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Breathless (The Corrs song)

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"Breathless"
Song
B-side"Head in the Air", "Judy"
Audio
"Breathless" on YouTube

"Breathless" is a song by Irish pop rock group The Corrs. It was released on 3 July 2000, as the first single taken from their third studio album In Blue (2000). "Breathless" was co-written and produced by famed music producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange, who produced for Shania Twain, Bryan Adams and Def Leppard, among others.

"Breathless" is a pop and pop rock song, with lyrics about seduction and how when you're falling in love, you're just enticing that person to go one step further. A music video was filmed on the Mojave Desert at the Trona Airport (TRH) in Inyo County, California, 24 May 2000 and was directed by Nigel Dick.[citation needed]

It is considered their signature hit after topping the charts around the world. The song scaled the charts all over the world, including hitting number 1 in Poland and the UK—their only British chart-topper to date. It also went top five in Ireland and New Zealand and top ten in Australia and No. 34 in the United States in March 2001, giving the Corrs their only US Top 40 hit. The single was the 33rd biggest-selling in the UK in 2000.

In 2001 the song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, but lost to Cousin Dupree by Steely Dan.

Background and release

"Breathless" was released as In Blue's first single on 3 July 2000.[1] The CD single includes "Breathless" and two new-tracks: "Head in the Air" and "Judy".[2] "Breathless" was written by The Corrs (Andrea, Caroline, Sharon and Jim) and Robert "Mutt" Lange, who also produced the song.[3] "Breathless" is a pop and pop rock song, with lyrics of a woman desiring lifelong love.[4]

Speaking of working with "Mutt" Lange, Andrea said: "We happened to meet up [with Lange], and we both liked what each other does, so we decided to try and write a song together. So we did, and the first song we wrote together was 'Breathless.'" "It was a beautiful, sunny day when we wrote it," she continued, "and I think that's very much in the song, because it's kind of high impact and driven and sunny and summery and it's a love song. It's about seduction and how when you're falling in love, you're just enticing that person to go one step further. It's good, good fun."[5]

An acoustic version was made for their 2002 live album, VH1 Presents: The Corrs, Live in Dublin. The song was also included on their two compilation albums, Best of The Corrs and Dreams: The Ultimate Corrs Collection.[6]

Reception

Critical response

Critics were divided with "Breathless". Steven McDonald of AllMusic picked the song as one of the best tracks on the album.[7] Mel Roberts of Amazon.com called it "one of the standout tracks" on the album.[8] For Chris Charles of BBC News, the song "chugs along at Blondie pace before petering out into a wailing imitation of Dolores O'Riordan."[9] Entertainment.ie review was mixed, writing that "Even half-decent efforts such as current single 'Breathless' are ruined by the MOR production."[10]

Jane Stevenson of Jam! considered "Breathless" "one of the album's weaker songs".[11] Steven Wells of NME was positive, praising "the incredibly beautiful Andrea basically begging you to get on with it and shag her 'breathless'," writing that "Andrea does a fantastic yodel-type thing with her voice."[12] The reviewers from People magazine called the song "saccharine",[13] while Jake C. Taylor of Sputnikmusic named it a "poppy hit".[14]

Commercial performance

The song became a mainstream success, topping the charts in three countries, while peaking inside the top ten in many other countries. In Europe, the song became a large success. In the UK, the song topped the UK Singles Chart, becoming their only number-one single there, and also their best charting-single, since "Runaway", which peaked at number 2.[15] On the Irish Singles Chart, the song debuted and peaked at number 3, making it their highest charting single in Ireland.[16] In Italy, the single proved to be a huge success, debuting at number 5, on 13 July 2000, and peaking at number 2, on 10 August 2000.[17] After 4 weeks, the single climbed again to number 2, on 14 September 2000, proving to be an enduring hit.[17]

In Australia, the song debuted at number 48 on the ARIA Singles Chart, on 2 July 2000.[18] On 6 August 2000, the song climbed to number 20. On 20 August 2000, the song peaked at number 7, remaining in the peak position for two more weeks.[18] The single spent 20 weeks on the ARIA charts, and was certified Platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), denoting shipments of 70,000 copies.[19] In New Zealand, the song was also a success, debuting at number 32 on the RIANZ chart week of 23 July 2000. It peaked at number 3, on 20 August 2000, while it stayed for two non-consecutive weeks at its peak position.[20] In the United States, the song peaked at number 34 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, proving to be their only single to reach the top-forty. It was also a success on the Adult Contemporary and Adult Top 40 charts; peaking at number 7 in the latter.[21]

Music video

Background

The music video for the song was filmed in the Mojave Desert, California, at Trona Airport (TRH) in Inyo County on 24 May 2000, and was directed by Nigel Dick. Two days of on-location filming were required. Both Andrea and Sharon succumbed to heat exhaustion during the two-day shoot and were rushed to hospital, although they were fine the day after.[5] "We shot the video in the Mojave Desert, just outside Los Angeles," Jim described, "and it was shot by a friend of ours, Nigel Dick. We've worked with him on quite a number of videos. We spent about two days out in the desert sun, and we kind of weren't really prepared for that type of heat."[5]

Synopsis

The video shows the Corrs at a small airstrip performing impromptu inside a hangar in the middle of the desert. They arrive in a Douglas DC-3 airplane (the registration N26MA is clearly visible on the side) and perform the song for an audience of bikers before the final shot shows the DC-3 leaving. There are two cuts of the video. One version was more story-orientated which shows The Corrs setting up the stage for their show with bikers arriving to see them perform. The second version focused more on a young man, apparently a worker at the airstrip, and his reaction to The Corr sisters as they sing. Both versions were released on their Best of DVD.[5]

Awards and usage in media

Track listing

  1. "Breathless" (Album version)
  2. "Head in the Air" (Non-album track)
  3. "Judy" (Non-album track)

Charts

Certifications

Country Certification Sales/shipments
Australia Platinum[19] 70,000+
United Kingdom Gold[19] 400,000

References

  1. ^ "iTunes - Music - Breathless - EP by The Corrs". iTunes. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  2. ^ "Breathless - The Corrs : AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  3. ^ In Blue (inlay cover). The Corrs. Atlantic Records 143 Records. 2000. p. iTunes Digital Booklet.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ "The Corrs | In Blue | Album Review". Plugged In. Archived from the original on 12 March 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2013. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ a b c d Basham, David (21 September 2000). "The Corrs Turn Up Heat For "Breathless" Single, Video". MTV News. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  6. ^ "Breathless - The Corrs". Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  7. ^ "In Blue - The Corrs : AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  8. ^ Roberts, Mel. "Amazon.com: In Blue: The Corrs". Amazon.com. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  9. ^ Charles, Chris (16 July 2000). "CD Review: The Corrs". BBC News. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  10. ^ "The Corrs - In Blue". Entertainment.ie. 17 July 2000. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  11. ^ Stevenson, Jane (23 July 2000). "Album Review: The Corrs - IN BLUE". Jam!. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  12. ^ Wells, Steven (8 July 2000). "NME Track Reviews - Breathless - NME.COM". NME. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  13. ^ "Picks and Pans Review: In Blue". People Magazine. 30 October 2000. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  14. ^ Taylor, Jake C. (13 October 2008). "The Corrs - In Blue (album review)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  15. ^ "Corrs | Artist | Official Charts". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  16. ^ "Irish Music Charts Archive - TOP 50 Singles, Week Ending 6 July 2000". Chart Track. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  17. ^ a b c "The Corrs – Breathless". Top Digital Download.
  18. ^ a b c "The Corrs – Breathless". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  19. ^ a b c The Corrs Awards
  20. ^ a b "The Corrs – Breathless". Top 40 Singles.
  21. ^ a b AllMusic
  22. ^ "Grammy Nominees 2001 - Various Artists". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  23. ^ "Uga Uga Internacional". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  24. ^ a b "The Corrs - Soundtracks - IMDB". IMDB. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  25. ^ "The Corrs – Breathless" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  26. ^ "The Corrs – Breathless" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  27. ^ "The Corrs – Breathless" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  28. ^ "Brazil" (PDF). ABPD. 6 October 2001. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  29. ^ Canadian Charts - The Corrs - Breathless
  30. ^ "The Corrs – Breathless" (in French). Les classement single.
  31. ^ Irish Charts - The Corrs - Breathless Archived 5 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  32. ^ "The Corrs – Breathless" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  33. ^ "Nielsen Music Control". Archived from the original on 12 May 2007.
  34. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  35. ^ "The Corrs – Breathless" Canciones Top 50.
  36. ^ "The Corrs – Breathless". Singles Top 100.
  37. ^ "The Corrs – Breathless". Swiss Singles Chart.
  38. ^ "The Corrs: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  39. ^ "The Corrs Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  40. ^ "The Corrs Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  41. ^ "The Corrs Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  42. ^ "The Corrs Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  43. ^ "End of Year Charts 2000". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  44. ^ "Swiss year-end chart". swisscharts.com. 2000. Retrieved 22 November 2017.