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. 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.

Critical reception
Larry Flick of Billboard magazine called the song's hook "breezy and memorable" and its lyrics "intelligent".

Chart performance
"Barely Breathing" peaked at number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and remained on the chart for 55 weeks. At the time, it was the fourth-longest-running single on the Hot 100. It also reached number one on the Billboard Triple-A chart and number two on the Billboard Adult Top 40 chart. 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. "Barely Breathing" also found success in Iceland, peaking at number 40 on the Íslenski Listinn Topp 40.

Accolades
"Barely Breathing" was ranked number 88 on VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of the '90s". 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 and a BMI Award for Most Played Song of the Year in 1997.

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

Track listings and formats

 * US CD single and cassette
 * 1) "Barely Breathing" – 4:15
 * 2) "Home" – 4:48


 * European CD single
 * 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.
 * 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

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