Purple rain

dodgers1970 said:

If you were tasked with making a "best of the 80s" compilation and you had to choose just one single Prince song to sit along other massive 80s hits like "Billie Jean", which Prince song would it be? Is "Let's Go Crazy" most popular? "Kiss"? "Little Red Corvette" "When Doves Cry?" "Purple Rain" I pretty much whittled it down to those 5 as the most popular. So which do you think is Prince's most popular, well-known track that would best represent Prince's popularity in that era? Keep in mind, mentioning for an overall "Best of the 80s" compilation and am not trying to see who's the biggest fan by having people list obscure favorites. [Edited 3/15/15 8:47am]

Ha. All of the songs you mentioned are among Prince's most famous songs of the 80's. In 2015 Purple Rain is definitely Prince's anthem. Yet, it is not a bigger hit chartwise than "when Doves cry" or "kiss".

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If you are doing a "best of the 80's" I would definitely go with When Doves Cry because it is more fitting to the mix you are doing.

In Germany, at least, i would say that "Kiss" is played more often than the others on your list.

"Purple Rain" being a close second.

But as far as a Prince-penned song from the 80's, "Manic Monday" gets spun seemingly every day on most pop stations.

well, "Manic Monday"... as cute as Susanna Hoffs may have been.. and while Prince did write the song, I meant a song performed by Prince and the Bangles song wasn't big enough to be considered as Best of the 80s.

Thibaut said:

Purple rain

When Doves Cry.

I'd say "Purple Rain" is the go-to definitive Prince song (helped because of the song's titular association with the album and movie, making it an all-encompassing phrase for Prince), but if you're making a compilation of 80s anthems like "Billie Jean" then I'd go with "Kiss". It was a huge pop hit, still receives decent club and radio play today, and embodies most of the elements of Prince's 80s hits; the sparse production, the Linn, the funky chicken-scratch guitar, the falsetto.

I'd say "When Doves Cry", but because of his association with the color purple, "Purple Rain" is probably what comes to folks minds.

Purple Rain, not even a question. Everyone knows Purple Rain by name if not the song or movie or album.

When Doves Cry is a close 2nd. I guess 1999 would be too. But nothing is more well known than Purple Rain.

Has to be When Doves Cry or Kiss.

1999

UncleJam said:

AlexNevermind28 said:

1999

Yep.

What about Raspberry Beret, so many non fans I know seem to know that song.

Before I was a Prince fan I only knew "Purple Rain". Of course I must have heard the others, but I don't think I had much of a recollection of them (I was about 13-14 when I became a fan in the early-90s).

I'm pretty sure most Europeans of my age know tracks like "Cream" and "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World" better than "Little Red Corvette" or "When Doves Cry". I really don't hear the former played anywhere (it's one of those tracks you can play to people and they're mesmerized how good it is).

"Purple Rain" and "Kiss" are the ones that you can hear in bars and clubs, not WDC or LRC.

motherfunka said:

Has to be When Doves Cry or Kiss.

I think everyone knows of Purple Rain, but everyone knows these two songs

Runners up would be Raspberry Beret & LRC

Batdance

By universally well known I presume you mean if you were to ask someone what Prince songs they know, it would be the first song they think of. I dont think it is that simple anymore. It all depends on what generation you are asking. Ask people in their mid 30's onwards and you will probably get a song on that list of 5. Ask a late twenty-something and they may well say something like TMBGITW or Gett Off or Sexy MF. But ask anyone younger than 20 and you may well get a "who?" response.

Unfortunately, Prince is not universally known anymore. Certainly the kids of today are by and large not particularly clued up on who he is. Why would they be? He has no Facebook, Twitter or YouTube accounts. He isnt on the radio. Even the music channels, radio, streaming services very rarely play anything, old or new. His songs dont get used for adverts. He rarely does interviews. The only exposure most kids have of Prince is from their parents who may have PR in their CD collection. Most kids dont find listening to mom and dads music very cool so would avoid it. And what is a CD to a kid anyway? Its a shame really....

When Doves Cry

renfield said:

I'd say "Purple Rain" is the go-to definitive Prince song (helped because of the song's titular association with the album and movie, making it an all-encompassing phrase for Prince), but if you're making a compilation of 80s anthems like "Billie Jean" then I'd go with "Kiss". It was a huge pop hit, still receives decent club and radio play today, and embodies most of the elements of Prince's 80s hits; the sparse production, the Linn, the funky chicken-scratch guitar, the falsetto.

Rebeljuice said:

By universally well known I presume you mean if you were to ask someone what Prince songs they know, it would be the first song they think of. I dont think it is that simple anymore. It all depends on what generation you are asking. Ask people in their mid 30's onwards and you will probably get a song on that list of 5. Ask a late twenty-something and they may well say something like TMBGITW or Gett Off or Sexy MF. But ask anyone younger than 20 and you may well get a "who?" response.

Unfortunately, Prince is not universally known anymore. Certainly the kids of today are by and large not particularly clued up on who he is. Why would they be? He has no Facebook, Twitter or YouTube accounts. He isnt on the radio. Even the music channels, radio, streaming services very rarely play anything, old or new. His songs dont get used for adverts. He rarely does interviews. The only exposure most kids have of Prince is from their parents who may have PR in their CD collection. Most kids dont find listening to mom and dads music very cool so would avoid it. And what is a CD to a kid anyway? Its a shame really....

perfect post.

To my surprise, a lot of young folk know Call My Name.

But for 80's, I would have to say Kiss. That song gets tons of airplay.

1999

Little Red Corvette

Purple Rain

Little Red Corvette

When Doves Cry

'Darling Nikki'

the Glamorous Life

Rasberry Beret

Kiss

When Doves Cry