Most people think of the ‘90s era in rock music as one that was dominated by grunge, and that’s certainly true to an extent. But there were several bands that were able to make their mark via the more traditional path of melodic music and sharp storytelling.
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Deep Blue Something was just such a band, and their one hit, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” flew against the grain at the time in a variety of ways. Yet the 1995 single continues to adorn ‘90s playlists to this day, as folks still sing along to that Hollywood-inspired chorus.
Kind of Blue
Deep Blue Something was formed by a bunch of North Texas University students at the beginning of the ‘90s. They were originally known as Leper Messiah before changing their name.
Unlike the grunge acts that were dominating at the time, Deep Blue Something, which consisted of brothers Todd and Toby Pipes and drummer John Kirkland when they started recording, went for more of a folk-rock vibe. They released their debut album, 11th Song, on an independent label in 1993.
Included among the songs on that album was an early version of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” The band jumped to a different indie label for their second album, Home, in 1994. And they decided to rerecord “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” for the new LP, which proved to be a wise move, one that would help put the song on the map.
Making “Breakfast”
Todd Pipes had written “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” all the way back in the Leper Messiah days. He had seen the Audrey Hepburn movie Roman Holiday, which inspired the idea of a classic film uniting two people. But he thought Breakfast at Tiffany’s, another Audrey Hepburn movie, made for a better-flowing song title.
When local radio stations began playing the rerecorded version of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” like crazy, Deep Blue Something suddenly found themselves in the big leagues. They were signed by Interscope Records, who also released Home and threw their promotional weight behind the band.
It all led to huge success, as “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” ended up at No. 5 on the U.S. pop charts in 1995. Unfortunately, record company squabbles and legal issues got in the way of Deep Blue Something’s momentum. They wouldn’t release a follow-up to Home until 1998, and that record wasn’t even released in the United States.
What is “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” About?
The song details the travails of a couple who are just about at their breaking point. Their common ground has disintegrated, and their relationship has hollowed out: I see you, the only one who knew me / And now your eyes see through me. They’re about to break up at the worst time: When so much is left undone.
In the chorus, which is unique in that it doesn’t repeat lines or rhyme, the narrator brings up they at least have “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” in common: And I recall I think we both kinda liked it / And I said, “Well, that’s the one thing we got.” The song ends without us knowing if it was enough to save the romance.
Deep Blue Something reformed and made new music in 2015 for the first time in over a decade. The Pipes brothers have stayed active as well as producers for other artists. Their one hit, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” remains a bit of a ‘90s outlier, and a charming one at that.
Photo by Patrick Ford/Redferns
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