Ironically, the death of a public figure always garners the late icon even more fans as tributes and retrospectives begin to pour in, and the music written by and for esteemed director David Lynch, who died on January 16, 2025, is certainly no exception. But Lynch is no ordinary artist, nor was his music.
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Whether compositions he wrote or music he commissioned specifically for his film and television products, Lynch ensured the soundtrack to his work reflected the complex, mysterious, and, at times, downright wacky universes he created in career-defining works like Twin Peaks and Eraserhead.
However, unless you’re into ambient film noir music or ballads with cavernous reverb, throwing a dart at the wall and picking the first music you find might not be the best way to introduce yourself to Lynch’s music. If you’re just diving into the eccentric, mystical world of Lynch, we recommend starting here.
“Blue Velvet” by Bobby Vinton
Part of what makes David Lynch’s work so appealing is its disconcerting juxtaposition of classic Americana imagery and something otherworldly and, at times, even grotesque. Lynch was born in 1946, which meant he was growing up in doo-wop and early rock ‘n’ roll’s prime. The soundtracks to his films often reflected that, as was the case for Blue Velvet, the 1986 neo-noir thriller. Lynch regularly used Bobby Vinton’s “Blue Velvet” from 1963, a classically forlorn and lovesick tune about missing a former partner. It’s simultaneously saccharine and melancholy, a potent combination Lynch perfected over his decades-long career.
“Rockin’ Back Inside My Heart” by Julee Cruise
While composing the score for Blue Velvet, David Lynch’s long-time musical collaborator, Angelo Badalamenti, reached out to a former colleague, Julee Cruise, to see if she would lay vocals down on a song they were writing for the film. She obliged, kicking off a fruitful relationship that carried over into other iconic works like Twin Peaks. Although “Falling” is the primary song we associate with Cruise’s time on the mystery series, we’d argue that Cruise’s “Rockin’ Back Inside My Heart” is a more pop-sensible option with a more significant beat to tap (or rock) your feet to.
“Dance of the Dream Man” by Angelo Badalamenti
The music for Twin Peaks, the mystery series David Lynch co-created with Mark Frost, was synth- and percussion-driven instrumental music by Angelo Badalementi. From the highly emotional strings of Laura Palmer’s theme to the slinky, noir style of Audrey’s dance, Badalamenti’s music is hard to pin down, a little strange, and distinct, just like the series itself. If you’re into ambient music, there’s likely no bad place to start. If you’d like something with a more well-defined groove, we recommend starting with “Dance of the Dream Man.” Once you watch the series, you’ll pick up on the dream man’s choreography pretty quickly—his accent, however, might be harder to manage.
“Pinky’s Dream” by David Lynch and Karen O
David Lynch released his second studio album and debut solo album, Crazy Clown Time, in 2011. The collection of macabre, seedy music features Yeah Yeah Yeahs frontwoman Karen O on the opening track, “Pinky’s Dream.” If you were expecting Lynch’s music to be any brighter than his directorial projects, you’d be sadly mistaken. “Pinky’s Dream” is an avant-garde, somewhat sinister rock tune, but it’s a great track nonetheless. After all, you can’t expect anything too terribly ordinary from a collaboration between the likes of Lynch and Karen O.
“Twin Peaks Theme” by Angelo Badalamenti
Finally, what better way to start with David Lynch music than the theme song to one of his most well-known works? Angelo Badalementi’s soundtrack to the title sequence for the series Lynch co-created with Mark Frost is like a warm, sonic hug to Twin Peaks fans. But even if you don’t yet feel the nostalgia of the show’s distinct opening shots of the Pacific Northwest forest, the Packard Sawmill, and a female Varied Thrush bird, Badalamenti’s theme is still a pleasant instrumental track and a great place to start your wild, weird journey into Lynch.
Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images
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