at least according to Billboard

http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/7348374/why-prince-asked-for-journeys-blessing-before-releasing-purple-rain

wow, that's news, of course the similarity between their songs has been made.

This factoid used to be apart of the Wikipedia article for the song. Might still be.

I also recall Jonathan Cain of Journey telling the story in an interview.

There are some similarities - but past the verse progressions, they're very different from each other. I think the keys of the songs might even be a whole or halfstep away from each other.

I was asked one time to play Faithfully for a singer and I was able to pull it out on the spot - due in part to the Wikipedia mention of there being similarities to Purple Rain. Just a few weeks ago, I put the two songs in a 80s medley I had to play at a variety show.

from what I read, Prince was trying to come up with a song that would capture that huge of an audience and he did it. I think it was chick huntsberry who called it a country song, it does actually cover a lot of ground doesn't it? Gospel, Country, Metal, a power ballad with a lot of extras.