Paul McCartney Reveals the One Rock Song That Gave Him the Most Chills in History — “Riders on the Storm” by The Doors
In a moment that brought together two worlds of legendary rock history, Sir Paul McCartney recently revealed the one rock song that has given him the most chills—“Riders on the Storm” by The Doors. The former Beatle, known for penning some of the most iconic songs in music history, admitted that Jim Morrison’s dark and haunting masterpiece left an impression on him like no other track ever has.
Speaking in a candid interview, McCartney reflected on the powerful emotional weight of the song:
“The first time I heard ‘Riders on the Storm,’ I got chills. Not just because of the melody, but because of the atmosphere it created. I had never heard anything like that—before or since.”
McCartney praised Jim Morrison’s poetic depth, pointing to the lyrical themes of existential dread, isolation, and the duality of human nature as the soul of the song.
“Morrison wasn’t just singing. He was painting with words—creating something that felt deeply human and eerily spiritual at the same time.”
The Doors’ 1971 track, released just months before Morrison’s untimely death, has long been celebrated for its unique atmosphere. The sound of thunder and rain layered beneath Ray Manzarek’s hypnotic electric piano evokes a mood that’s both cinematic and chilling. McCartney highlighted how that sonic landscape transformed the song into something beyond music:
“The rain, the keys, that slow drift of sound—it made you feel like you were in the storm with him. It wasn’t a song anymore. It was an experience.”
Despite his own groundbreaking work with The Beatles and Wings, McCartney openly expressed admiration for the artistic bravery of “Riders on the Storm,” calling it one of the most spiritually potent and emotionally unsettling rock compositions ever recorded.
“There’s something hauntingly eternal about that track. I’ve heard countless great songs in my life, but nothing has ever struck me quite the same way. That’s what art is supposed to do—it moves you, and sometimes, it shakes you.”
The fact that one of the greatest songwriters of all time singled out a Doors track as his most spine-tingling musical experience is a testament to the brilliance of Jim Morrison and The Doors. In a world of endless rock classics, “Riders on the Storm” continues to echo—through the rain, through time, and now, through the voice of a Beatle.
