Let’s Go Crazy | Adeli's Music Blog

Happy 25th Anniversary, Purple Rain!

Posted in music by adeli on July 19, 2009

”Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today 2 get through this thing called life …”

Those are the first words of Purple Rain’s opening song Let’s Go Crazy.

Twenty-five years ago, eccentric superstar Prince created what many consider to be the greatest pop film soundtrack of all time. Purple Rain is an album that was as commercially successful as it was artistically innovative. It combined funk, R&B, heavy rock, and pop. It produced five hit singles, and there are only nine songs on the album!

Purple Rain influenced not only music, but fashion and censorship. Purple Rain’s “Darling Nikki” topped the Parental Music Resource Center list as the most offensive song that year. It was Prince who “inspired” the Parental Advisory stickers on albums.

Purple Rain was released on June 25, 1984 and by August, it was Number 1 on the album chart, the singles chart, and in movie theaters. The movie – conceived by, staring, and revolving around Prince, was a multi-tiered effort to make himself a star. And as the closing song in the film proclaims “Baby I’m A Star,” it worked!

Here are the songs, in order, on Purple Rain:

Happy Birthday, Prince!

Posted in music by adeli on June 7, 2009

Today is Prince’s 51st birthday. Prince Rogers Nelson was born on June 7, 1958, in Minneapolis, MN. He has won seven Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe, and an Academy Award. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. Rolling Stone ranked Prince #28 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time in 2008.

Prince is one of the most prolific musicians, composing all his music, along with music for other artist. Prince was responsible for helping several lovely ladies enter the music biz. All of Prince’s albums are written and, most often, entirely performed by him. He is also a very talented guitarist. Prince and his music don’t fit in any one genre, however he mixes elements of R&B, soul, funk, rock, blues, new wave, psychedelia, folk, jazz and into his compositions. He has recorded 30 albums, which include the soundtracks Purple Rain, Batman, Graffiti Bridge, and Parade.

Prince is complex and controversial. Most people have an opinion – positive or negative – about Prince: weirdo, perv, musical genius… Ok, so maybe he’s all three. Regardless, the man has been a true entertainer, musical poet, and innovator for 30 years.

“Pop Life” Life ain’t very funky unless it’s got that pop. Dig it!