Breakin' a Sweat

Album: Bangarang (2011)
Charted: 32
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This unlikely collaboration between American electronic music producer Skrillex and the surviving members of legendary late '60s rock group The Doors was created for the Re: Generation music documentary, which recruited five popular DJs/producers to record with artists from five separate genres. Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek told Rolling Stone that he and Skrillex had an immediate musical connection. "[Sonny] plays his beat, all he had to do was play the one thing. I listened to it and I said, 'Holy s--t, that's strong,'" he said. "Basically, it's a variation on 'Milestones,' by Miles Davis, and if I do say so myself, sounds f---ing great, hot as hell."
  • Manzarek told Billboard magazine that he was confident that the late Doors frontman Jim Morrison would approve of adapting the Doors' music in that manner. "He'd love it. He was no purist," Manzarek said. "His words were his mileau. He might be, 'Don't f--- with my words,' but he'd be open for all kind of improvisations. He loved that stuff."
  • Though drummer John Densmore plays on the track, according to Manzarek he has been in "virtual total incommunicado" with him and guitarist Robby Krieger for a number of years.
  • The "come on baby light my fire" lyric is a reference to The Doors' biggest hit. "Light My Fire" was a #1 hit in the US for the LA band in 1967.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Kerry Livgren of Kansas

Kerry Livgren of KansasSongwriter Interviews

In this talk from the '80s, the Kansas frontman talks turning to God and writing "Dust In The Wind."

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"They're Playing My Song

Gramm co-wrote this gorgeous ballad and delivered an inspired vocal, but the song was the beginning of the end of his time with Foreigner.

Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds

Jim McCarty of The YardbirdsSongwriter Interviews

The Yardbirds drummer explains how they created their sound and talks about working with their famous guitarists.

Rupert Hine

Rupert HineSongwriter Interviews

Producer Rupert Hine talks about crafting hits for Tina Turner, Howard Jones and The Fixx.

Gene Simmons of Kiss

Gene Simmons of KissSongwriter Interviews

The Kiss rocker covers a lot of ground in this interview, including why there are no Kiss collaborations, and why the Rock Hall has "become a sham."

Strange Magnetics

Strange MagneticsSong Writing

How Bing Crosby, Les Paul, a US Army Signal Corps Officer, and the Nazis helped shape rock and Roll.