People Are Strange - wikipedia People Are Strange This article is about the Doors ' song. For the Stina Nordenstam album, see People Are Strange ( album ). `` 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 Songwriter ( s ) Jim Morrison Robby Krieger Producer ( s ) Paul A. Rothchild The Doors singles chronology `` Light My Fire '' / `` The Crystal Ship '' ( 1967 ) `` People Are Strange '' ( 1967 ) `` Love Me Two Times '' ( 1967 ) `` Light My Fire '' / `` The Crystal Ship '' ( 1967 ) `` People Are Strange '' ( 1967 ) `` Love Me Two Times '' ( 1967 ) `` 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 1 Writing 2 Overview 3 Track listing 4 Chart positions 5 Personnel 6 Cover versions 6.1 Echo & the Bunnymen 6.1. 1 Track listings 6.1. 2 Chart positions 6.1. 3 Personnel 6.1. 3.1 Musicians 6.1. 3.2 Production 6.2 Stina Nordenstam 6.2. 1 Track listings 6.3 Other covers 7 References 8 External links 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. -- John Densmore 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 ) `` People Are Strange '' -- 2 : 12 `` Unhappy Girl '' -- 2 : 00 Chart positions Chart ( 1967 ) Peak position U.S. Hot 100 12 Cash Box 10 Personnel Musicians Jim Morrison -- lead and backing vocals Ray Manzarek -- Vox Continental, backing vocal, tack piano Robby Krieger -- lead and rhythm guitar John Densmore -- drums Douglass Lubahn -- bass guitar Production Paul A. Rothchild -- producer, backing vocals Bruce Botnick -- engineer Cover versions Echo & the Bunnymen `` People Are Strange '' Single by Echo & the Bunnymen from the album The Lost Boys : Original Motion Picture Soundtrack B - side `` Run, Run, Run '' Released Format 7 '' single Genre Post-punk, alternative rock Length 3 : 36 Label WEA, EastWest Songwriter ( s ) The Doors Producer ( s ) Ray Manzarek Echo & the Bunnymen singles chronology `` Bedbugs and Ballyhoo '' ( 1987 ) `` People Are Strange '' ( 1987 ) `` ' The Peel Sessions ' '' ( 1988 ) `` Bedbugs and Ballyhoo '' ( 1987 ) `` People Are Strange '' ( 1987 ) The Peel Sessions ( 1988 ) 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 ) `` People Are Strange '' ( The Doors ) -- 3 : 36 `` Run, Run, Run '' ( Lou Reed ) -- 3 : 51 12 - inch single ( WEA YZ175T ) `` People Are Strange '' ( The Doors ) -- 3 : 36 `` Run, Run, Run '' ( Reed ) -- 3 : 41 `` Paint It, Black '' ( Jagger / Richards ) -- 3 : 01 `` Friction '' ( Tom Verlaine ) -- 4 : 37 Chart positions Chart ( 1988 ) Peak position UK Singles Chart 29 Irish Singles Chart 21 Chart ( 1991 ) UK Singles Chart 34 Irish Singles Chart 13 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 `` People Are Strange '' Single by Stina Nordenstam from the album People Are Strange Released 1998 Format 12 '' single, CD single Genre Alternative rock Length 5 : 39 Label EastWest Songwriter ( s ) The Doors Producer ( s ) Ian Caple, Stina Nordenstam Stina Nordenstam singles chronology `` Dynamite '' ( 1997 ) `` People Are Strange '' ( 1998 ) `` ' Get on with Your Life ' '' ( 2004 ) `` Dynamite '' ( 1997 ) `` People Are Strange '' ( 1998 ) Get on with Your Life ( 2004 ) 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 `` People Are Strange ( UNKLE Mix ) '' -- 5 : 39 `` People Are Strange ( Techno Animal Mix ) '' - 8 : 35 CD single `` People Are Strange ( UNKLE Mix ) '' -- 5 : 39 `` People Are Strange ( Album Version ) '' - 3 : 35 `` 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 Jump up ^ `` Forty years on, Jim Morrison cult thrives at Paris cemetery ''. The Independent. July 1, 2011. Retrieved September 14, 2017. ^ Jump up to : `` The Doors > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles ''. Allmusic. Retrieved 2008 - 05 - 02. ^ Jump up to : Hoskyns, Barney ( 2007 ). Strange Day. Rhino Entertainment Company. p. 7. ^ Jump up to : Densmore, John ( Nov 4, 2009 ). Riders on the Storm : My Life with Jim Morrison and the Doors. Random House Publishing Group. ISBN 9780307429025. ^ Jump up to : Maginnis, Tom. `` People Are Strange > Song Review ''. Allmusic. Retrieved 2012 - 10 - 21. ^ Jump up to : Roberts, David, ed. ( 2006 ). British Hit Singles & Albums ( 19th ed. ). HIT Entertainment. ISBN 1 - 904994 - 10 - 5. ^ Jump up to : `` The Irish Charts - All there is to know ''. IRMA. 2008. Retrieved 2008 - 05 - 02. Jump up ^ `` God Bless Tiny Tim : The Complete Reprise Recordings ''. Allmusic. Retrieved 2011 - 02 - 15. External links People Are Strange at whosampled.com The Doors Jim Morrison Ray Manzarek John Densmore Robby Krieger Studio albums The Doors Strange Days Waiting for the Sun The Soft Parade Morrison Hotel L.A. Woman Other Voices Full Circle An American Prayer Live albums Absolutely Live Alive, She Cried Live at the Hollywood Bowl In Concert London Fog 1966 Compilations and soundtracks 13 Weird Scenes Inside the Gold Mine The Best of The Doors ( 1973 ) Greatest Hits ( 1980 ) The Doors Classics The Best of The Doors The Doors ( 1991 film soundtrack ) Greatest Hits ( 1996 ) Essential Rarities The Best of The Doors ( 2000 ) The Very Best of The Doors ( 2001 ) Legacy : The Absolute Best The Very Best of The Doors ( 2007 ) The Future Starts Here : The Essential Doors Hits The Platinum Collection When You 're Strange : Music from the Motion Picture The Singles Bright Midnight Archives The Bright Midnight Sampler Live in Detroit Bright Midnight : Live in America Live in Hollywood : Highlights from the Aquarius Theater Performances Live at the Aquarius Theatre : The First Performance Live at the Aquarius Theatre : The Second Performance No One Here Gets Out Alive Backstage and Dangerous : The Private Rehearsal Live in Hollywood Boot Yer Butt : The Doors Bootlegs Live in Philadelphia ' 70 Live in Boston Pittsburgh Civic Arena Live at the Matrix 1967 Live in New York Live in Vancouver 1970 Live at the Bowl ' 68 Box sets The Doors : Box Set The Complete Studio Recordings No One Here Gets Out Alive Boot Yer Butt : The Doors Bootlegs Love / Death / Travel Box Set Perception The Doors : Vinyl Box Set A Collection Singles `` Break On Through ( To the Other Side ) '' / `` End of the Night '' `` Light My Fire '' / `` The Crystal Ship '' `` People Are Strange '' / `` Unhappy Girl '' `` Love Me Two Times '' / `` Moonlight Drive '' `` The Unknown Soldier '' / `` We Could Be So Good Together '' `` Hello, I Love You '' / `` Love Street '' `` Touch Me '' / `` Wild Child '' `` Wishful Sinful '' / `` Who Scared You '' `` Tell All the People '' / `` Easy Ride '' `` Runnin ' Blue '' / `` Do It '' `` You Make Me Real '' / `` Roadhouse Blues '' `` Love Her Madly '' / `` ( You Need Meat ) Do n't Go No Further '' `` Riders on the Storm '' / `` The Changeling '' `` Get Up and Dance '' / `` Tree Trunk '' `` Gloria '' / `` Moonlight Drive '' Books Wilderness : The Lost Writings of Jim Morrison The American Night No One Here Gets Out Alive Light My Fire Video and film The Doors ( 1991 ) The Doors -- 30 Years Commemorative Edition ( 1999 ) When You 're Strange Live at the Bowl ' 68 Related articles Discography Rick & the Ravens Bill Siddons Danny Sugerman Paul A. Rothchild Bruce Botnick London Fog Whisky a Go Go Manzarek -- Krieger `` Craigslist '' The Lost Paris Tapes Stoned Immaculate : The Music of The Doors Barbaturex morrisoni HWY : An American Pastoral Night Divides the Day -- The Music of the Doors Light My Fire : A Classic Rock Salute to The Doors Book Echo & the Bunnymen Ian McCulloch Will Sergeant Les Pattinson Pete de Freitas Jake Brockman Noel Burke Damon Reece Studio albums Crocodiles Heaven Up Here Porcupine Ocean Rain Echo & the Bunnymen Reverberation Evergreen What Are You Going to Do with Your Life ? Flowers Siberia The Fountain Meteorites Live albums BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert Live in Liverpool Me, I 'm All Smiles Compilations Songs to Learn & Sing The Cutter Ballyhoo Crystal Days : 1979 -- 1999 Seven Seas More Songs to Learn and Sing Killing Moon : The Best of Echo & the Bunnymen B - sides & Live ( 2001 -- 2005 ) The Works Singles `` The Pictures on My Wall '' `` Rescue '' `` The Puppet '' `` A Promise '' `` Over the Wall '' `` The Back of Love '' `` The Cutter '' `` Never Stop '' `` The Killing Moon '' `` Silver '' `` Seven Seas '' `` Bring On the Dancing Horses '' `` The Game '' `` Lips Like Sugar '' `` Bedbugs and Ballyhoo '' `` People Are Strange '' `` Enlighten Me '' `` Prove Me Wrong '' `` Inside Me, Inside You '' `` Nothing Lasts Forever '' `` I Want to Be There ( When You Come ) '' `` Do n't Let It Get You Down '' `` Rust '' `` Get in the Car '' `` It 's Alright '' `` Make Me Shine '' `` Stormy Weather '' `` In the Margins '' `` Scissors in the Sand '' `` Think I Need It Too '' EPs Shine So Hard The Sound of Echo Life at Brian 's -- Lean and Hungry The Peel Sessions New Live and Rare World Tour E.P. Avalanche Related articles Discography Korova Electrafixion Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=People_Are_Strange&oldid=801654769 '' Categories : 1967 singles 1967 songs 1987 singles 1988 singles 1991 singles The Doors songs Echo & the Bunnymen songs Songs written by Robby Krieger Songs written by Jim Morrison Songs written for films Song recordings produced by Paul A. Rothchild Reprise Records singles Elektra Records singles Warner Music Group singles East West Records singles Hidden categories : Articles with hAudio microformats Talk Contents About Wikipedia Čeština Ελληνικά Español Euskara Français Հայերեն Hrvatski Italiano Norsk nynorsk Polski Português Русский Српски / srpski Suomi Українська Edit links This page was last edited on 21 September 2017, at 00 : 43. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 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Question: who sang the song when you're strange
Answer: the Doors