1984 was a good year for music.
So many classics celebrate 40 years of existence this year, and it’s astounding that we’re still listening to them.
Some titles turning 40 this year include Bruce Springsteen’s Born In The USA, Ride The Lightning by Metallica, and 1984 by Van Halen.
Out of all the music turning 40 though, I think there’s one record that continues to stand the test of time.
So, let me guide you through some of the best parts of Purple Rain.
Purple Rain by Prince & The Revolution was released in June 1984 and serves as the soundtrack for the film of the same name.
A commercial success for Prince, it’s since gone on to sell 25 million copies worldwide, and certified 13x Platinum. I think it’s fair to say that Purple Rain is one of the best-selling albums of all time.
Being produced at a time when ‘80s music production was heading towards its peak, Purple Rain is the perfect capsule of the ‘80s pop music sound. Using a blend of influences that were popular at the time, Prince has crafted a pop masterpiece with Purple Rain.
So, let’s get into some choice cuts.
Let’s Go Crazy
I couldn’t think of a better way to open the record. From the very start, we hear Prince giving a sermon, backed with the more traditional accompaniment of an organ.
While he’s babbling on about how we should be worried more about losing our minds over mortality, the section gives us the feeling of something that’s beyond the music. We get to be immersed in this spiritual, moving thing before being slapped in the face with a guitar riff.
From here the mood has been set for the rest of the song, an up-tempo, rock-influenced, pop track that you can just imagine has some kind of dance choreography that the band has worked out.
The track is filled with those classic 80s sounds: the guitar playing in a high register, the synthesizer filling out the atmosphere, and the heavy reverb on the drum kit. We often associate stereotypical ‘80s sounds with these, and here they are on full display.
As the title of the song implies, crazy is the exact feeling I get listening to it. It encourages you to let go of life’s worries and instead, get up and have a dance. Get the crazies out. Not the mention the climax of the song, where we hear this absolute face-melting, guitar hero moment, that is the perfect representation of getting all that craziness out.
As the song concludes, it becomes clear that Purple Rain isn’t just a collection of songs, but rather a curated experience of Prince’s genius.
Take Me with U
Following Let’s Go Crazy, Take Me with U is a clear change of pace. At its core, a love song, Take Me with U’s best features are the instrumentation and production.
Drawing influence from what was popular in the early ‘80s, this track is reminiscent of the “New Wave” movement, which is heard through the way the song makes you want to sway from left to right.
It also throws back to the psychedelic ‘60s sound, making use of a 12-string guitar and a string section. These stylistic choices make Prince stand out, as this wasn’t something commonly heard at the time.
A common theme on the record Purple Rain is that if you listen closely, you’ll hear there’s a lot of information filling out the background.
Take Me with U is the first introduction of it, which gives it a lush, atmospheric sound. This gives the song an easy feeling to it.
Also introduced in this song, is the iconic LinnDrum drum machine. This piece of hardware has become synonymous with Prince and the further identity of ‘80s pop.
On the surface, Take Me with U seems simple enough, which as a listener I love. It feels like the perfect follow-up from the craziness of Let’s Go Crazy.
Computer Blue
Jumping ahead to the fourth track, Computer Blue is one that grew on me. At first, it’s honestly a little unsettling, as it’s the first time we’re introduced to something like this on the record.
The song starts with dialogue delivered by Revolution band members Lisa and Wendy. While there’s no real explanation for its inclusion, it certainly is suggestive (another theme throughout Purple Rain).
If you pay attention to the background, it’s an eerie soundscape. There’s noise that almost sounds like screeching, and combined with the exchange behind Wendy & Lisa, it makes you feel like you’re intruding on something personal.
After this dialogue, Prince gives us this guitar riff that, in all honesty, is odd. When I first heard it, I felt a bit of suspense, unease and curiosity all tied together. It’s not long after that we get introduced to the absolute funk workout that is Computer Blue.
Up-tempo and energetic, this track has ‘danceable’ written all over it. Its groove is infectious and is the perfect demonstration of Prince’s musical background.
The best part of the track is when the electric guitar gets its moment to shine. The melodic bassline combined with the synth filling out the sonic landscape played in front of a simple, driving drumbeat is quintessential ‘80s pop.
It’s not hard to imagine yourself dancing around in a nightclub in the ‘80s, maybe even wearing a jacket with huge shoulder pads and neon colours, as the guitar begins to breathe.
Bonus: If you ever get the chance to listen to the extended 12-minute version of Computer Blue, do it. It’s honestly some of Prince’s best work. It’s quirky, highly energetic and is a blueprint for the more funky-dance sounds that became popular in the second half of the ‘80s.
When Doves Cry
One of Prince’s signature tracks, When Doves Cry is unique when compared to the rest of the album. If you listen closely to the other tracks, they’re quite musically dense. There are lots of moving parts in the background. When Doves Cry is the opposite.
It’s honestly quite sparse in comparison, and this mostly is attributed to the fact that Prince decided to omit the bass guitar in the final version. As a listener, it’s instantly noticeable, yet it allows you to appreciate some of the production choices that otherwise might get missed entirely.
A pounding drumbeat, with a red-hot guitar part, a pretty simple, yet catchy keyboard part that’s all glued together with an almost ominous musical atmosphere, When Doves Cry is the perfect example of Prince experimenting with the boundaries of pop music.
While unconfirmed, the urban legend is that Prince went into the studio to record When Doves Cry after losing out at the 26th Grammys to Michael Jackson.
Whether true or not, you can easily hear the desperation in Prince’s voice as the track closes. It’s a moment where it seems he’s stepping away from the characters in the song, and taking a moment of reassurance as he sings, perhaps to himself, “Don’t cry, Darling, don’t cry”.
Throughout the song, as a listener, you can’t escape the cold, tense feeling that’s conveyed through the lyrics and ominous atmosphere. You almost feel like you’re a part of this failing relationship.
I Would Die 4 U
On the back end of the record, I Would Die 4 U, Baby I’m a Star and Purple Rain were all recorded in front of a live audience and then refined in the studio. The decision to do this is just another stroke of genius by Prince, as it adds a whole other element to the track.
I Would Die 4 U is another one of those “quintessential ‘80s” tracks. Everything from the instrumentation to production screams ‘80s, and that’s the feeling throughout it.
I liken the feeling of I Would Die 4 U to the same feeling you’d get if you were at a dance or a ball, and the energy is just starting to slow down.
It’s the moment on the record that you get to stop and take a short breather (and I mean short! It’s the shortest track on the record), before preparing for the energy to pick up for the grand finale).
In this track, Prince again makes use of filling out space through the synths, which gives the song an almost lush, dreamy feel to it. It’s through this, we get the feeling I mentioned earlier.
Purple Rain
Purple Rain is the Prince song. It’s a power ballad full of emotion right from the start.
Becoming a signature of Prince, Purple Rain set the benchmark for how a ballad, particularly in the ‘80s, should sound. Rich, dreamy guitar sounds with the band building and building as the song progresses, until we reach the screeching, guitar solo where it’s as if Prince is singing through the guitar.
At this point, I’m feeling emotional, and maybe even have a tear in my eye. As the story of the lyrics goes on, you hear how Prince has failed in all different relationships in his life, something that seems personal, yet something we can all relate to.
This emotion is masterfully built into the song not just through the lyrics or vocal delivery, but also through the lush soundscapes the band is building behind Prince.
Purple Rain is emotional yet soulful. As a listener, I can’t help but feel the emotion that’s being put across, and it only progresses as the song goes on. It’s fitting that it was recorded live because as you hear the applause and cheers, it very much feels like the end of an encore at a concert.
Purple Rain is the perfect closer as we’ve experienced such a wide range of emotions throughout the record.
As the track closes, we hear a baroque string arrangement that carries the emotions of Purple Rain and lets it linger in our ears. We sit with it for a little while, trying to make sense of the emotional outpour that’s been put before us.
It’s not before long that we might need to put the needle back to the start of the record and hear that sermon that’s delivered to us in Let’s Go Crazy.
Honourable Mention: Darling Nikki
As one of the prominent themes on the record, Darling Nikki is highly suggestive, and I think you’ll be able to picture exactly where such a song would be used. After all, the song is the reason we have those Parental Advisory stickers on music today.
Don’t discredit the song for its explicit lyrics though, because it’s a treat on the ears with its use of raunchy-sounding guitars, huge synths, and the feature of a double-kick drum pattern, that had only been seen in heavy metal music.
Purple Rain is truly a pop masterpiece. It’s honestly astounding to believe that this record is turning 40 because the direction, sound and production make it timeless.
A deluxe re-lease in 2017 cements its legacy, as it completely remasters and breathes new life into the tracks, all while giving us just a glimpse into the vault of Prince.
Truly one of the greatest records of all time, Purple Rain is a must-listen for anyone who likes ‘80s music, likes the avant-garde, or just simply appreciates the artistry that goes into creating music.
Prince was sadly taken from us at just the age of 57, and the world of music hasn’t been the same since. His legacy and influence continue to be felt throughout a whole range of modern music today.
RIP to The Purple One.