Okay, okay...don't get pissed! This just struck me as interesting.

I was listening 2 the group "America" today, and the song "Ventura Highway" came on. Now, I've heard this song a zillion times, but never really paid attention 2 the lyrics except 4 the chorus...it's a nice and popular California tune.

Anyway, the second verse caught me by surprise! It reads as follows:

Wishin' on a falling star
Watchin' for the early train
Sorry boy, but I've been hit by Purple Rain
Aw, come on Joe, you can always change your name
Thanks a lot son, just the same

Now, I always thought Prince put those 2 words 2gether. I know Hendrix put 2gether the words Purple Haze..and thought Prince was playin' off of that...but the words PURPLE RAIN appear in this song copywritten from 1972, written by Dewey Bunnell. Purple Rain (btw) is copywrited 1984.

Now don't flame me 4 this thread, those that know me here, know I am not baggin' on Prince or accusing him of stealing...I just always thought it was Prince who 1st uttered these 2 words in song...Purple Rain, Purple Rain...

Whaddya Think?

I thought it was pretty well known among hardcore Prince fans that that phrase was in that song.

Stevie Wonder also had a song called Purple Raindrops.

Guess not...I never put the 2 2gether. I hope I'm not the only one .

June7 said:

Actually I should have said all the hardcore Prince fans who have listened to this song's lyrics. Of course all the fans don't know, because I doubt most of them have interest in the group America enough to listen to that song.

SexLovely said:

Very true.

i thought purple rain was actually a name for something or other... definately remember seeing it somewhere else, but cant remember!!!
i'll try and track it down...

SexLovely said:

He said he wasn't "bagging on Prince" so U must have missed that part."

Prince DID however, steal the phrase "sugar walls" from a Hendrix song called "Long Hot Summer Night"..and Prince DOES in fact listen 2 Hendrix.

heh heh....
[This message was edited Wed Jul 24 18:56:33 PDT 2002 by Nep2nes]

June7 said:

Im a hardcore fan and I've never heard of it.

Thanx Nep2nes!



As I said b4, I found this interesting and wanted 2 hear ur views.

That being said, I've been listening 2 America 4 a long time. My brother used 2 play their shit all the time when I was younger. "Sister Golden Hair", "A Horse With No Name", "I Need You", "Tin Man" and "Lonely People"...and of course "Ventura Highway".

Now, as 4 "Ventura Hwy" (as I've said b4), I've heard it a zillion, no make that a gazillion times, and never took notice of the Purple Rain lyric in it.

Go figure.

ok, I always though Purple Rain was the name of the spray that came from water cannons during riots etc (dont ask me why! lol)
I did a quick internet search, and while there was no mention of my above theory... there was a lot of mentions concerning fireworks and its also the name of a pansy.

(Its also the name of a some kids horse and a piece of military hardware, lol)

"Purple Rain", the title drips from ones lips!

Boob said:

probably "borrowed" it--he listened to a lot of 70's pop/rock music

Prince actually stole the title of his song "America" from the band America as well.

Ask him about it.

June7 said:

hmmm... i remember hearing that in the song and wondering if i had misunderstood something.

This is old news.A few years ago,I posted a thread about this on the PPML.I love the group America! The song "A Horse With No Name" is my favorite.

Group - America. Song - Vetura Highway. Lyric - Purple Rain.

hmm

Prince - Songs written fairly close together..Purple Rain, America, Euphoria Highway...?

bkw said:

Emoticon orgy!

Im getting a bit carried away these emoticons!
[This message was edited Fri Aug 23 10:19:40 PDT 2002 by STORMM]

Nep2nes said:

he don't just listen to hendrix, he mimics alot of his moves... jes so ya know!!!

Maybe he should change everything.

From Purple Rain to "Blue Rain"

that would be sweet

Blue
Dont play me
[This message was edited Sat Aug 24 9:02:07 PDT 2002 by TheBluePrince]

Do u like the Prince song? Did/do u feel it? Then who cares, I say. I've not heard the song you refer to. Is the lyric the only similarity? Does it have the same feel to it? And as for Prince and Hendrix, of course! I don't care, I love Jimi, he was an influence, obviously, as was JB I bet and others. I am influenced to greater and lesser degrees by people in my life. I still retain my own flavour in there primarily. I view him similarly.
[This message was edited Sat Aug 24 13:40:52 PDT 2002 by Therapy]