Is there a song that always makes you happy?
Oh, man, so many songs just thrill me to the core. So many songs. Music is a huge emotional rush. Sometimes a thrill beyond the beyond.
Are there two or three examples that come off the top of your head?
Yeah. Oh, let’s see. I don’t know the name of it. Ricard Strauss [sic–Lynch pronounced the composer’s name with a pronounced hard “c,” although it’s pronounced “Richard” with a “ch” in both English and German], the first one of the Four Last Songs [“At Sunset,” aka “Im Abendrot”]—it was in Wild at Heart. Just put that music on loud and I could start crying. It’s so beautiful. There’s a bunch of things. “Adagio for Strings” by Samuel Barber—Andre Previn’s version. And let’s see. “Song To The Siren” by This Mortal Coil. Elizabeth Fraser drives me crazy. There are so many pieces of music, I just burst into tears, it’s so beautiful.
Can you tell me some other works of art that make you happy?
Francis Bacon makes me happy, the power of his painting. Edward Hopper makes me thrilled. Edward Kienholz’s sculptures make me happy. Let’s see. Alexander Calder’s sculptures make me thrilled with happiness. Let’s see. Vincent Van Gogh makes me happy. There’s a bunch – there’s so many great painters and sculptors that’s just great.
And within those, can you describe what makes you happy? Because they’re not all obviously joyous works of art. Some of them are very dark and complicated.
It’s an abstract thing. When you look at something, so many things are happening that enter you. And they enter into your mind and they churn around, and the result is something. You either don’t like it or you like it a little bit or you’re thrilled with it. A painting can be very abstract, what it does to a person – it’s hard to put it into words. But it happens. I always say: a painting remains the same, but every viewer that goes up and stands in front of it, they get something different.
Are there any items of clothing that make you happier when you wear them?
Yes, absolutely. I am searching for a good pair of pants. I never found a pair of pants that I just love. I like comfortable pants and clothes I can work in that I feel comfortable in. I don’t really like to get dressed up. I like to wear the same thing every day and feel comfortable.
And, beyond comfort, can you work out what the missing pair of pants needs to have?
It’s a fit. It’s a certain kind of feeling. And if they’re not right, which they never are, it’s a sadness. You know, it interrupts the flow of happiness.
Well, soon, I hope.
I hope—I’m working on it, believe me.
One more abstract question: can someone be too happy?
No. The only problem is having too little of it. That’s the problem for people. You can never get too much.
So what will you do the rest of today?
Today I’m working on two different paintings. That’s probably it for me today, working on these paintings. They involve, you know, painting and sculpture a little bit. Both. It’s a combo. That’s what I’m into right now. It’s more like three-dimensional paintings. I’ve already done my weather report and picked the number of the day.
Well, this is incredibly helpful and valuable for what I’m doing—thank you. Is there anything else you’d like to tell me?
No, just tell everybody about this technique. It’ll save their life and they’ll never be sorry. And wish everybody well for me. And the same to you, Chris.
And to you. Thank you.
OK, good deal, buddy. Bye bye.