jmjiloveyou

<p><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/60/PeopleAreStrange.jpg/220px-PeopleAreStrange.jpg" alt="cover art" height="219" width="220"></p><p>"<strong>People Are Strange</strong>" is a song by the American <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_music" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">rock</a> band <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Doors" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the Doors</a>. It appears on the band's second studio album, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strange_Days_(Doors_album)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Strange Days</em></a>, released in September 1967. The song was written by the Doors' vocalist <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Morrison" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jim Morrison</a> and guitarist <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robby_Krieger" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Robby Krieger</a>, although all of the band are credited on the sleeve notes.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_Are_Strange#cite_note-2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[2]</a></p><p>The track was first released with "Unhappy Girl" as the B-side. It peaked at number 12 on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Hot_100" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Billboard</em> Hot 100</a> chart.</p><h2>Writing</h2><p>The song's composition started in early 1967.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_Are_Strange#cite_note-hoskyns_p7-3" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[3]</a> According to Doors drummer <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Densmore" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John Densmore</a>,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_Are_Strange#cite_note-densmore-4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[4]</a> he and guitarist Robby Krieger, who had then been roommates, were visited by Jim Morrison who appeared to be "deeply depressed."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_Are_Strange#cite_note-densmore-4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[4]</a> At Krieger's recollection, they later took a walk along <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurel_Canyon,_Los_Angeles" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Laurel Canyon</a> in the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_Are_Strange#cite_note-5" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[5]</a> Morrison returned from the walk "euphoric" with the early lyrics of "People Are Strange".<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_Are_Strange#cite_note-densmore-4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[4]</a> Intrigued by the lyrics, Krieger was convinced that the song was a hit upon hearing the vocal melody:<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_Are_Strange#cite_note-densmore-4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[4]</a></p><blockquote>[Morrison said] 'Yeah, I feel really good about this one. It just came to me all of a sudden&nbsp;... in a flash&nbsp;– 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.</blockquote><blockquote>— John Densmore<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_Are_Strange#cite_note-densmore-4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[4]</a></blockquote><h2>Overview</h2><p>In a review for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AllMusic" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AllMusic</a>, critic Tom Maginnis wrote the song "reflects the group's fascination with the theatrical music of European cabaret."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_Are_Strange#cite_note-allmusic_review-6" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[6]</a> The song is about alienation and being an outsider, and Morrison may have addressed the song both to the hippie culture, to outsiders in general or to users of drugs such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LSD" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LSD</a>, or both.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_Are_Strange#cite_note-allmusic_review-6" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[6]</a> Similarly, author Melissa Ursula Dawn Goldsmith felt that "People Are Strange" uses the "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expressionism" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Expressionist</a> idea of alienation and distanciation", and that the lyrics purposely express something positive as strange.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_Are_Strange#cite_note-7" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[7]</a> Densmore believes that the song was the manifestation of Morrison's "vulnerability".<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_Are_Strange#cite_note-hoskyns_p7-3" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[3]</a></p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_(magazine)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Billboard</em></a> described the single as an "easy rocker with compelling lyric."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_Are_Strange#cite_note-bb-8" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[8]</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cash_Box" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Cash Box</em></a> called it a "smashing performance," saying that the "mid-speed setting&nbsp;... adds kick to the black humor of the lyrical content" and that the "production and work are fantastic."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_Are_Strange#cite_note-cb-9" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[9]</a></p><p>The song influenced paintings by artist <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Condo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">George Condo</a> in 2023.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_Are_Strange#cite_note-10" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[10]</a></p><h2>Personnel</h2><p>Per source:<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_Are_Strange#cite_note-11" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[11]</a></p><p><strong>The Doors</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Morrison" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jim Morrison</a> – lead and backing vocals</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Manzarek" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ray Manzarek</a> – <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vox_Continental" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Vox Continental</a> organ, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tack_piano" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">tack piano</a></li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robby_Krieger" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Robby Krieger</a> – <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slide_guitar" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">slide guitar</a></li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Densmore" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John Densmore</a> – drums</li></ul><p><strong>Additional musician</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doug_Lubahn" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Doug Lubahn</a> – bass guitar</li></ul><p><br></p>