{"id":2083089,"date":"2026-08-06T09:12:22","date_gmt":"2026-08-06T06:12:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2083089"},"modified":"2026-08-06T09:12:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-06T06:12:22","slug":"drive-director-pays-tribute-to-late-composer-kavinsky-an-icon-of-french-pop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2083089","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Drive\u2019 director pays tribute to late composer Kavinsky: \u201cAn icon of French pop\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Nicholas-Winding-Refn-Kavinsky.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"template-id-2749694\" class=\"post-2749694 tdb_templates type-tdb_templates status-publish post\">\n<div id=\"tdi_65\" class=\"tdc-zone\">\n<div class=\"tdc_zone tdi_66  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div id=\"tdi_67\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_68  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_70  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_breadcrumbs tdi_71 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-breadcrumbs \" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_71\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span>News<\/span><i class=\"tdb-bread-sep td-icon-right\"><\/i><span>Film News<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_title tdi_72 tdb-single-title td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_72\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">\u2018Drive\u2019 director pays tribute to late composer Kavinsky: \u201cAn icon of French pop\u201d<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_subtitle tdi_73 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_73\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>The producer&#8217;s track &#8216;Nightcall&#8217; became synonymous with the 2011 film <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_author tdi_75 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_75\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-author-name-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-author-by\">By<\/span> Victoria Luxford<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_date tdi_76 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_76\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><time class=\"entry-date updated td-module-date\" datetime=\"2026-08-06T10:12:22+01:00\">6th August 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .\/block --><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_77\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_78  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_80  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span8\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_featured_image tdi_81 tdb-content-horiz-left td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_81\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<figure>\n                                    <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"696\" height=\"442\" class=\"entry-thumb\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Nicholas-Winding-Refn-Kavinsky-696x442.jpg\" alt=\"Drive Kavinsky\" title=\"Nicholas Winding Refn Kavinsky\"><figcaption class=\"tdb-caption-text\">Nicholas Winding Refn and Kavinsky. CREDIT: Daniele Venturelli\/WireImage and Foc Kan\/WireImage via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row_inner tdi_83 article-content-row vc_row vc_inner wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column_inner tdi_85  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-inner-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p><em>Drive<\/em> director Nicholas Winding Refn has paid tribute to French composer Kavinsky, who recently died, aged 50.<\/p>\n<p>The pioneering DJ and electronic music star, real name Vincent \u200cBelorgey, was found in his home in Paris by authorities at around 10:30pm local time on July 28. Newspaper reports have said that the cause of death is thought to be a stroke.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>His death has brought in tributes from fans of the 2011 film <em>Drive,<\/em> starring Ryan Gosling. Kavinsky\u2019s song \u2018Nightcall\u2019 played over the famous opening to the film, becoming a highlight of the cult classic and setting the tone for the movie. Refn, the film\u2019s director, paid tribute to Kavinsky on Wednesday (August 5) in a conversation with <em>The Hollywood Reporter<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo many people in America, Kavinsky will always be the artist behind the unforgettable opening of <em>Drive<\/em>,\u201d he said. \u201cIn France, he was much more than that. He was an icon of French pop music, a cultural figure whose influence reached far beyond any one song.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Recalling the process of search for the right song for the movie\u2019s opening, he explained: \u201cThe moment we laid \u201cNightcall\u201d over the opening sequence, everything clicked. It gave the film exactly what it had been missing.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DbbLQC_jwvA\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>He said that he had met the musician \u201coccasionally\u201d and stayed in touch via social media. \u201cWhat struck me about him was how kind he was,\u201d Refn said. \u201cHe was immensely successful as a DJ and producer, one of the defining voices of his generation, yet he was incredibly gentle. In fact, he was almost shy. There was nothing performative about him as a person.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<div id=\"taboola-mid-article\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The filmmaker concluded: \u201cHis death is heartbreaking. Dying young is never how anyone\u2019s story should end. My thoughts are with the family he leaves behind. But in the end, we are remembered for what we give. Kavinsky gave the world extraordinary music. \u201cNightcall\u201d became part of the language of modern cinema, but more importantly, his work inspired countless musicians who came after him. You can hear his influence everywhere now. That is a remarkable legacy. His voice will continue to echo long after all of us are gone.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In his last interview with <em>NME<\/em>, Kavinsky had revealed that another collaboration with The Weeknd was likely to arrive \u201csoon\u201d. The pair previously worked together on a version of \u2018Odd Look\u2019 in 2013<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_tags tdi_87 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_87\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<ul class=\"tdb-tags\">\n<li><span>Related Topics<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Electronic<\/li>\n<li>Kavinsky<\/li>\n<li>Ryan Gosling<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap vc_raw_html tdi_89 \">\n<div class=\"td-fix-index\">\n<h3>You May Also Like<\/h3>\n<div id=\"taboola-below-article\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_91  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span4 td-is-sticky\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td-a-rec td-a-rec-id-sidebar  tdi_92 td_block_template_2\">\n<p><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-sidebar-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div 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show<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/aphex_twin_2000-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/aphex_twin_2000-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Aphex Twin\u2019s \u2018Drukqs\u2019 set for 25th anniversary vinyl reissue<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>                    <span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span>                <\/article>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p><em>Drive<\/em> director Nicholas Winding Refn has paid tribute to French composer Kavinsky, who recently died, aged 50.<\/p>\n<p>The pioneering DJ and electronic music star, real name Vincent \u200cBelorgey, was found in his home in Paris by authorities at around 10:30pm local time on July 28. Newspaper reports have said that the cause of death is thought to be a stroke.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>His death has brought in tributes from fans of the 2011 film <em>Drive,<\/em> starring Ryan Gosling. Kavinsky\u2019s song \u2018Nightcall\u2019 played over the famous opening to the film, becoming a highlight of the cult classic and setting the tone for the movie. Refn, the film\u2019s director, paid tribute to Kavinsky on Wednesday (August 5) in a conversation with <em>The Hollywood Reporter<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo many people in America, Kavinsky will always be the artist behind the unforgettable opening of <em>Drive<\/em>,\u201d he said. \u201cIn France, he was much more than that. He was an icon of French pop music, a cultural figure whose influence reached far beyond any one song.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Recalling the process of search for the right song for the movie\u2019s opening, he explained: \u201cThe moment we laid \u201cNightcall\u201d over the opening sequence, everything clicked. It gave the film exactly what it had been missing.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DbbLQC_jwvA\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>He said that he had met the musician \u201coccasionally\u201d and stayed in touch via social media. \u201cWhat struck me about him was how kind he was,\u201d Refn said. \u201cHe was immensely successful as a DJ and producer, one of the defining voices of his generation, yet he was incredibly gentle. In fact, he was almost shy. There was nothing performative about him as a person.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<div id=\"taboola-mid-article\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The filmmaker concluded: \u201cHis death is heartbreaking. Dying young is never how anyone\u2019s story should end. My thoughts are with the family he leaves behind. But in the end, we are remembered for what we give. Kavinsky gave the world extraordinary music. \u201cNightcall\u201d became part of the language of modern cinema, but more importantly, his work inspired countless musicians who came after him. You can hear his influence everywhere now. That is a remarkable legacy. His voice will continue to echo long after all of us are gone.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In his last interview with <em>NME<\/em>, Kavinsky had revealed that another collaboration with The Weeknd was likely to arrive \u201csoon\u201d. The pair previously worked together on a version of \u2018Odd Look\u2019 in 2013<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/film\/drive-director-pays-tribute-to-late-composer-kavinsky-an-icon-of-french-pop-3961112&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Nicholas-Winding-Refn-Kavinsky.jpg&#8221;] NewsFilm News \u2018Drive\u2019 director pays tribute to late composer Kavinsky: \u201cAn icon of French pop\u201d The producer&#8217;s track &#8216;Nightcall&#8217; became synonymous with the 2011 film By Victoria Luxford 6th August 2026 Nicholas Winding Refn and Kavinsky. CREDIT: Daniele Venturelli\/WireImage and Foc Kan\/WireImage via Getty Images Drive director Nicholas Winding Refn has paid [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,78],"class_list":["post-2083089","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-nme-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2083089","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2083089"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2083089\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2083089"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2083089"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2083089"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}