Breath of Life (Erasure song)


"Breath of Life" is a song by Erasure which was released as the fourth and final single from the duo's album, Chorus. It was the third single released from the album in the United States. The song peaked at number eight in both the United Kingdom and Ireland, as well as number nine in Finland. The track was written by Erasure with additional input from Pat O'Brien and was remixed slightly for its release as a single. The lyrics are from the point of view of someone who is beginning to experience life on his own terms, finding love and making decisions without the control of outside influences. "Breath of Life" is an uptempo synthpop song; its dance music elements were strongly accentuated for the club remixes.
The track became Erasure's eleventh top-ten hit on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number eight. Their string of top-forty singles in Germany was broken with this release when it peaked at number forty-four. It did not enter the US Billboard Hot 100 but did reach number twenty-nine on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart. Unlike all of Erasure's prior single releases in the UK, all formats of "Breath of Life" contained only remixes and no new compositions as B-side tracks.

Critical reception

Billboard described the song as a "pulsating techno/NRG workout" and complimented Bell's voice for being "on target, giving depth to the song's clever wordplay."

Track listings

7": Mute / MUTE142
  1. "Breath of Life"
  2. "Breath of Life"
  3. "Breath of Life"
12": Mute / 12 MUTE142
  1. "Breath of Life"
  2. "Breath of Life"
  3. "Breath of Life"
  4. "Breath of Life"
  5. "Breath of Life"
CD: Mute / CDMUTE142
  1. "Breath of Life"
  2. "Breath of Life"
  3. "Breath of Life"
  4. "Breath of Life"
  5. "Breath of Life"
CD: Sire / 40344-2
  1. "Breath of Life"
  2. "Breath of Life"
  3. "Breath of Life"
  4. "Waiting For Sex"
  5. "Breath of Life"
  6. "Breath of Life"
  7. "Breath of Life"
  8. "Carry On Clangers"

    Charts