The one thing I love about music is that everyone has their own story to tell – the musician, the lyrics, the way the fans decipher them and also the way a song can also create a memory or a meaning to someone. That is what this new article is all about. Each fortnight, we will take a look at a different song and I will take you as a trip down memory lane as to what it means to me. Welcome to Music Memories.

Track: When Doves Cry
Artist: Prince & The Revolution
Original Release Date: 16th May 1984

There are some iconic musicians in the world that I know that I should spend more time to listen to but like everything I cannot find the time. One of these musicians that I have this relationship with is Prince. I was introduced to his music from a very early age and the song 1999 I remember vividly being played throughout my childhood on the run up as it was always played on radio stations. However, even though I always knew he was iconic, I have always find it hard to physically find time to listen to his music – I have always sort of said – I will make the time but when you are growing up as a teen and you are so infatuated with another genre, you forget.

I have constantly said to myself, I must listen to Prince but just never really had. It was in 2018, I was asked to edit a VT for a television show where it was a set up about a story of Prince and I think one of his relatives was on the show. For this edit, I had to use the song When Doves Cry, I had never really heard it before but it was an upbeat song so it was a fun track to work with.

The magic of being an editor is that a song can have one of two effects on you – after the completed edit you either hate the song or you end up loving it. This was one of those times when I actually ended up really liking this song.

The thing that I really like about this song is the piano jingle that happens throughout and creates the songs tempo. I find that the drumbeat is catchy and it creates this really unique sound that it makes it a really addictive track.

A lot of the time when you discover a song when you are editing, it means that everytime that you hear it you can see the edit you did to the track in your head. This is one of those songs that when I hear it, I can switch that off and just enjoy the song for what it is.

As I have listened to this track more, it has become more and more obvious how complex the music construction is of this song – there are a lot of elements that make this song a stand alone and very stylised.

Facts About When Doves Cry

•  The lead single from his sixth studio album Purple Rain.
• According to Prince’s biographer Per Nilsen, the song was inspired by his relationship with Vanity 6 member Susan Moonsie.
• “When Doves Cry” was Prince’s first Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 single, staying there for five weeks, and was also a worldwide hit.
• It was the last single released by a solo artist to receive a Platinum certification before the certification requirements were lowered in 1989