What Makes This Song Great? "Touch Me" The Doors 

One mad poet+One jazz drummer+one flamenco guitarist+one classical pianist=The greatest rock n' roll band ever.

Just love seeing how Rick's face lights up when he's excited about listening back to an isolated track.

At 25, Jim Morrison looked and sang like a 40 year old. The Doors were the oddest band out of all their contemporaries for sure. They are one of the most unique bands ever.

Jim’s isolated vocals showcases his incredible voice.

Incredible. The Doors are so original...nobody sounds like them. Manzarek is unreal on keyboards..

What I love the most about The Doors is that they had their own unique and original sound. They didn’t sound like anyone else and nobody sounded like them. That’s where their genius resides.

The Doors were way ahead of their time. We still haven't caught up to that time.

The Soft Parade is an almost criminally underrated Doors album. These four guys together were absolutely brilliant and even after 40 years of listening to this group I am still finding gems in their arrangements...... and Rick still managed to show me even more than I had noticed before.... great break down.

Jim's vocal track isolated here is one of the best things on the Internet!

“This is really really strange” Immediately wants to listen to People Are Strange

Morrison was a HUGE fan of Sinatra, which may account for his performance in this tune.

What blows my mind is how a bunch of nineteen year olds recorded a debut with such maturity and understanding of the blues, it hasn't really been topped since 50 years ago!

In my opinion, The doors was the best band of the 60s..Crazy the amount of great material they put out in like 5-6 years.

“Touch Me” always sounded so cinematic to me, almost like it belonged in an animated fairytale movie from the 50’s

jim had one of the best voices ever!. the doors were one of the best bands ever

I screamed when he said Vegas-y. Literally been thinking this my whole life. The lyrics are dramatic and everything instrumental is showy. Jimmy’s baritone just tickles me endlessly and puts it all over the top in the best way. It’s so hard not to smile while watching these

John Densmore, one of the most underrated drummers (at least by the general populace) in Rock & Roll history!

Rick, you just blew my mind. I’m 30, I’ve been listening to this song since I was a little kid, and I just NOW heard the “Stronger than dirt” at the very end. I think I need to re-think my entire life.

One the greatest “rock” bands ever. Almost everything they did was exceptional. Songs that you almost never hear like Hyacinth House and the Changeling are absolute gems.

I see Robby Kreiger at some of the charity golf events I cater out here in LA and it just shocks and blows my mind he is the guy who wrote this tune and Light My Fire. He just seems like some old dude that likes to golf. He is so ordinary and friendly.

Ecstatic that you dissected a classic song by The Doors. There was no one like them; and no other band talented enough to replicate their work. This song has it all....the type of stuff that melts your face. As usual Rick, thank you for your analysis and sheer joy covering this song

I've been listening to so much jazz, fusion, and prog recently I forgot how amazing The Doors are! Time to blow some dust off my old man's vinyl records and get groovin

the Morrison baritone; The Manzarek wurlitzer; The Krieger bottleneck; The Densmore drums; The Doors. . .what a great incredibly underrated American band.

I've only been following for a few months but I'm addicted to these "What Makes This Song Great" videos! Being severely deaf, I'm not able to discern a lot of what's going on in a song, so I appreciate these breakdowns and explanations. It's like I'm hearing my favorite music for the first time! And seriously, the enthusiasm Rick has during these videos reminds me of a kid at Christmas! LOL such a joy to watch!

"Stronger than dirt"...never knew that is what they said at the end of the song. One of my favorite songs of all-time! Used to try and imitate Jim Morrison's voice in this song...just a classic all around!!

Who else loves when Rick air drums?😀

The Doors were completely underrated as a band in general. Dipped into many styles and genres and were great musicians

I freaking love that you said "Frank Sinatra quality." I remember being a kid, hearing this song on the radio, and I was like "WTF? This sounds like my parents' music?" That is exactly what I thought. Silly me.

I have never seen Rick so excited before. We need a, "What makes this Rick face so good" channel.

Just got ready to go to sleep..... Oh look Rick uploaded a new video ... Who needs sleep anyway! Fantastic video Rick.

Rick Beato is a national treasure.

As a (somewhat) classically trained violist, I really enjoyed getting to hear the isolated string parts from this song for the first time. They're so beautiful! It really made me appreciate (even more than I already did!) the sheer artistry that went into this song and just about every Doors song. Thanks Rick! You're so correct about real orchestral instruments simply not being the same as recorded ones. String instruments are naturally very expressive and almost human-like (in tone and voicing) instruments that can simply convey every range of emotion that the player can, but you just can't get that from a computer, no matter how hard you try.

This is my favorite video of yours! Your excitement is absolutely contagious. I salute you!

Robbie Krieger is underrated as a guitar player. Man had style. He needs to make more music

This was never my favourite Doors song and would skip it, but after watching this I have a new appreciation for it. Thanks. 👍

The doors and Jim Morrison are are my favorite band and vocalist of all time

I am guilty of not appreciating the Doors adequately. Thanks, Rick. That was amazing.

This music isn't really what I'm into, so my plan was to bail as soon as it got boring. Never happened, the entire video was cool as hell and everything I heard kicked ass. What a great song.

I'm reading John Desmore's book Riders on the Storm at the moment and I've been listening back to all their albums. I'd never really appreciated just how unique and creative they were. As always, I really enjoy your infectious enthusiasm for music Rick, you have on the best music channels on RU-vid.

Probably one of the most original and important bands of all time. Jim was a troubled genius and RK is and underrated songwriter. The drums, vocals, Ray on keys nothing else sounds like The Doors and nothing else ever will, they are unequaled to this day.

I have a doors book, and their progressions hardly make sense to me, very counterintuitive. Very amazing.

It's funny that you compare Morrison to Sinatra in this. As a little kid, hearing The Doors, i always pictured the vocalist as being much older and more 1950s-esque than what he really was. Imagine my surprise, in my early teenage years, when i learned that "That dude sang that???" It's sad to me, that Morrison was so lackadaisical with his talent. He could've been another Sinatra like force in music. He was already a force. Too bad he died when he did. Maybe he would've realized it at some point. Thanks for this vid! Ironically, my normally stoic (late) grandpa loved The Doors. So this made me think of him. Best vid!

Give Jim Morrison his due for his vocal prowess.

I've been listening to this song for 50 years and heard it hundreds of times, always liked it but never my favorite Doors song, and the Doors have been my favorite band for 50 years. I am a guitarist and read music, write music, etc. But I never noticed all of the things you pointed out in this song and how good it all came together, must have been a ton of work and talent combined. You did a very good job. BTW, I know virtually nothing of music therory, wish I did, and can't sight read. all self taught and am a complete hack on guitar, but I still appreciate things like this. thanks.

I don't think I've ever seen Rick as excited about a song as I have on this one.

I have heard this song a million times and NEVER heard "Stronger Than Dirt", THAT is why I love Rick Beato and "What Makes This Song Great?"! I wear my "Everything Music" shirt with PRIDE! Thank you Rick!

I love the Doors. Jim Morrison’s voice is so raw and powerful and what an amazing band. I read years ago that their record company needed a main stream hit for FM radio play and they came up with this tune. Very well orchestrated and very different from most of their other performances.

What a song!!! Basically, the greatest thing is how they put jazz, flamengo, classical music and poetry altogether. That is what makes the Doors such an amazing band.

MY favorite band hands down!!! All the tracks, all the riffs the songs everything!!! RIP to Jim and Ray!!! Krieger has played some haunting-est riffs and Densmore is an underrated beats magician.

Wow I never realized how beautiful and intricate the orchestration is on this song. I’ve long though it was a unique and distinctive song in the world of pop I love his Sinatra esk vibe.

3:23 - "Who sings like that?" besides Jim Morrison, only Tom Jones comes to mind (like you say, Vegas-y)

Terrific analysis! This song is literally impossible to get tired of. The Doors were no boring 3-chord band, for sure. But I didn't realize how VERY many different chords made up "Touch Me" until this moment. Thanks.

Rick! Reminds of when the teacher would break down Shakespeare plays. Before ... little understanding and appreciation and sensitivity; After, ... wow all that. Thank you Sensei.

Seeing someone love and admire music so much is just wonderful

Man this guy knows so much about music it just blows me away.

Good lord, so much to process in this song. Those horns! Drums that sound...LIKE DRUMS! Thank you, music gods.

"Lawrence is good at piano.. he shall be ROCKIN in my show.. ba da dada" I cant help singing that haha

I was in middle school when I first learned about The Doors. I had an amazing music appreciation teacher and she brought us really cool stuff to listen to - old piano blues players, bluegrass, folk, everything really. She was a bit of a hippie at heart I think and she loved The Doors and told us all about Jim Morrison and I remember it being a very pivotal moment for me in my own love of music. It's awesome to see these kinds of videos Rick, thanks for making them! I also had no idea about the "stronger than dirt" thing at the end of the song. I love when people do weird things like that :-)

Was never a Doors fan as I grew up in the 70's. Just never liked their "sound". Always sounded "so old" or "dated". But I can finally appreciate their music and Jim's voice could still melt the panties off of any woman. My God. What a freaking unbelievably unique voice. Just amazing.

The Doors still grown on me honestly. Their music is incredible, Jim's voice is so incredible. The screams, the shouts, the soft singing. He had a broad range and was able to paint many pictures with his vocal chords. From the rawness in 'Wild Child' to ... well yes this one; 'Touch me' - or one of my favorites: People are strange.

I couldnt take my eyes off that nice concert stack behind Rick in the other room!

I love how you show the isolated tracks. This is golden

I love how they just toss all these sounds in a blender, and magic comes out.

This is one of the best breakdowns you've done. There's just so much to work with on this song. I had not idea half that stuff was going on. Love Ray's flub/bluenote at 6:07

Thats a truly great voice. No effects whatsoever

Remember listening to this song on 93 KHJ-AM when I was in Jr. High during Christmas vacation in '68. Song went to #1 in L.A. right after New Years. The whole Soft Parade Album is great.

It is hard to beat orchestrated rock songs. I also love the harpsichord sounds in those old songs. I always wanted to try putting guitar pickups on a harpsichord and see what happens. Never did it but it's a thought!!!

theres so much going on in this song.👍

Many thumbs up for choosing this song. I've been a Doors fan since I first heard Backdoor Man when it came out. I still have all the original issue lp's on vinyl and Soft Parade remains my favorite. The Doors were, and still are like nothing else in rock music... but especially in 1967 (recorded in 66). Thanks for highlighting John Densmore. I have to admit I never appreciated him when I was a teen because I associated a drummer's talent with the size of their kit (a la Keith Moon & nowadays Neal Pert) and Densmore's setup looked almost toy-like to me. Now I know that he is a FREAKIN' GENIUS. He was unlike any other when he played jazz, latin, and rock rhythms in songs you would never expect they would work. Yet I couldn't imagine those songs being as great without him. I'm a guitar player and I don't profess any knowledge of how a great drummer's mind works, but I know what sounds good to me. I would be interested to here what you drummers out there think. Great song, great band, great production👍

"Wooo!" - RB, not once but twice during the sax solo. Priceless.

The Soft Parade only grown on me recently, I never used to listen to it much apart from Touch Me, Wishful Sinful and Wild Child. I now love the album and that it's very different to their other albums, Shaman Blues is brilliant as well as the bonkers title track The Soft Parade. "YOU CANNOT PETITION THE LORD WITH PRAYER!" The Doors still sound fresh and unlike any other rock band to this day.

Rick: Review "Crystal Ship" next.

Rick... I admit I love The Doors... but... this is some of your finest work! Thank you.

"Stronger than dirt!" Gah, I remember that. The knight riding on the horse whose lance would zap dirt off clothes🤣😂😅 Great lesson, Beato! Thanks.

The Doors feel like the romantics of rock and roll So much emotional edge in all their music. Each instrument and each vocal has something moving to say.

Rick, once again you have breathed new life into an old classic.

I was dubious about watching this, as its not exactly my favourite song by The Doors. But daaaaammn, that's probably gonna change now. Thank you.

I watch Rick Beato because he's STRONGER THAN DIRT!

That was awesome to listen to this breakdown of this song. Just amazing. And you are SOOOOOOO right when you stated "no one, no 25 year old could get away with this". Jim's voice is so unique. Just amazing.

Amazing musical composition. And there is also 'The Crystal Ship' as well.

I love this song it reminds me of living close to my mom's side of the family while my father served in Vietnam. The videos of the Doors are a cool addition.

Thanks Rick. Love, love love the Doors. I call it "demented carnival" music. JM had genius. Great analysis of the work.

Thanks for this one! I love the modulations in this song. G Bm C E-flat, then B-flat, Dm, E-flat, G-flat -- the same sequence up a m3. Leading to the chorus in the key of D-flat, a tritone (i.e., as far away as you can get) from the original key of G. And then, BAM! back to that A minor vamp. One of the things that makes the breakdown verse so distinctive is that the strings go from playing tutti to featuring just a small ensemble. It sounds like the highest violin part is doubled, but the cello, viola, and second violin are all solo instruments. So you get a string quartet sound vs. the orchestral sound heard on the rest of the song. Thanks, too, for explaining "stronger than dirt" -- although unless you lived in the time, you can't really appreciate the nuance. I think this whole song is irony at its finest. The Doors were an outrageous, "anti-establishment" phenomenon. For them to sing and play in this almost big band style, and then to quote a laundry detergent ad was a great tongue-in-cheek statement. The fact that it is also a phenomenal piece of writing and performance gives it life beyond its original context.

This episode is "Stronger Than Dirt"! Rick and Tim Peirce always look like they're having such a good time when they are either listening to or making music. I love it. It makes my day!

Rick air drumming is pure zen!

I feel like this is one of their least weird songs, but still a great one, and a great analysis. I definitely have an all new appreciation for the arrangements on this one. The strings in particular. Hard to hear all that nice movement in the cellos with the whole band in there, but isolated, the whole string part is beautiful.

This was the first rock band I listened to (when I was a teenager in the 90's) and still one of my favourites. This song is amazingly mind-blowing!!! The Doors!!!

Great job! I love the doors too. Peace Frog would be a cool song to dissect.

The Doors are the perfect example of what makes a classic band/singer/author/book/artist. Since man has made art the greats have always seperated themselves from the rest. Chopin, Mozart, Led Zeppelin, Beatles/Hemingway- I think you get my point

Rick Beato: I like that you analyze the songs technically. I beg of you: Check out the title track from that album, The Soft Parade.

Who puts that kind of effort into songs these days? I always liked Wishful Sinful from Soft Parade. The Doors were amazing.

I was stoked watching this. My second favorite song from the Doors right behind Light my Fire. Sinatra couldn't have done a better job on this song than Jim. It's too bad that Jim couldn't stick around longer to make some more great music with one of my favorite bands. Thanks Rick!

Awesome video! 25 or 6 to 4 would be awesome for the next one🤞🏻🙏🏻

This has always been one of my top five Doors' songs. But I guess I didn't know Jim was only 25 when this was recorded. More wow. Also Rick is hilarious air drumming, he gets so excited!

In my humble or exalted opinion, this is by far and beyond, the most far and beyond channel on RU-vid. If you love music this is IT. . . Rick, you take great music and expand it, give it so many more dimensions. . . Muchas gracias amigo. . .

Jim Morrison could wail! Loved the Doors!

I know this song for about 30 years - never noticed the "stronger than dirt!" That had me spilling my coffee!

The Doors was waaay ahead of its time! What an amazing band!

It just amazes me how complex this band was. Many say the Doors were/are overrated. They apparently haven’t delved deep enough into their catalogue. To think that the dark and dangerous Doors could produce something so heart wrenchingly beautiful attests to their uniqueness and power.

I'm so glad I came across this. I was rockin out to those isolated tracks too! The orchestral line alone. Woah! I grew up listening to the doors and Jim has always been one of those guys that if I had been around, his picture would would have been hanging up on my bedroom wall.