One of Hollywood's most unique filmmakers, his name has become synonymous with modern cinematic surrealism. His first three major films (Eraserhead, The Elephant Man, and Dune) presented a sporadic, though brilliant mind with a particular fondness for the dreamy and bizarre. He is the rare sort of artist that appeals to both cult and mainstream audiences, and sometimes neither.
It wasn't until his 1986 release Blue Velvet that he found his voice. His embrace of pop music, used in wonderful juxtapositions, would be a common theme in his later work. Blue Velvet was partly inspired by the dark elements Lynch heard in Bobby Vinton's early 60's hit.
Even more chilling was his use of Roy Orbison's "In Dreams."
Long time Lynch music collaborators producer Angelo Badalamenti and singer Julee Cruise with the ethereal "Mysteries of Love."
If David Lynch himself had a personal theme, it could be nothing more than the first few seconds of Julee Cruise's "Falling." He did after all write the lyrics to the song. Another Badalamenti-Cruise project, the Grammy Award winning Twin Peaks theme became more popular than the short lived TV series.
The light and breezy "Rockin' Back Inside My Heart."
One of Lynch's most diverse uses of music was in his 1990 film "Wild at Heart." Thrash, pop, big band, rockabilly, cool jazz - all here with nothing out of place. The sunny, optimistic sounds of Glenn Miller's "In the Mood" that introduces the movie quickly gives way to one of Lynch's all time most gruesome scenes.
Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game" was the perfect theme for the movie, a haunting rockabilly ballad that perfectly channelled the 50's crooning Elvis in Nicolas Cage's 'Sailor Ripley' character.
