Harder to Breathe
{{distinguish|Hard to Beat}}
{{Short description|2002 single by Maroon 5}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Harder to Breathe
| cover = Maroon 5 - Harder to Breathe.png
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Maroon 5
| album = Songs About Jane
| B-side =
- "Ragdoll"
- "Secret"
| released = {{start date |2002|05|22}}
| recorded = 2002
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
- Funk rock{{cite magazine|last= Rolling Stone Staff|title= The 50 Greatest Minivan Rock Songs|magazine= Rolling Stone|date= April 28, 2020|url=https://www.billboard.com/media/lists/minivan-rock-50-greatest-songs-9364720/|accessdate= January 11, 2025|quote=...all-out funk-rocker “Harder to Breathe"...}}
- hard rock
| length = 2:53
| label = Octone
| writer =
| producer = Matt Wallace
| next_title = This Love
| next_year = 2004
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|rV8NHsmVMPE|"Harder to Breathe"}}}}
}}
"Harder to Breathe" is a song by American band Maroon 5, released on May 22, 2002, as the band's debut single and as the lead single from their first album, Songs About Jane (2002). Co-written by frontman Adam Levine and Jesse Carmichael, the song expresses tension, having been written quickly under trying circumstances, and tells the story about a former relationship Levine was involved in. It was positively received by music critics, who praised the track's sound.
The song peaked at number six on Airplay Monitor. In spite of Maroon 5's later mainstream success, it also appeared on the Alternative Songs chart at number 31 and the Billboard Hot 100 at number 18. Internationally, the single charted at number 13 in the United Kingdom and peaked within the top 40 on the Irish, Italian, Australian, and New Zealand charts, respectively, while also charting in Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden.
"Harder to Breathe" was included from Maroon 5's 2004 EP 1.22.03.Acoustic in an acoustic version and the live album Live – Friday the 13th (2005).
Background
In an interview with MTV News in August 2002, Maroon 5 vocalist Adam Levine, when asked behind the development of "Harder to Breathe", admitted that the song describes the band's frustration with their label, Octone Records, during the making of their debut album, Songs About Jane. The band thought they had enough material for a release, but when the label told them to keep writing, Levine wrote this song to express his frustration at the pressure. "That song comes sheerly from wanting to throw something. It was the 11th hour, and the label wanted more songs. It was the last crack. I was just pissed. I wanted to make a record and the label was applying a lot of pressure, but I'm glad they did."{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1457217/20020827/maroon_5.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031216020053/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1457217/20020827/maroon_5.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 16, 2003|title=Maroon 5 Aspire To Inspire Sexuality, Crying|last=Moss|first=Corey|date=August 27, 2002|work=MTV News|publisher=MTV Networks|access-date=May 5, 2009}}
"Harder to Breathe" tells the story of a relationship Levine had with a woman named Jane,{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/maroon5/articles/story/6053686/maroon_5s_white_funk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023032926/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/maroon5/articles/story/6053686/maroon_5s_white_funk|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 23, 2007|title=Maroon 5's White Funk|last=Hoard|first=Christian|date=May 19, 2004|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=May 7, 2009}} who, according to Levine was the "muse" in the band's album. MacKenzie Wilson of AllMusic described the song as a "soulful disposition".{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r591915|pure_url=yes}}|title=Songs About Jane|last=Wilson|first=MacKenzie|website=AllMusic|access-date=May 7, 2009}} Meghan Bard of The Daily Campus described the single featuring "a great up-tempo number with gritty guitar riffs and powerful vocals" from Levine.{{cite news|url=http://media.www.dailycampus.com/media/storage/paper340/news/2003/04/01/Focus/Get-Down.With.Maroon.5-404658.shtml |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110708222016/http://media.www.dailycampus.com/media/storage/paper340/news/2003/04/01/Focus/Get-Down.With.Maroon.5-404658.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 8, 2011 |title=Get down with Maroon 5 |last=Bard |first=Meghan |date=April 1, 2003 |work=The Daily Campus |access-date=May 7, 2009 }} Bard noted that the theme in the song was about "recovering from heartbreak". Angus Batey of The Times compared "Harder to Breathe" sounding as "Zeppelin-esque".{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article467450.ece|title=The gonna be famous five|last=Batey|first=Angus|date=August 14, 2004|work=The Times|publisher=News Corporation|access-date=May 7, 2009|page=1 | location=London}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
Critical reception
The song received positive reviews from critics. In the Rolling Stone review of the album, critic Christian Hoard called "Harder to Breathe" "a strong single".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/maroon5/albums/album/321138/review/5941040/songs_about_jane |title=Maroon 5: Songs About Jane |last=Hoard |first=Christian |date=March 11, 2003 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=May 7, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081229075326/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/maroon5/albums/album/321138/review/5941040/songs_about_jane |archive-date=December 29, 2008 }} C. Spencer Beggs of The Observer wrote: "The two singles ['Harder to Breathe' and 'This Love'] are the most popular songs on the album, showing off Maroon 5's characteristic clean, crisp and upbeat sound."{{cite news|url=http://media.www.ndsmcobserver.com/media/storage/paper660/news/2003/10/16/Scene/Songs.About.Jane.An.Album.With.Music.And.Message-529827.shtml|archive-url=https://archive.today/20110810164719/http://media.www.ndsmcobserver.com/media/storage/paper660/news/2003/10/16/Scene/Songs.About.Jane.An.Album.With.Music.And.Message-529827.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 10, 2011|title=Songs About Jane, an album with music and message|last=Beggs|first=C. Spencer|date=October 16, 2003|work=The Observer|access-date=May 7, 2009}} Sam Beresky of the Daily Lobo, who was less enthusiastic about the album, complimented Maroon 5 on "Harder to Breathe", in which he said, "The song is enjoyable. There are some aspects of mellow, soulful rockers like Train, John Mayer—maybe even a little Stevie Wonder or Jamiroquai. The track has a good rock meets R&B sound and is predictable enough to get radio play."{{cite news|url=http://media.www.dailylobo.com/media/storage/paper344/news/2003/07/31/Culture/Maroon.5.Falls.Short.Of.Their.Influences-449101.shtml|title=Maroon 5 falls short of their influences|last=Beresky|first=Sam|date=July 31, 2003|work=Daily Lobo|access-date=May 7, 2009}} {{Dead link|date=April 2012|bot=H3llBot}}
In October 2003, Levine told USA Today, regarding the success of the song, "I didn't love or hate the song, and I didn't care if it got on the album. We have a lot of pop songs on our record, and the idea was to start out with something different. Why come out of the gate with another pop song by another pop band?"{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2003-10-12-maroon_x.htm|title=Slow-building single keeps Maroon 5's star rising|last=Gundersen|first=Edna|date=October 12, 2003|work=USA Today|access-date=May 6, 2009}} The following year, the band released an EP titled 1.22.03.Acoustic (2004), which features "Harder to Breathe" in an acoustic version.{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r698082|pure_url=yes}}|title=1.22.03.Acoustic|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|website=Allmusic|access-date=May 7, 2009}}{{cite news|url=http://www.musicomh.com/albums/maroon-5.htm|title=Maroon 5 - 1.22.03 Acoustic|last=Bansal|first=Caroline|date=February 21, 2005|work=MusicOMH|access-date=May 7, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007063356/http://www.musicomh.com/albums/maroon-5.htm|archive-date=October 7, 2008}} In 2005, Maroon 5 released a live album, Live – Friday the 13th, which features the song performed live.{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=maroon 5|chart=all}}|title=Live Friday the 13th — Maroon 5|access-date=February 15, 2010|magazine=Billboard}}
Commercial performance
"Harder to Breathe" charted on Airplay Monitor in the number six position and later peaked at number 18 on Billboard
Music video
The music video for "Harder to Breathe" was directed by Marc Webb,{{cite web|url=http://www.mvdbase.com/video.php?id=31928|title=Maroon 5 - "Harder to Breathe"|publisher=Mvdbase.com|access-date=May 7, 2009|archive-date=June 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609192230/http://www.mvdbase.com/video.php?id=31928|url-status=dead}} who later worked with the band for their 2008 video "Goodnight Goodnight".{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/maroon-5/282155/goodnight-goodnight.jhtml |title=Goodnight Goodnight — Maroon 5 - Music Video |publisher=MTV |access-date=May 7, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227154602/http://www.mtv.com/videos/maroon-5/282155/goodnight-goodnight.jhtml |archive-date=February 27, 2009 }} The video was released on August 19, 2002 and made an airplay on 120 Minutes.
The video is centered on Maroon 5 playing in a dimly-lit house/factory. Throughout the course of the video, items such as darts on a dart board, candles, pictures, and even members of the band with their instruments are shown fading in and out. Towards the end of the video, Adam Levine is seen walking through a narrow corridor dragging a guitar with pictures on both sides of the wall fading in and out. When he reaches the end of the corridor, he is face to face with a wall with a small light coming out of it and then flings his guitar backwards and then pounds on the wall. The camera then quickly moves to a scene of the band playing and the lights suddenly flickering on.
Personnel
Credits adapted from Songs About Jane liner notes.{{cite AV media notes|title= Songs About Jane |year= 2002 |type= booklet |publisher= Octone, J |url=http://albumlinernotes.com/Songs_About_Jane.html}}
Maroon 5
- Adam Levine – lead vocals, guitars
- Ryan Dusick – drums, percussion, backing vocals
- Jesse Carmichael – keyboards
- James Valentine – guitars
- Mickey Madden – bass guitar
Additional musician
- Bruce Smith – programming
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
= Weekly charts =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center"
|+Weekly chart performance for "Harder to Breathe" !Chart (2002–2004) !Peak |
| {{single chart|Australia|37|artist=Maroon 5|song=Harder To Breathe|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|CIS|128|artist=Maroon 5|song=Harder To Breathe|songid=672|rowheader=true|access-date=October 5, 2021}} |
| {{single chart|Germany|79|artist=Maroon 5|song=Harder to Breathe|songid=17091|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Ireland3|34|artist=Maroon 5|rowheader=true|access-date=January 18, 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Italy|28|artist=Maroon 5|song=Harder To Breathe|rowheader=true|access-date=December 15, 2018}} |
| scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade){{cite web |url=https://www.top40.nl/tipparade/2004/week-14|title=Tipparade-lijst van week 14, 2004|lang=dutch| publisher=Dutch Top 40|access-date=March 26, 2023}}
|12 |
|---|
| {{single chart|Dutch100|86|artist=Maroon 5|song=Harder To Breathe|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|New Zealand|33|artist=Maroon 5|song=Harder To Breathe|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Scotland|11|date=20040131|rowheader=true|access-date=December 15, 2018}} |
| {{single chart|Sweden|54|artist=Maroon 5|song=Harder To Breathe|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|UK|13|date=20040131|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|UKrock|6|date=20040207|rowheader=true|access-date=December 15, 2018}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|18|artist=Maroon 5|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardadultpopsongs|15|artist=Maroon 5|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|31|artist=Maroon 5|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|5|artist=Maroon 5|rowheader=true}} |
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (2019) !Peak |
| scope="row"|US Alternative Digital Song Sales (Billboard){{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/maroon-5/chart-history/tlp/ |title=Maroon 5 Digital Song Sales |magazine=Billboard |access-date=December 1, 2022}}
|12 |
|---|
{{col-2}}
= Year-end charts =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Year-end chart performance for "Harder to Breathe" !Chart (2003) !Position |
| scope="row"|US Adult Top 40 (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=The Year in Charts 2003: Most-Played Adult Top 40 Songs|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=11|issue=51|page=22|date=December 19, 2003}}
|33 |
|---|
| scope="row"|US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=The Year in Charts 2003: Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=11|issue=51|page=14|date=December 19, 2003}}
|33 |
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (2004) !Position |
| scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC){{cite web|url=http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/ChartsPlusYE2004.pdf|title=The Official UK Singles Chart 2004|work=UKChartsPlus|access-date=December 19, 2018}}
|183 |
|---|
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Harder to Breathe"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2003|certyear=2024|access-date=April 16, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Maroon 5|title=Harder to Breathe|award=Gold|relyear=2002|certyear=2020|source=radioscope|access-date=December 25, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Maroon 5|title=Harder to Breathe|award=Silver|relyear=2002|certyear=2020|id=16815-536-1|access-date=November 9, 2020}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Maroon 5|title=Harder to Breathe|award=Platinum|relyear=2002|certyear=2018|salesamount=1,000,000|salesref={{cite magazine | url =http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6121401/ask-billboard-magics-rude-revives-reggae?page=0%2C1 | title = Ask Billboard: MAGIC!'s 'Rude' Revives Reggae | author =Trust, Gary|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media| date = June 15, 2014}} }}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true|noshipments=true}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release dates and formats for "Harder to Breathe" ! scope="col"| Region ! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format ! scope="col"| Label ! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row"| United States
| May 22, 2002 | Radio | Octone |
|---|
| scope="row"| Australia
| September 29, 2003 | CD |
References
{{Reflist
|refs=
{{cite magazine |first= Craig |last=Rosen |date=June 4, 2005 |title=Maroon 5: The Road to Success Is Paved with Hard Work |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6xQEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22harder+to+breathe%22&pg=PA32 |magazine=Billboard |volume=117 |issue= 23 |page=32 |issn= 0006-2510}}
}}
{{Maroon 5}}
{{authority control}}
Category:A&M Octone Records singles
Category:Music videos directed by Marc Webb
Category:Songs written by Adam Levine