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 (Vince Clarke and Andy Bell)with additional input from Pat O'Brien and was remixed slightly for its release as a single (including a shortened intro). 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.

"Breath of Life"
Single by Erasure
from the album Chorus
ReleasedMarch 16, 1992
Recorded1991
GenreSynthpop
Length3:56 (single mix)
4:07 (album version)
LabelMute (UK)
Sire (U.S.)
Songwriter(s)Vince Clarke, Andy Bell
Producer(s)Martyn Phillips
Erasure singles chronology
"Am I Right?"
(1991)		 "Breath of Life"
(1992)		 "Take a Chance on Me"
(1992)

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."[1]

Track listings

7": Mute / MUTE142 (UK)

  1. "Breath of Life" (Single Mix)
  2. "Breath of Life" (Swiss Mix)
  3. "Breath of Life" (Accapella Dub Mix)

12": Mute / 12 MUTE142 (UK)

  1. "Breath of Life" (Divine Inspiration Mix)
  2. "Breath of Life" (Umbilical Mix)
  3. "Breath of Life" (Swiss Mix)
  4. "Breath of Life" (Elixir Mix)
  5. "Breath of Life" (Stripped Mix)

CD: Mute / CDMUTE142 (UK)

  1. "Breath of Life" (7" Mix)
  2. "Breath of Life" (Divine Inspiration Mix)
  3. "Breath of Life" (Stripped Mix)
  4. "Breath of Life" (Swiss Mix) [labelled simply 'Breath of Life']
  5. "Breath of Life" (Accapella Dub Mix)

CD: Sire / 40344-2 (US)

  1. "Breath of Life" (Single Remix)
  2. "Breath of Life" (Divine Inspiration Mix)
  3. "Breath of Life" (Swiss Mix)
  4. "Waiting For Sex" (Full Version)
  5. "Breath of Life" (Umbilical Mix)
  6. "Breath of Life" (Elixir Mix)
  7. "Breath of Life" (Stripped Mix)
  8. "Carry On Clangers"

Charts
Chart (1992) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[2] 25
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[3] 9
Germany (Official German Charts)[4] 44
Ireland (IRMA)[5] 8
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[6] 8
US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)[7] 29
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References
  1. "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard magazine. 16 May 1992. p. 72. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  2. "Austriancharts.at – Erasure – Breath of Life" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  3. Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  4. "Offiziellecharts.de – Erasure – Breath of Life". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  5. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Breath of Life". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  6. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  7. "Erasure Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
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