What Does Purple Rain Mean Anyway? Quiz

Answer: The Rose

The song was not written for the movie. Amanda McBroom, the song writer, wrote the song in 1977, and performed it herself for two years. In 1979, Bette Midler recorded the song for the soundtrack of the movie "The Rose." The movie was originally titled "The Pearl" as this was Joplin's nickname, says writer Sabrina-Lee in the article titled "The film, 'The Rose,' a Janis Joplin-type biography, starring Bette Midler, premieres in Hollywood".

The movie was "Janis Joplin TYPE" because the family refused to give the rights to Joplin's life story, says Lee, and so the title of the movie was changed to "The Rose."

Answer: Pretty Woman

Roy Orbison released "Pretty Woman" in 1964, and the song, which was written by Orbison and Dees, was used in 1990 on the soundtrack of the movie of the same title. In a 2008 interview with NPR's "All Things Considered" program, Dees said he suggested the words after Claudette came downstairs and demanded money from Orbison, to go shopping. Dees joked that pretty women don't need money, and "Orbison 'laughed and said "there's nothing funny about a pretty woman"'."

Answer: Simply Irresistible

The 1988 song released by Robert Palmer was also written by him. The song was used in 1999 a musical, "Contact", and a 2000 film, "American Psycho." But the 1999 film with the same name did NOT feature the Palmer song. So in this case, we have just overlapping titles, and that is a shame. Adding the Palmer song to the "Simply Irresistible" movie might have improved reviews.

Answer: The Crying Game

A song by the same title was released in 2014 by Nicki Minaj, but it was not the same song referenced in the question. The 1964 song was written by Geoff Stephens and produced by Donovan, with lyrics "One day soon, I'm going to tell the moon about the crying game." Later, Boy George's version was produced by the Pet Shop Boys.

Although the ending had a shocking twist (no spoilers here!), the movie met with high acclaim that noted skilled acting and a strong story.

Answer: Man on the Moon

R.E.M. sang this song in 2007 when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The song contains lyrics that refer to the conspiracy theory that the moon landing by American astronauts was faked. Although there was a rumor that Kaufman faked his own death, and scenes showing him were on the music video, the music lyrics did not contain reference to that theory. The movie with the same title starred Jim Carrey as Kaufman, and R.E.M.'s rendition of the song was on the movie soundtrack.

Answer: Purple Rain

The "Purple Rain" soundtrack spent 24 weeks at Number One on the Billboard charts. Backup band, Revolution, member Lisa Coleman said the meaning of "Purple Rain" was "A new beginning. Purple, the sky at dawn; rain, the cleansing factor." The movie suggested a link to personal freedom following a relationship's end.

The website songmeanings.com has many suggestions, one of which is that "the purple rain is the 'Grace of God, and/or Salvation'. He is sorry that things had to end with this woman, but he only wanted to see her (laughing, bathing, underneath) in the purple rain (Grace of God)." The article "20 Things You Didn't Know about Purple Rain" by Lucy Jones claims that Prince said "When there's blood in the sky - red and blue = purple... purple rain pertains to the end of the world and being with the one you love and letting your faith/God guide you through the purple rain." And yet, fans do not believe that is the end of the story.

They continue to speculate. So in answer to Player Ceduh's challenge, "What does 'Purple Rain' mean anyway?" my answer is "We may never know."

Answer: The Eye in the Sky

The lyrics of the song include "I am the eye in the sky. Looking at you, I can read your mind. I am the maker of rules..." Although the soundtrack of the movie has a song by the same title, it is an instrumental and not the same song. The film and music share titles only, but some of the lyrics match well with the plot of the movie, which takes monitoring by drones to use of drones in assassination plots.

Answer: Mamma Mia

The movie plot had a young woman planning her wedding, inviting three men who each might be her father. The reminiscing characters (which include Streep, Brosnan, Colin Firth and Christine Baranski) sing their way through "Dancing Queen," "Super Trouper" and ten other ABBA songs. Of course, the song "Mamma Mia" was a part of the soundtrack, as well as the title of the movie.

Answer: Yellow Submarine

The song is credited to John Lennon and Paul McCartney. In 2014, Howard Stern interviewed singer Donovan who was with McCartney in the early "Submarine" concept days. Donovan speculated that the song was about the Beetles being forced to live confined by their fame. Robert Christgau, music journalist, warned in "Esquire," that deep interpretations of the lyrics were foolish, and that John Lennon just had a submarine obsession.

Answer: Footloose

The movie and music was written after the city of Elmore, Oklahoma had to repeal an antiquated law banning dancing within the city limits. In 1979, students wanted a prom dance, and so the Elmore City Council had to repeal the law from 1800s. The city name was changed in the film, but the love of dance and the song made it to the movie.