" Breathe Again" is a song by American R&B singer Toni Braxton. It was written by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and produced by Edmonds, L.A. Reid, and Daryl Simmons for Braxton's eponymous debut album (1993). Its lyrics evokes a sense of nostalgia from a relationship that has run its course. The ballad was released as the album's second single on August 6, 1993, by LaFace Records and Arista Records. It received mostly positive reviews from Music journalism, whom praised Braxton's vocal performance, describing it as "haunting", "hypnotic", "melancholy" and "yearning".
The single peaked at numbers three and two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100, as well as number four on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles and Adult Contemporary charts. "Breathe Again" became one of Braxton's most successful international hits, reaching number two in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom and peaking within the top 10 in several European countries and Canada. Its accompanying music video was directed by Randee St. Nicholas and filmed in England, featuring Braxton running through a hedge maze in a 17th-century dress. It won an award at the 1994 Billboard Music Video Awards and the song earned Braxton her second consecutive Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 1995.
"Breathe Again" was included in all of the greatest hits collections released by Braxton, including Ultimate Toni Braxton (2003), Platinum & Gold Collection (2004), The Essential Toni Braxton (2007), (2008) and Breathe Again: The Best of Toni Braxton (2009).
Background and composition
After the success of the previous single, "Another Sad Love Song", "Breathe Again" was released as the second official single from Toni Braxton's self-titled album, on October 6, 1993.
"Breathe Again" was written and produced by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, with co-production being handled by
Daryl Simmons and L.A. Reid.
Lyrically, in "Breathe Again", Braxton would crumble and have a nervous breakdown if her boyfriend were to break up with her, singing, "If I never feel you in my arms again/If I never feel your tender kiss again/If I never hear I love you now and then/Will I never make love to you once again/Please understand/If love ends/Then I promise you, I promise you, that/That I shall never breathe again."
Critical reception
"Breathe Again" received mostly positive reviews from
Music journalism. Ron Wynn of
AllMusic named the song a highlight from the album, writing that "Braxton's husky, enticing voice sounds hypnotic on the track."
According to Daryl Easlea of
BBC Music, the song "fully established Braxton," calling it "a delicate
ballad that refused to resort wholly to cliché, it is brought to life by Braxton’s dreamy, breathy delivery."
from
Billboard magazine described it as "a yearning, R&B-framed ballad." He explained, "Once again, her vocal is expressive and moving—mostly due to an unusual willingness to let some rough-edged notes mingle with the sweet diva-like tones. Braxton's earthy personality makes her seem more accessible than a lot of other chest-pounding singers."
Also Mitchell May of
Chicago Tribune was very positive, writing that "the way her voice throbs when she sings,
I can't stop thinking about you, conveys a sense of despair and longing that is rare."
John Martinucci from the
Gavin Report viewed it as "melancholy".
Alan Jones from
Music Week complimented it as "pretty and radio friendly", adding that "this seems sure to launch Braxton here in, though it will struggle to repeat its Top 10 placing."
Maria Jimenez from
Music & Media wrote, "A voice not easily forgotten."
The magazine also considered it "a similar tune" to "Another Sad Love Song".
A reviewer from People magazine called the song "haunting", writing that "the quaver in her voice says more about love's promise and deceit than many singers manage in a career."[Pick, Steve. (December 10, 1993). "An Update On The MTV Singles Scene". St. Louis Post-Dispatch.] James Hunter from Vibe said that Babyface's writing on "Breathe Again" "gives the deserving future star melodic peaks and valleys to explore with her gorgeously detailed, unconceited voice."[Joyce, Mike (September 5, 1993). "Big Voices Are Back: Carey, Braxton and Dayne". The Washington Post. p. G08.]
Chart performance
"Breathe Again" was Braxton's first worldwide hit. In the United States, the song was a success, reaching number three for three non-consecutive weeks on the
Billboard Hot 100.
It spent 17 weeks in the top ten. On the
Cash Box Top 100, it peaked at number two.
On the
Billboard genre charts, "Breathe Again" also reached high positions, peaking at number two on the Mainstream Top 40
and number four on both the Adult Contemporary and Hot R&B Singles charts.
It sold 500,000 copies domestically, earning a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America.
In the United Kingdom, "Breathe Again" debuted and peaked at number two on January 15, 1994, becoming her best charting-single in the UK along with "Un-Break My Heart".
In Australia, the song debuted at number 47 on the ARIA Chart on March 20, 1994, and reached number two on May 1, 1994, remaining at the same position for two further weeks.
Music video
The music video for "Breathe Again" was directed by Randee St. Nicholas. It was filmed at
Longleat House in
Wiltshire, England and is set in
black-and-white format. It features Braxton running through a
hedge maze while being searched for by her love interest, played by American model
Tyson Beckford.
[imdb.com/title/tt6581772] The video won an award for Best Clip of the Year in the category for R&B/Urban at the 1994
Billboard Music Video Awards.
On her DVD,
From Toni with Love... The Video Collection, two other versions of the video are also featured: the "European version" and the "Spanish version".
On the same DVD, Braxton commented about the video, saying, "This video was originally filmed in color and Randee St. Nicholas, the director, didn't like the maze part, she said it looked like piles of dirt, instead of these beautiful green ..., she said it looked like chunks of rock, so she put it in black and white."
Awards and nominations
1994 Billboard Music Video Awards
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Best R&B/Urban Clip of the Year – "Breathe Again" by Toni Braxton (won)
1995 International Dance Awards
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Tune of the Year – "Breathe Again" by Toni Braxton (nominated)
1995 Grammy Awards
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Best Female R&B Vocal Performance – "Breathe Again" by Toni Braxton (won)
Track listings and formats
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US CD single
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"Breathe Again" (radio edit)
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"Breathe Again" (extended mix)
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"Breathe Again" (Breathless mix)
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"Breathe Again" (club mix)
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"Breathe Again" (Spanish version)
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UK and German CD single
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"Breathe Again" (radio edit)
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"Breathe Again" (D'Jeep mix)
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"Breathe Again" (extended club mix)
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"Breathe Again" (D'Moody mix)
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"Breathe Again" (Breathless mix)
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"Breathe Again" (Spanish version)
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Spanish CD single
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"Breathe Again" (versión en Castellano)
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"Another Sad Love Song" (album version)
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
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Certifications
Release history
Cover versions
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In 1996, contemporary jazz guitarist Chuck Loeb presented his version from the album The Music Inside.
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In 2002, Jazz trumpeter Greg Adams covered the song on his album "Midnight Morning".
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In 2004, Sweet Tea covered the song on the compilation album Reggae Gold 1994.
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In 2006, R&B singer Margot B. covered the song on her album Margot B. Inspired.
