Barely Breathing


"Barely Breathing" is the first single from American singer-songwriter Duncan Sheik's eponymous debut album. It became a chart hit in North America in late 1996 and early 1997.

Chart performance

"Barely Breathing" was Sheik's breakout hit, peaking at number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and remaining 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 Adult Alternative Songs chart and number 19 on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary chart. In Canada the song peaked at number 12 on the RPM Top Singles chart and number 20 on the RPM Adult Contemporary chart. "Barely Breathing" also found moderate success in Iceland, peaking at number 40 on the Íslenski Listinn Topp 40, but it did not make an impact in the British Isles or mainland Europe.

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.

Track listings and formats

  1. "Barely Breathing" – 4:15
  2. "Home" – 4:48
  1. "Barely Breathing" – 3:57
  2. "The End of Outside" – 5:02
  3. "Rubbed Out" – 5:19

    Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

All-time charts

In popular culture

The song was covered in a 2012 episode of the American television series Glee.