Reception Critical response Critics were divided over "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 Canadian website 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". "Breathless" was nominated for the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals but lost to Steely Dan's "Cousin Dupree". Commercial performance The song became a mainstream success, topping the charts in three 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 two. On the Irish Singles Chart, the song debuted and peaked at number three, making it their highest charting single in Ireland. In Italy, the single proved to be a huge success, debuting at number five, on 13 July 2000, and peaking at number two, on 10 August 2000. After four weeks, the single climbed again to number two, 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 seven, 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