Jim & The Doors: geniuses or novelty act?

I must say that there are very specific moments in some of
The Doors' songs in which I feel that the world will come down
because I've witnessed pure beauty, e.g. the first change of
syllable at the start of The End, to name one.

However, the more I read Jim Morrison's lyrics, the more I... ok,
let's be honest: unless you have a secret gay attraction for the guy
or the character he portrayed during his pro career melts your undies
because you always wished to be a rebel but still managed to fit into
the rat race, the truth is that the stuff is plain nonsense.

Of course, The Doors, in general, and Jim, in particular, as cultural
icons (oh the irony!) and social catalysts of Nowhere, USA, is
something hard to contest. But the music, man... the music rings
in my ear as no more than a novelty act, to be honest.

What are your thoughts?

Originally posted by Seitse
I must say that there are very specific moments in some of
The Doors' songs in which I feel that the world will come down
because I've witnessed pure beauty, e.g. the first change of
syllable at the start of The End, to name one.

However, the more I read Jim Morrison's lyrics, the more I... ok,
let's be honest: unless you have a secret gay attraction ...[text shortened]... ic rings
in my ear as no more than a novelty act, to be honest.

What are your thoughts?

There's were always generous dollops of pose and pretense afoot. That would explain their commercial success, perhaps.

Originally posted by Seitse
I must say that there are very specific moments in some of
The Doors' songs in which I feel that the world will come down
because I've witnessed pure beauty, e.g. the first change of
syllable at the start of The End, to name one.

However, the more I read Jim Morrison's lyrics, the more I... ok,
let's be honest: unless you have a secret gay attraction ...[text shortened]... ic rings
in my ear as no more than a novelty act, to be honest.

What are your thoughts?

I utterly guarantee that I could go through your music collection and find a plethera of badly written, nonsensical or plain dull lyrics.

To me, the Doors were a tiem at college when I had not a care in the world. My housemates and I watched the film, we smoked a lot of dope, we dropped acid, we drove to abandoned houses in the countryside and sat in fields of head high grass, we ran like braves through the forests, we played music together. I don't care whether they were a cultural icon, or how hot Jim was, I care that their songs meant something to me for an inexplicable period of joy. Because of this I can listen to all their music and adore it.

Except maybe 'Light My Fire', which I've heard too many times and has grown stale through over playing on commercial media.

Originally posted by Starrman
I utterly guarantee that I could go through your music collection and find a plethera of badly written, nonsensical or plain dull lyrics.

I only have Frank Zappa stuff in my cabinet.

Ha!

Originally posted by Starrman
I care that their songs meant something to me for an inexplicable period of joy.

Yup, they were a social phenomenon. Undeniable.

The lyrics are nonsense? Who cares?

Thread 119729

Originally posted by Palynka
The lyrics are nonsense? Who cares?

Thread 119729

It wasn't a general rule.

Originally posted by Starrman
It wasn't a general rule.

I'm say it is, so he shouldn't care about it.

Originally posted by Palynka
I'm say it is, so he shouldn't care about it.

Right, sorry, temporary confusion.

Jim was simply pre-channeling Lenny Kravitz, who single-handedly brought a new standard for the use of the word 'yeah.'
Kravitz's poetic structure is a bit complex and difficult for the neophyte to follow, so below, I've emboldened the devices he uses in one of his more popular songs in order to show how masterfully he spurs the flow and rhythm to keep the timing of the song while totally engaging the listener to keep with his imagery.

I wish that I could fly
Into the sky
So very high
Just like a dragonfly

I'd fly above the trees
Over the seas in all degrees
To anywhere I please

Oh I want to get away
I want to fly away
Yeah yeah yeah

Oh I want to get away
I want to fly away
Yeah yeah yeah

Let's go and see the stars
The Milky Way or even Mars
Where they could just be ours

Let's fade into the sun
Let your spirit fly
For we are one
Just for a little fun
Oh, oh, oh yeah ! (repeat chorus five or so times)

Like Lenny after him, Jim's genius was his ability to tap into his inner pimply-faced junior high school girl.

My problem with The Doors is simply that Jim Morrison wasn't a very good singer. He sounded flat all the time.

Morrison's lyrics are weak and superficial. Maybe that explains their success. The music, however, is distinctive, particularly Manzarek's keyboards.

Originally posted by KazetNagorra
Morrison's lyrics are weak and superficial. Maybe that explains their success. The music, however, is distinctive, particularly Manzarek's keyboards.

They played superbowl halftime and they seemed like 80 years too old to be still playing the same schtick, and looked a bit arrogant to boot.

People Are Strange - Angst never expressed better
Hello I Love You - Appreciation of female beauty

Originally posted by Seitse
I must say that there are very specific moments in some of
The Doors' songs in which I feel that the world will come down
because I've witnessed pure beauty, e.g. the first change of
syllable at the start of The End, to name one.

However, the more I read Jim Morrison's lyrics, the more I... ok,
let's be honest: unless you have a secret gay attraction ...[text shortened]... ic rings
in my ear as no more than a novelty act, to be honest.

What are your thoughts?

I'd put them in between. Everyone's star burns brighter when they die at a relatively young age. JM benefited from that; as did Janis Joplin, Brian Jones, etc. This is not to be confused with the truly talented that died at an early age: Jimi Hendrix, Jim Croce, etc.