Laura Palmer (song)
Bastille's fifth single, inspired by Twin Peaks character.
"Laura Palmer" is a single by the British band Bastille, released as the fifth track from their debut album *Bad Blood* and following their major hit "Pompeii." The song first appeared in 2011 on a self-released EP of the same name, which also included "Overjoyed," "Things We Lost in the Fire," and "Get Home." It was later issued as a standalone digital download on 2 June 2013, reaching number 42 on the UK Singles Chart. Its title references a character from the television series *Twin Peaks*, created by David Lynch and Mark Frost.
Critic Lewis Corner of Digital Spy praised the track, noting its inspiration from the show—citing its intense beats and haunting echoes—and suggesting it works both as a tribute to *Twin Peaks* and a boost to Bastille's own fanbase.
The music video, uploaded to YouTube on 11 April 2013, runs three minutes and twenty-one seconds. It follows a surreal, unclear storyline in which frontman Dan Smith is kidnapped and freed in under two minutes, with four people wearing rubber masks. After his release, Smith receives a mask, puts it on, and removes it after a few seconds. The video uses a unique version of the song: during a camcorder-shot scene of the kidnapping, a jump-cut (resembling a poorly edited VHS tape) shows a dog howling, also on camcorder, and the music cuts off mid-second chorus. After five seconds, the video returns to a neutral shot and the song resumes.
The digital download includes the title track (3:06), "Thinkin Bout You" featuring O.N.E. (3:05), and remixes by RAC (3:11), Imagine Dragons (3:49), and Kat Krazy (3:32). A 7" vinyl release features "Laura Palmer" and "Thinkin Bout You" featuring O.N.E.
In 2012, an alternate version of the song appeared on the Dark Wave radio station in the video game *The Sims 3*.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Bastille
- Album
- Bad Blood
- B-Side
- Thinkin Bout You
- Released
- 3 June 2013
- Recorded
- 2011
- Genre
- Power pop
- Length
- 3:04
- Label
- Virgin Records
- Writer
- Dan Smith
- Producer
- Dan Smith · Mark Crew
- Prev Title
- Pompeii
- Prev Year
- 2013
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The song Laura Palmer was originally released in 2011 as a track on Bastille's self-released EP of the same name, which also included Overjoyed, Things We Lost in the Fire, and Get Home. It was later re-released as a digital download on 2 June 2013, serving as the fifth single from their debut album Bad Blood. The track's name is directly taken from the character Laura Palmer in David Lynch and Mark Frost's television series Twin Peaks.
A music video for the song was released on YouTube on 11 April 2013, running three minutes and twenty-one seconds. The video depicts a vague and bizarre story in which group leader Dan Smith is kidnapped and released within less than two minutes, with four people wearing rubber masks. The version of the song used in the video is unique due to a sudden interruption: during a camcorder shot of Smith's kidnapping, a jump-cut to a dog howling causes the song to stop in the middle of the second chorus for five seconds before resuming.
Critical reception was positive, with Lewis Corner of Digital Spy describing the track as immersed in inspiration from the show, with blood-racing beats and haunting echoes, and noting it would strengthen Bastille's cult following. The digital download release included several remixes, including one by Imagine Dragons and another by Kat Krazy.
Reader's Guide
Laura Palmer stands as a notable entry in Bastille's early discography, bridging their self-released EP work with the commercial success of their debut album Bad Blood. The song's direct reference to the Twin Peaks character demonstrates the band's engagement with pop culture and their ability to weave narrative inspiration into their music. Its peak at number 42 on the UK Singles Chart, while modest, helped solidify Bastille's presence in the British music scene following the massive hit Pompeii. The music video's unconventional editing—featuring a deliberate audio cut and jump-cut to a dog howling—reflects an experimental approach that distinguishes the single from more straightforward releases. The inclusion of an alternate version in The Sims 3 on the Dark Wave radio station in 2012 further expanded the song's reach into gaming culture. Overall, Laura Palmer exemplifies Bastille's early style of blending atmospheric production with literary and cinematic references, contributing to the band's identity as purveyors of thoughtful, narrative-driven alternative pop.
Did You Know?
- The music video features a unique version of the song where the audio stops for five seconds during the second chorus.
- An alternate version of the song was included in The Sims 3 on the in-game Dark Wave radio station in 2012.
- The song's name comes from the character Laura Palmer in the TV series Twin Peaks.
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