Breathe (Blu Cantrell song)

"Breathe"
Single by Blu Cantrell featuring Sean Paul
from the album Bittersweet
Released	May 6, 2003 September 2, 2003 (re-release)
Format	CD single, 12" single, digital download
Recorded	Sound on Sound Recording (New York City, New York)
Genre	R&B, hip hop soul, reggae fusion
Length	3:25 (Album Version) 3:48 (Rap Version)
Label	Arista
Writer(s)	Andrea Martin, Ivan Matias, Richard Bembery, Melvin Bradford, Stefan Harris, Alvin Joiner, Marshall Mathers, Charles Aznavour
Producer	Mark Pitts, Ivan Matias, Andrea Martin
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)

"Breathe" is a song by American recording artist Blu Cantrell from her second studio album, Bittersweet (2003). A remixed version featuring Sean Paul was released as a single in 2003.

Song information

Released in July 2003, the album's lead single became a smash hit in Europe and a modest success in the United States. The song uses a slightly altered instrumental of Dr. Dre's 1999 song "What's the Difference" featuring Eminem and Xzibit, which revolved around a sample from Charles Aznavour's 1966 song "Parce Que Tu Crois". The song was originally recorded for the Bittersweet album without Sean Paul, but his vocals were added for the single release.

Chart performance

The song was particularly successful in the United Kingdom, where it debuted at number one on the UK Official Download Chart on August 4, 2003, and topped the UK Singles Chart the week dating August 9, 2003, where it spent four weeks at the top spot in August 2003, knocking Daniel Bedingfield's "Never Gonna Leave Your Side" off of the top position, and then being knocked off by the 2003 remix of Elton John's "Are You Ready for Love".

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

U.S. 12" 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

Chart positions

Chart (2002)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play	17
Chart (2003)	Peak position
Australian Singles Chart	8
Austrian Singles Chart	11
Belgian Singles Chart (Flanders)	22
Belgian Singles Chart (Wallonia)	15
Danish Singles Chart	7
Dutch Top 40	4
European Hot 100 Singles	1
French Singles Chart	13
German Singles Chart	7
Hungarian Singles Chart	8
Irish Singles Chart	1
Italian Singles Chart	28
Norwegian Singles Chart	6
Swedish Singles Chart	14
Swiss Singles Chart	5
UK Singles Chart	1
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	70
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs	83
Chart (2004)	Peak position
Romanian Top 100	1

Year-end charts

2003 year-end chart positions for "Breathe".

Country/Chart	Position
Austria	65
Denmark	26
European Hot 100 Singles	20
France	59
Ireland	15
Netherlands	52
Norway	18
Sweden	35
Switzerland	15
UK	6

Chart procession and succession

Preceded by "Never Gonna Leave Your Side" by Daniel Bedingfield	UK Singles Chart number-one single August 9, 2003 – August 30, 2003	Succeeded by "Are You Ready for Love" by Elton John
Preceded by "Fly on the Wings of Love" by XTM and DJ Chucky presents Annia	Irish Singles Chart number-one single August 21, 2003 – August 28, 2003	Succeeded by "Where Is the Love?" by The Black Eyed Peas
Preceded by "Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)" by Lumidee featuring Busta Rhymes and Fabolous	European Hot 100 Singles number-one single September 13, 2003	Succeeded by "Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)" by Lumidee featuring Busta Rhymes and Fabolous
Preceded by "Slow" by Kylie Minogue	Romanian Top 100 number-one single February 2, 2004	Succeeded by "Clipe" by 3rei Sud Est

Cover versions

• Roesy on Even Better Than the Real Thing Vol. 1