By 1986, Prince had already conquered the world with Purple Rain and confounded expectations with Around the World in a Day. For his next project, he created Parade — a soundtrack to his second film, Under the Cherry Moon. While the movie flopped critically, the music stood tall.

Parade was adventurous, stylish, and European in its sensibilities, blending funk with French cabaret, jazz, classical flourishes, and minimalist pop. It was Prince’s boldest departure yet, showing he could write not just radio hits but also cinematic scores that expanded his palette.