Prince Rogers Nelson, known simply as Prince, was an American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, and actor. He was born on June 7, 1958, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and passed away on April 21, 2016. Prince is widely regarded as one of the greatest musicians of his generation. He was known for his flamboyant and androgynous persona, his wide vocal range, which included a far-reaching falsetto and high-pitched screams, and his skill as a multi-instrumentalist. He often preferred to play all or most of the instruments on his recordings. His music incorporated a wide variety of styles, including funk, R&B, rock, new wave, soul, synth-pop, pop, jazz, blues, and hip hop. Prince produced his albums himself, pioneering the Minneapolis sound. He signed a record deal with Warner Bros. Records at the age of 19 and soon released the albums For You (1978) and Prince (1979). His sixth album, Purple Rain (1984), was recorded with his new backing band the Revolution, and was also the soundtrack to the film of the same name in which he starred¹. Purple Rain was a major commercial achievement, spending six consecutive months atop the Billboard 200 chart¹. The soundtrack also won Prince the Academy Award for Best Original Song Score. Prince was a prolific musician who released 39 albums during his life, with a vast array of unreleased material left in a custom-built bank vault underneath his home after his death, including fully completed albums and over 50 finished music videos. In summary, Prince was an extraordinarily talented musician and performer, known for his innovative music, flamboyant stage presence, and wide vocal range. His influence on the music industry is immeasurable, and his legacy continues to inspire artists around the world. Source: (1) Prince (musician) - Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_%28musician%29. (2) Prince | Biography, Songs, Significance, & Facts | Britannica. www.britannica.com/biography/Prince-singer-and-songwriter. (3) When Doves Cry: The Best Books About Prince | Readers Lane. www.readerslane.com/top-ten-lists/best-books-about-prince/. (4) Prince Biography - Facts, Childhood, Family Life & Achievements. www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/prince-7305.php. (5) Prince, Musician, Producer, and Artist born - African American Registry. aaregistry.org/story/prince-the-artist/. (6) Getty Images. www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/musician-prince-performs-during-half-time-04-february-2007-news-photo/73205113.
There are a lot of great performances of this song by Prince but of the ones I’ve seen this is my favorite followed by the 1985 American Music Awards and the Super Bowl performances. He was the best ever and my absolute favorite artist.
"Purple Rain" is a song by American musician Prince and his backing band the Revolution. It is the title track from the 1984 album of the same name, which in turn is the soundtrack album for the 1984 film of the same name starring Prince, and was released as the third single from the album¹. The song is a power ballad that combines rock, R&B, gospel, and orchestral music. "Purple Rain" was originally written as a country song and intended to be a collaboration with Stevie Nicks. According to Nicks, she received a 10-minute instrumental version of the song from Prince with a request to write the lyrics, but felt overwhelmed. The song is written in the key of B-flat major, opens with a lone guitar quickly followed by live drumming and a prominent Yamaha CP-70 electric grand piano, evoking images of church gospel music. Three verses are each followed by a chorus, with a building emotional delivery. "Purple Rain" reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for two weeks, being kept off the top spot by "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" by Wham!. It reached the summit in Belgium and the Netherlands. It is certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and is considered to be one of Prince's signature songs. Following Prince's death in 2016, "Purple Rain" re-entered the Billboard Hot 100, where it reached number four. It also re-entered the UK Singles Chart at number six, placing two spaces higher than its original peak. In France, where it originally peaked at number 12, "Purple Rain" reached number one around a week after Prince's death. "Purple Rain" is ranked at number 18 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and is included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll¹. During the Super Bowl XLI halftime show in 2007, for which Prince was the featured performer, "Purple Rain" was the last song of his set; the event became especially notable when actual rain fell during the performance while the stage and stadium were lit up with purple lights, and the show continues to top lists of the best Super Bowl halftime shows of all time. Source: (1) Purple Rain (song) - Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_Rain_%28song%29. (2) The Story of... 'Purple Rain' by Prince - Smooth. www.smoothradio.com/features/prince-purple-rain-meaning-lyrics-facts/. (3) Behind the Meaning of “Purple Rain” by Prince. americansongwriter.com/behind-the-meaning-of-purple-rain-by-prince/. (4) Prince - Purple Rain Lyrics | Lyrics.com. www.lyrics.com/lyric/31631238/Prince/Purple+Rain.
It was at this moment, Prince released all of his past struggles and rejections. He knew what the universe had given him, and he released it in his playing. He no longer needed to "prove" anything.
Prince in terms of genius is Sign o The Times as a musician magnus opus opus. Purple Rain was his forbidden area not to crossover again and he never outdone it. He went there and felt it as the rest of the world saw his limitless talent as a songwiter a bandleader and an amazing composer/multiinstrumentalist on piano and guitar. I think a Nobel prize to equal this talent is what musical world ows to him in terms of musical contribution to the world. Its obvious. That guy has the best musical performances in pop, funk, rock, jazz and all can witness it. Its a shame that Prince is still not in the Hall of fameof songwriters as Bod Dylan. Are you crazy nobody can do what he did with his voice guitar and piano on live perfromances. Always masterfull classes a blind man can see. We have all singers of the world and the other side is Prince totally a class of his own a prodigy unmatched with his bands as the leader. Its totally unique AND WONT HAPPEN AGAIN IN 1000 YEARS
I saw this concert 6 times in 1985 (5 times at the Forum and once in the Long Beach Arena - where my friend and I got on stage during "Baby I'm a Star".) Believe me or don't. I don't care. I know that those concerts will always be one of the highlights of my life when I was 18 😁. And part of my childhood died with Prince, Bowie, and George Michael in 2016 (after an even bigger chunk died with Michael Jackson in 2009 😭).
Cool reaction. Hope u watched the movie, it puts the great song in better context. If u watch "making of the rain" concert on n you tube the version of purple rain became the album version. Before this tour started, he was tired of purple rain. At rehearsal, stage was three tiers, ten feet higher than the other. He was in top tier in the bath tub, tub wasn't nailed down, he stood up a little, the tub ripped over w prince inside, hitting each tier til he hit the floor. They though he died. After that, every night, playing in pain
There is no other 😮
Prince Rogers Nelson, known simply as Prince, was an American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, and actor. He was born on June 7, 1958, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and passed away on April 21, 2016. Prince is widely regarded as one of the greatest musicians of his generation. He was known for his flamboyant and androgynous persona, his wide vocal range, which included a far-reaching falsetto and high-pitched screams, and his skill as a multi-instrumentalist. He often preferred to play all or most of the instruments on his recordings. His music incorporated a wide variety of styles, including funk, R&B, rock, new wave, soul, synth-pop, pop, jazz, blues, and hip hop. Prince produced his albums himself, pioneering the Minneapolis sound. He signed a record deal with Warner Bros. Records at the age of 19 and soon released the albums For You (1978) and Prince (1979). His sixth album, Purple Rain (1984), was recorded with his new backing band the Revolution, and was also the soundtrack to the film of the same name in which he starred¹. Purple Rain was a major commercial achievement, spending six consecutive months atop the Billboard 200 chart¹. The soundtrack also won Prince the Academy Award for Best Original Song Score.
Prince was a prolific musician who released 39 albums during his life, with a vast array of unreleased material left in a custom-built bank vault underneath his home after his death, including fully completed albums and over 50 finished music videos. In summary, Prince was an extraordinarily talented musician and performer, known for his innovative music, flamboyant stage presence, and wide vocal range. His influence on the music industry is immeasurable, and his legacy continues to inspire artists around the world.
Source:
(1) Prince (musician) - Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_%28musician%29.
(2) Prince | Biography, Songs, Significance, & Facts | Britannica. www.britannica.com/biography/Prince-singer-and-songwriter.
(3) When Doves Cry: The Best Books About Prince | Readers Lane. www.readerslane.com/top-ten-lists/best-books-about-prince/.
(4) Prince Biography - Facts, Childhood, Family Life & Achievements. www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/prince-7305.php.
(5) Prince, Musician, Producer, and Artist born - African American Registry. aaregistry.org/story/prince-the-artist/.
(6) Getty Images. www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/musician-prince-performs-during-half-time-04-february-2007-news-photo/73205113.
There are a lot of great performances of this song by Prince but of the ones I’ve seen this is my favorite followed by the 1985 American Music Awards and the Super Bowl performances. He was the best ever and my absolute favorite artist.
Terrific!
"Purple Rain" is a song by American musician Prince and his backing band the Revolution. It is the title track from the 1984 album of the same name, which in turn is the soundtrack album for the 1984 film of the same name starring Prince, and was released as the third single from the album¹. The song is a power ballad that combines rock, R&B, gospel, and orchestral music. "Purple Rain" was originally written as a country song and intended to be a collaboration with Stevie Nicks. According to Nicks, she received a 10-minute instrumental version of the song from Prince with a request to write the lyrics, but felt overwhelmed. The song is written in the key of B-flat major, opens with a lone guitar quickly followed by live drumming and a prominent Yamaha CP-70 electric grand piano, evoking images of church gospel music. Three verses are each followed by a chorus, with a building emotional delivery. "Purple Rain" reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for two weeks, being kept off the top spot by "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" by Wham!. It reached the summit in Belgium and the Netherlands. It is certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and is considered to be one of Prince's signature songs. Following Prince's death in 2016, "Purple Rain" re-entered the Billboard Hot 100, where it reached number four. It also re-entered the UK Singles Chart at number six, placing two spaces higher than its original peak. In France, where it originally peaked at number 12, "Purple Rain" reached number one around a week after Prince's death. "Purple Rain" is ranked at number 18 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and is included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll¹. During the Super Bowl XLI halftime show in 2007, for which Prince was the featured performer, "Purple Rain" was the last song of his set; the event became especially notable when actual rain fell during the performance while the stage and stadium were lit up with purple lights, and the show continues to top lists of the best Super Bowl halftime shows of all time.
Source:
(1) Purple Rain (song) - Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_Rain_%28song%29.
(2) The Story of... 'Purple Rain' by Prince - Smooth. www.smoothradio.com/features/prince-purple-rain-meaning-lyrics-facts/.
(3) Behind the Meaning of “Purple Rain” by Prince. americansongwriter.com/behind-the-meaning-of-purple-rain-by-prince/.
(4) Prince - Purple Rain Lyrics | Lyrics.com. www.lyrics.com/lyric/31631238/Prince/Purple+Rain.
On some days this song can make me sad, on other days it calms me but on most days it makes me miss him incredibly much ...
It was at this moment, Prince released all of his past struggles and rejections. He knew what the universe had given him, and he released it in his playing. He no longer needed to "prove" anything.
Wow!
Prince in terms of genius is Sign o The Times as a musician magnus opus opus. Purple Rain was his forbidden area not to crossover again and he never outdone it. He went there and felt it as the rest of the world saw his limitless talent as a songwiter a bandleader and an amazing composer/multiinstrumentalist on piano and guitar. I think a Nobel prize to equal this talent is what musical world ows to him in terms of musical contribution to the world. Its obvious. That guy has the best musical performances in pop, funk, rock, jazz and all can witness it. Its a shame that Prince is still not in the Hall of fameof songwriters as Bod Dylan. Are you crazy nobody can do what he did with his voice guitar and piano on live perfromances. Always masterfull classes a blind man can see. We have all singers of the world and the other side is Prince totally a class of his own a prodigy unmatched with his bands as the leader. Its totally unique AND WONT HAPPEN AGAIN IN 1000 YEARS
I saw this concert 6 times in 1985 (5 times at the Forum and once in the Long Beach Arena - where my friend and I got on stage during "Baby I'm a Star".) Believe me or don't. I don't care. I know that those concerts will always be one of the highlights of my life when I was 18 😁. And part of my childhood died with Prince, Bowie, and George Michael in 2016 (after an even bigger chunk died with Michael Jackson in 2009 😭).
THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER IN THIS LIFETIME. O(+>4EVER N MY LIFE
He was born to be a star!
Cool reaction. Hope u watched the movie, it puts the great song in better context. If u watch "making of the rain" concert on n you tube the version of purple rain became the album version. Before this tour started, he was tired of purple rain.
At rehearsal, stage was three tiers, ten feet higher than the other. He was in top tier in the bath tub, tub wasn't nailed down, he stood up a little, the tub ripped over w prince inside, hitting each tier til he hit the floor. They though he died. After that, every night, playing in pain
Amazing!
He deemed it a country western song. He got the melody from a journey song
Thanks!