The 25 best songs by Prince, ranked

Prince Rogers Nelson, known as “Prince,” was one of the greatest American musicians of all time. A singer, producer, songwriter and multifaceted artist from Minneapolis, he created a genre-bending sound and redefined music for generations with hits like “Diamonds and Pearls” and “Little Red Corvette.” Prince released 39 studio albums and hundreds of singles, won seven Grammys and sold over 100 million records worldwide before his death from an accidental drug overdose in April 2016. He was 57 years old.

Prince was known for leading an ideological shift within the music industry, advancing artists’ creative autonomy and rights to their own music. To legally distinguish himself from others, he changed his name to a symbol and was recognized as “The Artist (formerly known as Prince).”

His mother was a social worker and his father was a jazz musician. Prince’s music pioneered what is now known as the Minneapolis sound, using a mix of rock, soul, jazz, blues, R&B, hip-hop, funk, gospel and electronic sounds. Prince wrote his first song at age seven on his father’s piano and signed with Warner Brothers Records at age 19, where he soon began releasing albums. For her (1978) and prince (1979).

The best songs by Prince

Ranking Prince songs should be forbidden because there are hundreds of them. However, I have compiled a list of the top 25 songs you shouldn’t miss. From emotional to energetic, Prince’s greatest hits are endless and timeless.

25. “So Dark (Remix)” by Prince (1998)

The track “Dark” originally appeared on Prince’s fifteenth album, Come, in 1994. In 1998, the song was remixed and given the name “So Dark” for Prince’s Crystal ball Album that takes on the shape and groove of R&B and neo-soul, moving away from the song’s original jazzy tones and intonations. “So Dark” is a good introduction to Prince for listeners new to the sound, a solid entry with a brisk tempo.

24. “Controversy” by Prince (1981)

The bass and synth-heavy song “Controversy” doubles down on the classic 1980s funk-electro sound that Prince is known for pioneering. With unique vocals, witty adlibs and a rap verse at the end, “Controversy” is perfect for the dance floor in the club or at home.

23. “Mountains” by Prince and The Revolution (1986)

From the album Parade, and the soundtrack to the romantic comedy, Under the Cherry MoonWritten by Prince and The Revolution band members Wendy & Lisa, “Mountains” feels very much like an accompaniment to a visual story, with a syncopated rhythm complemented by actors on a screen.

22. “Baby I’m a Star” by Prince (1984)

Originally released on Prince’s iconic Purple Rain “Baby I’m a Star” is a song that deserves rock star status. Purple Rain, The film that is associated with Prince is a 1984 rock musical that reflects the artist’s personal life through the lens of the film’s main character, “The Kid.” According to The Prince Vault, “In 1989, Tim Burton used “Baby I’m A Star” in a rough draft of the Batman film, during a scene where the Joker leads a parade of large balloons to indicate the type of music he wanted in that scene. When Prince was hired to provide the music (for Batman), he provided “200 Balloons” as a substitute, which itself was eventually replaced by “Trust.”

21. “Xotica” by Prince (20023)

“Xotica” is a sexy jazz instrumental piece by Prince Expectationa purely instrumental album released as a digital download only. The song itself features a relaxed drum groove, soulful saxophone and a sweeping electronic piano.

20. “Black Sweat” by Prince (2006)

“Black Sweat” comes from Prince’s 2006 album, 3121and was nominated for Best R&B Song and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards.

19. “Mr. “Nelson” by Prince with Lianne La Havas (2015)

A soaring song with a reggaeton backbone sped up to the BPM of electronic dance music, “Mr. Nelson” is a unique journey Prince takes with UK-based singer Lianne La Havas.

18. “The Beautiful Ones” by Prince (1984)

A love song on Purple Rain“The Beautiful Ones” was originally recorded in the early 1980s, but many associate the song with Mariah Carey’s cover on her 1997 album butterfly manifests itself as a duet with the R&B group Dru Hill.

17. “Delirious” by Prince (1999)

From the album 1999Gaining serious momentum and traction, “Delirious” came right after Prince’s hit “Little Red Corvette” from the same album. “Delirious” follows a standard 8-bar blues and tells the story of lust through sly sexual metaphors.

16. “Sexy MF” by Prince (1992)

“Sexy MF” is an uptempo funky jam reminiscent of the sound of James Brown. A confident and playful song with lyrical styles ranging from rap to spoken word, it’s taken from the artist’s 14th studio album, which is considered an unpronounceable cult icon.

15. “Let’s Go Crazy” by Prince (1984)

“Let’s Go Crazy” is the ultimate energy opener and was actually the lead song on both the album and the film Purple Rain, and for many of Prince’s live concert performances. With its fun, upbeat and danceable rhythm, “Let’s Go Crazy” is a perfect song to relax to.

14. “I Wanna Be Your Lover” by Prince (1979)

The first single from his second album, Prince, “I Wanna Be Your Lover” captures the true essence of the artist, complemented by a brightly backlit, disco-inspired video that features Prince front and center, singing to the camera with strong eye contact and soulful dancing.

13. “Cream” by Prince & The New Power Generation (1991)

From the iconic Diamonds and pearls The album “Cream” is a sexy number with a video that fits the feeling of a sexual revolution that mainstream pop music sparked in the 1990s.

12. “Pop Life” by Prince (1985)

“Pop Life” is a playful look at the conundrum of being in the spotlight. The seventh song from the artist’s seventh album, Around the world in one daythe title was written by Prince and the band The Revolution.

11. “U Got Look” by Prince (1987)

A percussion-heavy song with electric drums and hand drums played by world-famous drummer Sheila E., “U Got The Look” is from Prince’s sign of time Album.

9. “So Blue” by Prince (1978)

“So Blue” is a beautiful acoustic side of Prince, a somewhat unpredictable ballad that starts fast and fades out slowly, even romantically. “So Blue” is a nice change from the many instruments the artist is known for in his song, and showcases Prince’s vocal talent and soul.

8. “Purple Rain” by Prince (1984)

“Purple Rain” is probably one of Prince’s most iconic songs, as it is the name of his 1984 album and the pop culture film phenomenon of the same name, and it defines the artist’s sound at the peak of his career.

7. “Sometimes It Snows In April” by Prince (2002)

When Sometimes It Snows In April came out in the early 2000s, Prince had already been in the music business for 30 years and had a special talent for re-emerging with something new and raw.

6. “Kiss” by Prince (1986)

“Kiss” is considered by critics and fans alike to be one of Prince’s best songs. American song writer placed the song third on their list of the 10 best Prince songs in 2022 and in 2021, Rolling Stone ranked “Kiss” 85th on a list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.

5. “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World” by Prince (1995)

“The Most Beautiful Girl in World” is a love song that every woman wants to hear, an honest cry of love and beauty – something Prince is known for in all his music.

4. “Little Red Corvette” by Prince (1983)

In 1983 Billboard called Prince’s hit “Little Red Corvette” a “fast-paced rock number” and it’s true – that’s exactly what it is. A song for every generation, whose melody and content address true aspects of being human. Prince’s second single1999The song was Prince’s most successful chart song in 1983 and the first to reach number six on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

3. “Raspberry Beret” by Prince (1985)

As you might guess, the song is about a woman – a woman wearing a raspberry-colored beret. In the iconic video, the woman in question is played by actress Jackie Swanson, who later played Kelly Gaines in the television series. Bottom up. “Raspberry Beret” delights every audience and the first single from Prince’s seventh album Around the world in one day.

2. “When Doves Cry” by Prince (1984)

Another hit from Purple Rain (the album and the film), “When Doves Cry” was written by the film’s director, Albert Magnoli, “as the theme of a particular section of the film, which deals with the mingling of parental difficulties and a love affair.” “When Doves Cry” was Prince’s first Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 single in the US and worldwide and was one of the best-selling singles in 1984 according to Billboard.

1. Diamonds and Pearls by Prince

“Diamonds and Pearls” is a masterpiece of a song, a sprawling sonic composition that speaks to all the emotions that only Prince can address.

Bottom line

A champion of self-expression, Prince presented himself as androgynous and pushed boundaries of identity and sexuality with his music, lyrics, creative prowess and genre-bending sound. Prince’s music, cultural presence and influence have impacted music lovers for decades, changed the way the music industry and artists think about the business, and he will forever be immortalized as one of the greatest musicians of all time.