In 1972, Badfinger released a melodic rock song that would eventually become tied forever to one of television's most iconic endings.
More than four decades after its release, "Baby Blue" experienced a massive resurgence after its unforgettable use in the final moments of Breaking Bad.
Originally appearing on Badfinger's album Straight Up, the song blended power pop melodies with emotional lyrics and became one of the band's best-known recordings during the early 1970s.
At the time, Badfinger was already closely associated with Apple Records, the label founded by The Beatles. The group developed a reputation for emotionally rich songwriting and melodic rock arrangements, helping establish them as one of the defining acts of the power pop movement.
Written by band member Pete Ham, "Baby Blue" stood out for its soaring harmonies, bittersweet tone and memorable guitar work.
Although the song became a respected rock favorite over the years, its cultural profile exploded in 2013 when it was used during the final scene of Breaking Bad.
The song plays during the closing moments of the series finale as Walter White, played by Bryan Cranston, reflects on the destruction left behind by his criminal empire. The placement immediately became one of the most discussed music cues in television history.
"When [showrunner Vince Gilligan] said, 'I think this is the right song for the closing of the finale,' I didn’t really hear it,” Breaking Bad music supervisor Thomas Golubić told Rolling Stone. "I thought it was an odd little love song."
But all that changed when he saw the final product. "In came the dailies, with that wonderful crane shot moving over Walter White, and once we played the song, [we thought], 'Oh, I get it now.' This is a love-affair story of Walt and his love of science, and this was his greatest product – his greatest triumph as a chemist. It wasn’t about Walter White as a criminal or a murderer or an awful person. It was him ending on his own terms. It felt creatively right."
Following the episode's broadcast, streams and downloads of "Baby Blue" surged dramatically, introducing the song to an entirely new generation of listeners more than 40 years after its original release.
The pairing worked so well partly because the song's title and emotional atmosphere mirrored the themes of the finale itself. Fans and critics praised the moment for feeling both unexpected and strangely perfect.
"I only found out that day that they were going to use the song on Breaking Bad," Badfinger guitarist Joey Molland told Classic Rock. "So while I was surprised, I wasn’t stunned. The mix was different, as was the way they edited the whole thing, but I thought it was great."
For Badfinger, the renewed popularity offered a bittersweet revival. Despite their enormous musical influence, the band endured years of financial struggles and personal tragedy during and after their original success. Still, songs like "Baby Blue" continued to endure because of their timeless craftsmanship and emotional honesty.
Today, the track remains not only a classic 1970s rock song, but one of television’s most recognizable musical moments—proof that the right scene can completely reshape a song’s legacy decades later.
Related: 1973 Rock Classic With Iconic Guitar Riff, Never a No. 1 Hit, Ranked Among Best American Rock Songs of All Time
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