Breathe Again

Album: Toni Braxton (1993)
Charted: 2 3
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is a song by American R&B singer Toni Braxton from her self-titled debut album. The ballad was released as the album's second single, and was the most successful release from the album, peaking at #3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and later #2 on the UK singles chart.
  • Braxton won the 1995 Grammy Award for Best Female Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance for this song. It was her second consecutive Grammy award.
  • Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds wrote the song. He also co-produced the track along with LA Reid and Daryl Simmons. Babyface later recalled in May 2010 interview with Singersroom.com: "'Breathe Again' was written in Atlanta, Georgia inside a studio with Coco (Cheryl "Coko" Clemons from the group SWV). It was at LA Reid's house, we had a studio we built there in the guest house. We were trying to come up with more songs for her record. It was kind of one of those songs that I kind of sat down and started playing these cords and the words and melodies just kind of floated out. It was really written quickly; probably a couple of hours."
  • Speaking to Billboard in a 2018 interview, Braxton said this is the one song she never gets tired of performing.

    "It's my go-to song that I can sing anytime," she explained. "If I need to warm up, if I need to impress you with my vocal skills, if I want to feel good as I help heal people with broken hearts, that's the song I'm going to sing. It's like that classic black Chanel dress that goes with everything. You just change it up with accessories."

Comments: 1

  • John Shine from Bridgeport, OhioJust a great, great song. Maybe best song of the decade.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

90s Metal

90s MetalFact or Fiction

Test your metal - Priest, Maiden, and Beavis and Butt-head show up in this one.

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.

Corey Hart

Corey HartSongwriter Interviews

The Canadian superstar talks about his sudden rise to fame, and tells the stories behind his hits "Sunglasses At Night," "Boy In The Box" and "Never Surrender."

Jesus In Pop Hits: The Gospel Songs That Went Mainstream

Jesus In Pop Hits: The Gospel Songs That Went MainstreamSong Writing

These overtly religious songs crossed over to the pop charts, despite resistance from fans, and in many cases, churches.

John Doe of X

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.

Protest Songs

Protest SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know your protest songs (including the one that went to #1)?