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What a coincidence that Michael Jackson should pass away on the 25th Anniversary of the release of Prince’s masterpiece Purple Rain. As Chris Rock mentioned in a joke, we spent the 80s arguing about who was better, Prince or Michael Jackson. In retrospect, we were lucky to have our own Beatles and Stones to compare at that time!
Purple Rain furthered Prince’s R-Rated reputation built from touring in his underwear for Controversy or “Little Red Corvette,” but also featured his incredible guitar-playing and a highly futuristic-sounding single “When Doves Cry.”
Of course, Prince’s singing and dancing were almost equal to Michael Jackson’s, but he also wrote his own songs, played every instrument and produced his own records. That was an upgrade similar to the Beatles vs. the Beach Boys.
As a reaction, Michael Jackson may have retreated to a group image, reuniting his brothers for the Victory tour. Forces such as the Parents Music Resource Group were closing in on Prince and other artists in the repressive 80s, but Prince, his music and the movie took over America in 1984. The film showed a childhood that may have been similar to Michael’s, with an abusive musician-father, but Michael could never be so revealing, even in a dramatic situation.
Eddie Murphy was making jokes about Michael Jackson, but he was dancing on stage with Prince (and playing The Revolution in basketball according to Charlie Murphy!).
Prior to Michael’s sad demise last Thursday, I made a list of Purple Rain’s achievements:
Great B-side to first single “Erotic City”
Incredible album art, typography and package featured white vinyl and collectible poster w/half black and white face as background for a band shot of The Revolution in their full paisley get ups.
It was so big that Prince sent only a video to Live Aid in Philadelphia.
Last time we saw Prince use the Hohner Telecaster copy was on this album. After that it was teardrops only, except when he played “When You Were Mine” live.
Wendy and Lisa and The Revolution now featured artists. Dr. Fink, Brownmarc and Jesse Johnson filled out the band.
Prince’s label and studio complex both named Paisley Park born as a result of the success, and several spin-off bands were launched: Sheila E., Appolonia, Vanity 6, The Family, Morris Day & The Time and its members Jam and Lewis (Flyte Tyme) became massive producers of artists such as Alexander O’Neal and Janet Jackson’s breakthrough “Control.”
Purple Rain lit off Prince’s run of dominance as an artist. Unlike Michael Jackson, his next three albums issued in consecutive years, each featured an unmitigated hit single. Around the World in a Day (he didn’t copy his big album like Michael and every other artist!) had “Raspberry Beret”; Parade had “Kiss” and Sign o’ the Times featured its topical title song. He never regained this momentum but he has put out a few good songs per album since.
Michael Jackson never attempted a film career except for the Disneyland ride “Captain EO.” I’m sure many more people heard about that than actually saw it. In my opinion, Purple Rain has a lot in common with A Hard Day’s Night – they both gave an eager public a much closer look at their rock star, and the view enhanced their opinions immensely. It is also a fictionalized musical bio of the artist, and each was made after an initial burst of fame with the goal of propelling the artists while making a buck or two. Both worked.
In case you’ve never seen it (I never had), here’s a little Captain Eo:
Neither artist had a perfect career, but we can be happy Prince is still around. I hope he pays tribute to Michael in an appropriate fashion, half good, half bad. The fact that Thriller came out almost exactly in the middle of MJ’s short life leads me to think about it in terms of pre and post Thriller. Many folks feel Prince was the beginning of the end for him, some the Pepsi commercial.
At lease Michael is “free at last” from all these comparisons and the competition of show business.
