5 Great Prince TV Performances to Watch Right Now
Prince passed away today at age 57, leaving behind a rich legacy of incredible records, remarkable live concerts, and memorable awards show appearances that reduced A-list celebrities to screaming fans. Due to his notorious anti-Internet stance, many of his best on-camera performances are difficult to track down on YouTube or other video sharing sites. But a few jewels can still be found. Here are the five best Prince performances you can watch online right now:
The Arsenio Hall Show (Airdate: Feb. 23, 1993)
The Purple One turned up to deliver a stirring rendition of “Purple Rain” on what proved to be the penultimate year of Hall’s eponymous talk show. Even music legend Patti LaBelle, who introduced Prince alongside the host, looks positively giddy.
Muppets Tonight (Airdate: Sept. 13, 1997)
We never got the Prince/Kermit “Rainbow Connection” duet that the world so desperately needed, but the singer did give Rizzo and Clifford a crash course in songwriting, coming up with an impromptu number about what’s on the menu that day. Starfish and coffee never sounded so tasty.
Super Bowl XLI Halftime Show (Airdate: Feb. 4, 2007)
Like we needed more evidence that Coldplay’s got nothing on Prince. Even through a misty rain, Prince kept the audience dry with renditions of his own hits, as well as classics tunes like “All Along the Watchtower” and “Proud Mary.”
New Girl (Airdate: Feb. 2, 2014)
Continuing the Super Bowl theme, Prince lent New Girl his star power for the show’s post-Super Bowl XLVIII episode. Prince and Zooey Deschanel shared a memorable duet, but his best line was spoken rather than sung: “Finish your pancake, let’s get to work.”
The Arsenio Hall Show (Airdate: March 5, 2014)
Bookending his television career, Prince appeared on Hall’s re-launched (but short-lived) series for an entire episode that encompassed multiple musical performances and an extended interview. It’s a 41-minute session with a musical master.
