Breathe (Maria McKee song)
"Breathe" | ||||
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Single by Maria McKee | ||||
from the album Maria McKee | ||||
B-side | "Panic Beach" | |||
Released | 1991 | |||
Length | 4:32 | |||
Label | Geffen | |||
Songwriter(s) | Maria McKee Gregg Sutton | |||
Producer(s) | Mitchell Froom | |||
Maria McKee singles chronology | ||||
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"Breathe" is a song by American singer-songwriter Maria McKee, released in 1991 as the fourth and final single from her debut studio album, Maria McKee. It was written by McKee and Gregg Sutton, and produced by Mitchell Froom. "Breathe" reached No. 59 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the Top 100 for two weeks.[1] The song's music video was filmed in Carlow, south-east Ireland, and directed by Angela Conway.[2]
Reception[]
In a review of Maria McKee, Steve Terrell of The Santa Fe New Mexican noted the song's melody and "American Indian-style beat" being reminiscent of Patti Smith's "Ain't It Strange". He commented: "McKee's song is worthy of Patti herself. "Breathe" takes a wildly mystical look at love and sex. The song is about the spiritual grafting that takes place between true lovers and how spooky and wonderful that feeling can be." He also praised the guitar work of Richard Thompson, which he described as sounding "like a growling dragon, right on the verge of spewing fire."[3] Steve Pick of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch described the song as "obsessively compelling" and "the album's highlight". He added, ""Breathe" [is] built on the tension among Thompson's patented dark modal guitar fills, Marotta's tom-tom rhythms and McKee's brooding vocals."[4]
Sam Gnerre of The News-Pilot stated: "The eerily spare "Breathe" recalls Patti Smith at her most affecting, with a twisting guitar solo, echoed counter-harmonies and an ethereal violin solo."[5] Holly Crenshaw of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution noted the "all-consuming intimacy" of the song, "heard in its quietly pulsing rhythm and painfully vulnerable lyrics".[6] Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune wrote: "McKee's voice is more glorious than ever, especially when it wraps itself around a melody as seductive as "Breathe"."[7] Upon its release as a single in the UK in 1991, Steve Stewart of the Aberdeen Press and Journal picked the song as "single of the week" and commented: "Full of tension, with a sensual, soaring vocal delivering emotional lyrics. McKee is to the ballad what The Rolling Stones are to rock."[8]
Track listing[]
- 7" and cassette single
- "Breathe" - 4:32
- "Panic Beach" - 5:49
- 12" and CD single
- "Breathe" - 4:32
- "Panic Beach" - 5:49
- "Drinkin' In My Sunday Dress" - 3:28
Personnel[]
- Maria McKee - vocals
- Richard Thompson - guitar
- Steve Wickham - violin
- Jerry Marotta - drums
Production
- Mitchell Froom - producer
- Bruce Brody - associate producer
- Tchad Blake - engineer
- Gary Gersh - executive producer
Other
- Jeffrey Bender - photography
Charts[]
Chart (1991) | Peak position |
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UK Singles Chart[1] | 59 |
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b "MARIA MCKEE | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
- ^ Carr, Eamon (January 21, 1991). "Wired". Evening Herald.
- ^ Terrell, Steve (September 8, 1989). "Maria McKee holds promise". The Santa Fe New Mexican.
- ^ Pick, Steve (July 21, 1989). "An album that does Maria McKee justice". The Santa Fe New Mexican.
- ^ Gnerre, Sam (July 13, 1989). "Maria McKee struts her stuff on solo LP". The News-Pilot.
- ^ Crenshaw, Holly (July 2, 1989). "Maria McKee fares well on her gutsy solo LP". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
- ^ Kot, Greg (June 29, 1989). "Recordings". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ Stewart, Steve (January 10, 1991). "Record round-up". Aberdeen Press and Journal.
- 1989 songs
- 1991 singles
- Geffen Records singles
- Songs written by Maria McKee
- Songs written by Gregg Sutton
- Song recordings produced by Mitchell Froom