“Light My Fire”
Single by The Doors from the album The Doors
B-side	The Crystal Ship
Released	April 1967
Recorded	Late August - early September 1966
Genre	Psychedelic rock
Length	7:06 (album version) 4:40 (long radio version) 3:07 (single version)
Label	Elektra
Writer(s)	The Doors
Producer	Paul A. Rothchild
The Doors singles chronology
"Break on Through (To the Other Side)" (1967) "Light My Fire" (1967) "People Are Strange" (1967)

"Light My Fire" is a song originally performed by The Doors on their self-titled first album, which was recorded in August 1966 and released in January 1967. This article is about the band For their self-titled debut album see The Doors (album; for the Oliver Stone film see The Doors (film; for Doors in computing The Doors is the self-titled debut album by the band The Doors, recorded in 1966 and released in 1967 Events January 3 - Hullabaloo shows promotional videos of The Beatles songs "Day Tripper" and "We Can Work It The year 1967 was an important year for Psychedelic rock, with releases from The Beatles ( Sgt It peaked at number one on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in 1967. See Billboard (Turkish magazine Billboard is a weekly American Magazine devoted to the Music industry Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. It was re-released in 1968, peaking at number 87. Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The first verse of the song was written by Robby Krieger. The second verse was written by Jim Morrison. The Doors took credit evenly each receiving the same share so credit to the song was given to "The Doors". The track also appeared on the first season of WKRP in Cincinnati on the episode "Fish Story"

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 London, Friedrich Gulda, Julie Driscoll & the Brian Auger Trinity, Shirley Bassey, Erma Franklin, Baccara, Cibo Matto,Lil Brown Divididos, UB40, Massive Attack, the LN Elektronische Ensemble. WKRP in Cincinnati ( 1978 &ndash 1982) is an American Situation comedy that featured the misadventures of the staff of a struggling Astrud Gilberto (born March 29, 1940) is a Brazilian Singer best known for her Samba and Bossa nova music most famously William Robert Young (born 20 January 1979. Young's second album Friday's Child, was released in December 2003 The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Amy Paulette Stewart (born January 29 1956, in Washington DC) is an American Contemporary R&B / Disco / Dance-pop Natalia Marisa Oreiro Iglesias Poggio Bourié (born May 19, 1977 in Montevideo, Uruguay) is a popular Latin Grammy -nominated José Montserrate Feliciano García (born September 10, 1945) is a Puerto Rican singer and guitarist Nancy Sandra Sinatra (born June 8, 1940, in Jersey City New Jersey) is an American Singer and actress. Julie London ( September 26, 1926 &ndash October 18, 2000) was an American singer and actress Friedrich Gulda ( 16 May 1930 - 27 January 2000) was an Austrian Pianist who performed in both the classical and jazz fields Julie Tippetts (born Julie Driscoll 8 June 1947, London, England) is an English singer and actress known for her 1960s versions of Bob Brian Auger (born 18 July 1939, Bihar, India) is a Jazz and rock Keyboardist, who has specialized in playing Dame Shirley Veronica Bassey DBE (born 8 January 1937 Cardiff, Wales) is a Welsh Singer. Erma Vernice Franklin ( March 13, 1938 – September 7, 2002) was an American soul, Rhythm and blues, and Baccara was a female vocal duo formed in 1977 by Spanish Flamenco artists Mayte Mateos ( February 7 1951, Logroño) and María Cibo Matto (meaning crazy food in Italian, and tʃiːbo matːo was a New York City -based band formed by Yuka Honda and Miho Hatori Divididos (Meaning "Separated" is an important Argentine rock band UB40 are a British Reggae band formed in 1978 in Birmingham. Featuring the same line-up of 8 musicians from 1978-2008 the band placed more than 50 Massive Attack are an English Trip hop group founded in 1988 by Robert Del Naja, Grantley Marshall, and Andrew Vowles in Bristol Little Nobody is the electronic music production alias of Andrez Bergen Amorphis, Hide, Minnie Riperton, Stevie Wonder, Al Green, Ananda Shankar, Trini Lopez, John Tartaglia, Zacharias and Train, whose version can be found on the tribute compilation Stoned Immaculate: The Music of The Doors. Amorphis is a Finnish metal band started by Jan Rechberger Tomi Koivusaari and Esa Holopainen in 1990 was a popular Japanese musician More commonly known by his Stage name hide ( pronounced /hee Minnie Julia Riperton (November 8 1947 – July 12 1979 was an American singer and songwriter noted for her five-and-a-half Octave Vocal range, with her 1975 Stevie Wonder (born Stevland Hardaway Judkins on May 13 1950 name later changed to Stevland Hardaway Morris) is an Albert Greene (born April 13 1946 better known as Al Green, is an American gospel and Soul music singer who received great acclaim in Ananda Shankar ( 11 December 1942 - 26 March 1999) was an Indian Bengali Musician best known for fusing Western Trini Lopez (born Trinidad López III, 15 May 1937, Dallas, Texas) is a Mexican-American Singer and Guitarist Train is a Grammy Award winning rock band formed in San Francisco California. The Challengers did an instrumental version in 1969, as title track to one of their last albums. The Challengers were an instrumental Surf rock band in the 1960s located in Los Angeles

Style

"Light My Fire" is a prime example of psychedelic rock and an early example of jazz fusion, with long, seemingly extemporaneous instrumental solos (though it was shortened from seven to three minutes for the radio version) and some Eastern influences. Psychedelic rock is a style of Rock music that attempts to replicate the mind-altering experiences of hallucinogenic drugs. Fusion or more specifically jazz fusion or jazz rock, is a Musical genre that merges Jazz with elements of other styles of music particularly There was also a radio edit that was shortened to just under 5 minutes with about half the instrumental portion in place, released to radio stations only. Stations playing the under 5 minute version tend to be 60's/70's leaning oldies or classic hits stations. Traditional oldies stations as well as some Adult contemporary stations only played the 3 minute version. Classic rock and album rock stations play the long version. Some classic hits stations, though, play both the long and short versions depending on the time of day. Its harmonic progression (which is based on John Coltrane's version of My Favorite Things) and catchy rhythm (particularly Ray Manzarek's swirling, barrel organ-style keyboard motif) lent itself readily to pop or MOR styled cover versions. A chord progression (also chord sequence and harmonic progression or sequence) is a series of chords played in order "My Favorite Things" is a Show tune from the 1959 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The Sound of Music. A barrel organ (or roller organ) is a mechanical musical instrument consisting of Bellows and one or more ranks of pipes housed in a case usually Pop music as a genre features a noticeable rhythmic element catchy melodies and hooks, a mainstream style and conventional structure Middle Of The Road was a Scottish pop group who enjoyed great success across Europe in the early 1970s In Popular music, a cover version, or simply cover, is a new rendition ( Performance or Recording) of a previously recorded commercially released Interestingly, neither of the single versions has ever been re-released on CD — not even included on any "Greatest Hits" compilations that the group has released — while the long version has been on Greatest Hits Albums.

Performance

"Light My Fire" was performed by The Doors on a famous appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show September 17, 1967. The Ed Sullivan Show was an American television Variety show that ran from June 20, 1948 to June 6, Events 1176 - The Battle of Myriokephalon is fought 1462 - The Battle of Świecino (or Battle of Żarnowiec Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. 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, which he attributed to having been nervous. James Douglas Morrison (December 8 1943—July 3 1971 was an American Poet, Singer, Songwriter, Writer, and Film director Years later, Ray Manzarek wrote that even after being told to change the lyrics, the band never even considered changing them. Raymond Daniel Manzarek Jr or Manczarek (b 12 February 1939 Illinois) is an American Musician, Singer, producer Despite applause from the crowd, Ed Sullivan was so upset that he refused to shake Morrison's hand as he left the stage. Edward Vincent "Ed" Sullivan ( September 28, 1901 – October 13, 1974) was an American Entertainment Writer Backstage, the band was told that, despite being on the verge of signing a seven-episode deal to continue appearing on the program, they would never be on the Sullivan show again. Reportedly, Morrison's cavalier response was: "Hey, man, so what, we just did the Sullivan show!"

Conflict with Buick

John Densmore recalls^[1] that when Buick wanted to buy the piece for use in a 1968 TV commercial ("Come on, Buick, light my fire"^[2]) 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. John Paul Densmore (born December 1, 1944) is an American Musician and Songwriter. Buick (ˈbjuːɪk is a Marque of automobile sold in the United States, Canada, China, Taiwan, Qatar, and

Acclaim

This song as performed by The Doors is #35 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Rolling Stone is a United States -based Magazine devoted to Music, Politics, and Popular culture that is published ^[3] It was also included in the Songs of the Century list and was ranked number 7 in VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of All Time list. The " Songs of the Century " list is part of an education project by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA the National Endowment for the Arts VH1 (known as VH-1 Video Hits One from 1985 to 1994 and VH1 Music First until 2003) is an American Cable television According to acclaimedmusic. net, it is the 33rd most acclaimed song in music history and the fourth most praised from 1967. ^[4]

Covers

Jose Feliciano

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. José Montserrate Feliciano García (born September 10, 1945) is a Puerto Rican singer and guitarist A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of 7 inch Vinyl records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s " California Dreamin' " is a song by The Mamas & the Papas, first released in 1965. Events January 4 - Guitarist Jimi Hendrix is jailed by Stockholm police after trashing a hotel room during a drunken fist fight with A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Soft rock, also referred to as light rock or easy rock, is a style of Music which uses the techniques of Rock and roll to compose a softer In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music RCA Records (originally The Victor Talking Machine Company, then RCA Victor is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. A songwriter is someone who writes the Lyrics to songs the Musical composition (chords or Melody to songs or both James Douglas Morrison (December 8 1943—July 3 1971 was an American Poet, Singer, Songwriter, Writer, and Film director Robert Alan Krieger (born January 8, 1946) is an American Rock and roll Guitarist and Songwriter. Raymond Daniel Manzarek Jr or Manczarek (b 12 February 1939 Illinois) is an American Musician, Singer, producer John Paul Densmore (born December 1, 1944) is an American Musician and Songwriter. In the Music industry, a record producer or music producer has many roles among them controlling the recording sessions coaching and guiding the musicians organizing José Montserrate Feliciano García (born September 10, 1945) is a Puerto Rican singer and guitarist Hi-Heel Sneakers is a 1964 song and single by Tommy Tucker. Over 200 artists have recorded "Hi-Heel Sneakers" A guitarist is a Musician who plays the Guitar. Guitarists may perform solo pieces or play with ensembles and bands of a wide variety of genres José Montserrate Feliciano García (born September 10, 1945) is a Puerto Rican singer and guitarist RCA Records (originally The Victor Talking Machine Company, then RCA Victor is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. It is perhaps the best known cover of this song. 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. The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards)—or Grammys —are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Feliciano's arrangement of "Light My Fire" has influenced several subsequent versions, including that by Will Young. William Robert Young (born 20 January 1979. Young's second album Friday's Child, was released in December 2003

Chart performance

Will Young

“Light My Fire”
Single by Will Young from the album From Now On
B-side	"Ain't No Sunshine" "Beyond the Sea"
Released	27 May 2002
Format	CD
Recorded	2002
Genre	Pop
Label	BMG
Writer(s)	Jim Morrison Robby Krieger Ray Manzarek John Densmore
Producer	Absolute
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. William Robert Young (born 20 January 1979. Young's second album Friday's Child, was released in December 2003 From Now On is the debut album from original Pop Idol winner Will Young, released in 2002 (see 2002 in music) A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of 7 inch Vinyl records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s " Ain't No Sunshine " is a song by Bill Withers from his 1971 album Just As I Am. " Beyond the Sea " is the English language version of the song " La Mer " by Charles Trenet. Events 927 - Simeon the Great, Tsar of Bulgaria, dies 1120 - Richard III of Capua is anointed See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. A Compact Disc (also known as a CD) is an Optical disc used to store digital data, originally developed for storing digital audio A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Pop music as a genre features a noticeable rhythmic element catchy melodies and hooks, a mainstream style and conventional structure In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music A songwriter is someone who writes the Lyrics to songs the Musical composition (chords or Melody to songs or both James Douglas Morrison (December 8 1943—July 3 1971 was an American Poet, Singer, Songwriter, Writer, and Film director Robert Alan Krieger (born January 8, 1946) is an American Rock and roll Guitarist and Songwriter. Raymond Daniel Manzarek Jr or Manczarek (b 12 February 1939 Illinois) is an American Musician, Singer, producer John Paul Densmore (born December 1, 1944) is an American Musician and Songwriter. In the Music industry, a record producer or music producer has many roles among them controlling the recording sessions coaching and guiding the musicians organizing William Robert Young (born 20 January 1979. Young's second album Friday's Child, was released in December 2003 " Anything Is Possible " is a pop song co-written by Chris Braide and Cathy Dennis for the winner of the first series of Pop Idol " Evergreen " is a pop song co-written by Jörgen Elofsson, Per Magnusson and David Kreuger, and originally recorded by Westlife " The Long and Winding Road " is a Ballad written by Paul McCartney (credited to Lennon/McCartney) that originally appeared on The Beatles " Suspicious Minds " is a song originating in the United States in 1956 that thematizes emotional entrapment within a dysfunctional relationship Pop Idol was a British Television series which debuted on ITV on October 5 2001; the show was a talent contest to decide William Robert Young (born 20 January 1979. Young's second album Friday's Child, was released in December 2003 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 UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official UK Charts Company (OCC on behalf of the British record industry 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. World Idol ( Germany SuperStar Weltweit, Middle East SuperStar El Alaam) was the title of a one-off international version of

Chart performance

Other covers

Shirley Bassey recorded this song on her 1970 album "Something" The song was also covered by disco artist Amii Stewart in 1979 as "Light My Fire/137 Disco Heaven". Dame Shirley Veronica Bassey DBE (born 8 January 1937 Cardiff, Wales) is a Welsh Singer. Disco is a Genre of dance-oriented music whose origins are hard to define Amy Paulette Stewart (born January 29 1956, in Washington DC) is an American Contemporary R&B / Disco / Dance-pop In 1977, the song was covered by the Spanish group Baccara. Baccara was a female vocal duo formed in 1977 by Spanish Flamenco artists Mayte Mateos ( February 7 1951, Logroño) and María The song was called "Light My Fire (Baby, Won't You Reach Out)", and included on their album with the same name. Peter Steele of Type O Negative has performed the song live, although no recordings other than bootleg versions are available. Peter Steele (born Peter Ratajczyk on January 4 1962 in Brooklyn New York, U Type O Negative is a Heavy metal band from Brooklyn, New York City. A bootleg recording is an audio and/or Video recording of a performance that was not officially released by the artist or under other legal authority In 1988 the Argentinian band Divididos covered the song on their debut album "40 Dibujos Ahi en el Piso" (40 Drawings there on the floor) . Divididos (Meaning "Separated" is an important Argentine rock band The song was also covered by Scott Stapp with the rest of The Doors on VH1's Storytellers, as well as on a recorded version. Scott Alan Stapp (born August 8, 1973, in Cherokee, North Carolina) is an American Singer and Songwriter best known This article is about the band For their self-titled debut album see The Doors (album; for the Oliver Stone film see The Doors (film; for Doors in computing VH1 (known as VH-1 Video Hits One from 1985 to 1994 and VH1 Music First until 2003) is an American Cable television Baccara's version is the second known disco version of the song, and appeared on the album of the same name. Disco is a Genre of dance-oriented music whose origins are hard to define Light My Fire is the second Studio album by Spanish duo Baccara, first released on label RCA-Victor in West Germany in August 1978 The Finnish death metal band Amorphis covered the song as a bonus track on the re-release of Tales from the Thousand Lakes. Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs fast tempos heavily distorted guitars deep growling vocals morbid lyrics Amorphis is a Finnish metal band started by Jan Rechberger Tomi Koivusaari and Esa Holopainen in 1990 Tales from the Thousand Lakes is the second full-length Album by heavy metal band Amorphis. Bristol trip-hop group Massive Attack covered the song on the album Protection. Trip hop is a music Genre also known as the Bristol sound or Bristol acid rap. Massive Attack are an English Trip hop group founded in 1988 by Robert Del Naja, Grantley Marshall, and Andrew Vowles in Bristol Beastie Boys covered the song for the vinyl release of Aglio E Olio. In 2006 French singer Laurent Voulzy covered the song on the album La Septième vague. Laurent Voulzy (born Lucien Voulzy on December 18, 1948 in Paris France) is a French singer and composer Jackie Wilson's 1968 cover is sampled in track 2 of Lemon Jelly's Triptych Mix. Jack Leroy "Jackie" Wilson Jr ( June 9, 1934 &ndash January 21, 1984) was an American singer Lemon Jelly are a British Electronica duo consisting of Nick Franglen and Fred Deakin

The lyrics from the song's chorus were used by hip hop artist Necro on the track "Light My Fire". Hip hop is a cultural movement which developed in New York City in the 1970s primarily among African Americans and Latinos. The song is off of his 2002 album Gory Days and has nothing in common with the original song other than its chorus lyrics. Gory Days is the second Studio album by American hip hop musician Necro, released on November 7, 2001 by

A piano version of the song was created by pianist George Winston on his album Night Divides the Day - The Music of the Doors. George Winston (born 1949) is an American pianist who was born in Michigan, and grew up in Miles City Montana, and Mississippi Night Divides the Day - The Music of the Doors is the thirteenth album of pianist George Winston.

Amanda Overmyer of American Idol Season 7 performed her own rendition of the song on Hollywood Week. Amanda Lindsay Overmyer (born October 26, 1984) is an American singer and the eleventh place finalist on season seven of the television The seventh season of American Idol, the annual reality show and singing competition began on January 15, 2008 and concluded

Trivia

• The song is referenced in the America song, "Simple Life," when Dan Peek sings "And at the end of the day/ You're going to say/ We couldn't get much higher," referencing the infamous line "Girl we couldn't get much higher. America is an English-American Folk rock band originally composed of members Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell, and Dan Peek. Dan Peek (born 1 November 1950, Panama City, Florida) was a member of the Rock band, America from 1970 to 1977 together "

Notes

External links

• 1998 Fresh Air with Terry Gross interview of Ray Manzarek with detailed segment about the creation of the song Light My Fire