Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

People Are Strange

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B-side
  
"Unhappy Girl"

Format
  
7" single

Genre
  
Psychedelic rock

Released
  
September 1967

Recorded
  
May and August 1967

Length
  
2:12

"People Are Strange" is a single released by the American rock band the Doors in September 1967 from their second album Strange Days which was also released in September 1967. The single peaked at the number 12 position of the U.S. Hot 100 chart and made it to the top ten in the Cash Box charts. It was written by Jim Morrison and Robby Krieger although credit was given to The Doors evenly.

Contents

Writing

"People Are Strange" was composed in early 1967 after guitarist Robby Krieger and a depressed Jim Morrison had walked to the top of Laurel Canyon. The band's drummer, John Densmore, recalled the song's writing process in his book Riders on the Storm. He and Doors guitarist Robby Krieger, who had then been roommates, were visited by Jim Morrison, who was acting "deeply depressed." At the suggestion of Krieger, they took a walk along Laurel Canyon. Morrison returned from the walk "euphoric" with the early lyrics of "People Are Strange." Krieger, intrigued by the new lyrics, was convinced that the song was a hit upon hearing the vocal melody.

[Morrison said] 'Yeah, I feel really good about this one. It just came to me all of a sudden ... in a flash - as I was sitting up there on the ridge looking out over the city. His eyes were wild with excitement. 'I scribbled it down as fast as I could. It felt great to be writing again.' He looked down at the crumpled paper in his hand and sang the chorus in his haunting blues voice.

Overview

According to its Allmusic review, the song "reflects the group's fascination with the theatrical music of European cabaret." The song is about alienation and being an outsider, and Jim Morrison may have addressed the song both to the hippie culture, to outsiders in general or to users of drugs such as LSD, or both. Drummer John Densmore believes that the song was the manifestation of Morrison's "vulnerability".

Track listing

All tracks written by The Doors.

Elektra (EK 45621)
  1. "People Are Strange" – 2:12
  2. "Unhappy Girl" – 2:00

Personnel

Musicians
  • Jim Morrison – lead vocals
  • Ray Manzarek – Vox Continental, backing vocals, tack piano
  • Robby Krieger – guitar, backing vocals
  • John Densmore – drums, backing vocals
  • Douglass Lubahn – bass guitar
    • Production
  • Paul A. Rothchild – producer, backing vocals
  • Bruce Botnick – engineer, backing vocals

    • Echo & the Bunnymen

    British group Echo & the Bunnymen recorded a cover version of "People Are Strange" for the soundtrack of the 1987 film The Lost Boys. It was subsequently released as a single in 1987 (see 1987 in music) reaching number 29 on the UK Singles Chart in February 1988 and number 13 on the Irish Singles Chart in 1991. The song was produced by The Doors' keyboard player, Ray Manzarek. A 12-inch version was released in February 1988 before the single was re-released in 1991. The B-sides were all the same as their previous release, "Bedbugs and Ballyhoo".

    Track listings

    7-inch single (WEA YZ175 and WEA YZ567)
    1. "People Are Strange" (The Doors) – 3:36
    2. "Run, Run, Run" (Lou Reed) – 3:51
    12-inch single (WEA YZ175T)
    1. "People Are Strange" (The Doors) – 3:36
    2. "Run, Run, Run" (Reed) – 3:41
    3. "Paint It, Black" (Jagger/Richards) – 3:01
    4. "Friction" (Tom Verlaine) – 4:37

    Personnel

    Musicians
  • Ian McCulloch – vocals, guitar
  • Will Sergeant – lead guitar
  • Les Pattinson – bass
  • Pete de Freitas – drums
  • Ray Manzarek - keyboards on "People Are Strange"
    • Production
  • Ray Manzarek – producer ("People Are Strange")
  • Lars Aldman – producer ("Run, Run, Run", "Paint It, Black" and "Friction")
  • Michael Bergek – engineering ("Run, Run, Run", "Paint It, Black" and "Friction")

    • Stina Nordenstam

    Swedish singer-songwriter Stina Nordenstam covered "People Are Strange" on her 1998 cover album of the same name. A remix single was released in conjunction with the album. The UNKLE remix appears as a bonus track on the Japanese version of the album, and can also be found on UNKLE's box set, Eden.

    Track listings

    12-inch single
    1. "People Are Strange (UNKLE Mix)" – 5:39
    2. "People Are Strange (Techno Animal Mix)" - 8:35
    CD single
    1. "People Are Strange (UNKLE Mix)" – 5:39
    2. "People Are Strange (Album Version)" - 3:35
    3. "People Are Strange (Techno Animal Mix)" - 8:35

    A promo CD single with a 3:56 radio edit of the UNKLE remix was also distributed.

    Other covers

  • In 1987, Brave Combo covered this song on their album, "Musical Varieties."
  • In 1992, by Edward Furlong on his Japan album Hold on Tight.
  • In 1998, by Alvin and the Chipmunks on their album The A-Files: Alien Songs.
  • In 2000, by Twiztid on their album Freek Show.
  • In 2002, by pianist George Winston on his album Night Divides the Day - The Music of the Doors.
  • In 2005, Tori Amos covered it live.
  • In 2007, Evanescence also covered the song numerous times while touring on the Family Values Tour 2007.
  • In 2007, by Bob Brozman on his album Post Industrial Blues.
  • In 2008, by the psychobilly band The Lucky Devils on their album Goin' Mad.
  • In 2008, by Canadian group Johnny Hollow on their second album, Dirty Hands.
  • In 2011, it was parodied by The Skimmity Hitchers (a band from the South West of England) on their album Game, Sett and Natch under the name "People Arr Strange".
  • In 2012, the song was covered in Ukrainian by singer Yuriy Veres and Kamyaniy gist rock band (album 60/70). Source.
  • Butch Walker performed a cover of the song for a tribute album to The Doors.
  • Tiny Tim also covered the song.
  • Inês Laranjeira covered it on the Portuguese show "Idolos", where the theme was "The Greatest Bands Ever".
  • The French artist Yodelice covered the song especially for the French/German TV station ARTE: "Summer of Arte" program.

    • References

    People Are Strange Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA