Prince may not have been a fan of celebrating his birthday, but everyone else isâespecially yesterday, on what would have been the musicianâs 58th birthday. Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton declared the day forever Prince Day, and Tidal made 15 Prince albums available for streaming. And why stop there? The celebration continues with a collective of our favorite celebrities paying tribute to the Purple One in a video shot for W Magazine.
Times staffer Lynn Hirschberg directed the clips, enlisting her A-listers to remember the pop icon through his most memorable tracks. Through song and dramatic readings, Chris Evans, Kit Harrington, Rami Malek, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Ethan Hawke, and other celebs channeled Prince on-screen.
Evans gave a tremendous effort in singing âDiamonds and Pearlsââthough superhero roles should remain his focus. Malek did âKissâ in the âspirit of phone sex operatorâ and Harrington, with all the brooding hopelessness of Jon Snow, recited âLittle Red Corvette.â
Cindy Crawford, Tye Sheridan, Elle Fanning, Nate Parker, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Melissa Benoist were among the others remembering Princeâas Billboard reports. Check out more videos below:
Dave Chappelle, a massive Prince fan and devisor of the best Prince sketch ever, also celebrated the Purple Oneâs birthday. Following 10 recent Twin Cities gigs at First Ave and the State Theater, Chappelle visited Minneapolisâs Aria Club to hold “Juke Joint,” a throwback concept to the Prohibition era when â”black people couldn’t have fun.” Former Prince collaborators The Band With No Name joined the comedian onstage, and at midnight they played the hook to âPurple Rain.â
“I canât see my friend again, but I can see his spirit in this city,” Chappelle said then. “Itâs now the birthday of Minneapolisâ favorite son.”
Be sure to revisiting our tribute to the Purple One
Image: W Magazine