Breath of Life (Erasure song)

"Breath of Life"
Single by Erasure
from the album Chorus
Released March 16, 1992
Format 12", 7", cassette, CD
Recorded 1991
Genre Synthpop
Length 3:56 (single mix)
4:07 (album version)
Label Mute (UK)
Sire (U.S.)
Writer(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)

"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.

History

The track was written by Erasure (Vince Clarke and Andy Bell) 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" became Erasure's eleventh Top 10 hit on the UK singles chart, peaking at number eight. Their string of Top 40 singles in Germany was broken with this release when it peaked at number forty-four. It did not enter the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.

Unlike all of Erasure's prior single releases in the UK, "Breath of Life" contained no B-side tracks.

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"
  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"

Chart Performance

Chart (1992) Peak
position
Austrian Singles Chart[1] 25
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[2] 7
German Singles Chart[3] 44
Irish Singles Chart[4] 8
UK Singles Chart[5] 8
US Hot Dance Music Sales[6] 29

References

  1. ↑ Steffen Hung. "Erasure - Breath Of Life". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 2012-06-23.
  2. ↑ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  3. ↑ "charts.de". charts.de. 1992-03-16. Retrieved 2012-06-23.
  4. ↑ Jaclyn Ward - Fireball Media Group - http://www.fireballmedia.ie. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 2012-06-23.
  5. ↑ "Erasure - Breath of Life". Chart Stats. 28 March 1992. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  6. ↑ Erasure. "Erasure - Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-06-23.

External links