Gold (Prince song)

Infobox Single
Name = Gold


Caption =
Artist = Prince
from Album = The Gold Experience
B-side = "Rock 'N' Roll Is Alive! (And It Lives In Minneapolis)
"I Hate U" (Extended Remix) (CD)
Released = 30 November, 1995
Format = 7" single
Cassette single
CD single
Recorded = Paisley Park Studios, September 1993 – 1994
Genre = Pop, rock
Length = 7" edit: 4:43
Album: 7:23
Label = Warner Bros. Records/NPG Records
Writer = Prince
Producer = Prince
Certification =
Chart position =
* #92 R&B
* #88 US
* #10 UK
Last single = "I Hate U"
(1995)
This single = "Gold"
(1995)
Next single = "Dinner with Delores" (Video Only in US)
(1996)
Misc = Extra chronology
Artist = Prince (UK)
Last single = "Purple Medley"
(1995)
This single = "Gold"
(1995)
Next single = "Dinner with Delores"
(1996)

"Gold" is a song by Prince (his stage name at that time being an unpronounceable symbol) from his 1995 album "The Gold Experience". Obviously proud of the number, Prince was touting the song as the next "Purple Rain" to reporters before the album's release. Indeed, the song is quite anthemic, though it lacks the singalong chorus of "Purple Rain". It is also much more synth-based as opposed to the dominant guitar of "Purple Rain". A rousing guitar solo "is" present in "Gold", but much later in the mix. Another difference between the songs is that "Purple Rain" was recorded live (and later edited in the studio) while "Gold" is a studio creation from the get-go, featuring Prince's multi-layered vocals. The lyrics proclaim "all that glitters ain't gold", instructing the listener to look beneath the surface and not take everything at face value.

The B-side was "Rock 'N' Roll Is Alive (And It Lives In Minneapolis)", a response to the song "Rock and Roll Is Dead" by Lenny Kravitz. The song complements the rock-based "Gold" and features rousing guitar solos and live drumming as well as various studio tricks throughout the track. The chorus is sample recorded from a live audience. Prince would later use the technique on several songs for the New Power Generation release, "Newpower Soul". The track was one of the few new songs Prince released as a B-side since the 1980s. Prince also made a special remix of the song called the "Tony Fly Mix" to be played on the local Minneapolis DJ's radio program. The remix remains unreleased.

A maxi single on CD and vinyl also included the extended remix of "I Hate U".

A limited edition gold CD single was released in the UK, housed in a gold jewel case. The track listing was the same as the standard CD single.

Chart performance

The song achieved little success in the US with minor Mainstream radio play and no R&B/Hip-Hop or Rhythmic radio play; the single also didn't sell very well in the US where it only peaked at #88 and stayed in the hot 100 for only 2 weeks, but the case was the extreme opposite in the UK, where it achieved major success peaking at #10 on the UK Singles Chart