Deep Blue

Album: The Suburbs (2010)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The title of this song refers to the chess-playing super computer developed by IBM that defeated grandmaster Garry Kasparov in 1996. The song treats the triumph of technology over human as a generational loss of innocence.
  • Frontman Win Butler told the NME: "'Deep Blue' to me sounds like Neil Young with Depeche Mode at the end - which shouldn't work, but I think it does."
  • Clash magazine asked Win Butler which tracks were the hardest for The Suburbs. He replied: "A song like 'Deep Blue' we tried many different ways. We finished it as this total synth song and it kind of left us cold. Me and my brother were playing around with some stuff at home and we found this balance between this almost demo quality and the synth stuff. While making this record I re-read [Radiohead guitarist] Ed O'Brien's diary about making 'Kid A.' There were a couple of songs where he says, 'We started this a year-and-a-half ago and it's the simplest song on the album. We've just mixed it and it sounds like how it did on day one. It took us a year to finish.' I think sometimes the simplest stuff takes the longest." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France
  • This was used in the 2014 movie Boyhood, starring Ellar Coltrane and Patricia Arquette.

Comments: 1

  • Caitlyn from Royersford, Palove it, especially at the "put the cell phone down for awhile...put the laptop down" part at the end. Technology blows!..although i am using it to post this:)
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Dan Reed

Dan ReedSongwriter Interviews

Dan cracked the Top 40 with "Ritual," then went to India and spent 2 hours with the Dalai Lama.

Randy Houser

Randy HouserSongwriter Interviews

The "How Country Feels" singer talks Skynyrd and songwriting.

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' Albums

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' AlbumsSong Writing

With the rise of Kindie rock, more musicians are embracing their inner child with tunes for tots - here, we look at pop stars who recorded kids' albums.

Laura Nyro

Laura NyroSongwriting Legends

Laura Nyro talks about her complex, emotionally rich songwriting and how she supports women's culture through her art.

Howard Jones

Howard JonesSongwriter Interviews

Howard explains his positive songwriting method and how uplifting songs can carry a deeper message.

Terry Jacks ("Seasons in the Sun")

Terry Jacks ("Seasons in the Sun")Songwriter Interviews

Inspired by his dear friend, "Seasons in the Sun" paid for Terry's boat, which led him away from music and into a battle with Canadian paper mills.