Prince's 'Purple Rain': 25th anniversary today

It’s been pouring in New York City all week, Music Mixers, which must be the weather gods’ way of honoring a most remarkable day in music history: Today is the 25th anniversary of Prince’s ultimate achievement — the album we dubbed the best of the last 25 years, no less — Purple Rain. He never meant 2 cause u any sorrow. He never meant 2 cause u any pain. He only wanted 1 time to see u laughing. He only wanted 2 see u laughing in that violet precipitation, dammit!

But you tell us, readers. What are your best memories of Purple Rain? The first time you saw the movie, heard the Doves Cry, realized He Would Die 4 U? Did you ever know a more Darling Nikki? Tell it all, below. Cuz honey, I know I know times are changing, that it’s time we reach out for something new, but the Purple One is forever, and respect must be paid.

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• Purplish Rain: Twilight Singers, Apollonia, Of Montreal, more pay tribute to Prince
• Why Purple Rain was our No. 1 New Classic Album
• Elixer/LOtUSFLOW3R/MPLSoUND: The EW review
• Prince, Prince, Prince: On the scene for his three-show night in L.A.
• Prince’s Oscar night house party: Funkin’ ’til dawn

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addCredit(“Everett Collection”)