Prince's 'Purple Rain' is undoubtedly a great song, but is it the best song of the 1980s?
A poll conducted by the staff of indie music website Pitchfork seems to think so, as the 1984 track - taken from the album of the same name - came out on top of a list of 200 songs from the decade.
It beat Michael Jackson's 'Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (not sure we'd choose that particular Jackson song) and NWA's 'Straight Outta Compton' (topical) into second and third places, respectively.
The site praised Prince's use of "wistful guitar riff, floor-to-ceiling drums, dulcet swells of string and organ, and an indomitable two-word hook meant to be sung by a chorus, a room, an arena full of people."
The Top 10 was:
1. Prince and the Revolution – Purple Rain
2. Michael Jackson – Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’
3. N.W.A. – Straight Outta Compton
4. New Order – Blue Monday
5. Public Enemy – Fight the Power
6. Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)
7. Joy Division – Love Will Tear Us Apart
8. Talking Heads – Once in a Lifetime
9. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five – The Message
10. The Smiths – How Soon Is Now?
See the full list here.
