Raspberry Beret
"Raspberry Beret" | ||||||||||
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Single by Prince and The Revolution | ||||||||||
from the album Around the World in a Day | ||||||||||
B-side |
"She's Always in My Hair" (US) "Hello" (UK) | |||||||||
Released | May 15, 1985 | |||||||||
Format | 7" single, 12" single | |||||||||
Recorded |
August 1984 The Warehouse, St. Louis Park, Minnesota | |||||||||
Genre | ||||||||||
Length |
7" single and album version: 3:31 12" single: 6:30 Video: 4:18 | |||||||||
Label | Paisley Park | |||||||||
Writer(s) | Prince | |||||||||
Producer(s) | Prince | |||||||||
Prince and The Revolution singles chronology | ||||||||||
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"Raspberry Beret" is a song by Prince and The Revolution. It was the first US (and second UK) single from their 1985 album, Around the World in a Day.
The sound of the song expanded upon previous Prince arrangements, incorporating stringed instruments (a recurring accompaniment over the years), Middle Eastern finger cymbals, and even a harmonica on the extended version. The song was also more in the pop vein than ever before, though the 12-inch single and video of the song feature a funky intro. Although the song was originally recorded in 1982, Prince drastically reworked it with The Revolution to give it more of an international sound. The string section was: Novi Novog on violin, Suzie Katayama, David Coleman and Prince on cello.
The song tells of a teenage romance and first sexual experience with a girl who wears the titular hat. The video for the song was Prince's first since his short-lived "ban" on music videos, and was directed primarily by himself, with animation created by Colossal Pictures co-founder Drew Takahashi. The song quickly became a fan favorite, and a staple in nearly every Prince tour. The extended version was included on Ultimate in 2006. While the song hit number 1 in Cash Box and reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US, only behind "A View to a Kill" by Duran Duran, it only reached number 25 on the UK Singles Chart.
The US B-side, "She's Always in My Hair", is a rock and roll number, with guitar and organs and emotional lyrics screamed toward the end. The song would finally be performed live for the first time in 1993. This song is also said to be about Susan Moonsie of Vanity 6, but a glimpse of Prince's feelings towards the end of their relationship. "She's Always in My Hair" is actually about background singer and protégé Jill Jones, while "Private Joy" from Controversy is about Moonsie.
The UK B-side was "Hello", which was included on the US release of "Pop Life".
The 12" version has an incorrect time listing on the label. It is listed as 7:25, when the actual length of the song is 6:35.
A mishearing of the lyrics inspired the band name of The Lightning Seeds.
Following Prince's death, the song re-charted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 33 on the chart dated the week of May 14, 2016. As of April 30, 2016, it has sold 691,421 copies in the United States.[3]
Charts
Chart (1985) | Peak position |
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Australia (Kent Music Report)[4] | 13 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5] | 25 |
Germany (Official German Charts)[6] | 35 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[7] | 23 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[8] | 2 |
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[9] | 25 |
US Billboard Hot 100[10] | 2 |
Chart (2016) | Peak position |
France (SNEP)[11] | 36 |
References
- ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Prince & the Revolution: Around the World in a Day > Review" at AllMusic. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
- ↑ Mason, Stewart. "Prince / Prince & the Revolution - Raspberry Beret". Allmusic. Retrieved October 30, 2015.
- ↑ "Hip Hop Single Sales: Prince, Desiigner & Drake". HipHopDX. April 30, 2016. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
- ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. p. 239. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ↑ "Ultratop.be – Prince & The Revolution – Raspberry Beret" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Prince & The Revolution – Raspberry Beret". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Prince & The Revolution – Raspberry Beret" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Prince & The Revolution – Raspberry Beret". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- ↑ "Prince: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- ↑ "Prince – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Prince. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- ↑ "Lescharts.com – Prince & The Revolution – Raspberry Beret" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved May 9, 2016.