Before last week, I’d never watched the movie “Purple Rain.” I mentioned this in my previous post, but I don’t think I captured how completely enthralled I am with this movie.
First of all, “Purple Rain” was amazing, and I’m actively pissed off at anyone that didn’t tell me to watch this sooner (which is ALL OF YOU). It’s got all the elements of a great B-movie – campy, dramatic, obviously terrible acting – while supporting the best soundtrack of all time (subjective). I’ve already watched it two more times.
Second of all, the soundtrack makes SO MUCH MORE SENSE TO ME NOW. “Purple Rain” came out when I was six-years old. I was definitely not allowed to see the movie, and only allowed to listen to the PG-rated songs from the movie, the ones that were played on the radio. As a result, I didn’t hear the song “Darling Nikki” until I was a teenager and purchased the soundtrack on my own. For almost 20 years, the songs existed as single entities for me, little nuggets of high-pitched funk. It didn’t even occur to me that they fit in the context of a movie, and that within that context they existed to explain things that were happening on screen. “Darling Nikki” is not just a typically hypersexual Prince vehicle; it’s the song that made Apollonia jealous! Even though she made Prince jealous first by starting a band with Morris Day! “When Doves Cry” is actually a reference to the tense relationship Prince has with his abusive, controlling father, not just an excuse for him to dress like a pirate and writhe around in a bathtub!
Third, I was completely unprepared to see Prince in such a negative light. I did not at all enjoy seeing him portrayed as a manipulative, physically abusive boyfriend, or a callous, presumptive frontman who refused to collaborate with bandmates Wendy and Lisa. In my heart and head, Prince sprouts angel wings spontaneously, floats above the world, and sprinkles diamonds from the heavens. His veins pump unicorn blood. He smells like a pine forest and shits glitter. Prince does not throw earrings at women and shove them into corners for disagreeing with him.
I’ve always liked Prince. But now I LOVE HIM. Is 33-years old too old for a crush?
About DanielleH
First it’s really hard for me not to throw a freaking earing at you since you said you were 6 when this came out? I was smuggling Nikki cassettes into my Senior Art class and making out in the Kiln room. ACK. Yeah see how times and views have changes because he was not viewed as an abusive jerk then he was a super hot bad boy at the time and we all wanted him. Probably explains a LOT of our first marriages. Also please watch immediately. Breakfast club, Man from Earth, The Sweetest thing, and Valley Girl. Then the transformation can begin.
Twitter Name: IamThePeachy1
I’ve seen all of those movies (Valley Girl – oh, sane Nicolas Cage). Great 80s collection.
I didn’t see this movie until I was 25. BUT! When I finally saw it, I had my first kiss with the boy I liked during the part in Purple Rain where Prince sings “Purple Rain.”
That is the Purple Rainiest way to see Purple Rain.
I guess I am old (or horribly hip!) but saw it shortly after it came out. Loved it. And drove it home how most of Prince’s music revolves around sex!
That’s pretty much why Prince was off limits in my house until I could buy his music myself!
Further proof that Prince is Sex on Legs.
Twitter Name: missbritt
YES. Which is weird, because he has been for, like, 30 years with no break.
I grew up in Minneapolis (It’s the purple state because of PRINCE…not the vikings)! and saw PRINCE for my very 1st concert ever. Went with my friends~the coolest girls ever, we all wore tuxes that night. I have been in LOVE with PRINCE ever since! PRINCE came to Nashville a few years ago and my husband surprised me with tickets! Seeing him again confirmed my continued love for him and I yelled so loud that I lost my voice and could’t talk for a week! Now that I have been thinking about PRINCE, it’s time to go to bed with the husband and get him lucky!
Twitter Name: Pat Cowan
Your first concert was a Prince concert?! Jealous.
saw him in concert this year. definitely glitter.
Twitter Name: thatgirlblogs
33 is definitely not too old for a crush. You could be 93 and still have a crush. Just don’t have a crush on anyone below 18.
I am definitely going to have to watch this movie, I don’t think I’ve ever seen it. I guess I always assumed I had since I danced to the soundtrack endlessly in elementary school. I can not describe how awesome I was. Thanks for the reminder about a good film…it’s on the Memorial Day Weekend list of to-do’s.
Twitter Name: themommytherapy
Good point. :) And you should definitely queue it up this weekend – you will not regret it!
Like Peachy, I was with you until you mentioned you were 6 when Purple Rain came out. Then I got depressed, because I was a senior in high school. I had been listening to prince for years before then, even though I was a little punk rocker. Prince transcended genres. My friend and I camped out to get tickets to the prince concert that year, and I took the hottest girl in school. It was pretty much the best thing that had ever happened to me up to that point. Also, on the night that we stayed up to be first in line for tickets, we got bored and went downtown to see another Minneapolis band (we were in DC), The Replacements. They were so drunk that some of them could no longer play, so I went onstage and took over for the guitar player. That was also the best thing that ever happened to me. Until the Prince concert.
A senior in high school? Nah, that doesn’t sound right. I could swear that you are just slightly older than I am.
Dammit, the timing works. We aren’t that old, no way, no how. I just saw Prince on George Lopez, dude hasn’t aged at all.
Twitter Name: thejackb
“Prince transcended genres.”
He definitely did, and does.
So good! Prince will always be sexy and magical. My mom took my to see Purple Rain when I was in middle school and I fell for Prince, hard. I promptly went to the mall and bought a poster of him in bed (purple satin sheets, of course) with his bare butt exposed. That poster stayed pinned to my wall for many years. I wish I still had it. :)
Twitter Name: LisaACOTA