Back in June, Ultimate Classic Rock revealed what they think are the 50 greatest rock power ballads of all time. Many iconic songs made the list — such as Guns N' Roses' "November Rain," "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey, Aerosmith's "Dream On," "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" by Poison and many more, but this hit was crowned the No. 1 spot.
"Purple Rain" by Prince earned the top spot on UCR's list, months before re-entering the Billboard Hot 100 again, thanks to the Stranger Things Season 5 finale. Serving as the title track and third single of the soundtrack album for the 1984 film with the same name, "Purple Rain" is considered one of Prince's signature songs. The ballad was originally supposed to be a country song with Fleetwood Mac's Stevie Nicks, but she declined to write her part due to feeling overwhelmed.
"It was so overwhelming," Nicks told the Minneapolis Star Tribune in 2011. "I listened to it and I just got scared. I called him back and said, 'I can't do it. I wish I could. It's too much for me."
She did not regret her decision, though, adding "I'm so glad I didn't, because he wrote it, and it became 'Purple Rain.'"
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The song was recorded during a benefit concert for the Minnesota Dance Theater at the First Avenue Nightclub on Aug. 3, 1983, by David Rivkin, and engineers Dave Hewitt and Koster McAllister. While writing the song at the time, the singer was so worried that "Purple Rain" sounded too similar to Journey's "Faithfully," so he called the band's keyboardist and guitarist, Jonathan Cain, and asked him what he thought. Cain reassured him that most songs only shared the same four chords and approved it.
The 8-minute 41-second ballad became a staple of Prince's live performances since its release, and caused fans to wonder what the song's meaning is. Many believed that it was about the end of the world, a theme that Prince sang about a lot in his discography during the 1980s.
"When there's blood in the sky - red and blue = purple," Prince explained to His Royal Badness. "Purple rain pertains to the end of the world and being with the one you love and letting your faith/god guide you through the purple rain."
Prince performing on stage during his Purple Rain Tour.In addition to winning Best Original Song at the Academy Awards and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group at the Grammys in 1985, "Purple Rain" has been featured in multiple popular TV shows over the last decade. For instance, the ballad was used in the 100th episode of the ABCsitcomBlack-ish that aired on Nov. 13, 2018, and served as a tribute to Prince's music and legacy. More recently, the track was used in the background of a climactic scene of the series finale for Netflix's Stranger Things.
Prince performing on stage during his Purple Rain Tour.Born Prince Rogers Nelson, the singer-songwriter is often credited as one of the greatest musicians of his era and a pioneer of the Minneapolis sound. He signed his first record deal with Warner Bros. Records at 18 years old and released his debut album, For You, in 1978. When he released his film Purple Rain in 1984, he became the first singer to have the No.1 film, album and single in the United States, with the movie, its soundtrack, and the lead single "When Doves Cry."
During his lifetime, Prince put out 39 studio albums, with his final album, Hit n Run Phase Two, released in 2015, a year before his death. The "Little Red Corvette" singer died of an accidental overdose of fentanyl in his home in Chanhassen, Minnesota, on April 21, 2016. He was 57 years old.
Fans can listen to "Purple Rain" and its soundtrack on all streaming platforms. In addition, the Purple Rain film starring Prince, Apollonia, Morris Day, Jerome Benton, Clarence Williams III, Jill Jones and Wendy Melvoin can be purchased for $3.99 on YouTube and Apple TV.
Related: 1977 Hit Ranked Best ‘Classic Rock Song’ of All Time
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