The Breath You Take

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"The Breath You Take"
Single by George Strait
from the album Twang
ReleasedJuly 12, 2010
GenreCountry
Length3:35
LabelMCA Nashville
Songwriter(s)Dean Dillon
Jessie Jo Dillon
Casey Beathard
Producer(s)Tony Brown
George Strait
George Strait singles chronology
"I Gotta Get to You"
(2010)
"The Breath You Take"
(2010)
"Here for a Good Time"
(2011)

"The Breath You Take" is a Grammy nominated song recorded by American country music artist George Strait, and the fourth single from his album Twang. It was released on July 12, 2010 as the 91st single of his career. It was written by veteran songwriter Dean Dillon, his daughter Jessie Jo Dillon, and Casey Beathard. It became his 83rd Top 10 hit on the Country charts. On November 10, 2010, Strait performed the song live on the CMA Awards. It received a 2011 Grammy Awards nomination in the "Best Country Song" category on December 1, 2010.

Content[edit]

The song is about savoring and realizing the important moments in life, whether they be large or small. The story is told through fatherly love, starting by giving examples from the baseball field of a boy's youth and moving to the more emotionally jarring times, birth and death.[1]

Critical reception[edit]

The song has been widely popular amongst listeners, but has received mixed reviews. The Washington Times called it overly "maudlin."[1] A review in the Houston Chronicle said, "try and keep your eyes dry" while listening to the song.[2]

Chart performance[edit]

The song debuted at number 58 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of July 3, 2010, two weeks before its official release date of July 12, 2010. It peaked at number 6 on the country chart dated January 15, 2011.

Chart (2010–2011) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[3] 6
US Billboard Hot 100[4] 63
Canada Country (Billboard)[5] 10
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[6] 90

Year-end charts[edit]

Chart (2010) Position
US Country Songs (Billboard)[7] 50
Chart (2011) Position
US Country Songs (Billboard)[8] 68

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "LISTENING STATION: Strait country from the master". The Washington Times.
  2. ^ "Getting the facts Strait on George". August 7, 2009.
  3. ^ "George Strait Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  4. ^ "George Strait Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  5. ^ "George Strait Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard.
  6. ^ "George Strait Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  7. ^ "Best of 2010: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2010. Retrieved December 13, 2010.
  8. ^ "Best of 2011: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2011.