I Would Die 4 U

"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
Format
Recorded Live, First Avenue, Minneapolis, August 3, 1983, Overdubs Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, Late August-Early September, 1983
Genre
Length
  • Album 7": 2:49
  • 12": 10:15
  • Single: 2:57
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) Purple Rain1984		 "I Would Die 4 U"
(1984) I Would Die 4 U1984		 "Let's Go Crazy"/"Take Me with U"
(1985) Let's Go CrazyTake Me with U1985

"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.

"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.[1]

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

Track listing

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

Charts

Chart (1984–85) Peak
position
Canadian Singles Chart 12
Netherlands Singles Chart 7
UK Singles Chart 58
US Billboard Hot 100 8
US Billboard Hot R&B Singles 11
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs 50

Cover versions

  • Indie band Cush included a cover of the song on their 2002 EP Spiritual 1.[2]
  • The song was covered by French music artist Space Cowboy on his 2003 album Across The Sky.[3]
  • 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.[4]
  • 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.[5]
  • Neo-soul singer Raheem DeVaughn released a cover on his 2010 mixtape "Mr. February aka March Madness."[6]
  • 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. She also released a cover version on the 2017 album Boy Crazy and Single(s).
  • California Pop band Hotel Apache released a cover of the song following Prince's death in April 2016.[7]

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.
  • Justin Timberlake did a cover/duet at the Super Bowl LII halftime show.

References

  1. ↑ "Hip Hop Single Sales: Prince, Desiigner & Drake". HipHopDX. April 30, 2016. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  2. ↑ "cMusicWeb.com: Spiritual 1 EP".
  3. ↑ "Space Cowboy — I Would Die 4 U — Listen and discover music at Last.fm".
  4. ↑ "Get Your FREE Copy of SPIN's Prince Tribute!". Spin.
  5. ↑ "CHVRCHES – I Would Die 4 V (Prince Cover) - All Things Go".
  6. ↑ "Mr. February aka March Madness - 368 Music Group". 368 Music Group. 15 January 2010.
  7. ↑ "hotelapache". Retrieved 30 December 2016.
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