You ever have one of those nights where the air feels like it’s vibrating and you’re pretty sure you’re about to win a thousand dollars or lose your car? That’s exactly the energy Orville Peck and Beck bottled up for Death Valley High. Honestly, when news first broke that the masked cowboy was teaming up with the king of 90s alternative irony, nobody really knew what to expect. Would it be a sad acoustic ballad? A weird experimental glitch-fest?
Neither.
It's a full-throttle, brass-heavy, neon-soaked anthem that basically sounds like Elvis Presley walked into a 1990s skate shop and decided to start a revolution. Released as a standout single from Orville Peck’s 2024 duets album, Stampede, the track has managed to do something most "event" collaborations fail at: it actually sounds like both artists. It doesn’t feel like a forced label pairing. It feels like two guys who share a mutual love for Naugahyde and gambling decided to have the most expensive-sounding party possible.
What Exactly Is Death Valley High?
If you haven't heard it yet, you're missing out on a serious mood. Death Valley High is a high-octane blend of "outlaw country" and "sample-based funk." Orville Peck brings that booming, operatic baritone that we’ve all come to love since Pony, while Beck slides in with his signature slacker-rap delivery and some seriously crunchy guitar work.
They aren't just singing about a place; they're singing about a feeling. The "High" in the title isn't a school—it's the adrenaline rush of Sin City. It’s the heat of the Mojave Desert mixing with the air-conditioned desperation of a casino floor at 4:00 AM.
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The lyrics are a fever dream of Vegas imagery:
- Blackjack and bootleg candy machines.
- "Casino zombies" staring into two-way mirrors.
- Oakley Blades worn on velvet water beds.
- Drinking whiskey at the Peppermill (a legendary Vegas haunt, if you know, you know).
It's a world where "everything is on the line," and the stakes are just as high as the temperature outside.
Why This Collaboration Actually Works
Most duets these days feel like they were recorded in separate time zones—and they probably were. But there's a chemistry in Death Valley High that's hard to fake. Beck actually co-wrote and produced the track, and you can hear his fingerprints all over it. The song features a harpsichord, for crying out loud. Who else but Beck is putting a harpsichord in a country-rock song in 2024?
Then you have Orville. He’s always been an artist who plays with the idea of being a cowboy as much as he actually is one. By pairing with Beck—an artist who spent his entire career deconstructing genres—the two found a middle ground in the "theatrical." They both love the costumes, the personas, and the slightly kitschy side of American culture.
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The Sharon Stone Factor
We have to talk about the music video. If the song is a vibe, the video is a full-blown cinematic experience. Directed by Austin Peters, it features Peck and Beck performing on a giant, rotating roulette wheel. But the real kicker?
Sharon Stone.
Yes, the Casino icon herself makes a cameo, sitting at a bar in a fur coat, looking like she hasn't aged a day since 1995. It’s a brilliant nod to the song’s inspiration. Having Sharon Stone in your Vegas-themed music video is like having Michael Jordan show up to your pickup basketball game. It gives the whole project an instant "cool" factor that's impossible to ignore. Alongside her, you’ve got RuPaul’s Drag Race royalty Gigi Goode, adding to the campy, queer-coded brilliance that Orville Peck has championed throughout his career.
Where It Fits in the Stampede Era
Stampede was a massive undertaking for Peck. It wasn't just a few songs; it was a two-part collection of duets featuring legends like Willie Nelson and Elton John, and modern powerhouses like Teddy Swims and Kylie Minogue.
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In the middle of all that star power, Death Valley High stands out because it's the most "dangerous" sounding track. While his cover of "Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other" with Willie Nelson was sweet and historic, and "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)" with Elton John was a glam-rock blast, "Death Valley High" feels like a new direction for Peck. It’s grittier. It’s funkier.
It proves that he’s not just "the guy in the mask who sings country." He's a pop star. A rock star. Whatever he wants to be.
How to Get the Most Out of the Track
If you’re looking to add this to your rotation, there are a few ways to really "experience" it rather than just listening.
- The Night Drive Test: This is peak driving music. Specifically, if you can find a road with some neon lights, roll the windows down and let the bass hit. The production is incredibly crisp, especially the horn section.
- Watch the Video First: Seriously. The visual context of the "Beck" and "Peck" signs glowing in the background helps you appreciate the playful nature of the song. It’s not meant to be a somber meditation on life—it’s a celebration of the chaos.
- Check the Lyrics: Beck’s verse is a rapid-fire list of "NASCAR uncles" and "ninja stars." It’s classic Beck wordplay that rewards a second or third listen.
Death Valley High isn't just a footnote in Orville Peck's discography; it's a high-water mark for what modern country collaborations can be when they stop trying to play it safe. It’s weird, it’s loud, and it’s probably the closest thing we’ll get to a modern-day Elvis hit.
If you want to dive deeper into the Stampede album, start with the Beck collab and then head over to "Midnight Ride" with Kylie Minogue and Diplo. You'll see exactly how Peck is blurring the lines between the rodeo and the dance floor.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check out the official music video on YouTube to see the Sharon Stone cameo.
- Listen to the full Stampede album to hear how Peck adapts his voice to different genres.
- Look for live performance clips—Peck and Beck have performed this together a few times, and the energy is even higher in person.