A LOOK AT “LOVE ME TWO TIMES” LIVE IN MIAMI (MARCH 1ST 1969)
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The Doors' infamous Miami concert on 1 March 1969 will surely go down in
music history as a prime example of Jim Morrison's provocative behavior on
stage.
In this article, we will not explore the details of this remarkable
performance or the significant consequences that followed for both the band's
career and Morrison's life.
However, it should be emphasized that the quality and coherence of the
concert suffer due to the singer’s severely altered state, although its great
historical importance and poisonous artistic appeal remain intact.
We will consider one of the five songs that the band managed to salvage
from the shocking creativity displayed by the frontman on this occasion. This
is “Love Me Two Times”, which was originally released a year and a half before
this incredible live performance on The Doors second magnificent album,
"Strange Days" (September 1967).
This song is often overshadowed by the most famous moments of the Miami
performance, particularly the shocking dialogues that Morrison had with the
audience.
On that night, the singer intended to deliver a theatrical performance
that would directly challenge and provoke the audience to react both vocally
and physically.
“Love Me Two Times” is the only song during the entire concert that is
not interrupted by Morrison's improvised and incendiary conversations with the
audience.
The version played on this
famous occasion (link here)
In Miami, "Love Me Two Times" is sung with a sharp contrast to
the determined passion and sensuality of the memorable version found on
"Strange Days". At this famous concert, Morrison performs the song
with a harsh, rough voice, slurred by heavy alcohol abuse.
This dramatic performance of the song reveals an almost malevolent
nuance that blends vividly with the suffering we hear in the singer's voice.
Morrison's singing takes on the form of a bitter, irreverent and
anguished cry, sounding painfully desperate.
This contrasts sharply with the lyrics of the song. The LP version of
"Love Me Two Times" captures the fascination exerted on the girl on
the receiving end of bold love requests. In Miami, on the other hand, the
listener is led to imagine the bewilderment on the woman's face as she hears
this harsh and unsettling request for love.
This disturbing vocal performance is also indicative of a pivotal moment
in The Doors' history. Between late 1968 and spring 1969, the bond between
Morrison and the other band members weakened considerably.
By 1 March 1969, in Miami, the singer had become disillusioned with
certain recent events and had consequently distanced himself, both personally
and artistically, from the other three members.
In Miami, the song captured what The Doors' frontman was really feeling
at the time.
He was saddened and angered by the willingness of the rest of the band
to compromise the authenticity of The Doors' music on at least two occasions
before the Miami concert.
Firstly, the licensing of "Light My Fire" for a car advert in
September 1968 was done without Morrison's knowledge and he was very unhappy
about it.
Secondly, there was the questionable direction taken by the recording
sessions for the album "The Soft Parade" (which began in November
1968 and were in full swing at the time of the Miami concert). For the first
time in the group's history, Morrison disliked some of the arrangements, songs
and lyrics.
This context makes "Love Me Two Times" in Miami a unique
moment in music history, showcasing the unfiltered impulsiveness of The Doors'
frontman. He is swept away by the furious storm of his emotions and the chaotic
tide of his drunkenness.
Here, the listener is drawn into the hellish abyss created by the
tortured authenticity of a great artist. Performances like this have never been
recorded before or since.
P.S.: My book "The Doors Through Strange Days"- The most comprehensive journey ever made through The Doors' second LP, is available on Amazon.com, .uk, .mx, .it, etc.
Here’s a link:
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