Private Parties, Purple Rain Style! #atozchallenge #atoz #superbowl #halftime #movies

“I never meant to cause you any sorrow. I never meant to cause you any pain. I only wanted to see you laughing. I only wanted to see you laughing in that purple rain”

“Purple Rain” by Prince is always welcome whenever and wherever I’m listening to music -- that could be in the bathroom, while working on the computer and during bedtime. Although I haven’t seen Prince in concert, I did enjoy watching his Superbowl XLI Halftime Show, in 2007. Those who remember this particular football game featuring the Indianapolis Colts vs. Chicaco Bears may also recall the rainy weather everyone endured at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, Florida.

Prince closed out his Superbowl performance that day with none other than “Purple Rain” -- singing and playing his guitar in the Miami downpour, amidst an enthusiastic crowd. Mother nature, the NFL nor Prince could not have timed this event any better -- well, maybe Mother nature knew what she was doing. Prince quickly turned what could have been a downer, into a very memorable show for football audiences in attendance and watching on television. The song is on the soundtrack for his movie of the same name -- “Purple Rain,” a drama also starring musician Morris Day.

So in honor of Prince, the “Purple Rain” movie and Tina at Life is Good’s halftime locker room talk for the A to Z Challenge, here are some group party and private party ideas -- complete with a Purple Rain Cocktail recipe, that you can enjoy regardless of whether a rainy day is in the forecast for your town.

The Purple Rain Group Party - Rated PG-13

Host an 80s theme Sweet 16 party where you all play karaoke games and then have a costume contest based on the "Purple Rain" movie. Turn the party location into a nightclub setting that resembles First Avenue nightclub in Minneapolis. You could also "book" guests as a fun method your RSVP method, which also doubles as a guarantee that those in attendance will participate in the karaoke performances.

-and-

The Purple Rain Private Party - Rated R (for Adults)

Learn the choreography from the scene where Apollonia 6 performs their song titled "Sex Shooter" at First Avenue nightclub and then treat your boyfriend or husband (...or girlfriend, if you swing that way) to a "Purple Rain" flashback for Valentine's Day or a surprise evening alone together.

Serve up a Purple Rain cocktail before your bedroom (or living room or wherever!) surprise for your honey. This drink does not appear to be associated with the "Purple Rain" movie but you can still enjoy it nonetheless, since it shares the same name:

1 ½ oz. Gin
Cranberry Juice
1 splash of Blue Curacao
1 splash of sweet and sour mix
1 splash of soda water* 

Fill a tall glass with ice and then pour in the gin. Fill the glass with cranberry juice and then add blue curacao, sweet/sour mix and soda. Shake glass gently (or maybe stir, if you’re prone to making a mess) and then add more blue curacao until the drink has a royal-purple tint to it, and serve.

*I suppose, 7up could be used as an alternative for soda water if you don't have the latter. Purple Rain cocktail recipe courtesy of Drinks Mixer.

Now, everybody together, put up your lighters and wave them in the air....

(Although I couldn't find a clip of Prince's "Purple Rain" performance at the time of this writing, here is another portion of his halftime show, where he covers songs by Jimi Hendrix and The Foo Fighters)

Which one of the Purple Rain parties listed here would YOU be likely to attend?

Would YOU drink the Purple Rain cocktail?

What is YOUR favorite Prince song?