Prince’s “Purple Rain” becomes a bestseller on the U.K.’s music charts after being featured in a recent episode of Strictly Come Dancing, turning the decades-old cut into a smash. American Rock, Funk, and R&B musician Prince (born Prince Rogers Nelson, 1958 – 2016) performs onstage, during the ‘Parade’ tour, Wembley Arena, London, 8/12/1986. (Photo by Steve Rapport/Getty Images)
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More than 40 years after its release, “Purple Rain” still stands as a classic, one that continues to reach new audiences and find new fans to this day. The track, which in some instances is credited to both Prince and his backing band The Revolution or as a solo tune – the one succeeding on the charts at the moment – fronted his album of the same name, which also served as the soundtrack for Prince’s film.
Thanks to a recent high-profile TV sync in the United Kingdom, “Purple Rain” has become a hit again in that country. It’s not unusual for smashes from decades past to surge after being featured in mainstream media, but Prince’s cut manages to reach one tally it’s never appeared on before while simultaneously hitting a new high on the only other ranking on which it can be found, as sales of “Purple Rain” exploded recently across the pond.
“Purple Rain” Suddenly Becomes a Bestseller
“Purple Rain” arrives on the Official Singles Sales chart, the list of the bestselling individual tracks in the U.K. regardless of genre, language, or format. The tally includes digital downloads as well as sales on CD, vinyl, and cassette. This frame, “Purple Rain” enters at No. 47, giving Prince another posthumous win and marking his seventeenth appearance on the roster.
“Purple Rain” Hits a New Chart Peak Decades After Its Release
At the same time, “Purple Rain” can also be found on the Official Singles Downloads chart, as it seems that purchases on platforms like iTunes are largely to thank for Prince’s momentary comeback. Unlike on the Official Singles Sales roster, however, “Purple Rain” is not new to the downloads-only ranking. The rock favorite reenters at No. 43 in its fourth frame ever on the list, reaching a new all-time high on the Official Singles Downloads chart.
The Years-Long Chart Journey of Prince’s “Purple Rain”
“Purple Rain” originally debuted on the Official Singles Downloads chart back in 2007. At the time, it launched at No. 87, and the cut was last seen on the list in November 2009. It’s been well over a decade since this solo version of “Purple Rain” appeared on the downloads roster, although the take credited to Prince and The Revolution found space as recently as 2018 and has previously climbed as high as No. 2 in the wake of Prince’s unexpected passing in 2016.
“Purple Rain” Returns After Strictly Come Dancing Sync
“Purple Rain” is back in the spotlight after it was featured on a recent episode of Strictly Come Dancing, the hugely popular British reality series that pairs celebrities with professional dancers. The episode, titled “Icons Week,” aired in October. Prince is one of several stars who benefit, as songs from Celine Dion, Dolly Parton, and Cher also bounce back onto multiple tallies and, in some cases, hit never-before-seen highs.
Prince’s Purple Rain Album Climbs Back Into the Top 10
Perhaps thanks to Strictly Come Dancing and the renewed attention surrounding Prince’s music because of the episode, the singer-songwriter also sees multiple albums climb in the U.K. this frame. His simply-titled The Very Best Of compilation finds its way back to the Official Album Downloads chart at No. 71.
Of course, Purple Rain (the album) is the big winner in Prince’s catalog at the moment. The set climbs two spaces on the Official Soundtrack Albums chart, and while that’s a fairly small gain, the title — which won Prince an Academy Award decades ago — bounces back into the top 10 as it pushes from No. 11 to No. 9. Purple Rain has previously led the soundtracks-only roster and is coming up on an incredible and historic 1,000 weeks on the list.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2025/11/05/princes-masterpiece-becomes-a-bestseller-decades-after-it-took-over-the-world/
