Breathing (Lifehouse song)
Encyclopedia
"Breathing" is a song by American alternative
band Lifehouse
. It is the third single released from their debut studio album No Name Face
(2000).
, Wade said, "My ultimate goal in writing songs is to connect with people. In the lyrics, you don't tell the whole picture: You give a road to start on that people can relate to. We're honest, nice guys and I hope that comes across in everything we do." The song was released on March 19, 2002 by DreamWorks Records.
"Breathing" was described as a pop rock song that contains adult alternative. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Sony/ATV Music Publishing
, the song is set in common time
with a slow tempo of 76 beats per minute. It is composed in the key of D minor
with Wade's vocal range spanning from the low-note of A3 to the high-note of E5. The song has a basic chord progression
of Am–G2–F2–G2. Dave Urbanski of Today's Christian Music
questioned on whether the lyrics "I’m trying to identify the voices in my head / God, which one’s you..." were about God or a girl, but applauded their "skillful musicianship" and "poetic insight". John DiBiase of Jesus Freak Hideout
said that the song has catchy rock, but noted how it "tends to find itself getting a little monotonous at times."
Credits and personnel adapted from Allmusic.
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band Lifehouse
Lifehouse (band)
Lifehouse is an American rock band from Los Angeles. The band came to mainstream prominence in 2001 with the hit single "Hanging by a Moment" from their debut studio album, No Name Face. The single won a Billboard Music Award for Hot 100 Single of the Year, beating out Janet Jackson and Alicia...
. It is the third single released from their debut studio album No Name Face
No Name Face
No Name Face is the debut album by the rock band Lifehouse. It was released on October 31, 2000, and it produced the hit "Hanging by a Moment" which went on to be the most played song on radio the following year. This album launched Lifehouse into the limelight, and produced many radio-friendly hits...
(2000).
Background, release and composition
The song was written by Lifehouse lead singer Jason Wade and was produced by American record producer Ron Aniello. When asked about his expectations of writings songs in an interview with BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
, Wade said, "My ultimate goal in writing songs is to connect with people. In the lyrics, you don't tell the whole picture: You give a road to start on that people can relate to. We're honest, nice guys and I hope that comes across in everything we do." The song was released on March 19, 2002 by DreamWorks Records.
"Breathing" was described as a pop rock song that contains adult alternative. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Sony/ATV Music Publishing is a music publishing company co-owned by The Michael Jackson Family Trust and Sony. The organisation was originally founded as Associated TeleVision in 1955 by Lew Grade. In 1957, ATV acquired Pye Records as a wholly owned subsidiary...
, the song is set in common time
Common Time
"Common Time" is a science fiction short story written by James Blish. It first appeared in the August 1953 issue of Science Fiction Quarterly and has been reprinted several times: in the 1959 short-story collection Galactic Cluster; in The Testament of Andros ; in The Penguin Science Fiction...
with a slow tempo of 76 beats per minute. It is composed in the key of D minor
D minor
D minor is a minor scale based on D, consisting of the pitches D, E, F, G, A, B, and C. In the harmonic minor, the C is raised to C. Its key signature has one flat ....
with Wade's vocal range spanning from the low-note of A3 to the high-note of E5. The song has a basic chord progression
Chord progression
A chord progression is a series of musical chords, or chord changes that "aims for a definite goal" of establishing a tonality founded on a key, root or tonic chord. In other words, the succession of root relationships...
of Am–G2–F2–G2. Dave Urbanski of Today's Christian Music
Today's Christian Music
Today's Christian Music is a radio format programmed and produced by Salem Radio Networks. It targets the 25-54 adult Christian listener demographic. Today's Christian Music has a blend of Contemporary Christian music from artists such as Amy Grant, Steven Curtis Chapman, MercyMe, Delirious?,etc....
questioned on whether the lyrics "I’m trying to identify the voices in my head / God, which one’s you..." were about God or a girl, but applauded their "skillful musicianship" and "poetic insight". John DiBiase of Jesus Freak Hideout
Jesus Freak Hideout
Jesus Freak Hideout is a Christian music website. The website specializes in reviewing, previewing, and selling Christian albums. The website is known for its album reviews, independent music, artist interviews, concert dates and ministry through devotionals and prayer...
said that the song has catchy rock, but noted how it "tends to find itself getting a little monotonous at times."
Chart performance
"Breathing" had limited commercial success and debuted on the Billboard Adult Pop Songs chart at number thirty-nine for the week of November 10, 2001. It stayed at number thirty-nine the following week, and went up to thirty-seven during the week of November 24, 2001. In its fourth week on the chart, the track climbed to number thirty-six, while it went up to thirty-five for the week of December 8, 2001. The track then climbed to number thirty-five and thirty-two for the weeks of December 15, 2001, and December 22, 2001, respectively. The song then finished 2001 at number twenty-seven for the week of December 29, 2001. For the week of January 12, 2002, the song went up the chart to number twenty-five, while it went up to twenty-four the following week. "Breathing" then went up to twenty-three during the week of January 26, 2002 and up to twenty-one for the week of February 9, 2002. It eventually peaked at number nineteen on the chart during the week of February 23, 2002.Credits and personnel
- Songwriting – Jason Wade
- ProductionRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
– Ron Aniello - MixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
– Brendan O'Brien - EngineeringAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
– Bob Kearny, Marc Green, Paul Hayden
Credits and personnel adapted from Allmusic.
Track listing
- "Breathing" (Rock Remix) - 4:11 (Jason Wade)
- Australian CD-Single
- LP Radio Edit - 4:09
- Radio Remix - 4:11
Charts
| Chart (2001–2002) | Peak position |
|---|---|