and heartfelt". Derulo further explained that "Breathing" was heavily influenced by African chants, Eurodance and rock guitar. "Breathing" was released digitally worldwide on September 9, 2011, as the third promotional single for Future History. The song later impacted contemporary hit radios in Australia on October 24, 2011, as the third official single from the album. In the United States, "Breathing" was sent to contemporary hit radio and rhythmic contemporary radio playlists on January 31, 2012. In Germany, it was made available as a CD single on February 24, 2012. In the United Kingdom, a CD single and digital EP, which contains the album version, an instrumental version and three remixes of "Breathing", was released on February 26, 2012. Composition and lyrics "Breathing" is three minutes and fifty-four seconds long. It is a Eurodance song that displays influences of electro and house. "Breathing" is written in the key of B♭ minor and is set in common time with a tempo of 120 beats per minute. Derulo's vocal range spans from the note of F4 to the note of F6. The song features "tribal vocal chorales" in the background, and samples the Bulgarian folk song "Pilentze Pee", which is sung by the Bulgarian State Television Female Vocal Choir. The song contains lyrical content about winning back a past love. "Breathing" opens with a "slow build-up of synths and a quick club beat" before Derulo sings: "I only miss you when I'm breathing / I only miss you when my heart is beating / You are the color that I'm bleeding / I only miss you when I'm breathing." Scott Shetler of PopCrush noted that he appears to be screaming the vocals during the chorus line: "I only miss you when I'm breathing", writing that "his final note [is] stretched out for several seconds". Critical reception "Breathing" received positive reviews from music critics. Robert Copsey of Digital Spy described the song as "hypnotic" and "an impressive club pumper". He praised "Breathing" for being a perfect tribute to Derulo's late cousin. Nicole James of MTV Buzzworthy viewed the song as a "more subtle route" than the album's previous promotional single "Pick Up the Pieces". She praised Derulo for knowing "how to make a dance song" and wrote that "Breathing" is the type of song you would add "to your Girls' Night Out playlist". Aaron-Spencer Charles of Metro wrote that the song is "an anthem