Prince's pop life, song by song, in chronological order.
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The Belle of St. Mark
While “Glamorous” sounded tailor-made for Sheila’s particular talents (even if it wasn’t), “Belle” is well-crafted but faceless, embodying the essentialist cynicism of the publishing imprint Prince used for his female side projects: “Girlsongs.”
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Purple Rain (Verse 2)
Listening to the recording today, almost 40 years after it was captured from a mobile unit parked outside First Avenue, is an almost eerie experience.
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Purple Rain (Verse 1)
The origins of “Purple Rain” are murkier than the rest of the album that shares its title: No one seems to recall from where, precisely, the song emerged–even as everyone seems to have played a role in its conception.
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Darling Nikki
“Darling Nikki” would become Purple Rain’s standard-bearer for the “danger” of Prince albums past.