Breathe (Erasure song)
Encyclopedia
"Breathe" is a song by British synth pop duo Erasure
. It was released by Mute Records
in the UK and the U.S. as the first single from the band's eleventh studio album Nightbird.
Written and produced by Vince Clarke
and Andy Bell
, the track is a mid-tempo love song similar in musical style to their 1994 hit "Always
", albeit with more uplifting lyrical content. "Breathe" was remix
ed slightly for its radio version — most notably in the song's introduction. The UK compact disc single included CD-ROM information that allowed buyers to download the Digipro software package and use isolated musical tracks of "Breathe" to create their own remix
es. For a time fans were able to upload their finished "Breathe" remixes to Erasure's website to share with others.
The single was widely regarded as a major return to form by critics and fans alike, leading to comparisons to Erasure's glory days of the late 1980s and early 1990s, when The Innocents
and Chorus
both topped the UK album charts.
"Breathe" also resonated with the record-buying public and hit number four on the UK singles chart
, Erasure's highest-charting UK single since "Always" a decade earlier. In the United States, Erasure entered the Hot Dance Club Play
chart for the first time in eight years and scored their second U.S. dance chart-topper — the first being "Victim of Love
" in 1987. In Germany
, "Breathe" was Erasure's twentieth Top 40 single, peaking at number thirty-five. It topped the singles chart in Denmark
. On the Top 60 chats in Sweden
it peaked at 33.
Erasure
Erasure are an English synthpop duo, consisting of songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke and singer Andy Bell. Erasure entered the music scene in 1985 with their debut single "Who Needs Love Like That"...
. It was released by Mute Records
Mute Records
Mute is an independent record label based in the UK. It was founded in 1978 by Daniel Miller and featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Goldfrapp, Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Erasure and Fad Gadget.-Beginnings:...
in the UK and the U.S. as the first single from the band's eleventh studio album Nightbird.
Written and produced by Vince Clarke
Vince Clarke
Vince Clarke is an English synthpop musician and songwriter. Clarke has been involved with a number of successful groups, including Depeche Mode, Yazoo, The Assembly and Erasure....
and Andy Bell
Andy Bell (singer)
Andrew Ivan "Andy" Bell is the lead singer of the English synthpop duo Erasure. He also has a solo career, with the albums Non-Stop and Electric Blue.-Early life:Andy Bell originates from the Dogsthorpe area in Peterborough...
, the track is a mid-tempo love song similar in musical style to their 1994 hit "Always
Always (Erasure song)
"Always" is a synthpop ballad by British duo Erasure. It was released in 1994 as the first single from their sixth studio album I Say I Say I Say. Mute Records issued the single in the UK, while Elektra Records released it in the U.S...
", albeit with more uplifting lyrical content. "Breathe" was remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
ed slightly for its radio version — most notably in the song's introduction. The UK compact disc single included CD-ROM information that allowed buyers to download the Digipro software package and use isolated musical tracks of "Breathe" to create their own remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
es. For a time fans were able to upload their finished "Breathe" remixes to Erasure's website to share with others.
The single was widely regarded as a major return to form by critics and fans alike, leading to comparisons to Erasure's glory days of the late 1980s and early 1990s, when The Innocents
The Innocents (album)
After releasing The Two Ring Circus, a remix album in 1987, The Innocents was the third proper studio release from Erasure, released in 1988...
and Chorus
Chorus (Erasure album)
Chorus, Erasure's fifth proper studio album, was released by Mute Records in the UK and Sire Records in the U.S. in 1991 . This album was the last to end Erasure's classic period.- History :...
both topped the UK album charts.
"Breathe" also resonated with the record-buying public and hit number four on the UK singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, Erasure's highest-charting UK single since "Always" a decade earlier. In the United States, Erasure entered the Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart for the first time in eight years and scored their second U.S. dance chart-topper — the first being "Victim of Love
Victim of Love (song)
"Victim of Love" is a song by British synthpop duo Erasure, released in May 1987 as their sixth single overall.It was the third single to be lifted from the duo's second album, The Circus, released six weeks earlier, and was remixed for single release....
" in 1987. In Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, "Breathe" was Erasure's twentieth Top 40 single, peaking at number thirty-five. It topped the singles chart in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. On the Top 60 chats in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
it peaked at 33.
CD single #2 (LCDMUTE330)
- "Breathe" (LMC Extended Club Mix)
- "Breathe" (When Andy Bell Met Manhattan CliqueManhattan CliqueThe Manhattan Clique are producers, remixers and writers Philip Larsen and Chris Smith. Regular visitors to the higher reaches of the Music Week Club and Pop charts in the UK, plus the Billboard dance chart in the US, Manhattan Clique are equally at home with their more underground MHC guise as...
Extended Remix) - "Breathe" (Acoustic Version)
- CD-ROMCD-ROMA CD-ROM is a pre-pressed compact disc that contains data accessible to, but not writable by, a computer for data storage and music playback. The 1985 “Yellow Book” standard developed by Sony and Philips adapted the format to hold any form of binary data....
- *Video*: "Breathe"
US CD Maxi Single (Catalog #9259-2)
- "Breathe" (Radio Version)
- "Breathe" (Album Version)
- "Gone Crazy"
- "Mr. Gribber and His Amazing Cat"
- "Breathe" (Acoustic Version)
- "Breathe" (Pete Heller's Phela Mix)
- "Breathe" (LMC Extended Club Mix)
- "Breathe" (When Andy Bell Met Manhattan Clique Extended Remix)
- Enhanced CD - Music Video: "Breathe"
DVD single (DVDMUTE330)
- "Breathe" (Radio Version)
- "Mr. Gribber and His Amazing Cat"
- DVD Music Video: "Breathe"
Chart performance
| Chart (2005) | Peak position |
Total weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Danish Singles Chart | 1 | 6 |
| European Hot 100 Chart | 34 | 5 |
| German Singles Chart | 35 | 9 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 30 | 1 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 33 | 3 |
| UK Singles Chart | 4 | 6 |
| US Dance/Club Play Singles | 1 | 13 |
| US Hot Dance Music Sales | 1 | |