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Raspberry Beret

"Raspberry Beret"
Prince RaspBeret.jpg
Single by Prince and The Revolution
from the album Around the World in a Day
B-side "She's Always in My Hair" (US)
"Hello" (UK)
Released May 15, 1985
Format 7" single, 12" single
Recorded August 1984
The Warehouse, St. Louis Park, Minnesota
Genre
Length 7" single and album version: 3:31
12" single: 6:30
Video: 4:18
Label Paisley Park
Writer(s) Prince
Producer(s) Prince
Prince and The Revolution singles chronology
"Take Me with U"
(1985)
"Raspberry Beret"
(1985)
"Pop Life"
(1985)
Prince (UK) chronology
"Paisley Park"
(1985)
"Raspberry Beret"
(1985)
"Pop Life"
(1985)

"Raspberry Beret" is a song by Prince and The Revolution. It was the first US (and second UK) single from their 1985 album, Around the World in a Day.

The sound of the song expanded upon previous Prince arrangements, incorporating stringed instruments (a recurring accompaniment over the years), Middle Eastern finger cymbals, and even a harmonica on the extended version. The song was also more in the pop vein than ever before, though the 12-inch single and video of the song feature a funky intro. Although the song was originally recorded in 1982, Prince drastically reworked it with The Revolution to give it more of an international sound. The string section was: Novi Novog on violin, Suzie Katayama, David Coleman and Prince on cello.

The song tells of a teenage romance and first sexual experience with a girl who wears the titular hat. The video for the song was Prince's second since his short-lived "ban" on music videos, and was directed primarily by himself, with animation created by Colossal Pictures co-founder Drew Takahashi. The song quickly became a fan favorite, and a staple in nearly every Prince tour. The extended version was included on Ultimate in 2006. While the song hit number 1 in Cash Box and reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US, behind "A View to a Kill" by Duran Duran, it only reached number 25 on the UK Singles Chart.


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