At the time of the release of Purple Rain the album on June 25, 1984, and the film of the same name on July 27, 1984, Prince was hardly a household name. By the close of 1985, the artist born Prince Rogers Nelson (1958–2016) was selling out concert stadiums, the album would have spent 24 weeks at No. 1, and the film would have grossed almost $70 million at the box office, 10 times what it cost to make. The trajectory of Prince's career changed dramatically, marking a pivotal moment in pop culture history.
'Purple Rain' Catapulted Prince to Superstardom
Purple Rain would catapult Prince to superstardom. He became an entertainment figure synonymous with the 1980s, alongside Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, and Madonna. The album, a blend of rock, funk, pop, and R&B, delivered hits including “Let’s Go Crazy,” “When Doves Cry,” “I Would Die 4 U,” and the title track, which would earn him his first and only Academy Award for Best Original Song Score.
Quasi-Autobiographical Elements of 'Purple Rain'
Purple Rain centered around The Kid (played by Prince), a Minneapolis-based musician with his band, the Revolution. The Kid’s star is on the rise, pouring his life into his music while escaping a dysfunctional home life. His journey also includes a romantic subplot involving the beguiling singer Apollonia (Apollonia Kotero) and the challenge posed by fellow performer Morris (Morris Day), who aims to eclipse The Kid’s stardom and steal his love interest.
The album ranks at No. 76 on Rolling Stone’s list of greatest albums of all time. In 2007, Vanity Fair labeled it the best soundtrack of all time. The film regularly appears on lists of the top music movies ever released. Remarkably, the fact that the film was made and went on to become a hit was almost inconceivable in the early 1980s.
The Vision Behind 'Purple Rain'
According to Alan Light, author of Let’s Go Crazy: Prince and the Making of Purple Rain, there was an inevitability about Purple Rain. “Prince was the great genius of his day, and there was going to be some vehicle that would translate that to the world,” he told NPR. He recalls how Prince insisted on getting a feature film deal, resulting in a movie directed by first-timer Albert Magnoli. The odds seemed stacked against success.
Despite these hurdles, Light appreciates the unique vision Prince brought to the project, as he could foresee “a potential and possibility that didn’t make sense to those closest to him.” Magnoli, a 30-year-old director with only one acclaimed student short film to his credit, noted that “we just wanted to do something good and true.” It was rare for everyone involved to share the same vision, which ultimately contributed to the film's success.
Prince's Awareness of Making History
Reflecting on the project, Magnoli admitted they viewed it as a fringe film, unaware they were creating a major motion picture. “We didn’t know we were making a major motion picture,” he recalled. However, Prince understood the significance of their work, frantically declaring, “We’re making history tonight!” during the filming of concert scenes at the Minneapolis club First Avenue.
The film's release coincided with a time when music videos were gaining popularity thanks to MTV, and societal norms were shifting. This backdrop allowed Purple Rain to thrive, as fans flocked to theaters, helping the film earn $7.6 million during its opening weekend and knocking Ghostbusters out of the top box office spot.
Mixed Reviews but Lasting Impact
Critics had mixed reactions to Purple Rain. Vincent Canby of The New York Times noted that the film “demonstrates the skills of the recording industry far more effectively than it does those of movie making.” He pointed out that while the female characters were intended to be strong, they often fell victim to male aggression.
Conversely, Roger Ebert praised it as one of the best combinations of music and drama he had seen, emphasizing the chemistry between Prince and Apollonia. Meanwhile, Entertainment Weekly’s Owen Gleiberman noted that despite some juvenile moments, the film captured the essence of rock & roll storytelling, with Prince’s captivating presence on screen.
Creating 'Purple Rain' Was Like Giving Birth
The album and film became defining moments for the notoriously press-averse performer. Prince once referred to the album's success as “my albatross – it’ll be hanging around my neck as long as I’m making music.” Although he viewed it as a metaphorical weight, he remained confident that what he was creating would become a global phenomenon.
“I was there,” he said in Let’s Go Crazy. “I did it, it was my baby. I knew about it before it happened. I knew what it was going to be. Then it was just like labor, like giving birth – in ’84, it was so much work.” His dedication and vision ultimately shaped the music and film industry, leaving a lasting legacy.
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