| "I Can't Breathe" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byH.E.R. | ||||
| Released | June 19, 2020 | |||
| Genre | R&B | |||
| Length | 4:47 | |||
| Label | RCA | |||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producer | Dernst "D'Mile" Emile II | |||
| H.E.R. singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "H.E.R. - I Can't Breathe" onYouTube | ||||
"I Can't Breathe" is a song byH.E.R. released on June 19, 2020. It was written by H.E.R.,D'Mile andTiara Thomas and produced by D'Mile. It reached number 20 onBillboard'sHot R&B Songs.[1] The song wonSong of the Year at the63rd Annual Grammy Awards, serving as H.E.R.'s first ever win in this category.
Patricia Sanchez ofGrimy Goods wrote: "While it may be hard for some to put into words the anger, frustration or pain felt after witnessing the death ofGeorge Floyd, yet another innocent, black individual lost to a deep and systemic issue in our society, H.E.R. finds the strength and wherewithal to transcend her anger into a meaningful and eloquent piece ofprotest art."[2] Elizabeth Aubrey ofNME called the song "powerful",[3] whileBillboard described the single as "moving".[4]
At the63rd Annual Grammy Awards, "I Can't Breathe" won theSong of the Year; it marks H.E.R's first win and second song to be nominated in this category after "Hard Place" (2020).[5]
| Year | Organization | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | MTV Video Music Awards | Video For Good | Won | [6] |
| 2020 | MTV Europe Music Awards | Video for Good | Won | [7] |
| 2020 | Soul Train Music Awards | The Ashford and Simpson Songwriter of the Year Award | Won | [8] |
| 2021 | Grammy Awards | Song of the Year | Won | [9] |
The music video for H.E.R.'s "I Can't Breathe" was released on June 26, 2020, onYouTube, and directed by Shane Adams. As of 2021, the video has received over 1.9 million views on YouTube. The music video has the song accompanying footage of different marches around the world protestingpolice brutality andsystemic racism. The video pays tribute to victims of police brutality by displaying their names throughout the music video, some of those include George Floyd,Ahmaud Arbery, andPhilando Castile.[10]
The music video was nominated for and won bothMTV's2020Video For Good Award[11] andMTV Europe's2020 award of the same name.[12]
H.E.R. performed "I Can't Breathe" live in 2020 as a part ofiHeartRadio's Living Room Concert Series Presented by State Farm.[13] The artist also performed the song live forApple Music on June 26, 2020, as a part of theirBlack Music Month.[14]
| Chart (2020) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| USHot R&B Songs (Billboard)[1] | 20 |
