Light My Fire
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| "Light My Fire" | ||
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| Single by The Doors | ||
| from the album The Doors | ||
| B-side(s) | The Crystal Ship | |
| Released | 1967 | |
| Genre | Psychedelic rock | |
| Length | 7:06 (album version) 4:40 (long radio version) 3:07 (single version) |
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| Label | Elektra | |
| Writer(s) | Robby Krieger, Jim Morrison | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| The Doors singles chronology | ||
| "Break on Through (To the Other Side)" (1968) |
"Light My Fire" (1967) |
"People Are Strange" (1967) |
"Light My Fire" is a song performed by The Doors on their self-titled first album, which was recorded in September of 1966, and released in January of 1967. It peaked at number one on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in 1967, then was re-released in 1968, peaking at number 87. The song was written by Robby Krieger (music/lyrics) and Jim Morrison (lyrics); although writing credit is occasionally given to "The Doors".
The song depicts a couple getting "high", a street word for the euphoric feeling marijuana-users achieve when smoking. "Girl, we couldn't get much higher" is a pun. "Higher" in the aforementioned drug-context is to smoke until one can no longer.
Cover versions were recorded by Astrud Gilberto, Will Young (whose version hit number one in the United Kingdom), Amii Stewart (whose version got to number 6 in the United Kingdom, in 1979, and to number 8 as a remix in 1985) Natalia Oreiro, Jose Feliciano (whose version won a Grammy in 1969 Best Pop song of the year), Nancy Sinatra, Julie Driscoll & the Brian Auger Trinity, Shirley Bassey, Cibo Matto, Divididos, UB40, Massive Attack, Amorphis, hide, Minnie Riperton, Stevie Wonder, Al Green, Ananda Shankar and Train, whose version can be found on the tribute compilation Stoned Immaculate: The Music of The Doors. The Challengers did an instrumental version in 1969, as title track to one of their last albums.
"Light My Fire" is a prime example of psychedelic rock and an early example of jazz-rock, with long, seemingly extemporaneous instrumental solos (though it was shortened from seven to three minutes for the radio version) and some Eastern influences. Its harmonic progression and catchy rhythm (particularly Ray Manzarek's swirling, barrel organ-style keyboard motif) lent itself readily to pop or MOR styled cover versions.
"Light My Fire" was performed by The Doors on a famous appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. In an oft-told legend, The Doors were asked to change the lyrics of the song (specifically, the line "girl, we couldn't get much higher" to "girl, we couldn't get much better") to be more suitable for a coast-to-coast live audience. The band promised to do so, but according to Jim Morrison he forgot to change the lyrics at the last minute and performed the unedited version live on-air. He attributed this to being too nervous. [1]. Despite appaluse from the crowd Ed Sullivan was so upset that he refused to shake Morrison's hand as he left the stage and the band was subsequently banned from appearing on the show again where they were ready to have a seven show deal in the works. Morrison then said, "Hey, man, we just did the Sullivan show."
John Densmore recalls [2] that when Buick wanted to buy the piece for use in a 1967 TV commercial ("Come on, Buick, light my fire" [3]) and Morrison, who had been out of town, learned that other group members agreed, Morrison called Buick and threatened to have a Buick smashed with a sledgehammer on a TV show should the (presumably ready) commercial be aired.
This song was #35 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
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[edit] Jose Feliciano version
| "Light My Fire" | ||
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| Single by José Feliciano | ||
| from the album Feliciano! | ||
| B-side(s) | "California Dreamin'" | |
| Released | 1968 | |
| Format | 7" single | |
| Genre | Soft rock | |
| Length | 3:33 | |
| Label | RCA Victor | |
| Writer(s) | Robby Krieger, Jim Morrison | |
| Producer(s) | Rick Jarrard | |
| Certification | Gold (USA) | |
| José Feliciano singles chronology | ||
| "La Copa Rota" (1968) |
"Light My Fire" (1968) |
"Hi-Heel Sneakers" / "Hitchcock Railway" (1968) |
Vocalist and guitarist José Feliciano experienced significant international success when he released his version of "Light My Fire" in 1968 as a single on the RCA Victor label. Feliciano's remake blended Latin influences, including a mixture of classic Spanish guitar and flamenco, with American pop sounds. The single helped to spur the worldwide success of its album, Feliciano!, which was nominated for multiple Grammy awards in 1969. Feliciano's arrangement of "Light My Fire" has influenced several subsequent versions, including that by Will Young.
[edit] Chart performance
| Country | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia | 3 |
| Brazil | 2 |
| Canada | 1 |
| France | 62 |
| Ireland | 14 |
| Netherlands | 24 |
| United Kingdom | 6 |
| United States | 3 |
[edit] Will Young version
| "Light My Fire" | ||
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| Single by Will Young | ||
| from the album From Now On | ||
| B-side(s) | "Ain't No Sunshine" "Beyond the Sea" |
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| Released | 27 May 2002 | |
| Format | CD | |
| Recorded | 2002 | |
| Genre | Pop | |
| Writer(s) | BMG | |
| Producer(s) | Absolute | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| Will Young singles chronology | ||
| "Anything Is Possible" / "Evergreen" (2002) |
"Light My Fire" (2002) |
"The Long and Winding Road" / "Suspicious Minds" (2002) |
Pop Idol UK series 1 winner Will Young covered the song in 2002. Young originally performed a piano version the song in the final 50 of Pop Idol, and again, with a backing track, in the final 10. It was later released as his second single. It went straight to the number one spot in the UK Singles Chart, selling 177,000 copies in its first week of release. The single stayed at number one for two weeks. The cover version was recorded in the style of José Feliciano's version.
Young also performed the song on World Idol, where he came in fifth place.
[edit] Chart performance
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Germany | 44 |
| Italy | 4 |
| Netherlands | 35 |
| Republic of Ireland | 5 |
| Switzerland | 76 |
| United Kingdom | 1 |
[edit] Parody
The song was parodied once as the song "Martini Steve's Clothes are on Fire" by Brother Joe Cumia of, the U2 tribute band, 2U.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by "Windy" by The Association |
Billboard Hot 100 number one single July 29, 1967 |
Succeeded by "All You Need Is Love" by The Beatles |
| Preceded by "Without Me" by Eminem |
UK Singles Chart number one single (Will Young cover version) June 2, 2002 |
Succeeded by "A Little Less Conversation" by Elvis and JXL |
Studio albums: From Now On • Friday's Child • Keep On
Singles: "Anything Is Possible"/"Evergreen" • "Light My Fire" • "The Long and Winding Road" • "Don't Let Me Down"/"You and I" • "Leave Right Now" • "Your Game" • "Friday's Child" • "Switch It On" • "All Time Love" • "Who Am I"
DVDs: Will Young Live • Live in London
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