Girish Mahajan (Editor)

I Would Die 4 U

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Released
  
November 28, 1984

Genre
  
Funksynthpopnew wave

Format
  
7" single12" single

B-side
  
"Another Lonely Christmas""Free" (UK 12")

Recorded
  
Live, First Avenue, Minneapolis, August 3, 1983

Length
  
Album 7": 2:4912": 10:15Single: 2:57

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

Contents

"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.

Following Prince's death, the song re-charted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 39 on the chart dated the week of May 14, 2016.

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, "Another Lonely Christmas", is a sad account of a man mourning his lover who died on Christmas Day from pneumonia. The UK 12" single release also included 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

    • 7": Paisley Park / 7-29121 (US)

    1. "I Would Die 4 U" (single version) – 2:57
    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

    Cover versions

  • Indie band Cush included a cover of the song on their 2002 EP Spiritual 1.
  • The song was covered by French music artist Space Cowboy on his 2003 album Across The Sky.
  • A cover by Mariachi El Bronx was included on the 2009 tribute compilation Purplish Rain. A free download of the song was offered by Spin magazine.
  • The synthpop band Chvrches covered the song during their live performances since 2012, titled as 'I Would Die 4 V', as a reference to the V in their band name.
  • Neo-soul singer Raheem DeVaughn released a cover on his 2010 mixtape "Mr. February aka March Madness."
  • British indie rock band White Lies released a cover of the song on their 2013 extended play Small TV.
  • Nick Jonas recorded a cover version, available on his Facebook page.
  • American singer Lydia Loveless covered the song on a single released together with Cory Branan in 2015.
  • California Pop band Hotel Apache released a cover of the song following Prince's death in April 2016.

    • Live cover performances

  • Of Montreal covered this song throughout their fall tour in 2007, along with other Prince songs.
  • Bloc Party covered part of the song as an intro to "Flux" throughout their 2008 summer tour.
  • Chvrches have covered this song live in 2012, and was one of the first three songs readily available on the internet by them.
  • Haim covered this song live at Osheaga and Lollapolozza in 2016.

    • References

    I Would Die 4 U Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


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