Who did not try the IWD4U hand signs?

I Would Die 4U, - strike with true potency.

B-side Another Lonely Christmas

[from the Purple Rain script during the I Would Die 4 U scene]

He pulls a HOSE from behind the washer,
draws it on to the floor. He hesitates
a moment, gazes one last time at his
Father's outline, tears welling in his
eyes. He turns the water on, watches as
the dusty yellow chalk gives way
reluctantly, mixing with the water,
swirling down the drain. Calmness
sweeps his face like a passing cloud.

Just then SUNLIGHT blazes in through the
casement windows. Water droplets
glisten brilliantly in the morning
light. He turns the water off, goes to
put the hose back -- stops suddenly,
surprised...

...his Mother's earring lies on the
floor.

He's entranced, picks it up, stares at
it a moment. Everything he's been
through comes rushing at him like a loco
motive. The confusion, the shouting and
violence, the darkness that eclipsed his
parents' life -- it's all there, lying
just below the surface, settled into his
heart. But now there's a difference --
he knows it's there and has discovered
what could happen when it takes control
of your life.

So as he stands in the basement, on the
clean cellar floor, he realizes
that...he'll just take one thing at a
time, and do it right. Better than
anybody else. He smiles, realizes that
in the last few weeks, he's never felt
better than he feels right now. He
turns quickly, flips the earring to the
stairwell...

the rhythm and melody of this song always moved me, in a way that before I connected it with the scene in the movie, I felt the full emotions of what it meant. Just long enough and to this day one of my favorites to listen to.

I Would Die 4 U is the seventh track on Prince's sixth album Purple Rain, (Prince.org correction the second album to be credited to Prince and the Revolution. Five months after the album's release, I Would Die 4 U was released as the album's fourth single. The track is also featured in the movie Purple Rain.

Prince and the Revolution recorded the song live on 3 August, 1983 at First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, USA (at the same concert where Baby I'm A Star and Purple Rain were also recorded). The song dated back to at least 18 months earlier when it was tried out in soundcheck during a Controversy Tour show.

It was included as the seventh track on the 7 November, 1983 configuration of the album, and the sixth track on the 23 March, 1984 configuration, but became the seventh track on the final 14 April, 1984 configuration after some tracklist changes to the album.

A tour rehearsal version of the song was recorded in late 1984 for release on the single's 12". The single version of the track was included as the eleventh track on the first disc of an early configuration of the compilation album Ultimate before the album was reworked for release.

-PrinceVault

Loved all the crazy but tasteful fonts used on this album design.

One of my favorite Prince tracks ever. Thank you for the post

ufoclub said:

Loved all the crazy but tasteful fonts used on this album design.

I know, one of the many things I loved about this album, the fonts. I used to try to duplicate them when doing my Prince drawings

Don't like the long version. Just goes on and bores me.

2freaky4church1 said:

Don't like the long version. Just goes on and bores me.

I agree, once it leaves that original melody it begins to loose me

I love the live renditions and Baby I'm A Star is nasty

I prefer the shorter version of IWD4U

Averett said:

One of my favorite Prince tracks ever. Thank you for the post

OldFriends4Sale-

I love your posts.

PacManPlus said:

OldFriends4Sale-

I love your posts.

thank U PacManPlus

PacManPlus said:

OldFriends4Sale-

I love your posts.

Yep, your threads are always great and very informative! Thanks for that.

Back on topic, I think IWD4U is a great song, I like both the album/single version and the 12" semi-live rendition. I became fan during the Purple Rain era and everything connnected to that album will always have a special place in my heart. The album cover is an iconic picture IMO.

OldFriends4Sale said:

1.Let's Go Crazy
2.When You Were Mine (Dirty Mind)
3.A Case Of You
4.Computer Blue
5.Delirious (1999)
6.Electric Intercourse
7.Automatic (1999)
8.I Would Die 4 U
/Baby I'm A Star
9. Little Red Corvette (1999)
10.Purple Rain
11.D.M.S.R (1999)

http://antiquiet.com/musi...983-video/
The 1983 concert took place at First Avenue in Minneapolis. A year later when the club was featured in Purple Rain (the movie), the venue would be changed forever. In 1983 however, it was perfect for hosting a newly minted Prince & The Revolution. Prince had been performing with some of the band members for a while, but the show was the debut of guitarist Wendy Melvoin who would continue with the band until their dissolution in 1986.

But back on track – the 1983 show (August 3rd, to be more exact) was the first public live performance of Prince & The Revolution. The concert was a benefit for the Minnesota Dance Theater Company. It was also the first time the band would perform several of what would become their signature tracks, most importantly Purple Rain

This live show made up the basis for several Purple Rain tracks, including the title track, I Would Die 4 U and Baby I’m A Star. Prince’s vocals are spot on with how you know them – because they were recorded from a mobile truck outside of First Avenue. Add in a few overdubs and there you have it, one of the best selling albums of the 80s.

Regardless of how you view Prince now, back then one thing was clear – his name was Prince, his favorite color was purple, and he was a bad motherfucker.

"I Would Die 4 U"

Once again, this is all Prince. At first he wanted me to play the bassline on "I Would Die 4 U" manually. So we tried it during rehearsal first, which I could pull it off, but it was not easy. And sometimes I would get off rhythm a little bit because you had to be so spot on, and you had to play it with two hands! So Prince says, "Well, Matt, why can't you play it with one hand and play the chords with the other hand?" And I said, "You try it." But neither one of us could do it. So I told Prince, "I got an idea. Let's try to sequence this one." Unfortunately, nothing in our arsenal could sequence it properly, so we created a way to put that bassline part in the sequencer and then have it lock up to the Linn drum machine with MIDI. But the Linn drum didn't have MIDI so Prince's tech guy created a MIDI interface for it. So I would have the sequencer ready to go during the live show and then all Bobby Z would have to do is hit the play button. We did some groundbreaking technological things that day.

-Dr Fink

Dr Fink with Taj Sevelle

8. I WOULD DIE 4 U (2:56)
Produced, Arranged, Composed and Performed by Prince and The Revolution
Recorded live at 1st Avenue in the summer of ‘83 by David Rivkin and by David Leonard at the Record Plant, New York
Published by Controversy Music, administered by WB Music Corp. ASCAP
From PURPLE RAIN

Without an experienced road crew on hand, I inherited the job of production manager by default. It was unusually hot and humid and the club was downright stifling by the time the curtain went up. Prince took to the stage like a boxer to a ring, jabbing, feinting and finally stunning the sweat-drenched audience with the most powerful of the new songs, the brazen I WOULD DIE 4 U and the spine-tingling PURPLE RAIN.

– Alan Leeds, 1993

this thread made me tear up a bit.

One of his best, love the 12" too.

I can see it goes on a bit too long for some people, but the high singing near the end always gets me.

(114) INT. CLUB -- NIGHT

MOVING now, FAST and FURIOUS. The
HALLWAY is LINED with PEOPLE. They
reach for him as he passes, touching
him, showering him with their love.
Someone hands him his shirt, another his
scarf -- it's so intense!

He's moving quickly now, his jacket up
ahead, closer...he stops suddenly,
stunned...

...Vanity is holding his jacket. He's
struck speechless -- she hands it to him
smiling, tears streaming down her face--

VANITY
I love you.

His knees go weak, she kisses him
spontaneously, pushes him lovingly to
the stage.

THE CROWD IS ROARING!


(115) INT. HALLWAY AND STAGE REAR -- NIGHT

He's half-running now like crazy -- his
Band is on-stage, peering anxiously into
the hallway. They spot him and relief
sweeps their faces like a tidal wave.
He whips his jacket on, rushes up the
stairs...

OldFriends4Sale said:

I Would Die 4 U is the seventh track on Prince's sixth album Purple Rain, the first album to be credited to Prince and the Revolution.

Recording Personnel

Purple Rain (album) version Prince - all vocals and instruments, except where noted Bobby Z. - drums and percussion Brown Mark - bass guitar and vocals Wendy Melvoin - guitars and vocals Lisa Coleman - keyboards and vocals Matt Fink - keyboards and vocals Rehearsal Recording Prince - all vocals and instruments, except where noted Bobby Z. - drums and percussion Brown Mark - bass guitar and vocals Wendy Melvoin - guitars and vocals Lisa Coleman - keyboards and vocals Matt Fink - keyboards and vocals Sheila E. - percussion Eddy M. ie Minnifield - saxophone Miko Weaver - guitar

nope...it was 1999

(116) INT. CLUB -- NIGHT

STAGE
THUNDER! Prince walks center-
stage...and bows. The AUDIENCE goes
BERSERK! He acknowledges Wendy and
Lisa, and then the entire Band. The
CROWD is jumping out of their skin! He
straps on his guitar, gives a deft
signal and--

MUSIC. The Band launches into "I Would
Die For You." Vanity squeezes her way
through the crowd and stands watching
Prince from the wings. He presses his
lips to the mike and SINGS.

I'm not a woman
I'm not a man
I am something that U'll never understand
I'll never beat U
I'll never lie
And if U're evil I'll forgive U by and by

The MUSIC continues as we...

CUT TO:

HuMpThAnG said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

I Would Die 4 U is the seventh track on Prince's sixth album Purple Rain, the first album to be credited to Prince and the Revolution.

Recording Personnel

nope...it was 1999

Yep true,

(120) INT. CLUB -- NIGHT

Cuz U - I would die 4 U, yeah
Darlin', if U want me 2
U - I would die 4 U

I'm not your lover
I'm not your friend
I am something that U'll never comprehend
No need 2 worry
No need 2 cry
I'm your messiah and U're the reason why

Prince on-stage SINGING "I Would Die For
You." The AUDIENCE is captivated,
locked into his grip again. His eyes
seem to be focused on something far
away. He closes them tightly, presses
his lips against the mike.

The MUSIC continues as we...

CUT TO:

OldFriends4Sale said:

Averett said:

One of my favorite Prince tracks ever. Thank you for the post

You mean these hand signs? Uh....yeah....uh still do, at home, I wouldn't recommend it while driving.

The things my children had to live through growing up.

[Edited 2/26/15 16:17pm]

One of my favourite Prince songs of all time. So deliriously funky, catchy, quick... I wis he did the vocals without the gasping-for-breath quality, but still a 5/5 masterpiece in my book. Great video too.

I loved that ending scene when Prince is beloved again, kisses Apollonia...

One thing I thought that was weird, though, was that the audience/Billy had a problem with Prince because they had no idea what the hell he was even singing about (Darling Nikki, Computer Blue).. so Prince follows it up with a song about colorful rain (?) and then a number where he confesses he's not a woman or man and follows it up with I-am-the-Messiah lyrics, and this somehow all just works?

I'm kinda surprised this song became a huge hit because of the lyrics... they would probably be looked at as blasphemous back in the day

[Edited 2/26/15 22:06pm]

ufoclub said:

Loved all the crazy but tasteful fonts used on this album design.

Agreed.