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Prince released a surprise new single in the small hours of last night (18 April), and it's now available to purchase online. Listen to it below.
The song was released the same day as it was announced he had signed to Warner Bros. Records, the label he famously fell out with nearly twenty years ago, and plans for a new studio album and a 30th anniversary reissue of Purple Rain were confirmed.
"A brand-new studio album is on the way," said a press release on the new deal with the label, "and both Warner Bros. Records and Eye are quite pleased with the results of the negotiations and look forward to a fruitful working relationship." Don't worry, his horrendous misspelling of the word "I" is in fact a reference to his new band 3RDEYEGIRL.
To call 'The Breakdown' a power ballad would be somewhat oversimplistic, as it's also laden with Prince's signature falsetto, a subtle backing choir and the occasional startling lazer sound effect.
Listen to Prince 'The Breakdown' below
According to Dr Funkenberry, Prince premiered the song live during a concert last Autumn, but this is the first time it's been revealed in its studio form.
There's no release date yet for Prince's new studio album, but 'The Breakdown' is available to download right now.
Below: 10 artists who wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Prince
