"Breathe" is a song by American singer Blu Cantrell from her second studio album, Bittersweet (2003). A remixed version featuring Jamaican musician Sean Paul was released as a single in February 2003, several months after the album version was released in November 2002. The album version of this song was produced and co-written by Ivan Matias and Andrea Martin. The remix featuring Sean Paul was produced by Ivan Matias, Andrea Martin, and Mark Pitts. The song peaked at 70 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became a hit in Europe, most notably in the United Kingdom, where it topped the UK Singles Chart for four weeks in August 2003.

Background and recording "Breathe" was originally recorded for the Bittersweet album without Sean Paul, but his vocals were added for the single release. The song uses a slightly altered instrumental of Dr. Dre's 1999 song "What's the Difference" featuring Eminem and Xzibit, which in turn revolved around a sample from Charles Aznavour's 1966 song "Parce Que Tu Crois". In an interview with the Metro, when asked what it was like to work with Dre, Cantrell said, "It was a remix, so I never actually got to meet him. They were his beats, but it was actually produced by another girl, Andrea Martin, and Ivan Matias. If I had to choose, I much prefer the remix to the original."

Chart performance "Breathe" did not achieve the same level of success as Cantrell's "Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!)" in her native US, peaking at number 70 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 2003, but did stay on the chart for 20 weeks.

The song achieved greater success outside of the United States. In the United Kingdom, "Breathe" debuted and peaked at the top of the UK Singles Chart on August 3, 2003 – for the week ending date August 9, 2003 – becoming both Cantrell's and Paul's first chart-topping song in Britain. It spent four weeks at the summit of the chart, replacing Daniel Bedingfield's "Never Gonna Leave Your Side". "Breathe" was eventually dethroned from the top of the chart by the 2003 remix of Elton John's "Are You Ready for Love". It became Britain's eighth-biggest-selling single of 2003, with sales of 330,000, and has since sold over 410,000 copies there.

Music video The music video was directed by Hype Williams.

Track listings

US 12-inch single (solo version) A1. "Breathe" (radio mix) – 3:20 A2. "Breathe" (instrumental) – 3:19 B1. "Breathe" (radio mix) – 3:20 B2. "Breathe" (acappella) – 3:20

US 12-inch single (Sean Paul version) A1. "Breathe" (rap version featuring Sean Paul) – 3:48 A2. "Breathe" (instrumental) – 3:45 A3. "Breathe" (rap version acappella featuring Sean Paul) – 3:48 B1. "Breathe" (rap version featuring E-40) – 3:45 B2. "Breathe" (instrumental) – 3:40 B3. "Breathe" (rap version acappella featuring E-40) – 3:43

US 7-inch single A. "Breathe" (rap version featuring Sean Paul) – 3:48 B. "Breathe" (original version) – 3:20

European CD single "Breathe" (rap version featuring Sean Paul—radio mix) – 3:49 "Breathe" (no rap version—radio mix) – 3:21

European and Australian maxi-CD single "Breathe" (rap version featuring Sean Paul—radio mix) – 3:49 "Breathe" (no rap version—radio mix) – 3:21 "Breathe" (Andy & The Lamboy radio edit) – 3:43 "Breathe" (instrumental) – 3:45

UK CD single "Breathe" (rap version featuring Sean Paul) "Breathe" (radio mix) "Breathe" (Ed Funk & D Rok Remix)

Credits and personnel Credits are taken from the UK CD single liner notes.

Studio Recorded and mixed at Sound on Sound Recording Studios (New York City)

Personnel

Andrea Martin – writing, background vocals, production Charles Aznavour – writing Richard Bembery – writing Melvin Bradford – writing Stephon Harris – writing Alvin Joiner – writing Marshall Mathers – writing Ivan Matias – writing, production Blu Cantrell – vocals, background vocals Sean Paul – featured vocals Mark Pitts – production of Sean Paul version, mixing Brian "B" Stanley – recording Victor Mancusi – recording, mixing Rene Antelmann – mixing assistance Bojan Dugich – mixing assistance C. "Tricky" Stewart – executive production Antonio "LA" Reid – executive production Joe Mama-Nitzberg – creative direction Courtney Walter – art direction and design Adam S. Wahler – art direction and design Randy Jones – production coordination Sheryl Nields – photography

Charts

Weekly charts +Chart (2003–2004)PeakpositionCroatia (HRT) 3Europe (European Hot 100) 1 Romania (Romanian Top 100) 1

Year-end charts +Chart (2003)PositionAustralia (ARIA) 52Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) 65Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) 85France (SNEP) 97Germany (Media Control GfK) 39Ireland (IRMA) 17Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 45Netherlands (Single Top 100) 57Romania (Romanian Top 100) 99Sweden (Hitlistan) 78Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 15UK Singles (OCC) 8UK Urban (Music Week) 5US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard) 92

Certifications

Release history +RegionVersionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United StatesSoloNovember 18, 2002AristaSean PaulFebruary 3, 2003Contemporary hit radioSoloMay 5, 2003FinlandBothJune 30, 2003CDAustraliaJuly 21, 2003United KingdomSean PaulJuly 28, 2003DenmarkBothAugust 25, 2003CD

See also List of Romanian Top 100 number ones of the 2000s

References