Raspberry Beret

When Prince decided to release Raspberry Beret as the first single from Around the World in a Day in 1985, he was exploring sounds that moved away from the commercial power of his previous work. The song, which he wrote and arranged himself, incorporated elements such as string instruments, Middle Eastern finger cymbals, and harmonica in its extended version, giving it a more pop and accessible character. The story it tells revolves around an intimate experience with a girl wearing a raspberry-colored beret.

The recording of Raspberry Beret, originally conceived in 1982, was significantly retouched by Prince and The Revolution to give it a more international feel. The string section featured Novi Novog on violin, and Suzi Katayama and David Coleman on cello. Wendy and Lisa provided backing vocals, while the rest of the instrumentation fell to Prince. The music video, filmed in Los Angeles, combined the band's performance with animations created by Drew Takahashi, and featured Jackie Swanson, who handed her guitar to Prince. Interestingly, guitarist Pat Smear, known for his work with Germs and Foo Fighters, appeared as a background dancer and, according to Dave Grohl, was nearly fired for not being able to follow the choreography. Producer Simon Fields recalled that a full video was shot, but then Prince commissioned a Japanese animator for a different proposal, merging both visions.

Although Raspberry Beret reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and number one on Cash Box, its impact in the United Kingdom was less significant, peaking at number 25 on the singles chart. The B-side of the US single, She's Always in My Hair, featured a rock and roll style with guitar and organ. In the UK, the B-side was Hello, which would later appear on the US release of Pop Life. Following Prince's passing in 2016, Raspberry Beret re-entered the Billboard Hot 100. The song remained a recurring piece in Prince's concerts over the years, evolving from full renditions on his 1986 tour to more stripped-down piano versions on later tours.