Breathe (Blu Cantrell song) explained
"Breathe" is a song by American singer Blu Cantrell from her second studio album, Bittersweet (2003).[1] A remixed version featuring 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,[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.
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.[6]
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.[7] It spent four weeks at the summit of the chart, replacing Daniel Bedingfield's "Never Gonna Leave Your Side".[8] "Breathe" was eventually dethroned from the top of the chart by the 2003 remix of Elton John's "Are You Ready for Love".[8] It became Britain's eighth-biggest-selling single of 2003, with sales of 330,000,[8] and has since sold over 410,000 copies there.[8]
Track listings
US 7-inch single[9]
A. "Breathe" (rap version featuring Sean Paul) – 3:48
B. "Breathe" (original version) – 3:20
European CD single[10]
- "Breathe" (rap version featuring Sean Paul—radio mix) – 3:49
- "Breathe" (no rap version—radio mix) – 3:21
European maxi-CD single[11]
- "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[12]
- "Breathe" (rap version featuring Sean Paul)
- "Breathe" (radio mix)
- "Breathe" (Ed Funk & D Rok Remix)
US 12-inch vinyl (2002)[13]
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
Credits and personnel
Credits are taken from the UK CD single liner notes.[12]
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 assistant
- Bojan Dugich – mixing assistant
- 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
Year-end charts
Release history
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p478183|pure_url=yes}} Blu Cantrell > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles ]. . March 10, 2008.
- News: Blu Cantrell feat. Sean Paul's 'Breathe' sample of Dr. Dre feat. Eminem and Xzibit's 'What's the Difference'. WhoSampled. December 29, 2016.
- Web site: Charles Aznavour et ses liens avec le monde du rap. October 1, 2018. RTBF Info.
- Web site: The 50 Best R&B Songs That Flipped Rap Beats. Complex.
- News: Blu Cantrell. December 1, 2003. Metro. DMG Media. December 29, 2016.
- Blu Cantrell Breathe Chart History: Hot 100. Billboard. September 7, 2018.
- Cantrell, Coral Scale U.K. Charts. Billboard. March 24, 2015.
- Web site: Official Charts Flashback 2003: Blu Cantrell – Breathe. officialcharts.com. March 24, 2015.
- Breathe. Blu Cantrell. 2003. US 7-inch single vinyl disc. Arista Records. 82876-50984-7.
- Breathe. Blu Cantrell. 2003. European CD single liner notes. Arista Records, Bertelsmann Music Group. 82876534002.
- Breathe. Blu Cantrell. 2003. European maxi-CD single liner notes. Arista Records, Bertelsmann Music Group. 82876 53401 2.
- Breathe. Blu Cantrell. 2003. UK CD single liner notes. Arista Records, Bertelsmann Music Group. 82876545722.
- Breathe. Blu Cantrell. 2002. US 12-inch vinyl disc. Arista Records. 07822-15219-1.
- Web site: HR Top 20 Lista. Croatian Radiotelevision. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20031003002950/http://www.hrt.hr/hr/top20/maineng.html. October 3, 2003. March 7, 2021.
- Sexton . Paul . Black Eyes Peas Soar To U.K. No. 1 . . September 8, 2003 . July 10, 2008.
- Web site: Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 5, saptamina 2.02 – 8.02, 2004. Romanian Top 100. ro. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20050220191354/http://www.rt100.ro/editie-top-100_x10104.html. February 20, 2005. May 4, 2020.
- Web site: ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2003. ARIA. October 22, 2020.
- Web site: Jahreshitparade Singles 2003. de. September 22, 2018.
- Web site: Rapports Annuels 2003. Ultratop. fr. February 13, 2020.
- Web site: Tops de L'année Top Singles 2003. SNEP. fr. October 22, 2020.
- Web site: Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 2003. GfK Entertainment. de. February 13, 2020.
- Web site: Best of singles 2003. IRMA. September 22, 2018.
- Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2003. Dutch Top 40. February 13, 2020.
- Web site: Jaaroverzichten 2003. MegaCharts. nl. September 22, 2018.
- Web site: Topul anului 2003. Romanian Top 100. ro. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20050122205325/http://www.rt100.ro/topul-anului-2003.html. January 22, 2005. May 4, 2020.
- Web site: Årslista Singlar, 2003. Sverigetopplistan. sv. May 4, 2020.
- Web site: Swiss Year-End Charts 2003. de. September 22, 2018.
- Web site: The Official UK Singles Chart 2003. UKChartsPlus. December 22, 2014.
- 2003 Urban Top 30. Music Week. 18. January 17, 2004. August 4, 2023.
- The Year in Charts 2003: Most-Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs. Airplay Monitor. 11. 51. 26. December 19, 2003.
- Going for Adds. Radio & Records. 1479. 22. November 15, 2002. June 9, 2021.
- Going for Adds. Radio & Records. 1489. 27. January 31, 2003. June 9, 2021.
- Going for Adds. Radio & Records. 1502. 26. May 2, 2003. June 11, 2021.
- Web site: The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 21st July 2003. ARIA. 25. July 21, 2003. dead. https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20030806140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20030807-0000/Issue700.pdf. August 6, 2003. June 9, 2021.
- New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 31. July 26, 2003. September 8, 2021.
- Web site: Blu Cantrell: Single. click2music.dk. da. https://web.archive.org/web/20040405120134/http://www.click2music.dk/denmark/default.asp. April 5, 2004. November 4, 2023. To view release date, select Cantrell Blue from Vælg kunster (A - Å), then click on Breathe.