"I Would Die 4 U" is a song by Prince and the Revolution, the fourth single in the US from their 1984 album, Purple Rain. The up-tempo dance song was a top 10 hit—the final one from the album—in the US, reaching number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.

"I Would Die 4 U"
US 7" single
Single by Prince and The Revolution
from the album Purple Rain
B-side	"Another Lonely Christmas" "Free" (UK 12")
Released	November 28, 1984
Recorded	First Avenue, Minneapolis, August 3, 1983 (live recording) Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, late August-early September, 1983 (overdubs)
Genre	Synth-funk synth-pop
Length	2:51 (Album Version) 2:57 (Single Version) 10:15 (12-Inch Version)
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Prince
Producer(s)	Prince
Prince singles chronology
"Purple Rain" (1984) "I Would Die 4 U" (1984) "Take Me with U" (1985)
Prince (UK) singles chronology
"Purple Rain" (1984) "I Would Die 4 U" (1984) "Let's Go Crazy"/"Take Me with U" (1985)

The song's lyrics evoke Jesus Christ's message to his followers: "U—I would die 4 U, darling if U want me 2"; as well as, "if you're evil I'll forgive you", "all I really need to know is that U believe," and, "I'm your messiah and you're the reason why."[1]

Cash Box called the song "a practice in restrained ecstasy" in which "Prince delivers one of his finest and most passionate...vocal performances."[2]

"I Would Die 4 U" is often played in sequence with "Baby I'm a Star", the track following it, on Purple Rain. As of April 30, 2016, it has sold 561,772 copies in the United States.[3]

"Another Lonely Christmas"

The B-side, "Another Lonely Christmas", is a melancholy account of a man mourning his lover, who had died from pneumonia on a previous Christmas Day. Prince recorded "Another Lonely Christmas" in February 1984.[4] Although during that period of his life Prince was socially very solitary, he insisted that "Another Lonely Christmas" was a fictional story.[4][5] The song has been compared to the song "Sometimes It Snows in April," from the 1986 album Parade.[4] He only performed "Another Lonely Christmas" live one time, on the day after Christmas, December 26, 1984, at the St. Paul Civic Center in Minnesota.[5][4]

Alternate versions

The extended version of "I Would Die 4 U" is actually a rehearsal jam on the song with The Revolution and musicians from Sheila E.'s band, Eddie M (on sax) and Miko Weaver (guitar), along with Sheila E. herself recorded some time before the Purple Rain Tour. The jam features some overdubbing and fades at the end; a longer version, nearly 31 minutes long, was never released officially, but has been bootlegged. The extended mix was also used as the B-side of the 1989 "Erotic City" single (the artwork of which features the same image of Prince that was used for this single's cover).

The B-side of the UK 12" single release includes "Another Lonely Christmas" as well as the 1999 track "Free".

Personnel

• Prince – lead and background vocals and various instruments
• Wendy Melvoin – guitar and vocals
• Lisa Coleman – keyboards and vocals
• Matt Fink – keyboards
• Brown Mark – bass
• Bobby Z. – drums and percussion

Track listing

7": Paisley Park / 7-29121 (US)

1. "I Would Die 4 U" (Single version) – 3:03
2. "Another Lonely Christmas" – 4:51

12": Paisley Park / 9 20291-0 (US)

1. "I Would Die 4 U" (Extended version) – 10:15
2. "Another Lonely Christmas" (extended version) – 6:47

12": Warner Bros. / W9121T (UK)

1. "I Would Die 4 U" (Single version) – 2:57
2. "Another Lonely Christmas" – 4:51
3. "Free" – 5:00

Charts

References

External links

• Dedicated Prince site featuring... "I Would Die 4 U" lyrics and B-side track... "Another Lonely Christmas" lyrics

На других языках

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