Faith Hill's 1999 album, "Breathe," proved to be a monumental success, not only for its overall performance but also for the string of hit singles it spawned. The album, released on November 9, 1999, quickly established itself as a significant force in both country and pop music. Its singles showcased Hill's versatility and appeal, leading to impressive chart runs and critical acclaim. From the powerful title track to a heartfelt duet, these songs
solidified "Breathe" as a landmark in her career and in the music industry at the turn of the millennium.
The Phenomenon of "Breathe"
The title track, "Breathe," was unleashed as the lead single on September 27, 1999, preceding the album's release. This song immediately garnered highly positive reviews, with many critics specifically praising Hill's vocal performance. Its commercial impact was immense, particularly in the United States. "Breathe" spent an impressive six weeks at the top of the Hot Country Songs chart, marking Hill's longest run to date with a solo song in that position. Its success wasn't limited to country music; it also made a significant splash on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number two for five non-consecutive weeks starting in April 2000.
Remarkably, despite never reaching the number one spot on the weekly Hot 100 chart, "Breathe" achieved the rare feat of becoming the number one song of 2000 on the Billboard Year-End chart. This made it one of only four songs in the history of the Hot 100 to accomplish this without ever topping the weekly chart. The song's longevity was further demonstrated by its 17-week run on the Hot Adult Contemporary chart. Internationally, "Breathe" also found success, reaching the top forty in countries such as Finland, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. Its enduring popularity led to a re-issue and remix in October 2001, serving as the second and final single from her international compilation album, "There You'll Be" (2001).
"The Way You Love Me" and International Acclaim
Following the success of the title track, "The Way You Love Me" was released as the second single on February 14, 2000. This song also received positive reviews and initially found its audience on country radio, where it enjoyed a four-week reign atop the Hot Country Songs chart. Its crossover appeal was evident when it was subsequently issued to pop radio on August 25, further expanding its reach. Commercially, "The Way You Love Me" proved to be another triumph, peaking at number six on the Billboard Hot 100.
Its chart presence was notably long-lasting, spending 56 weeks on the Hot 100, making it Hill's longest-running single to date and her second consecutive single to remain on the chart for over a year, following "Breathe." On the international stage, "The Way You Love Me" became Hill's most successful single at that time. It reached the top ten in Hungary and Spain, the top twenty in the UK, and the top forty in Italy, New Zealand, Australia, Sweden, and Ireland. This widespread international success propelled the single to number 43 on the Eurochart Hot 100 chart, marking her then-highest peak on that chart.
Duets and Continued Success: "Let's Make Love" and "If My Heart Had Wings"
The album's third single, "Let's Make Love," a duet with her husband Tim McGraw, was released to country radio on May 12, 2000. Interestingly, this song had already charted for 20 weeks as an album track solely due to unsolicited airplay before its official release, reaching as high as number 52. After its formal release, "Let's Make Love" became a success, peaking at number six on the Hot Country Songs chart and number five on the RPM Canadian Country Tracks chart, where it spent 45 weeks.
The fourth and final single from the "Breathe" album was "If My Heart Had Wings," released on January 8, 2001. This song debuted on the country charts the week of January 13, 2001, and quickly ascended to a peak position of number three, adding another commercial success to Hill's repertoire. "If My Heart Had Wings" also made an appearance on the all-genre Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 39. The consistent success of these four singles underscored the widespread appeal and critical acclaim of the "Breathe" album, cementing its place as a significant work in Faith Hill's discography.
