D’Angelo performed “Sometimes It Snows in April” on Tuesday’s episode of The Tonight Show, in which he was joined by Maya Rudolph and Gretchen Lieberum’s Prince cover band, Princess.
D’Angelo, who has been a Prince fan since he was five years old, became emotional during the performance.
Prince will receive the royal treatment this month at the 10th annual BET awards. He will be honored with a lifetime achievement award at the event in Los Angeles on June 27.
“Prince is dynamic. Prince is genius. Prince is music,” said Stephen G. Hill, BET president of programming, music and specials.
The 52-year-old performer has garnered 10 platinum albums and 30 Top 40 singles. Previous BET lifetime honorees include: James Brown, Whitney Houston, Diana Ross and Al Green. Queen Latifah will host this year’s event. Kanye West will also perform.
Prince celebrated his 52nd birthday Monday by releasing a new track, “Hot Summer” to Minnesota public radio station, the Current. The Purple One is also featured on the July cover of Ebony magazine where he discusses being a Jehovah’s Witness and his love life.
In other Purple news,the funk band The Time fronted by Morris Day, will be releasing a new album this year, Billboard reports. The group is currently on the four-date Stingy Tour, which ends with a homecoming show on June 13 in Minneapolis.
“It’s good creative fuel for us to perform live,” producer and keyboardist Jimmy “Jam” Harris said “and then we can get back in the studio and bring that energy with us.”
After seeing the Minnesota Vikings play the Dallas Cowboys, Prince said he was inspired to write the song, “Purple and Gold.” The song is for the Vikings game against the New Orleans Saints, reports myfoxtwincities.com. It will also be featured on the team’s website.
Check it out and see the lyrics below.
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Purple and Gold Lyrics
the veil of the sky draws open
the roar of the chariots touch down
we r the ones who have now come again
and walk upon water like solid ground
as we approach the throne we won’t bow down
this time we won’t b denied
raise every voice and let it b known
in the name of the purple and gold
we come in the name of the purple and gold
all of the odds r in r favor
no prediction 2 bold
we r the truth if the truth can b told
long reign the purple and gold
the eyes say ready 4 battle
no need 4 sword in hand
Prince said recently on the PBS series, “Tavis Smiley,” that he turned down a million-dollar deal with the makers of the popular video game,”Guitar Hero,” to feature his music.
“I just think that it is more important that kids learn how to actually play guitar,” Prince said about his decision.
Prince also discussed how music helped him during his childhood.
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Beginning March 25, Prince will appear four straight nights on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” reports Billboard. His performance preludes his triple CD set release on March 29, which will be sold at Target for $11.98.
Prince fans received an email from his lotusflow3r.com website: “From the 24th on, there will b a slew of NPG-related events happening around electric LAlaland.. we don’t want 2 give away all the details yet, but b prepared 2 get yo groove on, numerous ways 4 numerous days. We know $ is tite but the adventures will b worth ur while! Stay 2ned 2 this outtaspacestation.”
On March 29, Target shoppers can pick up Prince’s new three CD set, reports the Associated Press. For $11.98, the set will include two new albums — “LOtUSFLOW3R” and “MPLSoUND” –and a third by his new artist, Bria Valente.
“Prince has long been renowned as one of the world’s most original and iconic musical artists,” said Mark Schindele, Target’s senior vice president of merchandising. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to share his most recent work with our Target guests.”
D’Angelo’s new album is set to be released this summer, but it is unclear whether Prince will be a collaborator as earlier reported by Suite 411.
“We have spoken to Prince, Mark Ronson and John Mayer’s camps,” manager Lindsay Guion tells Billboard.com. “But nothing has been confirmed at this time.”
Gnarls Barkley’s Cee-Lo Green, Raphael Saadiq, Q-Tip and Roy Hargrove will work with the R&B singer on his album since 2000.
Prince will release three new albums this year, according to the Los Angeles Times. The first CD tentatively titled, “MPLSOUND,” will feature “trippy, experimental poppy songs,” including a song with rapper Q-Tip.
Keisha Chante, a Canadian R&B singer, will portray Aaliyah in a biopic movie said BET.com. It is scheduled to be released this year and will highlight the late singer’s life from childhood to her untimely death in a 2001 plane crash.
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