My little sister convinced me to go see Prince at The Cow Palace back in 1985. Couldn't find anyone to go with, went by myself, scored a floor ticket. One of the best shows I ever saw including over a hundred Grateful Dead shows. The ushers let us rush the stage during the brief break before the encores. I went from about thirty rows back to a couple feet from the barrier. I was about five feet from Prince during this song while he was wailing away on his white "Cloud" guitar. Amazing night.
You need to see the video. You cannot appreciate Prince to the max without the visuals. His theatrics are so much part of the experience. And this track comes directly from the film.
True, but I'm glad Shawn listened to the album version first, as the video track cuts off the full outro of the song. While not everyone appreciates that part of the song I consider it essential to the complete experience. After all of the raw emotion Prince conveys, it feels to me like the coming of the calm after the storm, or the fadeout of the purple sky as darkness finally falls.
This is a LIVE version, because Purple Rain never was recorded in the studio. Besides this, he always played his music as if the songs were never "finished". He always added something or changed the arrangements, the key, the tempo, the instrumentation, the duration, mixed them with other songs of his own or other artists. Prince's music was alive.
None of the other artists thought Prince was stealing the light on the tribute. George Harrison's son was playing on the stage and totally loved it. Hatters gotta hate. Prince is a one-in-a-lifetime talent. RIP, Prince - thank you for the magic and music. Thanks, Shawn.
Man you’re missing so so much by not seeing him actually performing this, one of my fave songs of all time and it’s just completely immersive and mesmerizing watching him sing this and play the hell out of that guitar.
This was an epic moment in the movie Purple Rain when he sang this. Watch the movie and you'll understand the cheering. But there are a lot of good tracks from this album
You know its a great song when Shawns eyes roll back in his head and he gets lost in the music like scooby doo floating away after a scooby snack...great reaction...
His performance of this song at the Super Bowl is the single greatest performance ever. Come on singing his signature song in a driving rain was just incredible.
Also a very cool venue. I'm from Wisconsin, down between Milwaukee and Madison, and we've driven the almost four hour trip to see numerous concerts at First Avenue (and 7th Street Entry). PJ Harvey, The Sonics, Dum Dum Girls, Garbage, Björk, My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult and probably a couple dozen more. Always a good time.
@@Drummingvulturebadass. I saw one tour there Robyn Hitchcock Soft Boys reunion. And in 7th St Entry was a cool indie band called Fuck (Matador records)
Ahhhh….I saw the Purple Rain tour 3 times. Once he showed up by surprise to a very small club in Cincinnati.(Bogarts) I’ll never forget it! Amazing! ☔️ 🎶
Purple Rain is a place, somewhere between pain and hope. It still makes me sad to hear this with him gone. Anyway, Stevie *did* quickly after hearing his song "Little Red Corvette", write her song "Stand Back", and if you listen to them, you can hear how they blend together and compliment each other. He went into the studio and played keys on the song for her. So there's two song suggestions for you lol
Oh, I miss him so very much. If I close my eyes i can see him perform every single note of this song. As some have suggested here in the comments if you haven't seen his Super Bowl performance I would definitely recommend it. It is the best I have ever seen...and I'm almost 60 so I've seen a lot of them.
When you’re honoring George Harrison, George was not a jealous person. He would’ve wanted you to have done your best. I don’t personally know Prince. And I’m not a prince fan. Purple rain is a unique Ballad very creative, passionate song. To see him perform it in the rain during the Super Bowl halftime was one of the few halftime performances worth remembering.
You heard the ENTIRE song from the Purple Rain album. The video from the song that’s on RU-vid cuts off the last couple mins of the song. Purple Rain the song was recorded live at a benefit concert Prince & The Revolution did in August 1983 and Prince kept the applause you hear at the very end from that show. It’s actually refreshing to see someone review the song from the album so that we can hear the whole nearly 9 mins of the song and the instrumentals of the last 2 mins. Great review right here!
This is the album version. It was recorded from a live performance at First Avenue in Minneapolis. It was the first time the song was ever performed in front of a crowd. They edited some lyrics out and did some overdubs and added the strings in the studio. You should definitely check him out live. There are so many great versions of Purple Rain alone, but I recommend the performances from the Syracuse show of the Purple Rain tour (a much longer version with lots of great guitar) or the 1985 American Music Awards. I also recommend anything from the Glam Slam show (my favorites are Nothing Compares 2 U or Thieves in the Temple/It), the live version of America (where he plays drums as well as guitar), the Piano Medley from the Lovesexy tour (where you can see how brilliant he was on piano)… since you mentioned Batman, P did the soundtrack for the 1989 movie. You should check out the Batdance or Party Man videos from then. He played every instrument, sang every vocal, wrote, and produced almost all of his songs by himself. He is simply the greatest artist of all time. 💜💜💜
When this movie came out I saw it two times in three nights, i was a 14 year old metal head in 1984, so hearing Prince was a total revelation. I've loved him ever since. Love Maiden, Slayer, Metallica, whatever, but Prince is the best. Up there with Franz Zappa and Jethro Tull in terms of innovative music. Prince is just out of this world.
I think Prince was a one-in-a-lifetime phenomena. Terrific musician, great voice, one hell of a performer, and wrote some outstanding music. Possibly a better guitarist than anyone else on the stage at that HOF concert. That said, sometimes his lyrical references were pure nonsense and sometimes his performances were really self-reverential. Purple Rain, really? Great song, but even the explanation is hokey. As an actor he's definitely not in his wheelhouse. The dark, silent hero who only lets out his emotion on stage may be his persona, but it ranges between dead and way over the top on film. The critics hated his movies and it's really not hard to see why. If you watch them for anything other than the music you're really not seeing very much.
The video that normally comes with this song is directly from the movie. And if you watch the movie; by the time this song comes up, it has taken on a whole new meaning
I was 15 when the movie and album came out and went to the theater to see the movie and right after bought the album. The whole album is great and performed throughout the movie, I believe the same order and all songs just like the album. Purple Rain doesn't come until the end and I think fits better after the rest of the album and story.
I have his symbol tattood on my arm that how much I love this man💜I cried like a baby when he passed saw him three times in concert and when I say they were the best concerts I've been too I am not lying the man was a amazing💜
I remember going to see this movie in the cinema and almost bursting into tears when they played this , it`s still amazing today but it was a total mind blower in the mid 80`s when the movie came out.
I was a huge Beatles fan from the moment I heard their music - I was 4 years old 😊😊 I'm 62 now; George Harrison is like family to me, but * It's true George was getting inducted that night, but so was Prince - he had a right to shine,... also, * I'm sorry, but the song sounded a bit like a dirge until Prince stepped up and everyone's playing was lifted. The arguments on this point feel so petty (no pun intended) when you realize that this video memorializes three of our greatest artists - let's just listen and apprecuate it!!!! And you are continuing to honor Prince- thank you! Btw - you should check out Prince's "Partyman" - it's his hommage to the Joker - he loved Batman and did the soundtrack for the original movie.
Prince's father was a pianist, but played lounge acts and clubs and even a strip club. He would hang outside to hear his dad's music but wasn't even allowed in. He taught himself to play piano on his dad's piano at home - and the first song he learned wasn't Mary Had A Little Lamb or anything conventional. It was the Batman theme song because he was a fan of the tv show growing up. He learned it by playing what he heard on the tv.
Prince ranks among those who moved music forward, The Beatles, David Bowie, Beck... More Prince music? For dance/funk/party nothing like Le Grind from his notorious Black Album. For pop/funk try Cream. For nastyfunk try Get Off, for social awareness/funk try Sign of the Times. 1999 is perfect pop/rock. I mean his catalog is so so deep, that can get you started.
The album version you listened to is from the Purple Rain movie soundtrack where Prince recorded the song in front of the live audience (extras) at a small club for the movie. There is a YT video of that scene, as well. A great live version that isn't "acting" is from The American Music Awards in 1985 - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-VbEv8C9Cff0.html
💜💜💜 You should hear "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World" (need the music video), "Diamonds And Pearls", "1999" and "Let's Go Crazy". There's a lot more, but this will do for a start.
Hi Shawn, Yes the movie is da bomb. It’s semi-autobiographical. A must see. I saw Prince in 1984 on The Purple Rain Tour. It was an AMAZING show. One of the concerts of my life. Keep going on this Purple Rabbit Hole. This was the version. I’ve seen reactors pick the video that’s a movie promo. That one is overly dramatic as it’s clips from the movie. 1999, Raspberry Berét, When Doves Cry; a few song suggestions. I didn’t look at what you’ve already done. Purple Rain is the masterpiece, so you’re good to go. Have fun! Joe
If he had kept that guitar in his hand for his entire career he'd be more of a rock icon and kess of a pop icon. Guitar playing Prince = best Prince. This album is full of great rockers. When Doves Cry is my favorite but Let's Go Crazy is right up there and one if the most exciting songs of the 80s for my $.
Bro…. I’m sure I’m not the first person to say this in these comments, but you should check out the extended version music video for Partyman. Prince does indeed rock purple and green better than the joker. 😂
Ok, but he REALLY needs to check out the extended version of Computer Blue (Hallway Speech version). And then the extended version of "Thieves In The Temple". Both are vastly superior to their edited down versions.
Not a fan of Sister, but the others are ok. He really should check out "Bambi" from the 2nd album. First time you really get blown away by his guitar skill.
