Purple Rain (song)

"Purple Rain"
US 12-inch single artwork
Single by Prince and the Revolution
from the album Purple Rain
B-side
  • "God"
  • "God" (instr, UK 12-inch)
ReleasedSeptember 26, 1984 (1984-09-26)
Recorded
  • August 3, 1983 (live basic track)
  • August–September 1983 (overdubs)
StudioSunset Sound, Los Angeles (overdubs)
VenueFirst Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota (live basic track)
Genre
Length
  • 4:05 (7-inch edit)
  • 8:41 (album/12-inch version)
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)Prince[2]
Producer(s)Prince and the Revolution
Prince and the Revolution singles chronology
"Let's Go Crazy"
(1984) 		"Purple Rain"
(1984) 		"I Would Die 4 U"
(1984)
Purple Rain singles chronology
Sex Shooter
(1984) 		Purple Rain
(1984) 		Jungle Love
(1984)
Purple vinyl issue
Limited edition release
Limited edition release

"Purple Rain" is a song by the American musician Prince and his backing band the Revolution. It is the title track from the 1984 album Purple Rain, which in turn is the soundtrack album for the 1984 film Purple Rain starring Prince, and was released as the third single from the album. The song is a power ballad that combines rock, R&B, gospel, and orchestral music.[1]

"Purple Rain" reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks, being kept off number one by "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" by Wham!. It hit number one on the US Cash Box Top 100, where it stayed for two weeks. 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.[3] 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 twelve, "Purple Rain" reached number one a week after Prince's death.

"Purple Rain" was ranked number 18 on Rolling Stone's 2021 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 Roll.[4] During Prince's performance at the Super Bowl XLI halftime show in 2007, "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.[5] The Super Bowl XLI halftime show featuring Prince has topped lists of the best Super Bowl halftime shows of all time.[6][7][8] Prince performed the song as the opening of a medley of his hits with Beyoncé at the 2004 Grammy Awards. It was also the final song he performed at his last concert, which took place on April 14, 2016.[9]

In 2011, "Purple Rain" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.[10]

  1. ^ a b "24 of the Biggest and Best Movie Power Ballads". Denofgeek.com. Retrieved April 25, 2021.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ The original single release credits the authors of the song as Prince and the Revolution, but the song's authorship is registered with ASCAP as solely by Prince.
  3. ^ Madeline Raynor (April 21, 2016). "Prince Is No. 1 on iTunes Today -- Vulture". Vulture. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  4. ^ "The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll | the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum". rockhall.com. Archived from the original on March 17, 2010. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  5. ^ NFL (February 12, 2016). "Prince Performs "Purple Rain" During Downpour | Super Bowl XLI Halftime Show | NFL". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021.
  6. ^ https://youtube.com/hOUqXWk-nCI [dead link]
  7. ^ Brad Kava (February 4, 2007). "Mini Review: Prince At Super Bowl". Mercury News.
  8. ^ "No Malfunction as Prince Rocks Halftime". New York Times. Associated Press. February 5, 2007. Retrieved February 5, 2007.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ "GRAMMY Hall Of Fame | Hall of Fame Artists | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com.