Julee Cruise, Iconic Twin Peaks Singer, Is Dead
Julee Cruise, an icon of cinema, television, and music, has passed away and we mourn her artistic vision and life.
The world has lost another beautiful voice full of wondrous stories to tell. Singer Julee Cruise has passed away at the age of 65 and, according to her husband, Edward Grinnan, the frequent David Lynch collaborator drifted off into the other realm while listening to her favorite B-52’s song, “Roam.” The news comes after the singer’s battle with systemic lupus, a health condition that she revealed to her fans via Facebook back in 2018. During her struggle with the disease, Cruise had a challenging time staying as mobile as she once was, losing the ability to both walk and stand.
A truly free spirit, Julee Cruise’s music can be primarily heard in the works of a kindred soul – director and filmmaker, David Lynch. The pair would team up several times over the years, bringing viewers the haunting melodies in Lynch’s fan-favorite pieces. The two began their partnership back in 1986 with the mystery thriller feature, Blue Velvet, and didn’t slow down from there. Those who love Lynch’s haunting series, Twin Peaks will recognize Cruise’s work in the show’s opening theme song. The instrumental version of the tune, titled “Falling,” can be heard as the dramatic opening credits show off the titular town’s natural beauty. Cruise also performed during the what-we’ve-all-been-waiting-for episode where the demonic entity known as “Bob” was revealed. She would also work on Lynch’s other Twin Peaks-centered projects including the 2001 film, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me and the series’ better-late-than-never third season titled, Twin Peaks: The Return which hit screens in 2017.
From her partnership with Lynch and Blue Velvet composer, Angelo Badalamenti, Julee Cruise would garner much of the material for her full-length album, Floating into the Night, which dropped in 1989. This is where the Twin Peaks theme first appeared with a full vocal arrangement before being picked up for the show’s opening credits. The popularity of the song can not be understated as it nabbed the Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental at the award show’s 33rd annual celebration. She would also appear in the director’s theatrical production, Industrial Symphony No 1.
Several years later, in 2002, Julee Cruise would come out with a solo album titled The Art of Being a Girl. It was the performer’s third full-length studio album and would be the first that didn’t include any songs written by Badalamenti and Lynch. She would follow it up almost one decade later in 2011 with her fourth album titled, My Secret Life. Cruise’s one-of-a-kind voice would also lead her to work with several well-known musicians including Moby, Delirium, and Hybrid. From 1992 to 1999, Cruise would head out on tour with the B-52’s as a fill-in for Cindy Wilson.
Although her time creating music has come to an end, her contributions to the entertainment world are plenty. Julee Cruise gave us countless songs to remember her by, with many of them appearing in on-screen productions we can watch over and over again. Our condolences and thoughts go out to her family at this time.
