Music as Medicine: Purple Rain
By Aster Gilbert
Film/soundtrack title: Purple Rain
Year: 1984
Main composer/artist: Prince and the Revolution, Morris Day and The Time
When I’d come home from school and hear Tracy Chapman’s New Beginnings on the stereo, I knew my mom was working through some heavy stuff. In my childhood home music was the most immediate medicine we had for the blues. In both the good times and the bad, music is therapeutic. It reminds us of who we are and what we’ve been through. It helps us envision brighter futures. Whether it’s listening to a sad tune to be reminded of a shared human experience or the electric jolt of that brand-new sound that you just got to dance to, music is the soundtrack to our lives. And often it’s the movies that deliver these songs to us.
The best film soundtracks reflect this variety of life. Purple Rain is one. The music of Prince and the Revolution runs the gamut of human emotion. Purple Rain moves fluidly from tragedy to celebration, tender romance to grinding lust. It’s introspective and extroverted. With every track a banger, Purple Rain remains one of Princes best albums. And the film? Well that’s pretty sweet too.
The film is something of a miracle. The entire Purple Rain project was conceived as a vehicle to launch Prince into all-out pop superstardom. And it worked. But what’s really beguiling is how intense and dark Purple Rain the film is. There’s a long tradition of pop superstars transitioning to the silver screen. And notable examples like Frank Sinatra and Cher weren’t afraid to get their hands dirty with challenging parts. But Prince gambled on deliberately melding his image as a pop star with the on-screen persona of The Kid. Prince as The Kid is troubled, arrogant, and abusive. The film is quite startling in its frank depiction of domestic violence and how chauvinistic attitudes are replicated by its victims. It’s perhaps this honesty that makes the music so impactful on the screen, and makes the redemption arc for The Kid that much more uplifting. Purple Rain sets its music to the movement of redemption; of overcoming pains to become something better. And it’s this transformation that is celebrated by those funky guitar riffs and pulsating synths.
Part concert film, part musical, with a healthy dose of after school special, the Purple Rain soundtrack is my ultimate music-as-medicine pick.
What makes the soundtrack stand out?
Purple Rain is Prince’s tightest album. His collaboration with his band, The Revolution, injected concise pop sensibilities into the music, without sacrificing an ounce of the funk and R&B style that Prince was already known for with the 1999 album. While I dig the experimental digressions of later Prince, there is something to be said about the immediate danceability of every track on Purple Rain. But wait, there’s more! Purple Rain the film has one thing over the album: Morris Day and The Time. Morris frequently steals the show, both in his turn as the smarmy rival of The Kid and with some of the best tracks of the film.
How does the soundtrack enhance the film?
Without the album, the film doesn’t exist. But the enduring success of Purple Rain is that it’s more than just a commercial for Prince’s album. The music elevates the dime-a-dozen plotline of a struggling artist looking for a breakthrough and sets it apart from the countless jukebox biopics of famous stars. The signature style of Prince’s pop-rock-funk-R&B combined with the compelling performances of the supporting cast makes for a singular cinematic experience. The scenes between the music tracks aren’t just running down the clock until the next song. They’re bleeding into the musical performances, adding emotional weight that isn’t readily apparent on the album. Together, they transform the film into something strange and unpredictable. There’s really nothing else like it.
Is there a scene where the soundtrack takes a starring role?
Because this is practically a musical, every track erupts into its’ own distinct sequence. But the biggest show-stopper is the Darling Nikki number. A song so saucy it made Tipper Gore clutch her pearls and got record labels to put parental warning stickers on albums, it’s no surprise that the film mirrors the track’s risqué intensity. A lurid red light takes over the film, throbbing along with the breakneck percussion of the song. It’s also one of the low points for Prince’s The Kid, refashioning the sexy track into a expression of the character’s jealousy and immaturity.
What's your favorite track?
Every track is perfect, but I Would Die 4 U stands above the rest. Those opening lyrics: “I’m not a woman / I’m not a man / I am something that you’ll never understand” is a non-binary anthem for the ages. Plus, I’m sucker for aching romantic dance tracks (would it surprise you that I’m huge fan of Robyn?). Its shimmering synth creates a driving rhythm that balances the intimate ballad lyrics. And when that tinkling of the keys transitions into Baby I’m a Star you can just keep on dancing. I sometimes forget that they’re two different songs!
What mood, activity, and/or snack pairs best with this soundtrack?
Dig if you will, the dishes. I love to throw on the soundtrack while doing the washing up. Or just dancing in the living room with my cats. As far as mood goes, this is the ultimate pick-me-up album, so whenever I’m feeling down, I crank up Let’s Go Crazy and Baby I’m a Star. An exquisite snack pairing is prosecco and Sour Patch Kids. This is what I call quarantine thriving.
Posted by: Tom Fuchs