Breath of Life (Erasure song)
{{Short description|1992 single by Erasure}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Breath of Life
| cover = Breath of Life (Erasure song).jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Erasure
| album = Chorus
| B-side =
- "Waiting for Sex"
- "Carry On Clangers"
| released = {{start date|1992|3|16|df=y}}{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1992/MW-1992-03-14.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=12|date=14 March 1992|access-date=10 July 2021}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Synth-pop
| length =
- 3:56 (single mix)
- 4:07 (album version)
| label = Mute
| writer =
| producer = Martyn Phillips
| prev_title = Am I Right?
| prev_year = 1991
| next_title = Take a Chance on Me
| next_year = 1992
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|DRoo53diveo|"Breath of Life"}}}}
}}
"Breath of Life" is a song by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released as the fourth and final single from their fifth studio album, Chorus (1991), in March 1992. It was written by Erasure members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell with additional input from Pat O'Brien. An uptempo synth-pop song, its dance music elements were strongly accentuated for the club remixes. For the single release, it was remixed slightly, including a shortened intro. In the United States, it was the third single released from the album.
Critical reception
Ned Raggett from AllMusic said the song is a "polite declaration of love and passion over a gently soaring dance arrangement—not as full out as other Erasure highlights, but pleasant enough."{{cite web|first= Ned |last= Raggett |title= Erasure – Breath of Life |publisher= AllMusic |access-date= 7 November 2020 |url= https://www.allmusic.com/album/breath-of-life-mw0000093573}} Larry Flick from Billboard described it as a "pulsating techno/NRG workout", and complimented Bell's voice for being "on target, giving depth to the song's clever wordplay."{{cite magazine|first=Larry|last=Flick|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1992/Billboard-1992-05-16.pdf|title=Single Reviews|magazine=Billboard|date=16 May 1992|access-date=12 February 2020|page=72|author-link=Larry Flick}} The Daily Vault's Michael R. Smith noted that "Breath of Life" "has some great percolating synth work by Vince [Clarke], but is typical Erasure fare and nothing really much to write home about."{{cite web|first= Michael R. |last= Smith |title= Chorus – Erasure |publisher= The Daily Vault |date= 10 June 2007 |access-date= 20 November 2020 |url= http://dailyvault.com/toc.php5?review=4872}} Chris Gerard from Metro Weekly wrote, "Driven by dueling keyboard riffs and a sparse, heavy beat", the song is "exciting electronic pop with brilliant melody and vocal by Andy Bell. The vocal arrangement (especially during the 2nd verse) is chilling."{{cite magazine|first= Chris |last= Gerard |title= Erasure's 40 Greatest Tracks |magazine= Metro Weekly |date= 17 September 2014 |access-date= 21 November 2020 |url= https://www.metroweekly.com/2014/09/erasures-40-greatest-tracks/}}
Chart performance
The track became Erasure's 11th 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 44. "Breath of Life" was also a top-10 hit in Finland and Ireland, peaking at number nine and eight. It did not enter the US Billboard Hot 100 but did reach number 29 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.
Track listings
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- 7-inch and cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Breath of Life|others=Erasure|year=1992|type=UK 7-inch single sleeve|publisher=Mute Records|id=Mute 142}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Breath of Life|others=Erasure|year=1992|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Mute Records|id=C Mute 142}}
- "Breath of Life" (7-inch mix)
- "Breath of Life" (Swiss mix)
- "Breath of Life" (a cappella dub remix)
:A1. "Breath of Life" (Divine Inspiration mix)
:A2. "Breath of Life" (Umbilical mix)
:B1. "Breath of Life" (Swiss mix)
:B2. "Breath of Life" (Elixir mix)
:B3. "Breath of Life" (Stripped mix)
- "Breath of Life" (7-inch mix)
- "Breath of Life" (Divine Inspiration mix)
- "Breath of Life" (Stripped mix)
- "Breath of Life" (Swiss mix)
- "Breath of Life" (a cappella dub mix)
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- US maxi-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Breath of Life|others=Erasure|year=1992|type=US maxi-CD single disc notes|publisher=Sire Records, Reprise Records, Mute Records|id=9 40344-2}}
- "Breath of Life" (single remix) – 3:53
- "Breath of Life" (Divine Inspiration mix) – 6:40
- "Breath of Life" (Swiss mix) – 4:36
- "Waiting for Sex" (full version) – 4:05
- "Breath of Life" (Umbilical mix) – 4:28
- "Breath of Life" (Elixir mix) – 6:26
- "Breath of Life" (Stripped mix) – 4:36
- "Carry On Clangers" – 4:01
:A1. "Breath of Life" (Divine Inspiration mix) – 6:40
:A2. "Breath of Life" (Umbilical mix) – 4:28
:A3. "Breath of Life" (Stripped mix) – 4:36
:A4. "Breath of Life" (a cappella dub mix) – 4:41
:B1. "Breath of Life" (Swiss mix) – 4:32
:B2. "Breath of Life" (Elixir mix) – 6:26
:B3. "Waiting for Sex" (full version) – 4:05
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