Falling (Julee Cruise Song)

"Falling" is a song by American dream pop singer Julee Cruise. It is the lead single and second track from her debut studio album, ''Floating into the Night'' (1989). Featuring music composed by Angelo Badalamenti and lyrics written by David Lynch, an instrumental version of "Falling" was used as the theme song for the ABC television series ''Twin Peaks'' and its Showtime revival.

''Twin Peaks'' gained a cult following after its original broadcast in April 1990, and "Falling" subsequently charted in 15 countries worldwide between 1990 and 1992, including Australia, where it reached 1 in April 1991. Badalamenti won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance at the 33rd Annual Grammy Awards for "Twin Peaks Theme". This instrumental version is included in the first volume of the ''Pure Moods'' compilation album series but is erroneously titled on the artwork and liner notes as being the theme for '' Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me''. In 2010, Pitchfork Media ranked "Falling" at No. 146 on its "Top 200 Tracks of the 1990s". ''NME'' listed the song at No. 38 in their ranking of "100 Best Songs Of The 1990s" in 2012.

Composition

According to composer Angelo Badalamenti the characteristic sound of the song was made playing a tuned down electric guitar.

Critical reception

Ned Raggett from AllMusic called the song "a winner". Bill Coleman from ''Billboard'' described it as a "modern rock staple", propelled by the hit television series ''Twin Peaks''. He noted that the track "succeeds in creating its own surreal yet comforting environment." Pan-European magazine ''Music & Media'' stated that "anyone who is familiar with the ''Twin Peaks'' series is sure to have shivers listening to the theme tune. An ambient and dreamy song; although atmospheric, it is at the same time very down-to-earth, and threatening in its cold-blooded beauty." Nick Robinson from ''Music Week'' commented, "Every now and again a truly beautiful single comes along transfixing everyone that hears it." He added, "The sparse haunting instrumentation combines with Cruise's dreamy vocals to produce a stunning piece of music." Diane Tameecha from ''The Network Forty'' wrote that "the hypnotic blend of the track's music and Cruise's aforementioned downy singing style is an unbeatable combination." ''NME'' described it as "an eerie 50s-flecked ballad". Bill Henderson from ''Orlando Sentinel'' explained, "When she sings about "falling, falling, falling in love" to the tune of the ''Twin Peaks'' theme, you can almost see her descending to Earth in slow motion." Tom Ewing for ''Pitchfork'' said that "it's not just that "Falling" is unshakably evocative of a great show, it's that the show was great because at its best it lived up to the mystery and romance Julee Cruise's frost-delicate voice promised. In 2012, ''Porcys'' listed the song at No. 95 on their ranking of the "100 Singles 1990–1999", describing it as "hauntologia par exellence."

Music video

A music video was produced featuring Julee Cruise performing the song through soft curtains and dramatic red lighting. It fades to various scenes from the ''Twin Peaks'' television series. The version used in the video is an edited cut of the song.

Track listings

UK 7-inch and US cassette
# "Falling" (edit) – 4:12
# "Theme from Twin Peaks" (instrumental) – 4:45

UK 12-inch and European CD
# "Falling" (edit) – 4:12
# "Theme from Twin Peaks" (instrumental) – 4:45
# "Floating" – 4:55

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Other versions and covers

A demo version by Cruise (5:56 in length) was released in 1994 as No. 15 in Warner Bros./Reprise Records’ Soil X Samples promotional singles series, which ran from 1990 to 1997. The green vinyl 7" was a split single, "Falling" backed with "Syria" by Not Drowning, Waving. Cruise also recorded a new version of the song and released it as a hidden track on her 2002 album ''The Art of Being a Girl''.

"Falling" has been covered by a number of artists since its original release. In 1990, the German house band The Mob released a four-track single entitled "Theme from ''Twin Peaks''", which included three original mixes of "Falling". Danish radio DJ Kjeld Tolstrup released an EP of three dance renditions of the song — "The Log Lady Mix", "The Ronnette Pulaski Mix" and "The Log Lady Mix Short Version" in 1991, under the pseudonym One–Eyed Jacks, the name of the casino/brothel in ''Twin Peaks''. English band The Wedding Present recorded a version of "Falling" that was released on their 1992 single "Silver Shorts" and included on the band's compilation album ''Hit Parade 1'' (1992). The Apoptygma Berzerk song "Moment of Tranquility", from the 2000 album ''Welcome to Earth'', is based on the ''Twin Peaks'' theme song, with different lyrics. French countertenor Thomas Otten recorded a version of "Falling" on his 2003 album ''Portraits'', using samples from the original recording.

In 2010, a cover of "Falling" by Girls Names, a noise pop band from Northern Ireland, appeared on a 15-track sampler, ''Young & Research''. Also in 2010, Bright Light Bright Light, the pseudonym of Welsh electropop singer Rod Thomas, released a cover of "Falling" online for free. A corresponding music video was recorded in Snoqualmie, Washington—where the ''Twin Peaks'' pilot episode was shot—and featured scenes at several locations from the series. Dream pop band Field Mouse included the song on an EP released in 2012. American folktronica duo The Endless included instrumental and vocal renditions of "Falling" as well as other songs from ''Twin Peaks'' on their EP ''Holiday 2012'', proceeds from which were donated to Médecins Sans Frontières, a humanitarian aid charity. In October 2013, Gavin Castleton and Lex Land posted a version to YouTube and Soundcloud. The Joy Formidable released a cover of Badalamenti's instrumental as "Twin Peaks" in 2015. In February 2016, Lily Fawn and Eric Hogg, recording as Songs From The Black Lodge, released a seven-song EP containing six "Twin Peaks" covers and one original tune. On Record Store Day 2016 (April 16), experimental rock band Xiu Xiu released ''Plays the Music of Twin Peaks'', a tribute to Badalamenti's original soundtrack, featuring a seven-minute rendition of "Falling".

Chrysta Bell (who plays Agent Tammy Preston in ''Twin Peaks'' revival) released a cover version of the song in 2017. The electronic music group Above & Beyond and singer Zoë Johnston also released a cover of the song in 2020.

References

External links

"Falling" official music video
on YouTube

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1980s ballads
1989 songs
1990 debut singles
Julee Cruise songs
Music of Twin Peaks
Number-one singles in Australia
Pop ballads
Song recordings produced by Angelo Badalamenti
Song recordings produced by David Lynch
Songs written by Angelo Badalamenti
Songs written by David Lynch
Television drama theme songs
Warner Music Group singles
Warner Records singles