Breathless (The Corrs song)

Background and release

"Breathless" was released as "In Blue"'s first single on 18 July 2000. The CD single includes "Breathless" and two new-tracks: "Head in the Air" and "Judy". "Breathless" was written by The Corrs (Andrea, Caroline, Sharon and Jim) and Robert "Mutt" Lange, who also produced the song. "Breathless" is a pop and pop rock song, with lyrics of a woman desiring lifelong love.

Speaking of working with "Mutt" Lange, Andrea said: "We happened to meet up [with Lange], and we both liked what each other does, so we decided to try and write a song together. So we did, and the first song we wrote together was 'Breathless.'" "It was a beautiful, sunny day when we wrote it," she continued, "and I think that's very much in the song, because it's kind of high impact and driven and sunny and summery and it's a love song. It's about seduction and how when you're falling in love, you're just enticing that person to go one step further. It's good, good fun."

An acoustic version was made for their 2002 live album, "VH1 Presents: The Corrs, Live in Dublin". The song was also included on their two compilation albums, "Best of The Corrs" and "Dreams: The Ultimate Corrs Collection.

Critical response

Critics were divided with "Breathless." Steven McDonald of Allmusic picked the song as one of the best tracks on the album. Mel Roberts of Amazon.com called it "one of the standout tracks" on the album. For Chris Charles of BBC News, the song "chugs along at Blondie pace before petering out into a wailing imitation of Dolores O'Riordan." Entertainment.ie review was mixed, writing that "Even half-decent efforts such as current single 'Breathless' are ruined by the MOR production."

Jane Stevenson of Jam! considered "Breathless," "one of the album's weaker songs." Steven Wells of NME was positive, praising "the incredibly beautiful Andrea basically begging you to get on with it and shag her 'breathless'," writing that "Andrea does a fantastic yodel-type thing with her voice." The reviewers from People Magazine called the song "saccharine," while Jake C. Taylor of Sputnikmusic named it a "poppy hit."

Commercial performance

The song became a mainstream success, topping the charts in 3 countries, while peaking inside the top-ten in many other countries. In Europe, the song became a large success. In the UK, the song topped the UK Singles Chart, becoming their only number-one single there, and also their best charting-single, since "Runaway", which peaked at number 2. On the Irish Singles Chart, the song debuted and peaked at number 3, making it their highest charting single in Ireland. In Italy, the single proved to be a huge success, debuting at number 5, on 13 July 2000, and peaking at number 2, on 10 August 2000. After 4 weeks, the single climbed again to number 2, on 14 September 2000, proving to be an enduring hit.

In Australia, the song debuted at number 48 on the ARIA Singles Chart, on 2 July 2000. On 6 August 2000, the song climbed to number 20. On 20 August 2000, the song peaked at number 7, remaining in the peak position for two more weeks. The single spent 20 weeks on the ARIA charts, and was certified Platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), denoting shipments of 70,000 copies. In New Zealand, the song was also a success, debuting at number 32 on the RIANZ chart week of 23 July 2000. It peaked at number 3, on 20 August 2000, while it stayed for two non-consecutive weeks at the peak position. In the United States, the song peaked at number 34 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, proving to be their only single to reach the top-forty. It was also a success on the Adult Contemporary and Adult Top 40 charts; peaking at number 7 in the latter.

Background

The music video for the song was filmed in the Mojave Desert, California, on 24 May 2000, and was directed by Nigel Dick. Two days of on-location filming were required. Both Andrea and Sharon succumbed to heat exhaustion during the two days shoot and were rushed to hospital, although they were fine the day after. "We shot the video in the Mojave Desert, just outside Los Angeles," Jim described, "and it was shot by a friend of ours, Nigel Dick. We've worked with him on quite a number of videos. We spent about two days out in the desert sun, and we kind of weren't really prepared for that type of heat."

Synopsis

The video shows the Corrs at a small airstrip performing impromptu inside a hangar in the middle of the desert. They arrive in a Douglas DC-3 airplane (the registration N26MA is clearly visible on the side) and perform the song for an audience of bikers before the final shot shows the DC-3 leaving. There are two cuts of the video. One version was more story-orientated which shows The Corrs setting up the stage for their show with bikers arriving to see them perform. The second version focused more on a young man, apparently a worker at the airstrip, and his reaction to The Corr sisters as they sing. Both versions were released on their Best of DVD.

Awards and usage in media

Track listing

1. "Breathless" (Album Version)
2. "Head in the Air" (Non-album track)
3. "Judy" (Non-album track)