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Thread started 05/19/16 3:18pm

FunkiestOne

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"Purple Rain" the song, is overrated

OK I love PR and it's one of his best songs live in concert, but it isn't even in my Top 10 favorite P songs. It is just so overrated, especially by casual fans. The lyrics don't even really make sense and the best part about it is the end with the guitar solo and such. But he has so many better songs for sure.

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Reply #1 posted 05/19/16 3:23pm

Marrk

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Keep that thought to yourself. This isn't the time to be bitching.

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Reply #2 posted 05/19/16 3:24pm

BombFunk

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U forgot to mention: IN MY OPINION / I THINK

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For example: "Jimi thinks you're a fucking moron to start such a post while many of us are still mourning". I think Jimi has a point.

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Got it? U can do better next time smile


dove Forever changed dove wilted

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Reply #3 posted 05/19/16 3:25pm

homesquid

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No, no it is not. wink

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Reply #4 posted 05/19/16 3:26pm

Aerogram

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Is this a sequel to the infamous Mountains-last-great-moment thread? smile

You are not the first nor the last to think Prince wrote better songs, but as far as the rest of humanity is concerned outside of us the hardcore, Purple Rain is the essence of the man.

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Reply #5 posted 05/19/16 3:29pm

RodeoSchro

It ain't no "Jughead", that's for sure!

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Reply #6 posted 05/19/16 3:29pm

266lydia

Well, you are entitled to your opinions. But i love Purple Rain. Love the end of the song too. At the very end you can hear the rain drops...
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Reply #7 posted 05/19/16 3:30pm

FunkiestOne

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Marrk said:

Keep that thought to yourself. This isn't the time to be bitching.

How do you equate "I love PR and it's one of his best songs live in concert" with "bitching"?

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Reply #8 posted 05/19/16 3:31pm

EmmaMcG

I don't know if I'd call it overrated. It comes down to different people having a different opinion on the song.
For me, I don't listen to it anymore. Not because I don't like it, I've just heard it so much. I'm kind of numb to its effect. There's loads of songs by different artists I feel the same way about. Thriller, Lving On A Prayer, Born in the USA etc. All great songs (in my opinion) but I don't listen to them anymore. Maybe Purple Rain is overrated by casual fans but it might also be underrated by hardcore fans.
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Reply #9 posted 05/19/16 3:38pm

Marrk

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FunkiestOne said:

Marrk said:

Keep that thought to yourself. This isn't the time to be bitching.

How do you equate "I love PR and it's one of his best songs live in concert" with "bitching"?

Quite easily.

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I didn't name the thread "Purple Rain" the song, is overrated'. You did.

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Key words "The song".

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Reply #10 posted 05/19/16 3:40pm

FunkiestOne

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Marrk said:

FunkiestOne said:

How do you equate "I love PR and it's one of his best songs live in concert" with "bitching"?

Quite easily.

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I didn't name the thread "Purple Rain" the song, is overrated'. You did.

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Key words "The song".

"Overrated" doesn't mean bad. It means not as great as people say. And I'm not complaining that it's overrated...just saying that it's a great song that many people hold in higher regard than it deserves. Pink Cashmere is underrated..so is How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore and Baby I'm A Star and many, many other P songs. But this is not a thread about them and was curious if others agree that PR is overrated.

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Reply #11 posted 05/19/16 3:47pm

SoulAlive

It has never been one of my favorites,either
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Reply #12 posted 05/19/16 3:58pm

Peaches

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We're all entitled to our own opinion. This world would be a boring place otherwise. wink

The song Purple Rain isn't on my list of favorite Prince song's either.

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Reply #13 posted 05/19/16 4:00pm

Marrk

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FunkiestOne said:

Marrk said:

Quite easily.

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I didn't name the thread "Purple Rain" the song, is overrated'. You did.

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Key words "The song".

"Overrated" doesn't mean bad. It means not as great as people say. And I'm not complaining that it's overrated...just saying that it's a great song that many people hold in higher regard than it deserves. Pink Cashmere is underrated..so is How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore and Baby I'm A Star and many, many other P songs. But this is not a thread about them and was curious if others agree that PR is overrated.

I don't think it's overrated. Mainly because there is nothing else in his canon that sounds like it. Think of his output up until Purple Rain. Nope, none of that in there.

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When i hear criticism of it, I put it down to that saying 'Famiiliarity breeds contempt'.

'

I think it's a work of art, i still love and appreciate it.

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Reply #14 posted 05/19/16 4:04pm

weirdozmedia

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I think a lot of what makes Purple Rain great is the vibe of that original recording, the fantastic guitar playing, etc.. from a songwriting pov it is painfully simple, it's basically just like 4 chords looped over and over. Of course that was something Prince was great at, making something so simple sound so grand.

¡The Future Is Ours, If You Can Count! https://www.youtube.com/w...A_zTY0qWWk
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Reply #15 posted 05/19/16 4:05pm

JellyJam

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You need to listen to it more, particularly the guitar work. It's in danger of feeling played out as it's rapidly become the go-to Prince song for the non-Prince world, but listen to the live performances in particular and you'll see it's a timeless gem.

Also listen to Springsteen's terrible (albeit well-intentioned) version and realise how hard it is to do well.
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Reply #16 posted 05/19/16 4:07pm

DAV123

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confused ....just ✋🏽
"A Man Can't Ride Your Back Unless It's Bent" MLK 4/3/68
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Reply #17 posted 05/19/16 4:13pm

PhilG

JellyJam said:

You need to listen to it more, particularly the guitar work. It's in danger of feeling played out as it's rapidly become the go-to Prince song for the non-Prince world, but listen to the live performances in particular and you'll see it's a timeless gem. Also listen to Springsteen's terrible (albeit well-intentioned) version and realise how hard it is to do well.

That's the key word, it's timeless. Long after we're all dead and buried people will still be singing this song.

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Reply #18 posted 05/19/16 4:15pm

avajane

Perhaps what you meant to say is that it gets tiring that this is the only song people know of him. I remember when he recently passed away and they would continuosly play that song and I remember my brother singing the chorus over and over again. This is different than claiming it's overrated, because it isn't by any means. As far as the lyrics, I always thought it was related to the film in terms of his father, Apollonia, and the band.
Love is God,
God is Love
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Reply #19 posted 05/19/16 4:17pm

Cloreen

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Yeah, Journey's "Faithfully" is better.

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Prince should've sung that one to Appolonia at the end of that movie.

"I'm forever yours...........

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Faithfully."

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[img:$uid]http://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/44/2b/46/442b4622351f777ed3436d1c463204c1.jpg[/img:$uid]

.

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Reply #20 posted 05/19/16 4:18pm

Doozer

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Glad you have an opinion. Sorry it is so wrong.

Check out The Mountains and the Sea, a Prince podcast by yours truly and my wife. More info at https://www.facebook.com/TMATSPodcast/
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Reply #21 posted 05/19/16 4:23pm

OldFriends4Sal
e

FunkiestOne said:

OK I love PR and it's one of his best songs live in concert, but it isn't even in my Top 10 favorite P songs. It is just so overrated, especially by casual fans. The lyrics don't even really make sense and the best part about it is the end with the guitar solo and such. But he has so many better songs for sure.

It is far from overated.
You are talking about your personal tastes. That is not a fair judgement of the song.
The song is majestic. It's powerful. It reaches far and wide.

The lyrics make sense. It is a style of it's own.

I always say listen 2 the 8.1983 Dance Benefit version.

There is a reason that song has stood the test of time. It has nothing to do with casual fans or fans who just 'like anything Prince does'

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Reply #22 posted 05/19/16 4:31pm

blue22

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FunkiestOne said:

OK I love PR and it's one of his best songs live in concert, but it isn't even in my Top 10 favorite P songs. It is just so overrated, especially by casual fans. The lyrics don't even really make sense and the best part about it is the end with the guitar solo and such. But he has so many better songs for sure.

Let's ask Oscar and see what he thinks.

ding....ding.....ding....

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Uh, Hello, is this the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences?

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Yes, may I help you?

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Yeah, this is P-nation. I was wondering if you think that you wasted an Oscar on Purple Rain?

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Uh, no, but you are wasting my time with your diatribe. Click.

Genius is born, not made. Prince is a Genius. No question. RIP Legend.
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Reply #23 posted 05/19/16 4:42pm

SENNISS

If 'Man in a uniform' was his most popular song you'd no doubt be saying the same about that wink


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Reply #24 posted 05/19/16 4:42pm

TrivialPursuit

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If you don't like it, don't listen to it. It's a stellar song, and there's a reason why folks are singing it in tribute.

"eye don’t really care so much what people say about me because it is a reflection of who they r."
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Reply #25 posted 05/19/16 4:45pm

nursev

Purple Rain has never been my fav song from that album, but to say its overrated is a lil harsh. It is Prince's signaure song...it served its purpose and people know him because of that song. The lyrics are not that bad lol I mean damn lol

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Reply #26 posted 05/19/16 4:48pm

gilliaj

I'll play along. I'd say had the movie itself never existed, the song maybe wouldn't be so overplayed. I have many more songs I prefer over it, but whenever he played it in concert it was always a highlight. The power of the song resonates in a live setting, or in the movie. On CD, I often skip it (although I love the orchestral stuff at the end). I kind of prefer Gold over it. But PR strikes that emotional chord with the average person who may not even know Prince from MJ. That's what makes it rate so highly.
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Reply #27 posted 05/19/16 5:22pm

XrayTed

Probably because it is tied into the movie which shot him to international fame, it is the 1st and sometimes only song that many folks will name ... Plus, it just sounds cool - Short, sweet, simple yet a bit profound and mystic.

I never read the words and never listened to it enough to know them, I think it is an excellent compostion by a talented, inspired individual with a great guitar solo. Rating is in the ears of the beholder.

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Reply #28 posted 05/19/16 5:29pm

FunkiestOne

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blue22 said:

FunkiestOne said:

OK I love PR and it's one of his best songs live in concert, but it isn't even in my Top 10 favorite P songs. It is just so overrated, especially by casual fans. The lyrics don't even really make sense and the best part about it is the end with the guitar solo and such. But he has so many better songs for sure.

Let's ask Oscar and see what he thinks.

ding....ding.....ding....

-

Uh, Hello, is this the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences?

-

Yes, may I help you?

-

Yeah, this is P-nation. I was wondering if you think that you wasted an Oscar on Purple Rain?

-

Uh, no, but you are wasting my time with your diatribe. Click.

PR, the song, didn't win an Academy Award.

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Reply #29 posted 05/19/16 5:35pm

SquirrelMeat

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PR was always way down my list. I like it, but there are a hundred better songs.

.
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