A 1989 Chris Isaak rock single, a slow-burning track with reverb-heavy guitar that became widely known after featuring in David Lynch's 1990 film "Wild at Heart."
Composition
Wicked Game was written by Chris Isaak and recorded for his third album “Heart Shaped World.” The arrangement features reverb-heavy guitar by James Calvin Wilsey and Isaak’s tenor lead vocal.
Reception
The song was initially overlooked on the album’s release. After featuring in David Lynch’s 1990 film “Wild at Heart,” it received Atlanta radio airplay that eventually spread to national rotation and the track reached the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1991.
Legacy
The song’s black-and-white music video, directed by Herb Ritts and featuring model Helena Christensen, became a heavy-rotation MTV staple and won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video in 1991. The song has been covered widely across genres.