If Jimmy Fallon were to be so audacious as to produce an album of Doors-inspired songs, children’s television show-inspired or no, I’d be first in line to buy a copy.
I don’t use the word “masterpiece” lightly, especially when tied to an attempt at a musical work associated with The Doors. And make that a parody of a Doors-inspired song and you’re dealing with an especially challenging task.
So therefore the fact that Jimmy Fallon – in full Jim Morrison regalia and with a supporting band dressed as Ray Manzarek, Robbie Krieger, and John Densmore – pulls off a wonderfully satisfying and funny rendition of a Doors-inspired take on the Reading Rainbow theme song is nothing short of astonishing.
Enough from me. Check this out:
Let me point out a few things that I feel make it the gem that it is, and certainly the best music comedy video since “Lazy Sunday”:
Fallon’s performance
His Jim Morrison is beautifully underplayed. He’s a mid-career Morrison who is comfortable on stage and not yet (completely) bombed out of his mind on pills and booze. And his vocal imitation skills are so spot on that I believe I’d be fooled for a bit if I heard this track and was told it was a lost Doors song just discovered.
The writing
The Reading Rainbow theme song lyrics play ingeniously into a mystical Doors-esque melody that’s vaguely reminiscent of “When the Music’s Over.”
Butterfly in the sky
I can go twice as high
Take a look
It’s in a book
A Reading Rainbow
And Fallon inserts a perfect poetic bridge that calls out such things as Goodnight Moon for good measure. “Goodnight noises everywhere,” indeed.
The effect on me is that, sure, I get the comedic juxtaposition of The Doors and Reading Rainbow, but overall I can’t get over how freaking good it is.
Set design and costumes
Both are remarkable and look strikingly out of an Ed Sullivan appearance from back in the day.
Direction
There are subtle throwbacks to a simpler televised time, such as the cross-fade of Fallon and the organist (playing Ray Manzarek and doing a fine job of it).
If Jimmy Fallon were to be so audacious as to produce an album of Doors-inspired songs, children’s television show-inspired or no, I’d be first in line to buy a copy.
This piece originally appeared on TV Geek Army.