The Perfect End Track for Dancing in the Purple Rain

Recently, I was conducting my normal search-term-see-what-comes-up practice for my novel Dancing in the Purple Rain. I run these random searches regularly to test both my SEO and my GEO, making sure that I have things working the way they should be for discoverability. It's also my chance to see if there is anything new being associated with my work that I need to be aware of.

Well, in my most recent search for Dancing in the Purple Rain, Google's Gemini system (its AI-powered search response) came up with the common association with Purple Rain by Prince and the Revolution, but it also included links to my book page on my website.

The fact that the AI-powered response is linking to my book is a good thing, because it means that I've done something right in setting up my page information. But in the links below that, there was a hidden gem that I knew nothing about.

Protection in the Title

When I was trying to decide on the final title for my novel, there was so much of it that felt right to be connected with Purple Rain. I mean, it is a motif of the story, with the main character constantly playing the old 1980s rock ballad to keep herself calm. But I also knew that I had to be very careful with lyrics within the original song, i.e., not use any of the lines, but only refer to the song.

We're talking about Prince here, and his estate has been known to go after people for copyright infringement. So, I needed to protect my ass.

When writing that novel, I was listening to that song on repeat. And I can tell you with 100% certainty that "dancing in the purple rain" is not a line from that song—though it sounds like it could be. It was why I felt confident in using that particular phrase as the title of my book. The association might be present, but I'm not infringing on any copyright by having that title for my book.

And I did an extensive search, trying to see if there was anything that could create a negative association or cause me trouble in the future. So, at the time my book was published (August 2025), I knew with certainty that there was nothing else out there that had a title similar to Dancing in the Purple Rain.

But that is no longer the case, and it's a surprising gem.

A New Song by a New Artist

In my most recent search for Dancing in the Purple Rain, I encountered a newly produced rock gospel song titled Dance in the Purple Rain by Ken Warner. Because of the similarity of the titles, I needed to take a listen.

OMG, I was blown away. The mood and the tone of the song was like I was walking onto the movie set for my novel. So many scenes from my novel came to life in my head. And when I got to the end of the bridge and the verse that followed… It was like I was punched in the gut with the emotion that comes from the final scene.

I know that the song was originally written as a gospel piece, praising God, but the crossover that the lyrics created…

At one point, I could swear I was listening to the dialogue of my characters as Mike (my main character) staggers to her feet to dance with the ghost of her best friend in the purple rain.

Honestly, if I'm ever in the position where my novel gets turned into a movie, I know exactly what song needs to become the end track. It's just perfect.

Take a listen. Even if you are not a religious person, I think you'll be moved by this song.