Barely Breathing

Larry Flick of Billboard magazine called the song's hook "breezy and memorable" and its lyrics "intelligent".^[2]

"Barely Breathing" peaked at number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on May 10, 1997, and remained on the chart for 55 weeks.^[3] At the time, it was the fourth-longest-running single on the Hot 100.^[4] It also reached number one on the Billboard Triple-A chart and number two on the Billboard Adult Top 40 chart.^[5][6] In Canada, the song peaked at number 12 on the RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart and number 20 on the RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks chart.^[7][8] "Barely Breathing" also charted in Iceland, peaking at number 40 on the Íslenski Listinn Topp 40.^[9]

"Barely Breathing" was ranked number 88 on VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of the '90s".^{[10][better source needed]} and number eight on their 40 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the 90s list.^{[citation needed]} Additionally, "Barely Breathing" earned Sheik a Grammy nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance^[11] and a BMI Award for Most Played Song of the Year in 1997.^{[12][better source needed]}

The music video was directed by Tom Oliphant in Brooklyn, New York, in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.^[13]

• US CD single and cassette^[14][15]

1. "Barely Breathing" – 4:15
2. "Home" – 4:48

• European CD single^[16]

1. "Barely Breathing" (radio edit) – 3:57
2. "The End of Outside" (live) – 5:02
3. "Rubbed Out" (live) – 5:19

Credits and personnel are adapted from the Duncan Sheik album liner notes.^[17]

• Duncan Sheik – lead vocals, harmony vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, E-Bow, piano, sampler
• Pino Palladino – bass
• Jean-Michel Biger – drums
• Rupert Hine – percussion, background vocals
• Fran Banish – slide guitar