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Breakfast at Tiffany's (song)

{{Short description|1995 single by Deep Blue Something}}

{{Use American English|date=July 2016}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Breakfast at Tiffany's

| cover = Breakfast at Tiffany's single.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Deep Blue Something

| album = 11th Song {{noitalic|and}} Home

| released = {{start date|1995|7|11}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Pop rock{{cite web|first= Tom|last= Eames|title= The 100 greatest songs of the 1990s, ranked|website= Smooth Radio|date= July 31, 2024|url= https://www.smoothradio.com/news/music/1990s-best-songs-ranked/|accessdate= August 15, 2024}}

| length = 4:16

| label =

| writer = Todd Pipes

| producer = David Castell

| next_title = Halo

| next_year = 1996

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|1ClCpfeIELw|"Breakfast at Tiffany's"}}}}

}}

"Breakfast at Tiffany's" is a song by American alternative rock band Deep Blue Something. Originally appearing on their 1993 album 11th Song, it was later re-recorded and released on their 1995 album Home. Released as a single in July 1995 by Interscope and Rainmaker, the song was the band's only hit in the United States,Pete Freedman, "Saturday Night Live Remembers Deep Blue Something," Dallas Observer, April 22, 2010. Found at [https://www.dallasobserver.com/music/saturday-night-live-remembers-deep-blue-something-6406447 Dallas Observer website]. Accessed July 21, 2010. peaking at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 in January 1996. Outside the United States, "Breakfast at Tiffany's" topped the UK Singles Chart and peaked within the top ten on the charts of Australia, Flanders, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, and Sweden.

Todd Pipes said in a Q magazine article about the promotion of "Breakfast at Tiffany's", "As the song had 'breakfast' in the title, radio stations thought it would be genius to have us on at breakfast time. We'd be up 'til 3 am and they'd wonder why we were pissed off playing at 6 am."{{cite web | url = http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=3215 | title = Breakfast at Tiffany's | work = Songfacts.com | access-date = July 9, 2010}} Follow-up singles failed to match the success of "Breakfast at Tiffany's", hence the reason for the band's classification as a one-hit wonder.

Inspiration and composition

"Breakfast at Tiffany's" is sung from the point of view of a man whose girlfriend is on the verge of breaking up with him because the two have nothing in common. Desperate to find something, the man brings up the Audrey Hepburn film Breakfast at Tiffany's, and his girlfriend recalls that they "both kinda liked it." He argues that this should serve as enough motivation for them to work out their problems based on the notion that love will always find a way to make things work.

The film Roman Holiday inspired the lyrics of the song, but songwriter Todd Pipes thought that one of Hepburn's other films would make a better song title.British Hit Singles & Albums (Edition 18), Guinness World Records Limited

Critical reception

Brian Wahlert called "Breakfast at Tiffany's" "a cute, catchy song that should fit in well on adult contemporary, Top-40 and alternative radio" with memorable melody that makes it "a perfect single, along with the mildly repetitive, conversational lyrics of the chorus and the bright, acoustic guitar".Brian Wahlert, "Deep Blue Something disappoints with off-key harmonies, vocals," The Thresher (Rice University (1996). Found at [http://www.rice.edu/projects/thresher/issues/83/951006/AE/Story07.html The Thresher online archives at Rice University website] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527155631/http://www.rice.edu/projects/thresher/issues/83/951006/AE/Story07.html |date=May 27, 2010 }}. Accessed July 21, 2010. However, Tom Sinclair of Entertainment Weekly was unimpressed. He called it "possibly the year's most innocuous single, 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' is distressingly prosaic pop from a wimpy-sounding Texas quartet"; he added that it lacked any "musical piquancy".{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/1995/10/20/breakfast-tiffanys/|title=Music review – Breakfast at Tiffany's|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|last=Sinclair|first=Tom|date=October 20, 1995|access-date=May 29, 2013}} The Houston Press listed the song as the second worst by an artist from Texas, after Vanilla Ice's "Ice Ice Baby".{{cite news|url=http://www.houstonpress.com/2004-04-29/music/the-dirty-thirty/2/|title=The worst songs of all time from Texas|newspaper=Houston Press|last=Lomax|first=John Lomax|date=April 29, 2004|access-date=May 31, 2013}} Kevin Courtney from Irish Times said, "Deep Blue Something are responsible for the tawdry "Breakfast in Tiffany's" single, and their album is home to much of the same style of overblown, rainswept sentiment."Courtney, Kevin (August 9, 1996). "Rock". Irish Times. British magazine Music Week gave the song top score with five out of five, naming it Single of the Week, writing, "Radio-friendly rock at its best from the Texan trio [sic]. A mighty, bright chorus, quirky lyrics and some great guitar work should enable it to come close in the UK to matching its Top Five placing Stateside."{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1996/Music-Week-1996-06-01.pdf|first=|last=|title=Reviews|magazine=Music Week|date=June 1, 1996|page=10|accessdate=August 18, 2021}} VH1 and Blender ranked the song number six on their list of the "50 Most Awesomely Bad Songs Ever".{{cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vh1--blender-magazine-present-50-most-awesomely-bad-songs--ever-premiering-wednesday-may-12-900-pm-72640707.html|title=VH1 & Blender Magazine Present: 50 Most Awesomely Bad Songs ... Ever|work=VH1, Blender|via=PR Newswire|date=May 2004|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130416003911/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vh1--blender-magazine-present-50-most-awesomely-bad-songs--ever-premiering-wednesday-may-12-900-pm-72640707.html|archive-date=April 16, 2013|access-date=June 1, 2022}}

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Breakfast at Tiffany's" features the band members arriving to a breakfast table and being served by butlers, beside the curb in front of Tiffany & Co. in Midtown Manhattan. At the end of the video a young woman dressed in a similar style to Holly Golightly's (Audrey Hepburn) from the beginning of the film, except dressed in white rather than black, walks past on the sidewalk, and takes off her sunglasses. The band is also seen performing the song in a field, and on the bed of a flatbed truck in NYC.

Track listings

  • US cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Breakfast at Tiffany's|others=Deep Blue Something|year=1996|type=US cassette single sleeve|publisher=Interscope Records, Rainmaker Records|id=98138-4}}

:A1. "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (LP version) – 4:11

:A2. "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (Crunch mix) – 4:11

:B1. "A Water Prayer" (LP version) – 3:20

:B2. "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (LP version) – 4:11

  • Australian CD and cassette single, UK CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Breakfast at Tiffany's|others=Deep Blue Something|year=1996|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=Interscope Records, Rainmaker Records|id=6544-95732-2}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Breakfast at Tiffany's|others=Deep Blue Something|year=1996|type=Australian cassette single sleeve|publisher=Interscope Records, Rainmaker Records|id=6544957324}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Breakfast at Tiffany's|others=Deep Blue Something|year=1996|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=Interscope Records, Rainmaker Records|id=IND 80032}}
  1. "Breakfast at Tiffany's" – 4:16
  2. "A Water Prayer" – 3:19
  3. "Sun" – 4:15
  • UK cassette single and European CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Breakfast at Tiffany's|others=Deep Blue Something|year=1996|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Interscope Records, Rainmaker Records|id=INC 80032}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Breakfast at Tiffany's|others=Deep Blue Something|year=1996|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=Interscope Records, Rainmaker Records|id=IND 97501}}
  1. "Breakfast at Tiffany's" – 4:16
  2. "A Water Prayer" – 3:19

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1995–1996)

!Peak
position

{{Single chart|Australia|3|artist=Deep Blue Something|song=Breakfast at Tiffany's|rowheader=true}}
{{Single chart|Austria|12|artist=Deep Blue Something|song=Breakfast at Tiffany's|rowheader=true}}
{{Single chart|Flanders|7|artist=Deep Blue Something|song=Breakfast at Tiffany's|rowheader=true}}
{{Single chart|Canadatopsingles|4|chartid=2844|rowheader=true|access-date=May 13, 2019}}
{{Single chart|Canadaadultcontemporary|29|chartid=2834|rowheader=true|access-date=May 13, 2019}}
scope="row"|Denmark (IFPI){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1996/MM-1996-07-20.pdf|title=Top National Sellers|magazine=Music & Media|volume=13|issue=29|page=15|date=July 20, 1996|access-date=February 16, 2020}}

|3

scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1996/MM-1996-10-12.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=13|issue=41|page=16|date=October 12, 1996|access-date=January 25, 2020}}

|5

{{Single chart|Germany|6|artist=Deep Blue Something|song=Breakfast at Tiffany's|songid=3211|rowheader=true|access-date=May 13, 2019}}
scope="row"|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40){{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2940559#page/n25/mode/2up|title=Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 170 Vikuna 18.5. – 24.5. '96)|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir|language=is|page=26|date=May 18, 1996|access-date=July 20, 2018}}

|3

{{Single chart|Ireland2|3|song=Breakfast at Tiffany's|rowheader=true}}
{{Single chart|Dutch40|17|artist=1996|song=36|rowheader=true|access-date=May 13, 2019}}
{{Single chart|Dutch100|11|artist=Deep Blue Something|song=Breakfast at Tiffany's|rowheader=true|access-date=May 13, 2019}}
{{Single chart|New Zealand|21|artist=Deep Blue Something|song=Breakfast at Tiffany's|rowheader=true}}
{{Single chart|Scotland|1|date=19960921|rowheader=true}}
{{Single chart|Sweden|9|artist=Deep Blue Something|song=Breakfast at Tiffany's|rowheader=true}}
{{Single chart|Switzerland|19|artist=Deep Blue Something|song=Breakfast at Tiffany's|rowheader=true}}
{{Single chart|UK|1|date=19961005|rowheader=true}}
{{Single chart|Billboardhot100|5|artist=Deep Blue Something|rowheader=true}}
{{Single chart|Billboardadultalternativesongs|18|artist=Deep Blue Something|rowheader=true|access-date=May 13, 2019}}
{{Single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|8|artist=Deep Blue Something|rowheader=true|access-date=May 13, 2019}}
{{Single chart|Billboardadultpopsongs|3|artist=Deep Blue Something|rowheader=true|access-date=May 13, 2019}}
{{Single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|30|artist=Deep Blue Something|rowheader=true|access-date=May 13, 2019}}
{{Single chart|Billboardpopsongs|3|artist=Deep Blue Something|rowheader=true|access-date=May 13, 2019}}
scope="row"|US Cash Box Top 100{{cite web|url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/90s_files/19960127.html|title=Cash Box Top 100 Singles: January 27, 1996|website=Cash Box|access-date=April 2, 2021}}

|3

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1995)

!Position

scope="row"|Canada Top Singles (RPM){{cite magazine|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.2840&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.2840.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.2840|title=RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1995|magazine=RPM|publisher=Library and Archives Canada|access-date=May 13, 2019}}

|86

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1996)

!Position

scope="row"|Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/1996/singles-chart|title=ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1996|publisher=ARIA|access-date=May 3, 2021}}

|38

scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1996|title=Jaaroverzichten 1996|publisher=Ultratop|language=nl|access-date=May 13, 2019}}

|63

scope="row"|Canada Top Singles (RPM){{cite magazine|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9730&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9730.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9730|title=RPM Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks|magazine=RPM|publisher=Library and Archives Canada|access-date=May 13, 2019}}

|46

scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1996/MM-1996-12-21.pdf|title=Music & Media 1996 in Review – Year End Sales Charts|magazine=Music & Media|volume=13|issue=51/52|page=12|date=December 21, 1996|access-date=February 3, 2020}}

|46

scope="row"|Germany (Official German Charts){{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1996|title=Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1996|publisher=GfK Entertainment|language=de|access-date=August 7, 2015}}

|24

scope="row"|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40){{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2949469#page/n15/mode/2up|title=Árslistinn 1996|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir|language=is|page=25|date=January 2, 1997|access-date=May 30, 2020}}

|39

scope="row"|Sweden (Sverigetopplistan){{cite web|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/43?dspy=1996&dspp=1|title=Årslista Singlar, 1996|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|language=sv|access-date=May 30, 2020}}

|56

scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC){{cite magazine|title=Top 100 Singles 1996|magazine=Music Week|page=25|date=January 18, 1997}}

|17

scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web |url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1996|title=Billboard Top 100 – 1996|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301121523/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1996|archive-date=March 1, 2009|access-date=August 27, 2010}}

|39

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1995|certyear=1996|access-date=November 25, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|award=Platinum|artist=Deep Blue Something|title=Breakfast at Tiffany's|relyear=1995|certyear=2020|access-date=April 24, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=single|award=Gold|id=11144|relyear=1995|certyear=2022|access-date=March 23, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=single|award=Gold|artist=Deep Blue Something|title=Breakfast at Tiffany's|relyear=1995|certyear=2023|access-date=April 2, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Deep Blue Something|title=Breakfast at Tiffany's|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2004|certyear=2022|id=9153-2586-1|access-date=August 5, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

!scope="col"|Region

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format(s)

!scope="col"|Label(s)

!scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row"|United States

|July 11, 1995

|Contemporary hit radio

|{{hlist|Interscope|Rainmaker}}

|{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1995/RR-1995-07-07.pdf|title=Selected New Releases|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1102|page=34|date=July 7, 1995|access-date=June 27, 2021}}

scope="row"|Japan

|June 21, 1996

|CD

|{{hlist|Interscope|MCA}}

|{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/108432/products/162592/1/|title=ティファニーで朝食を {{!}} ディープ・ブルー・サムシング|trans-title=Breakfast at Tiffany's {{!}} Deep Blue Something|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=September 25, 2023}}

scope="row" rowspan="2"|United Kingdom

|June 24, 1996

|rowspan="2"|{{hlist|CD|cassette}}

|rowspan="2"|{{hlist|Interscope|Rainmaker}}

|{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1996/Music-Week-1996-06-22.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=35|date=June 22, 1996|access-date=June 27, 2021}}

September 9, 1996 (re-release)

|{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1996/Music-Week-1996-09-07.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=27|date=September 7, 1996|access-date=June 27, 2021}}

Other uses

  • In 2010, the song appeared in a Saturday Night Live skit, with four friends (played by Will Forte, Jason Sudeikis, Bill Hader and Ryan Phillippe) talking during the verses and singing the choruses.
  • In May 2012, Episode 24 of New Girl highlighted the cast members dancing to this song. The group was listening to this song from Nick's mixtape where he was trying to convince himself to stay together with a likewise dissimilar girlfriend.{{cite web

| url = http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2012/05/new-girl-review-see-ya-episode-124.html

| title = New Girl Review: "See Ya" (Episode 1.24)

| work = Paste Magazine

| date = May 9, 2012

| access-date = February 5, 2015

}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20020927231438/http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/deep_blue_something/artist.jhtml VH1]

{{Deep Blue Something}}

{{Breakfast at Tiffany's}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1995 debut singles

Category:1995 songs

Category:1996 singles

Category:Deep Blue Something songs

Category:Interscope Records singles

Category:Number-one singles in Scotland

Category:UK singles chart number-one singles