"Purple Rain"
U.S. 7" single
Single by Prince and The Revolution
from the album Purple Rain
B-side(s)	"God" "God" (Instr.) (UK 12")
Released	26 September 1984
Format	7" single 12" single
Recorded	Live, First Avenue, Minneapolis, Summer 1983
Genre	Rock, Pop, Gospel
Length	7" edit: 4:05 Album/12": 8:45
Label	Warner Bros. Records
Writer(s)	Prince
Producer(s)	Prince
Certification	Gold - (5 December, 1984)
Peak chart positions
#4 R&B #2 U.S. #8 UK
Prince and The Revolution singles chronology
"Let's Go Crazy" (1984) "Purple Rain" (1984) "I Would Die 4 U" (1984)
Prince (UK) singles chronology
"When Doves Cry" (1984)	"Purple Rain" (1984)	"I Would Die 4 U" (1984)
Purple Rain track listing
"Baby I'm a Star" (8)	"Purple Rain" (9)

"Purple Rain" is a power ballad by Prince and the The Revolution. It was his third US single (second UK) and title track from the legendary 1984 album Purple Rain. The song is quite emotional and combines elements of rock and roll, pop and gospel music. Image File history File links Prince and the Revolution Purple Rain single 1984 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... A collection of various CD singles In music, a single is a short recording of one or more separate tracks. ... Prince Rogers Nelson (born June 7, 1958 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an iconic American musician. ... The Revolution was Princes backing band from the late 1970s through 1986. ... Music from the Motion Picture Purple Rain (also called just Purple Rain) is a soundtrack album by Prince and The Revolution. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... is the 269th day of the year (270th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar). ... The 12-inch [30 cm] single gramophone record gained popularity with the advent of disco music in the 1970s. ... First Avenue nightclub in Minneapolis First Avenue and 7th Street Entry are a cornerstone of the Midwest music scene, and serve as an historic landmark of downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. ... This article is about the city in Minnesota. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see Rock music (disambiguation). ... For popular forms of music in general, see Popular music. ... Gospel music is a musical genre characterized by dominant vocals (often with strong use of harmony) referencing lyrics of a religious nature, particularly Christian. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Warner Bros. ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has sold a certain number of copies. ... The description Gold Album is applied to recorded music albums that have sold a minimum number of copies (in the US, currently 500,000 sales). ... December 5 is the 339th day (340th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... // A record chart, also known as a music chart, is a method of ranking music according to popularity during a given period of time. ... Prince Rogers Nelson (born June 7, 1958 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an iconic American musician. ... The Revolution was Princes backing band from the late 1970s through 1986. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... I Would Die 4 U was the third single off Prince and the Revolutions legendary 1984 album Purple Rain. ... Prince (UK) chronology Purple Rain track listing Darling Nikki (4) When Doves Cry (5) I Would Die 4 U (6) When Doves Cry is a song by Prince, and the lead single from his 1984 album Purple Rain. ... I Would Die 4 U was the third single off Prince and the Revolutions legendary 1984 album Purple Rain. ... Music from the Motion Picture Purple Rain (also called just Purple Rain) is a soundtrack album by Prince and The Revolution. ... Baby Im a Star is a song written and recorded by Prince from his album Purple Rain. ... To emphasize the emotional aspect of a power ballad, crowds customarily hold up lit lighters. ... Prince Rogers Nelson (born June 7, 1958 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an iconic American musician. ... The Revolution was Princes backing band from the late 1970s through 1986. ... Year 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar). ... Music from the Motion Picture Purple Rain (also called just Purple Rain) is a soundtrack album by Prince and The Revolution. ... Rock and roll (also spelled Rock n Roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ... For popular forms of music in general, see Popular music. ... Gospel music is a musical genre characterized by dominant vocals (often with strong use of harmony) referencing lyrics of a religious nature, particularly Christian. ...

The song was recorded live at the Minneapolis club First Avenue in 1983. The performance was the live debut of Wendy Melvoin, and also netted the final three songs of the Purple Rain album, although the songs would undergo studio overdubs later. "Purple Rain" contained an extra verse about money that was edited out, as it diluted the emotional impact of the song. This article is about the city in Minnesota. ... First Avenue nightclub in Minneapolis First Avenue and 7th Street Entry are a cornerstone of the Midwest music scene, and serve as an historic landmark of downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... Wendy Melvoin (born January 26, 1964) is a American rock guitarist and singer-songwriter best known for her work with Prince. ... Les Paul, a pioneer of multi-track recording. ... Various denominations of currency, one form of money Money is any good or token that functions as a medium of exchange that is socially and legally accepted in payment for goods and services and in settlement of debts. ...

"Purple Rain" opens with a lone guitar quickly followed by live drumming and a prominent organ, evoking images of church gospel music. Three verses are followed by a singalong chorus, with a building emotional delivery. After the final chorus, a searing guitar-solo takes over the song, delivering just as much impact as the lyrics. The song ends with a gentle piano solo and orchestral strings. This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Organ in Katharinenkirche, Frankfurt am Main, Germany The organ is a keyboard instrument played using one or more manuals and a pedalboard. ... Gospel music is a musical genre characterized by dominant vocals (often with strong use of harmony) referencing lyrics of a religious nature, particularly Christian. ... A short grand piano, with the top up. ...

The emotional lyrics have multiple meanings; on the surface, they seem to be an apology from one lover to another, though on a deeper level, they become more of a spiritual allegory. It is a theory that "Purple Rain" is a metaphor for heaven, inspired by the testimonies of a woman who died on the operating table that the afterlife is full of falling purple rain.^{[citation needed]} Look up metaphor in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The afterlife, or life after death, is a generic term referring to a continuation of existence, typically spiritual, experiential, or ghost-like, beyond this world (eg. ...

The song is a staple of Prince's live performances. He has played it on nearly every tour since 1984, except for a period after his name change when he avoided his older hits for a few years. In order to be released as a single, the song's duration was shortened from 8:45 to 4:05. The song reached #2 in the U.S., and is often considered Prince's signature song. He performed this during the halftime show at Super Bowl XLI (appropriately during a downpour). This was the last song on the set. Prince Rogers Nelson (born June 7, 1958 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an iconic American musician. ... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... Date February 4, 2007 Stadium Dolphin Stadium City Miami Gardens, Florida MVP Peyton Manning, Quarterback, Colts Favorite Colts by 7, over/under line 49. ...

This song has been covered by dozens of other artists ranging from popular artists of various genres such as Tori Amos, Ani DiFranco, LeAnn Rimes and The Waterboys to jazz and orchestral versions.[1] In March 2005, Q magazine placed it at number 40 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. Rolling Stone ranked it #143 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Ani DiFranco (IPA: ) (born Angela Maria Difranco on September 23, 1970) is a singer, guitarist, and songwriter. ... LeAnn Rimes (born Margaret LeAnn Rimes August 28, 1982 in Jackson, Mississippi) is an American country music singer. ... The Waterboys are a band formed in 1983 by Mike Scott. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Q is a music and entertainment magazinepublished monthly in the United Kingdom. ... This article is about the magazine. ... ...

The B-side, "God" is a much more overtly religious number (Prince's most religious to date), recalling the book of Genesis. The song also features extensive vocal experimentation. Towards the end, Prince mentions "The Dance Electric", which was a song given to former band member André Cymone. In the U.K., the 12" single also included an instrumental of "God", also known as "Love theme from Purple Rain" from which an edited portion appears in the film. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Religious is a term with both a technical definition and folk use. ... Genesis (Greek: Γένεσις, having the meanings of birth, creation, cause, beginning, source and origin) is the first book of the Torah (five books of Moses) and hence the first book of the Tanakh, part of the Hebrew Bible; it is also the first book of the Christian Old Testament. ... Andre Cymone (born Andre Anderson) is a bassist, songwriter and record producer. ... UK redirects here. ... The 12-inch [30 cm] single gramophone record gained popularity with the advent of disco music in the 1970s. ... An instrumental is, in contrast to a song, a musical composition or recording without lyrics or any other sort of vocal music; all of the music is produced by musical instruments. ...

Trivia

• In the Mortal Kombat series of video games, a character named Rain is given a curiously purple outfit. Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon is a known Prince fan.
• Prince performed the song as the opening of a Medley of his hits with Beyonce at the 2004 Grammys.
• Prince also performed the song concluding his performance in the Super Bowl XLI Halftime Show. It was rather symbolic as the game and performance were held in a driving rainstorm. The rain combined with the purple stage lighting produced the illusion of actual purple rain falling down during the performance.
• The Bizzy Bone song "Murdah Me" heavily samples Purple Rain.
• The band Phish does a rendition of "Purple Rain" with Fishman playing a vacuum cleaner.
• One parody cover was "Coleman's Train," played by a Detroit radio just after "Purple Rain" was released. It referred to the controversy over Mayor Coleman Young's plan for the Detroit People Mover.
• Comedian Rodney Carrington performed his rendition of the chorus of Purple Rain on his live CD "Hangin' With Rodney".
• The Digimon PrinceMamemon has a special move called Purple Rain.

Mortal Kombat (commonly abbreviated MK) is a popular series of fighting games created originally by the Midway Manufacturing Company. ... Rain is a character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game series. ... Ed Boon, on a G4TV interview Ed Boon (born March 30, 1964 in Chicago, Illinois), along with John Tobias is a co-creator of the Mortal Kombat fighting game series. ... Date February 4, 2007 Stadium Dolphin Stadium City Miami Gardens, Florida MVP Peyton Manning, Quarterback, Colts Favorite Colts by 7, over/under line 49. ... Bizzy Bone (born Bryon Anthony McCane II on September 12, 1976, in Columbus, Ohio) is an American rapper and former member of the Cleveland rap group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. ... This article is about a rock band; for deceptive e-mail practices, see Phishing. ... Motto: Speramus Meliora; Resurget Cineribus (We Hope For Better Things; It Shall Rise From the Ashes - this motto was adopted after the disastrous 1805 fire that devastated the city) Nickname: The Motor City and Motown Location in Wayne County, Michigan Founded Incorporated July 24, 1701 1815  County Wayne County Mayor... Coleman Alexander Young (May 24, 1918 – November 29, 1997) served as mayor of Detroit in the U.S. state of Michigan from 1974 to 1994. ... The Detroit People Mover is a 2. ...

External link

• "Purple Rain" lyrics

Prince Rogers Nelson (born June 7, 1958 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an iconic American musician. ... This article includes the discography of American musician Prince. ... For You is Princes debut album, released on April 7, 1978, when the artist was 20 years old, and bearing the classic tag, Written, composed, performed, and recorded by Prince. It is generally regarded as a promising but somewhat insubstantial early effort. ... Prince is the second album by Prince, released in 1979. ... Dirty Mind is the third album by Prince, released October 8, 1980. ... Controversy is Princes 4th album, released in 1981. ... 1999 is Princes fifth album, released in October 1982. ... Around The World In A Day was Princes 1985 follow-up to Purple Rain. ... Because of technical limitations, some web browsers may not display some special characters in this article. ... This 1988 album is widely considered to be one of the best works of Prince. ... Diamonds and Pearls was Princes eleventh album, which was released in 1991. ... Image File history File links Prince_symbol. ... The correct title of this article is . This articles title contains characters or symbols not found in Unicode. ... Come was an album Prince was obligated to make after he changed his name to O(+>. It is an interesting look inside of Princes mind and one of his most sensual and dark albums. ... The Black Album is a Prince record that was originally planned for November of 1987 as the follow-up to Sign O the Times. ... The Gold Experience is a (formerly known as Prince) album released in 1995. ... Chaos and Disorder is a 1996 album by (formerly known as Prince). ... Emancipation is a 1996 triple-CD album by Prince (then known as ). The title refers to Princes freedom from his contract with Warner Bros. ... The Truth is an album by Prince released in 1998. ... Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic is a 1999 album by (formerly known as Prince). ... Some factual claims in this article or section need to be verified. ... One Nite Alone is a Prince album featuring him on piano and vocals with a few embellishments here and there. ... Musicology is an album by Prince, released on April 20, 2004, which proved to be his most successful in years, reaching the top 5 of the album charts in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and many other countries. ... 3121 (pronounced thirty one, twenty one) is Princes latest studio album of new material. ... Planet Earth is the title of a studio album by Prince which was released on July 15, 2007 in the U.K. as a free covermount with The Mail on Sunday national newspaper, followed by a more traditional distribution in the rest of the world. ... Music from the Motion Picture Purple Rain (also called just Purple Rain) is a soundtrack album by Prince and The Revolution. ... Parade: Music from the Motion Picture Under the Cherry Moon was Princes 1986 follow-up to Around the World in a Day and the soundtrack to his second film. ... While it garnered mixed reviews from critics, the 1989 Batman soundtrack returned Prince to the top of the Billboard album charts. ... The soundtrack to Graffiti Bridge was much better received in sales than the movie of the same name, reaching #6 in the US and #1 in the UK. Nearly every song on the record was written by Prince, despite the handful of artists performing, including Tevin Campbell, Mavis Staples and... Girl 6 is a Prince album released in 1996. ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... One Nite Alone. ... For the Indian book on sexual positions, please see: Kama Sutra. ... Track listing Xhalation Xcogitate Xemplify Xpectation Xotica Xogenous Xpand Xosphere Xpedition ... N.E.W.S is a 2003 instrumental album by Prince (artist) containg 4 tracks: North, East, West and South. Categories: Album stubs | 2003 albums | Prince albums ... Track listing Xhalation Xcogitate Xemplify Xpectation Xotica Xogenous Xpand Xosphere Xpedition ... Track listing WhenEyeLayMyHandsOnU JudasSmile SuperCute UnderneathTheCream SexMeSexMeNot Vavoom High TheDance Gamillah UMakeMySunShine Categories: Album stubs ... Track listing Silicon SM Groove YShouldEyeDoThat Golden Parachute Hypnoparadise Props n Pounds Northside Peace 2045 Radical Man The Daisy Chain Categories: Album stubs ... The Hits/The B-Sides is a 1993 (and the first) greatest hits compilation album by Prince. ... Crystal Ball is a compilation album by Prince (then known as ), released in 1997. ... The Very Best Of Prince is a Best of compilation album by Prince, released in 2001. ... Ultimate is the title of Princes latest greatest hits compilation album. ... Prince (DEU) singles chronology The Arms of Orion (1989) Scandalous (1989) The Future (1990) Scandalous is a smooth, romantic ballad by Prince, released as a single off his 1989 Batman soundtrack. ... The Beautiful Experience is an EP by Prince, though at the time he was using the unpronoucable symbol name. ... Purple Rain is a 1984 film directed by Albert Magnoli and written by Magnoli and William Blinn. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Technical note: Due to technical limitations, some web browsers may not display some special characters in this article. ... Graffiti Bridge is a film written, directed and starring Prince. ... The Billboard Hot 100 is the main singles chart used by Billboard magazine. ... Little Red Corvette is one of Princes most well-known songs and a defining point in his rise to superstar status. ... Delirious is a song by Prince from the 1982 album, 1999. ... Prince (UK) chronology Purple Rain track listing Darling Nikki (4) When Doves Cry (5) I Would Die 4 U (6) When Doves Cry is a song by Prince, and the lead single from his 1984 album Purple Rain. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... I Would Die 4 U was the third single off Prince and the Revolutions legendary 1984 album Purple Rain. ... Raspberry Beret is the first U.S. (and second UK) single off of Prince and The Revolutions 1985 album, Around the World in a Day. ... Prince (UK) singles chronology Raspberry Beret (1985) Pop Life (1985) Kiss (1986) Pop Life was the second U.S. (and final U.K.) single off Prince and The Revolutions 1985 album, Around the World in a Day. ... Kiss is a 1986 song by Prince and the Revolution, from the album Parade. ... Because of technical limitations, some web browsers may not display some special characters in this article. ... U Got The Look is a 1987 song by Prince from his double album Sign O The Times. ... I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man is the fourth single from Princes 1987 tour de force, Sign O The Times. ... Alphabet St. ... Batdance is a song by Prince, from the 1989 Batman soundtrack (see 1989 in music). ... Thieves In The Temple is a song by Prince from the 1990 soundtrack album, Graffiti Bridge. ... Cream is a song by Prince and the New Power Generation from the 1991 album Diamonds and Pearls. ... Diamonds and Pearls is the title track to Prince and the New Power Generations 1991 hit album. ... 7 is a song by Prince and the New Power Generation from 1992 off the album Love Symbol. ... The Most Beautiful Girl in the World is a song by Prince (then known as ) from his 1995 album The Gold Experience. ... The Revolution was Princes backing band from the late 1970s through 1986. ... The New Power Generation (or NPG for short) is the current backing group of musician Prince. ... The Time is a funk and dance-pop ensemble formed in 1981. ... The Family was a R&B band formed by Prince and one of the first signed to his record label, Paisley Park Records. ... Madhouse is a band from Minneapolis that was formed by Prince. ... Vanity 6 was a female vocal trio assembled by Prince in the early 1980s. ... This article or section contains information that has not been verified and thus might not be reliable. ... Mazarati was a R&B band formed in the late 1980s by former Prince and the Revolution bassist Brown Mark. ... Prince is well-known in the entertainment industry for having a vast body of works that have never seen the light of day. ...