Prince (June 10, 1984) – Anderson Independent-Mail – Purple Rain Promotion with “When Doves Cry” Video

Prince’s managers use the groundbreaking “When Doves Cry” music video as part of a coordinated campaign to promote both the Purple Rain album and film.

Publication: Anderson Independent-Mail Date: Sunday, June 10, 1984 Country: United States Location: Anderson, South Carolina Section: Entertainment / Page 2D

THE STORY

The article highlights Prince appearing on a motorcycle in the six-minute “When Doves Cry” video, which is part of a coordinated campaign by his managers (Bob Cavallo, Joe Ruffalo, and Steve Fargnoli) to sell both the upcoming Purple Rain album and movie. It describes key scenes from the video (bathtub with doves, passionate kiss, motorcycle ride, domestic quarrel, mirror-image dance) and notes the innovative use of rock video for movie promotion. The piece also covers the managers’ background and the $7 million film’s production.

CONTEXT AND NOTES

This article was published just ten days before the Purple Rain album release (June 20, 1984). “When Doves Cry” was the lead single and became Prince’s first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. The video was revolutionary for its artistic direction and lack of a bass line, perfectly capturing the Purple Rain aesthetic and helping build massive anticipation for both the album and the film.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

Event: Music video and album/film promotion

Era: Purple Rain Era (1984) Tone: Promotional / Feature story Photography: Large black-and-white still from the “When Doves Cry” video showing Prince on a motorcycle (Associated Press Photo)

WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS

• Dramatic photo of Prince on a motorcycle from the “When Doves Cry” video

• Detailed description of the video’s cinematic style and key scenes

• Background on Prince’s management team and their strategy for the Purple Rain project

• Mention of the upcoming album release and film plans

RELATED MATERIAL 

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