In 2001, Pelle—the over-two-meter-tall, denim-draped “King of Jeans” and face of JC Clothing Stores—stepped off the catwalk and into the studio with his debut single, “Walking Away.” A bold uptempo pop rock track, it featured driving guitars, a soaring chorus, and Pelle’s signature sexy whispering vocals—equal parts longing and mysterious confidence.

The track was recorded at the ever-questionable Los Holmos Studios, a facility where ambition routinely outpaced raw talent. Production was led by Björn Ström, former frontman of Swedish pop group Fingerprints, who made a splash in Melodifestivalen 1989 with the emotional pop song “Mitt ibland änglar” (In the Midst of Angels). While that moment leaned heartfelt and sincere, Walking Away leaned into something far more stylized, moody, and knowingly theatrical.

The music video, filmed in grainy old film style with saturated sepia tones, followed Pelle as he wandered the shores of Öland, reflecting on love, loss, and perfect stitching. Flashbacks showed him passionately making out with Norwegian celebrity Elisa Røtterud in scenes so intense, one particularly long French kiss reportedly left the film crew in stunned silence.

Walking Away never charted—but for those who saw it, it was unforgettable. Just like Pelle’s jeans: tight, dramatic, and made to be remembered.