Among not only Prince fans but also the general public, what do you think is Prince's signature song?

I narrowed it down to the following:

1999

Little Red Corvette

Purple Rain

When Doves Cry

Kiss

For me I would have to say probably Purple Rain

Definitely "Purple Rain." That one will be played at his funeral.

I'd say - When Doves Cry. I know who people don't know Purple Rain or 1999...but everyone knows When Doves Cry! Even if they don't know it's by Prince.

For POP purposes its definetly WDC and PR, individual fans may have their own. For me that would be Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad, first song of his I heard.

When Doves Cry

I would say folks would associate him with Purple Rain.

Purple Rain for those that know the song. It has had very inconsistent airplay over the years. I think I went 10 years without hearing it on Tallahassee radio, and maybe heard it a few times on road trips. Living near Orlando since 1998, I hear it every now and then on an 80's night, but not that often. I hear Raspberry beret and Kiss more than anything else, but When Doves Cry is by far his biggest selling single, and was #1 for 6 weeks. Little Red Corvette has to be up there, but it's probably a tie between PR and WDC. Anyone going to a Prince concert expects to hear it, and probably is confused that When Doves Cry is not played live that often....

Gonna go with Purple Rain.

Based on my milieux, I'm going with "Kiss." That is by far the song that I hear the most at parties and on the radio.

Prince played it at the RRHoF , which is definitely a sign that he sees it as a signature song.

Second is "Little Red Corvette."

To me, the songs from Purple Rain are somewhat specific to that album and that point in time.

Purple Rain for sure. And he knows this himselve, as he always plays this song at every concert (and Superbowl, Brit awars etc.)

Purple Rain without a doubt...

There are some differences between the US and Uk/Europe hitlists so

maybe WDC was/is more popular in the US but in Europe Purple Rain is a real classic!

In my country Purple Rain is always in the top 10 of the 80´s top of different radiostations

who have broadcasted such a list in the past.. and some still have an 80´s week.

But also in the yearly top 1000 or 2000 on those radiostations it´s Purple Rain!

WDC seems 2 have lost some of it´s popularity over the years, just like SOTT

wich was considered a Classic Prince song 4 a long time!

Insteed Raspberry Beret and Kiss are the singles that are high in these kind of charts.

Like someone mentioned, Kiss is a great signature song, it represents his music very well

So...it´s Purple Rain and Kiss as a second!

[Edited 3/13/12 1:37am]

[Edited 3/13/12 1:39am]

Batdance, TMBGITW and Musicology.

Non Prince fans always remember Purple Rain

iloveannie said:

I thought PR was so obvious I wondered why you asked.

This.

iloveannie said:

I thought PR was so obvious I wondered why you asked.

Because I've met people who either have never heard PR or don't know who it's by that know who Prince is and indentify him with 1999 or Kiss to name a few songs

donnyenglish said:

Last December. In my opinion, this is the best song he has ever written. Second would be Purple Rain and last would be Anna Stesia.

Last december? Prince's signature song for the general public?

robertlove said:

donnyenglish said:

Last December. In my opinion, this is the best song he has ever written. Second would be Purple Rain and last would be Anna Stesia.

Last december? Prince's signature song for the general public?

A number of people in this thread clearly do not understand the phrase "signature song."

To me It's 1999! That Was the First song I Heard Of Him And I was Literally Dancing all over the House... I was like 9 Years Old Back In the day, Now I'm almost 16 xD

I think That Maybe Purple Rain And When Doves Cry Would Be a Good Choice too

What song do you hear people singing when they leave his concerts? It has and always will be Purple Rain.

But what is his signature song to the fans? That's what I'd like to know. I'd say Crystal Ball.

Signature songs not for the general public, but based on a signature Prince sound - songs that signifies Prince's music:

Controversy

The Beautiful Ones

imo:

Purple Rain

When Doves Cry

Kiss

ps - but WDC wasn't a big hit in Europe, at least not in Denmark,

noone knows about this masterpiece song here...

Genesia said:

robertlove said:

Last december? Prince's signature song for the general public?

A number of people in this thread clearly do not understand the phrase "signature song."

I do understand what signature song means. I think Last December embodies what Prince is about as an artist. If I had one song to have someone listen to, I would pick Last December. You guy a sense for his songwriting, the depth of his lyrics, his guitar skills, and what he is about.

If the question is what is the most popular Prince song, then we should also have Batdance on the list along with Kiss and Rasberry Beret.

Purple Rain of course

donnyenglish said:

Genesia said:

A number of people in this thread clearly do not understand the phrase "signature song."

I do understand what signature song means. I think Last December embodies what Prince is about as an artist. If I had one song to have someone listen to, I would pick Last December. You guy a sense for his songwriting, the depth of his lyrics, his guitar skills, and what he is about.

If the question is what is the most popular Prince song, then we should also have Batdance on the list along with Kiss and Rasberry Beret.

Clearly, you do not understand what "signature song" means. It is not the song that "embodies what [someone] is about as an artist." And it is not (necessarily) the most popular song.

It is the song that is most readily identified with a particular artist. What is the thing Prince is best known for? I would argue that most people who know anything about Prince know Purple Rain. Purple Rain is the album people are most likely to have (because it's his best-selling album). And if they have the album, they have most likely seen the movie.

That is what makes something "signature."