David Lynch’s favourite songs of the 21st century
David Lynch is one of the most enigmatic figures in modern cinema. His filmmaking style, comprising surrealist storylines, high-contrast colouring, and atmospheric scores provided by Angelo Badalamenti, has gone one step further than auteurship, earning a dedicated term of its own. Since the director made his debut in the late 1970s with Eraserhead, the word “Lynchian” has gradually crept into our language, its use coming to span the arts in their entirety.
It’s difficult to nail down exactly what the word “Lynchian” might mean, because Lynch’s work has always been intentionally surreal and strange. From the peculiar visuals of his debut to the backwards-dialogue enforced by Twin Peaks’ red room, his visuals and plots are intentionally difficult to decipher, winning over the most curious viewers and turning many others away.
Lynch’s enigmatic nature isn’t just limited to his directorial career. Beyond filmmaking, he has extended his curious creativity into the realms of art and music. His excursions into the latter form the perfect sonic accompaniment to his visuals, pairing atmospheric twangs with off-kilter vocals in a strangely endearing sound. But Lynch is just as much of a music fan as he is a producer.
Far Out collated a list of Lynch’s favourite songs of all time, which further demonstrated his unpredictable taste. A number of his favourites came from classic artists like Jimi Hendrix and David Bowie, but Lynch, true to his forward-thinking artistry, also harbours a real love for modern-day innovators. A number of artists from the 21st century made the list, including New York art rockers TV on the Radio.
With their experimental blend of post-punk with soul and electronic elements, it’s no surprise that Lynch admires TV on the Radio. ‘Second Song’, from their 2011 album Nine Types of Light, is one of his favourite songs, and it’s easy to see why. A gorgeous collage of instruments surrounds Tunde Adebimpe’s ever-changing vocals, as he flits between clear verses and playful choruses.
Lynch has also shared his love for the atmospheric ‘Soothing’ by Laura Marling, which opened her 2017 record, Semper Femina. Marling’s haunting voice provides a grounding presence as the instrumentation around her flits between transcendental strings and plucked bass. It’s a track that’s easy to imagine on the soundtrack to a Lynch film, sensual and surreal.
Swapping subdued folk for powerful country, Lynch also admires the work of singer-songwriter Lissie, sharing his love for one track in particular. ‘Wild West’ featured on her album, My Wild West, in 2016 and shows off her country-infused vocals through tales of dancing in the moonlight. It’s a slightly less predictable choice from Lynch, who continues to live up to his reputation.
Lynch has also shared his love for songwriting legend Neil Young’s contemporary work, particularly ‘Love and War’ from 2010. Over lonely, gentle strums, the song finds Young singing of his titular subjects, admitting, “I don’t really know what I’m saying.” It’s a song you can easily imagine Lynch blasting through his headphones.
With a taste just as enigmatic as his own art, Lynch’s favourite songs of this century show the breadth of talent and innovation in contemporary music.
David Lynch’s favourite songs of the 21st Century
- ‘Second Song’ – TV On The Radio
- ‘Soothing’ – Laura Marling
- ‘Love and War’ – Neil Young
- ‘Wild West’ – Lissie
