Greatest Pop Stars Podcast Discussion

In 1984, Prince could do no wrong. He had the biggest album, one of the biggest movies, and several of the biggest singles of the year all as part of his Purple Rain era, and he was activley changing the sound and look pop music — not just with his own work, but with numerous hits written, produced and/or devised for other artists. But by 1986, he’d not only already shifted course from Purple Rain a number of times, he was more prolific than ever — with a new movie, a new soundtrack, a new tour, more new hits for other artists, and several new albums in the work, most of which would never see the light of day as originally devised. (And oh yeah, also one of the greatest hit singles in pop history.)

On this Vintage Pop Stardom episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, we use the sad occasion of the 10th anniversary of Prince’s tragic passing — April 21, 2016, a day none of us will ever forget — to dive back into a truly fascinating year in Purple mythology. Jem Aswad, executive director of music at Variety and longtime Prince megafan, joins to remember this extremely busy period of ups and downs for the all-time pop star, encompassing some of the biggest wins, losses and what-ifs of his singular career.

Along the way, we ask all the most pressing questions about Prince’s 1986: Is this the ultimate Prince year for the real heads? Was “Kiss” actually his best pop single? Did he do wrong by Mazarati writing it for them and then taking it back (and could anyone else have done it as well)? Was Under the Cherry Moon really that bad, or more misunderstood? Was its soundtrack album Parade just as much of a mess, or a different kind of success? Does “Manic Monday” make any sense as a Prince song? Could Prince have kept going with The Revolution for a just a little longer? And perhaps most importantly: Was Prince the greatest living solo artist before his death?