David Lynch, one of the most popular and acclaimed filmmakers in the world, turned 75 yesterday (January 20, 2021). Twin Peaks, which premiered in 1990, ranks among his most celebrated works. The series was accompanied by a memorable original score penned by longtime collaborator Angelo Badalamenti. At its heart, an exploration of the contrasts of the plethora of Americana sounds of the ’50s through creative uses of electronics and more modern instrumentation. The mysterious romanticism of the theme tune alone perfectly sets the fevered tone and mood of the surrealist series. It is so effective that one wonders whether Twin Peaks would have had the same impact on popular culture without it.
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