, and holding steady for a record-breaking 55 weeks. "Barely Breathing" also hit number nineteen on the Hot Adult Contemporary chart . At the time, it was the fourth longest-running single in the Hot 100

Billboard Hot 100

The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...

. It ranked #88 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 90s, also ranking #8 on their 40 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the 90s list.

"Barely Breathing" earned Sheik a BMI

Broadcast Music Incorporated

Broadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...

 Award for Most Played Song of the Year in 1997 and a Grammy

Grammy Award

A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...

nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance in 1998.

Track listing

• US CD Single:

1. "Barely Breathing" - 4:15
2. "Home" - 4:48

• UK CD Single:

1. "Barely Breathing (Radio Edit)" - 3:57
2. "The End of Outside (Live)" - 5:02
3. "Rubbed Out" - 5:19

• Alternate CD Single:

1. "Barely Breathing (Radio Edit)" - 3:56
2. "Barely Breathing (Album Version)" - 4:15

Chart performance

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Chart (1997)	Peak position

Year-end

Chart (1997)	Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	18