by Deftones frontman Chino Moreno recently shared his pick for the greatest song of all time during an appearance on The AWOLNATION Podcast.
The vocalist revealed that Prince’s “The Beautiful Ones” holds a special place in his heart. He described it as an emotional masterpiece that combines powerful vocals with beautiful instrumentation.
“My favorite song of all-time would have to be ‘The Beautiful Ones’ [by] Prince,” Moreno said. “[It’s] an emotional rollercoaster. Great vocals, music’s fucking beautiful.”
Moreno also reflected on his first experience with the song. It came through the iconic 1984 film Purple Rain.
“The first time hearing it was probably when I watched the movie [Purple Rain] as a kid,” he explained. “So you really get the visual of what’s going on in the movie. It’s a real kind of transition in the movie when Apollonia first really realizes that she’s really down for Prince as opposed to Morris [Day]. But he gets her with that song and by the end, she’s just like tears coming down.”
The Deftones singer went on to highlight specific musical elements that make the track stand out.
“Musically, there’s so many little things that happen,” he continued. “I think it’s maybe two thirds of way through the song and there’s this keyboard, real sort of diminished keyboard that comes in in the song and it’s an emotional tune, man.”
Moreno’s appreciation for Prince’s work reflects his eclectic musical tastes. These tastes have helped shape Deftones’ diverse sound over the years.
“The Beautiful Ones” appears on Prince’s legendary Purple Rain album. The album peaked at number one on the US Billboard 200 and has been certified 13x Platinum by the RIAA. The album served as the soundtrack to the film of the same name. The film co-starred Prince and Apollonia Kotero and became a commercial success that helped establish Prince as a major music and film figure.
Wikipedia noted that the Purple Rain album and film are considered cultural touchstones of the 1980s. The project blended rock, funk, R&B, and pop to create a unique sound that influenced countless artists and continues to resonate with audiences today.
The revelation comes as Deftones continue their own successful career trajectory. Warner Music reported that the band released their tenth studio album, “private music,” on August 22, 2025. The release marked their first in five years since “Ohms” in 2020. The new album features a return to their signature atmospheric sound, with production by Nick Raskulinecz.
Deftones have also kicked off a North American tour in support of the new album. The tour includes dates with Phantogram, IDLES, and Barbarians of California. The lead single from “private music” is “My Mind Is a Mountain.”
The full conversation with Chino Moreno is available on the Totally Committed podcast episode featuring the Deftones frontman.
