On This Day in Music: Prince’s Purple Rain Reigns Eternal
Prince Drops Purple Rain, World Purpled Forever
June 25, 1984, wasn’t just another Monday. It marked a turning point in music and pop culture. The Cold War simmered in the background, MTV was reshaping how music was consumed, and pop giants like Michael Jackson and Madonna were at the height of their fame. But on that day, Prince stepped into a league of his own with the release of Purple Rain—an album and film that would define his legacy.
Related: How Tall Was Prince?
The Arrival of Purple Rain
Released by Warner Bros. Records, Purple Rain served as both Prince’s sixth studio album and the soundtrack to his semi-autobiographical film of the same name. At the time, Prince had already shown flashes of genius with albums like 1999 and Controversy, but Purple Rain pushed him to stratospheric fame. Revist some of Prince’s best songs.
The album fused rock, funk, R&B, and synth-pop, creating a sound that defied genre. With the support of his backing band The Revolution, Prince didn’t just release an album—he orchestrated an experience. The film, released a month later, became a cult classic and elevated the album’s reach even further. Watch Prince’s legendary Superbowl performance.
Tracklist That Shaped a Generation
“Let’s Go Crazy”
- Album: Purple Rain
- Release Date: June 25, 1984
- Achievements/Award: Billboard Hot 100 No. 1
Opening with a faux-sermon and spiraling into guitar-driven ecstasy, this anthem set the tone. A staple in Prince’s live sets, it was a call to defiance and joy.
“Take Me With U”
- Album: Purple Rain
- Release Date: June 25, 1984
- Achievements/Award: Billboard Top 40
A duet with Apollonia, this track added emotional texture to the album, combining romantic yearning with bright instrumentation. Listen here.
Prince-approved grooves, 24/7. Tune in to BOB FM
“The Beautiful Ones”
- Album: Purple Rain
- Release Date: June 25, 1984
- Achievements/Award: Fan-favorite; frequently cited in critical retrospectives
An intense slow-burn ballad that builds into a cathartic scream, this track highlighted Prince’s emotional range and vocal vulnerability.
“Computer Blue”
- Album: Purple Rain
- Release Date: June 25, 1984
- Achievements/Award: Cult classic; known for its extended live versions
Experimental and electric, this track marked the boundary-pushing edge of the album. Co-written with Revolution members, it hinted at Prince’s desire to dissolve musical borders.
“Darling Nikki”
- Album: Purple Rain
- Release Date: June 25, 1984
- Achievements/Award: Sparked the creation of the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC)
The most controversial track on the album, it infamously led to “Parental Advisory” labels due to its explicit sexual themes. Yet musically, it was raw and unapologetically ahead of its time. Listen here.
“When Doves Cry”
- Album: Purple Rain
- Release Date: May 16, 1984
- Achievements/Award: Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 for five weeks
With no bassline and a stark arrangement, this was a sonic revolution. It challenged radio conventions and became one of Prince’s biggest hits. Watch the official music video:
“I Would Die 4 U”
- Album: Purple Rain
- Release Date: November 28, 1984
- Achievements/Award: Billboard Top 10
This spiritually tinged, danceable track blended Prince’s messianic themes with pop precision. It became a key moment in his live shows.
“Baby I’m a Star”
- Album: Purple Rain
- Release Date: June 25, 1984
- Achievements/Award: Featured in the film’s climactic performance scene
Energetic and triumphant, this song captured Prince’s unapologetic belief in his own stardom.
“Purple Rain”
- Album: Purple Rain
- Release Date: September 10, 1984
- Achievements/Award: Grammy Award for Best Rock Vocal Performance; considered one of the greatest songs of all time
The title track is a power ballad that defined a generation. With an iconic guitar solo and emotional sweep, it’s Prince at his most vulnerable and powerful.
Bonus: “Erotic City”
- Album: B-side to “Let’s Go Crazy”
- Release Date: July 1984
- Achievements/Award: Became a cult favorite in clubs
Though not on the album, this B-side quickly became essential Prince. A pulsing, synth-laced groove, it showcased his ability to turn even secondary releases into classics.
Crowning a Cultural Icon
Purple Rain wasn’t just successful—it was monumental. The album stayed at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for 24 consecutive weeks. It won two Grammy Awards and an Oscar for Best Original Song Score. With the album, Prince blurred lines—not just between musical genres but between masculine and feminine, sacred and profane, private and public.
Lasting Echoes in Pop Culture
Decades later, the fingerprints of Purple Rain are everywhere. It set the blueprint for visual albums and musical reinvention. Artists from Beyoncé to The Weeknd to Janelle Monáe cite it as an influence. Since Prince’s passing in 2016, reissues and tribute performances have reintroduced the album to new generations.
Final Note: Why It Still Matters
Purple Rain endures because it captured universal emotions—grief, ecstasy, longing—inside a uniquely personal soundscape. On June 25, 1984, Prince didn’t just release an album. He gave the world a new way to feel music.
