Prince: All Number 1 Songs Ranked Worst To Best

3rd number one, 1984

If you were born after 1984, then you came into the world knowing the words to this song. Chances are, though, you don't know what it's talking about. In Prince's own words, "When there's blood in the sky... red and blue = purple. Purple rain pertains to the end of the world and being with the one you love and letting your faith/God guide you through the purple rain."

The titular theme of its parent movie, Purple Rain also serves as the closer to what many have deemed the greatest rock film of all time. The version we all know and love was recorded live in one take, and legend has it that Prince brought the house down. The ethereal feel of the song hits harder once you know that, and especially now that Prince himself has gone on to paint the sky purple.

In 2007, Prince closed out his Super Bowl halftime show with a performance of this song... while actual rain poured down on him, lit up by the stage's purple lights. Suffice it to say, when talent this supreme takes to the stage, the Gods themselves do weep. That is even more meaningful than being called music royalty.

Fun Fact: Prince wanted this song to be a country duet with Stevie Nicks, so he sent her the original ten-minute instrumental and asked her to write the lyrics. However, Nicks felt overwhelmed by the task and kindly excused herself from it.