Release and Reception
Maroon 5 released "Harder to Breathe" in the United States in July 2002 as the lead single of their debut album. The single charted on Airplay Monitor in the number six position. It peaked at number 18 on Billboard's Hot 100. The song also appeared on Billboard's Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart in the number 31 position. Internationally, "Harder to Breathe" appeared in the UK Singles Chart on January 31, 2004 in the number 13 spot. The song spent seven weeks on the chart, before retiring in the peak position of 60. The single appeared in the Netherlands, Sweden, Australia, and New Zealand charts.
The song received positive reception from critics. In the Rolling Stone review of the album, critic Christian Hoard noted that "Harder to Breathe" is a "strong single" from the band. C. Spencer Beggs of The Observer wrote: "The two singles are the most poppy on the album, showing off Maroon 5's characteristic clean, crisp and upbeat sound." Sam Beresky of the Daily Lobo, who was less enthusiastic about the album, complimented Maroon 5 on "Harder to Breathe", in which he said, "The song is enjoyable. There are some aspects of mellow, soulful rockers like Train, John Mayer — maybe even a little Stevie Wonder or Jamiroquai. The track has a good rock meets R&B sound and is predictable enough to get radio play."
In October 2003, Levine told USA Today, regarding the success of the song, "I didn't love or hate the song, and I didn't care if it got on the album. We have a lot of pop songs on our record, and the idea was to start out with something different. Why come out of the gate with another pop song by another pop band?" The following year, the band released an EP titled 1.22.03.Acoustic (2004), which features "Harder to Breathe" in an acoustic version. In 2005, Maroon 5 released a live album, Live – Friday the 13th, which features the song performed live.
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