| "People Are Strange" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by The Doors | ||||
| from the album Strange Days | ||||
| B-side | "Unhappy Girl" | |||
| Released | September 1967 | |||
| Format | 7" single | |||
| Recorded | May and August 1967 | |||
| Genre | Psychedelic rock | |||
| Length | 2:12 | |||
| Label | Elektra | |||
| Writer(s) | The Doors | |||
| Producer | Paul A. Rothchild | |||
| The Doors singles chronology | ||||
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"People Are Strange" is a single released by The Doors in September 1967 from their second album Strange Days which was also released in September 1967. The single peaked at the #12 position of the U.S. Hot 100 chart[1] and made it to the top ten in the Cash Box charts. It was written by Robby Krieger and Jim Morrison although credit was given to The Doors evenly.
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According to its Allmusic review, the song "reflects the group's fascination with the theatrical music of European cabaret."[2] 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, and/or to users of drugs such as LSD.[2] The song came about in early 1967 after guitarist Robby Krieger and a depressed Morrison had walked to the top of Laurel Canyon.[3] Drummer John Densmore believes that the song was the manifestation of Morrison's "vulnerability".[3]
All tracks written by The Doors.
| Chart (1967) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Hot 100[1] | 12 |
| Cash Box | 10 |
| "People Are Strange" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Echo & the Bunnymen | ||||
| from the album The Lost Boys | ||||
| B-side | "Run, Run, Run | |||
| Released | 1987 | |||
| Format | 7" single | |||
| Genre | Post-punk, alternative rock | |||
| Length | 3:36 | |||
| Label | WEA, EastWest | |||
| Writer(s) | The Doors | |||
| Producer | Ray Manzarek | |||
| Echo & the Bunnymen singles chronology | ||||
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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[4] and number 13 on the Irish Singles Chart in 1991.[5] 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".
| Chart (1988) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart[4] | 29 |
| Irish Singles Chart[5] | 21 |
| Chart (1991) | |
| UK Singles Chart[4] | 34 |
| Irish Singles Chart[5] | 13 |
The song was also covered by Twiztid on their album Freek Show which was released in 2000. Pianist George Winston also covered the song on his 2002 album Night Divides the Day - The Music of the Doors. It was also covered by Stina Nordenstam on her 1998 album of the same name, People Are Strange. Alvin and the Chipmunks covered this song for their 1998 album The A-Files: Alien Songs. A remix of Nordenstam's cover was also made by UNKLE and Nordenstam and found on UNKLE's box set, Eden. Evanescence also covered the song numerous times while touring on the Family Values Tour 2007. Butch Walker has also performed a cover of the song for a tribute album to The Doors. Canadian group Johnny Hollow included a cover of the song on their second album, Dirty Hands. Inês Laranjeira covered it on the Portuguese show "Idolos", where the theme was "The Greatest Bands Ever".
Tiny Tim also covered the song.[6]
The song was also covered by Bob Brozman on his 2007 album Post Industrial Blues.
The song was also covered by Edward Furlong on his 1992 album Hold on Tight.
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