Breathe (Blu Cantrell song)

"Breathe" is a song by American recording artist Blu Cantrell from her second studio album, Bittersweet (2003).[1] A remixed version featuring Sean Paul was released as a single on March 28, 2003. 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 Billboard Hot 100. Outside the United States, "Breathe" became a major hit in Europe, most notably in the United Kingdom, where it topped the UK Singles Chart for four weeks in August 2003.

"Breathe"
Single by Blu Cantrell featuring Sean Paul
from the album Bittersweet
Released	March 28, 2003
Recorded	October 15 – November 4, 2002
Studio	Sound on Sound Recording (New York City, New York)
Genre	R&B hip hop soul hip hop
Length	3:25 (album version) 3:48 (single version)
Label	Arista
Songwriter(s)	Andre Young Charles Aznavour Richard Bembery Melvin Bradford Stephon Harris Cunningham Alvin Joiner Andrea Martin Eminem Ivan Matias
Producer(s)	Andrea Martin Ivan Matias
Blu Cantrell singles chronology
"Round Up" (2002) "Breathe" (2003) "Make Me Wanna Scream" (2003)
Sean Paul singles chronology
"Like Glue" (2003) "Breathe" (2003) "Baby Boy" (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,[2] which in turn revolved around a sample from Charles Aznavour's 1966 song "Parce Que Tu Crois".[3][4] 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."[5]

Music video

The music video was directed by Hype Williams. This music video is not available on YouTube in the United States, but outside of the United States, where it is available to watch on YouTube, it has received over 40 million views.

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,[6] but did stay on the chart for 20 weeks.[7]

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.[8] It spent four weeks at the summit of the chart, replacing Daniel Bedingfield's "Never Gonna Leave Your Side".[9] "Breathe" was eventually dethroned from the top of the chart by the 2003 remix of Elton John's "Are You Ready for Love".[9] It became Britain's eighth-biggest-selling single of 2003, with sales of 330,000,[9] and has since sold over 410,000 copies there.[9]

Track listings

UK CD 1 and European CD single

1. "Breathe" (Rap Version featuring Sean Paul) – 3:48
2. "Breathe" (Radio Mix) – 3:25
3. "Breathe" (Ed Funk & D Rok Remix) – 5:31

UK CD 2 and European CD maxi single

1. "Breathe" (Rap Version – Radio Mix featuring Sean Paul) – 3:49
2. "Breathe" (No Rap Version – Radio Mix) – 3:21
3. "Breathe" (Andy & The Lamboy Radio Edit) – 3:46
4. "Breathe" (Instrumental) – 3:45

French CD single

1. "Breathe" (Rap Version – Radio Mix featuring Sean Paul) – 3:51
2. "Breathe" (No Rap Version – Radio Mix) – 3:21

US 12-inch single (2002)

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) – 3:43

Official versions and remixes

• Rap Version – 3:48
• Rap Version – Radio Mix featuring Sean Paul – 3:51
• Album Version – 3:25
• Ed Funk & D Rok Remix (Garage Mix)
• Andy & The Lamboy Radio Mix – 3:47
• Andy & The Lamboy Club Mix – 8:44
• Instrumental – 3:46

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2003–2004) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[10] 8 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[11] 11 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[12] 22 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[13] 15 Denmark (Tracklisten)[14] 7 Europe (European Hot 100)[15] 1 France (SNEP)[16] 13 Germany (Official German Charts)[17] 7 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[18] 8 Hungary (Dance Top 40)[19] 3 Ireland (IRMA)[20] 1 Italy (FIMI)[21] 28 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[22] 4 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[23] 4 Norway (VG-lista)[24] 6 Romania (Romanian Top 100)[25] 1 Scotland (OCC)[26] 2 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[27] 14 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[28] 5 UK Singles (OCC)[29] 1 UK R&B (OCC)[30] 1 US Billboard Hot 100[6] 70 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[31] 17 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[32] 13 Chart (2013) Peak position UK Singles (OCC)[33] 72 UK R&B (OCC)[34] 17

Year-end charts Chart (2003) Position Australia (ARIA)[35] 52 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[36] 65 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[37] 85 France (SNEP)[38] 97 Germany (Official German Charts)[39] 39 Ireland (IRMA)[40] 17 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[41] 45 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[42] 57 Romania (Romanian Top 100)[43] 99 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[44] 78 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[45] 15 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[46] 8

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[47]	Gold	35,000^^
United Kingdom (BPI)[48]	Platinum	803,000[49]
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

• List of Romanian Top 100 number ones of the 2000s

References

1. "Blu Cantrell > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". AllMusic. Retrieved March 10, 2008.
2. "Blu Cantrell feat. Sean Paul's 'Breathe' sample of Dr. Dre feat. Eminem and Xzibit's 'What's the Difference'". WhoSampled. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
3. "Charles Aznavour et ses liens avec le monde du rap". RTBF Info. October 1, 2018.
4. "The 50 Best R&B Songs That Flipped Rap Beats". Complex.
5. "Blu Cantrell". Metro. DMG Media. December 1, 2003. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
6. "Blu Cantrell Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
7. "Blu Cantrell Breathe Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
8. "Cantrell, Coral Scale U.K. Charts". Billboard. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
9. "Official Charts Flashback 2003: Blu Cantrell – Breathe". officialcharts.com. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
10. "Australian-charts.com – Blu Cantrell – Breathe". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
11. "Austriancharts.at – Blu Cantrell – Breathe" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
12. "Ultratop.be – Blu Cantrell – Breathe" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
13. "Ultratop.be – Blu Cantrell – Breathe" (in French). Ultratop 50.
14. "Danishcharts.com – Blu Cantrell – Breathe". Tracklisten.
15. Sexton, Paul (September 8, 2003). "Black Eyes Peas Soar To U.K. No. 1". Billboard. Retrieved July 10, 2008.
16. "Lescharts.com – Blu Cantrell – Breathe" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
17. "Offiziellecharts.de – Blu Cantrell – Breathe". GfK Entertainment Charts.
18. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
19. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Dance Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
20. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Blu Cantrell". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
21. "Italiancharts.com – Blu Cantrell – Breathe". Top Digital Download.
22. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 33, 2003" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved September 22, 2018.
23. "Dutchcharts.nl – Blu Cantrell – Breathe" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
24. "Norwegiancharts.com – Blu Cantrell – Breathe". VG-lista.
25. "Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 5, saptamina 2.02 – 8.02, 2004" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on February 20, 2005. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
26. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
27. "Swedishcharts.com – Blu Cantrell – Breathe". Singles Top 100.
28. "Swisscharts.com – Blu Cantrell – Breathe". Swiss Singles Chart.
29. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
30. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
31. "Blu Cantrell Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
32. "Blu Cantrell Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
33. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
34. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
35. "2003 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
36. "Jahreshitparade Singles 2003" (in German). Retrieved September 22, 2018.
37. "Rapports Annuels 2003" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
38. "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 2003" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
39. "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 2003" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
40. "Best of singles 2003". IRMA. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
41. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2003". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
42. "Jaaroverzichten 2003" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
43. "Topul anului 2003" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on January 22, 2005. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
44. "Årslista Singlar, 2003" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
45. "Swiss Year-End Charts 2003" (in German). Retrieved September 22, 2018.
46. "2003 UK Singles Chart" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
47. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2003 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
48. "British single certifications – Blu Cantrell ft Sean Paul – Breathe". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
49. Myers, Justin (February 12, 2019). "Sean Paul's Official Top 20 biggest singles revealed". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 12, 2019.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics