THE DOORS - STRANGE DAYS

Released: September 25, 1967

Album: Strange Days

"Strange Days" is the opening track on The Doors' 1967 album of the same name. Though it was written early in their career, the song marked a progression from their debut album, showcasing a darker, more experimental sound. The lyrics explore the eerie feeling of familiar places becoming unsettling, adding a sense of mystery and unease. Jim Morrison’s vocals were heavily processed to amplify this surreal, haunting atmosphere, aligning with the song's themes of disorientation and alienation. "Strange Days," along with other tracks from the album, was composed long before its recording. A live performance of the song from May 1966 was included in the 2016 album “London Fog 1966”, showcasing an earlier version of the song before it was officially released.

"Strange Days" is notable for its use of the Moog synthesizer, which was a new instrument at the time. The Moog’s shimmering sound layers a futuristic, disoriented feel over the music, enhancing the eerie and unsettled quality of Morrison's lyrics. This track captures a more cohesive and bold sound for the band, with spacey textures, intensified rhythms, and subtle vocal effects that all mark a sonic progression from their debut album. The song’s three minutes are dense with experimental elements, giving it a distinct and innovative edge.

According to John Densmore, Jim Morrison saw the song as a commentary on the band's changing creative process. Morrison believed that their original, raw approach to music was slipping away, urging the band to find a way to recapture the spirit and authenticity they had back in their early days. 

Two music videos were created for this track. The first showed the band backstage, onstage, and included a scene of Jim Morrison driving into sand and reacting in frustration. The second featured the circus performers from the album cover exploring New York City, along with distorted footage of various people to match the song's eerie theme. This new footage was later combined with the original to create a remixed video.