One hit, one story: "Purple Rain" by Prince
Audio 02:56
Singer Prince performed "Purple Rain" while on tour in April 1985. © AP / Phil Sandlin
By: José Marinho Follow
6 mins
Purple Rain
, title track from Prince's 6th album, has become the iconic track in the career of the “Minneapolis Kid”.
A planetary mega-success of the 1980s which made him a world star.
Publicity
In 1984,
Prince
surprised with
Purple Rain
. He is only 26 years old and a precocious talent. He is already recognized in the United States, but not yet a superstar. This song marks the start of his international career.
Frédéric Goaty, is the author of
Prince, the dictionary
and editor of
Jazz Magazine.
“
He sang it for the very first time in August 1983 for a charity concert in the United States.
Towards the end of the concert, he walks over to the microphone and then finally, no.
He cabot a bit, he returns to the back of the stage as if a kind of light had not yet passed through him.
He plays the intro again, he goes back to the microphone and there he sings Purple Rain.
This is the birth certificate of this song,
”he says.
Extravagant rock ballad
You have to see him Prince on the cover of his record: he looks like a Puerto Rican disguised as Jimi Hendrix, riding a shiny motorcycle, lace gloves, the ambiguous look… Everything is so exaggerated, so studied that bad taste ends up being the class!
Purple Rain
, an extravagant eight-minute rock ballad, remains an almost unique frenzy in the history of music.
“
It's a love song with a universal, spiritual dimension.
He plays on ambiguity, he addresses a loved one, but it feels like he's singing the praises of God in some way, and that's what makes all the singularity.
Prince's lyrics have an almost elusive side, he adds a rock dimension to it.
It's really overwhelming,
”explains Frédéric Goaty.
► Also to listen: Larry Graham tells Prince
Addicting masterpiece
With the dazzling success of his song, he won two Grammy Awards, but above all the Oscar for best music for a film.
Purple Rain
is from the eponymous feature film about his life where he plays the Minneapolis Kid.
“
It was a global success, he doesn't forget that he sold almost 15 million albums in the United States.
He was number one at the box office, he had become for almost a year the “master of the world
” ”, recalls Frédéric Goaty, who continues:“
Such a majestic ballad, I do not know of any associated with an African-American artist. .
And that's the strength of Prince, it is to have broken down all stylistic barriers in music.
"
Purple Rain
, an addicting masterpiece, has given rise to contemporary black music.
Measuring 1.57, but endowed with immense talent, the little Prince with heels, architect of brilliant psychedelic frescoes, rubbed shoulders with lightness and moments of great lyrical mass!
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