Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Purple Rain is over rated

114 replies

Shesasuperfreak · 25/12/2022 12:04

I heard it for the first time today after hearing it referenced in pop culture forever.

My god I was disappointed 😞.

What is so special about it?

OP posts:
workiskillingme · 25/12/2022 13:52

What?????

elgreco · 25/12/2022 13:58

YABU, Prince is marvellous

SamphirethePogoingStickerist · 25/12/2022 14:00

@iinigomontoyahwillcox I agree with both halves of that comment.

Recognising the sub par stuff doesn't detract from being able to acknowledge the genius of the man.

YellowAndGreenToBeSeen · 25/12/2022 14:01

I’ve seen a lot of people/bands live and he is hands down the best performer I’ve ever seen. I didn’t stop dancing for the entire concert. Purple Rain is an incredible track and live, it’s something else. Mind blowing.

clpsmum · 25/12/2022 14:03

2DemisSVP · 25/12/2022 12:07

I think songs like this change how music is made and inspire so much that follows them , but unless you were listening at the time, you can’t fully appreciate because you don’t see the changes …

This but tbh as a hardcore Prince fan whilst purple rain is a game changer, in my opinion, it's not even the best song on the purple rain album!

Seeing Prince do it live was out of this world though

clpsmum · 25/12/2022 14:05

RemindMeAgain · 25/12/2022 12:53

Not my favourite either OP, I appreciate he’s very talented but Prince just isn’t my taste, my husband loves him and likes to ply all his tunes very loudly at all times!

The best way to listen to them to be fair to your husband!

Shitzngiggles · 25/12/2022 14:05

I really don't think Prince's music can be described as bland. It may not be to your taste and thats fine, but to describe him as over rated is just ridiculous. I don't particularly like Queen's music but I recognise their talent for what it is.

HiccupHorrendousHaddock · 25/12/2022 14:07

I appreciate he's a musical genius and hugely influential but he's very much not for me.

jays · 25/12/2022 14:08

paisley256 · 25/12/2022 12:20

The heart wrenching lyrics, the raw passion in his voice as the song builds, the beautiful melody and killer guitar solo.... yeah what a disappointment. Yabvvvu.

Oh yes, this, this and more this!

Tinsella · 25/12/2022 14:11

I love Prince, but Purple Rain isn’t my favourite. The Beautiful Ones, though….❤️

OooScotland · 25/12/2022 14:15

I’ve agreed with you since 1990 when I was subjected to it constantly for two years by the rest of the sixth form.

U or not, Prince has never been my jam.

My3cents1 · 25/12/2022 14:16

It’s a huge leap from Little Mix and Justin Bieber. Its ok, not everyone gets the genius that IS Prince. We miss u P!

RockingAmadeus · 25/12/2022 14:23

Prince = Rock God

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 25/12/2022 14:25

Try the Jessie J version. Her best work (covering it).

littleburn · 25/12/2022 14:31

I adore Prince but it's one of my least favourite of his songs and not at all representative of his work in general.

I saw a documentary where his band were talking about it being written in the early days of MTV and needing a crossover hit (ie less funk-driven) to get the air play and appeal to white middle America. And that's exactly what he did with that track. But it's not really Prince - it could have been recorded by Bon Jovi or a country act, but that was the idea!

Spudlover · 25/12/2022 14:38

YABU. Prince was incredibly talented, even if it’s not your own personal taste. I love him and the album and film were practically worn out.

This is one of my favourite musical moments. You can almost see the other musicians thinking we’re not worthy.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=efhlDbZ4SmY

Cocolapew · 25/12/2022 14:39

Prince was, and still is, God 💜💜💜💜
Bland 😂😂😂

fucketyfuckwit · 25/12/2022 14:40

Very unreasonable - I saw Prince live and he was AMAZING!!!

StrawberryWater · 25/12/2022 14:40

Great album.

Deeply flawed movie. Give it a miss.

Thepeopleversuswork · 25/12/2022 14:41

I actually don’t think this post is as daft as it sounds. I like Purple Rain but I don’t think it’s his best by a long chalk and I can imagine being a bit underwhelmed by it.

middleager · 25/12/2022 14:41

YABVU.
The song and the album are masterpieces.

wherearebeefandonioncrisps · 25/12/2022 14:42

Yes , it is.

Appalonia · 25/12/2022 15:01

littleburn · 25/12/2022 14:31

I adore Prince but it's one of my least favourite of his songs and not at all representative of his work in general.

I saw a documentary where his band were talking about it being written in the early days of MTV and needing a crossover hit (ie less funk-driven) to get the air play and appeal to white middle America. And that's exactly what he did with that track. But it's not really Prince - it could have been recorded by Bon Jovi or a country act, but that was the idea!

Agree 100%!

PenelopeTitsDrop3121 · 25/12/2022 15:14

The biggest Prince fan here. I've seen him live 11 times and been a fan since 9(I'm 49) and have to say I've never been a fan of this song. I do love it when it's done live though.

Appalonia · 25/12/2022 15:21

Just to show how versatile he was, and how much he changed his style in just a few short years, this is his song, Annie Christian, in his electronic period in 81/82 when he was influenced by artists like Gary Numan. It hardly sounds like the same artist! As pp above said, Purple Rain was a conscious decision to reach a bigger, more mainstream audience.