Single: Sign O' The Times

{{single| |single name = Sign O' The Times |single image = |date = 18 February 1987 (US release)
2 March 1987 (UK release) |album = Sign O' The Times |label = Warner Bros. / Paisley Park Records |tracks = La, La, La, He, He, Hee (3:21)
La, La, La, He, He, Hee (Highly Explosive) (10:32)
Sign O' The Times (Edit) (3:42) |previous year = 1986 |next year = 1987 |previous image = Image:Anotherloverholenyohead single.jpg |previous single = Single: Anotherloverholenyohead |next image = Image:Ifiwasyourgirlfriend single.jpg |next single = Single: If I Was Your Girlfriend |previous single link = Anotherloverholenyohead |next single link = If I Was Your Girlfriend |introduction = Sign O' The Times was the first single to be released from Prince's ninth album Sign O' The Times, released six weeks before the album. The b-side, La, La, La, He, He, Hee, was previously-unreleased.

The cover art depicted new bandmember Cat, with her face obscured by the heart she was holding. It is a common misconception that this was, in fact, Prince.

Airplay

The single was the most added in both Billboard "Radio Most Added" sections of Hot Black Singles Action and Hot 100 Singles Actions charts on 7 March 1987, with a total of respectively 53 and 115 new adds, showing that a large number of radio stations across the USA had added it to their playlists.

Charts

Billboard reviewed the single on 7 March 1987 (Vol. 99 N°10, page 77) in the Singles "Picks" section (Records with the greatest chart potential):

"Preview and title track of his forthcoming album; reverse application of of the stark "Kiss" sound sketches the universal '80s quandary."

The single reached number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Chart, and number 1 on the Billboard Top Black Singles Chart (marking his fifth number 1 on that chart, following I Wanna Be Your Lover, When Doves Cry, Let's Go Crazy and Kiss. |format1 =7" |tracklisting = A. Sign O' The Times (Edit) (3:42)
B. La, La, La, He, He, Hee (3:21)

• Cat #: US/NZ: 7-28399
  

UK: W8399
JP: P-2241
DE/CA: 928 399-7
AU: MX213109-10

Cassette Single

A. Sign O' The Times (LP Version) (4:57)
B. La, La, La, He, He, Hee (Highly Explosive) (10:32)

• Cat #: US: 4-20648
  

|format2 =12" |content = A. Sign O' The Times (LP Version) (4:57)
B. La, La, La, He, He, Hee (Highly Explosive) (10:32)

• Cat #: US/CAN: 0-20648
  

UK: W8399T
DEU: 920 648-0
AUS: MX213113-4

12" Picture Disc

A. Sign O' The Times (LP Version) (4:57)
B. La, La, La, He, He, Hee (Highly Explosive) (10:32)

• Cat #: UK: W8399TP
  

|credits = * See individual tracks and related albums for credits. |format3 =7" Promo |7 inches = (US: 7-28399)
A. Sign O' The Times (Edit) (3:42)
B. Sign O' The Times (Edit) (3:42)

7" 1989 Back To Back Hits Reissue

• (US: 7-21938)
  

A. Sign O' The Times (Edit) (3:42)
AA. U Got The Look (3:46)

Cassette 1989 Back To Back Hits Reissue

• (US: 4-21938)
  

A. Sign O' The Times (Edit) (3:42)
AA. U Got The Look (3:46)
|format4 =12" Promo |12 inches =(US: PRO-A-2687)
A. Sign O' The Times (Edit) (3:42)
B. Sign O' The Times (LP Version) (4:57)

• (UK: SAM 349)
  

A. Sign O' The Times (LP Version) (4:57)
B. La, La, La, He, He, Hee (Highly Explosive) (10:32)

12" 2007 Reissue

• (UK: 920 648-0)

A. Sign O' The Times (LP Version) (4:57)
B. La, La, La, He, He, Hee (Highly Explosive) (10:32)
|other = (iTunes 2007 UK digital reissue / BPM) A. Sign O' The Times (LP Version) (4:57)
B. La, La, La, He, He, Hee (Highly Explosive) (10:32)
|charts =

Charts
America
Country: Chart	Entry Date	Peak Position	Weeks in Chart
USA: Billboard Hot 100	7 Mar. 1987	3	14
USA: Billboard Hot Black Singles	7 Mar. 1987	1(3)	14
USA: Billboard Hot Black Singles Airplay	14 Mar. 1987
USA: Billboard Hot Black Singles Sales	14 Mar. 1987
USA: Billboard Hot Crossover 30	14 Mar. 1987
USA: Billboard Hot Dance/Disco - Club Play	21 Mar. 1987	2(3)	11
USA: Billboard Hot Dance/Disco - 12 Inch Singles Sales	21 Mar. 1987
Europe
Country: Chart	Entry Date	Peak Position	Weeks in Chart
Belgium: Ultratop Flanders	21 Mar. 1987	8	9
Ireland: IRMA Singles Chart	8 Mar. 1987	6	7
U.K.: Gallup Singles Chart	14 Mar. 1987	10	9
Pacific
Country: Chart	Entry Date	Peak Position	Weeks in Chart
Australia: ARIA Top 50 Singles	17 Apr. 1987	29	8
Certifications
This single has not received any certifications in the USA
Awards
This single has not received any awards in the USA

|see also = ! colspan="2" align="left" style="font-size:100%;color:#AB3E00"| See also

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|- |colspan="2" |

Sign O' The Times (music video)	Sign O' The Times (sheet music)

|releases = {{:Releases: Empty} |album promotion = UK press advert published in Smash Hits:
|trivia = Warner Bros. Records filed a suit on 12 March 1987 against US radio KIIS-L.A. for playing the single earlier than the scheduled airplay date provided with the advance copy of the single, asking $1 million in punitive damages. (Billboard Vol. 99 No.13 - 28 March 1987).

• The single remained 11 weeks in the Billboard Hot Black Single Top 40 Chart and 7 weeks in the Gallup Top 40 UK chart.
• Single progression in Hot 100 Singles chart (100 pos):
  Entry position 59 (7 Mar. 87), 35 (14 Mar. 87), 24 (21 Mar. 87), 14 (28 Mar. 87).
• Single progression in Hot 100 Singles Airplay chart (40 pos):
  Entry position ?? (7 Mar. 87), ?? (14 Mar. 87), 25 (21 Mar. 87), 15 (28 Mar. 87).
• Single progression in Hot 100 Singles Sales chart (40 pos):
  Entry position ?? (7 Mar. 87), ?? (14 Mar. 87), 27 (21 Mar. 87), 14 (28 Mar. 87).
• Single progression in Hot Black Singles chart (100 pos):
  Entry position 63 (7 Mar. 87), 40 (14 Mar. 87), 21 (21 Mar. 87), 9 (28 Mar. 87).
• Single progression in Hot Black Singles Airplay chart (40 pos):
  Entry position 27 (14 Mar. 87), 9 (21 Mar. 87), 6 (28 Mar. 87).
• Single progression in Hot Black Singles Sales chart (40 pos):
  Entry position 37 (21 Mar. 87), 19 (28 Mar. 87).
• Single progression in Hot Dance / Disco - Club Play chart (40 pos):
  Entry position 41 (21 Mar. 87), 23 (28 Mar. 87).
• Single progression in Hot Dance / Disco - 12 Inch Singles Sales (40 pos):
  Entry position 18 (21 Mar. 87), 5 (28 Mar. 87).
• Single progression in Hot Crossover (30 pos):
  Entry position 18 (14 Mar. 87), 6 (21 Mar. 87), 4 (28 Mar. 87).

|alternative = |references = The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince by Per Nilsen & JooZt Mattheij, with the UPTOWN Staff (Uptown: 2004) ISBN 91-631-5482-X

• Billboard Vol. 99 N° 10 (7 March 1987), No.13 (28 March 1987).
• Chart(s):

The Billboard Book Of Top 40 R&B and Hip-Hop Hits by Joel Whitburn (ISBN 0-8230-8283-0)

Top R&B Singles 1942 - 1999 by Joel Whitburn (ISBN 0-89820-136-5)

Billboard Hot 100 Charts - The Eighties by Joel Whitburn (ISBN 0-89820-079-2)

Hot Dance/Disco 1974-2003 by Joel Withburn (ISBN 0-89820-156-X)

British Hit Singles by Martin Roach (ISBN 978-0-7535-1537-2)

The Official UK Charts Company / Prince

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