Purple will reign at the Super Bowl in February.
Following months of speculation, it's now confirmed that hometown hero Prince will perform during the halftime show of the big football game, which airs live on CBS Feb. 4.
It'll be the latest high-profile television appearance for the mercurial Prince, who released the album "3121" in March, yet declined to mount a national tour to support it. Instead, he popped up on a handful of shows such as "Saturday Night Live" and "American Idol" and embarked on a quick theater tour with new protege Tamar, with whom he has apparently since parted ways.
Prince, who has started performing on weekends at his new club in Las Vegas, also just picked up five Grammy nominations and contributed an original song to the film "Happy Feet.
"
Once ruled by Up with People and Disney tributes, the Super Bowl's halftime show has grown in stature, with U2, Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones performing in recent years. In 2004, Janet Jackson appeared at the Super Bowl in a duet with Justin Timberlake and essentially destroyed her 20-year career after exposing her right breast.
Minnesota Vikings fans would, of course, like to hear Prince sing "Purple Rain" at the Super Bowl.
They'd also like him to sing it to their team. And have that team on the field for that game.
But in the real world .
We asked a few local notables which song they'd suggest.
Paul Allen, co-host of the PA and Dubay show on KFAN radio and the play-by-play "voice of the Vikings": "I'm a big Prince fan. I'd like to hear him sing "Baby, I'm a Star," to celebrate the stars of the NFL.
And it's one of his best." (Allen added that if the Vikings were in the game and Prince were singing "Purple Rain," it would be Viking fan nirvana.)
Mark Mallman, Twin Cities musician: "I bet The Symbol could do a stomping cover version of the Chicago Bears' classic 'Super Bowl Shuffle' song.
I know that's what I'd be playing if I had returned that call from the Super Bowl people last month. Oops."
Jeanette Trompeter, WCCO-TV anchor: "I'm a HUGE prince fan!
And proud of it," says Trompeter, who admits she once knew every word to "Purple Rain." She says she'd pick "Kiss" or "U Got the Look," because they're upbeat, happy songs.
Molly Mulvehill Steinke, a Minneapolis publicist who flew to Vegas to catch Prince live last month: "Personally, I like funky Prince, so I'd like him to crank it up with 'Let's Go Crazy' and 'Kiss,' which appeal to the non-avid Prince fans looking for a familiar song, 'Let's Work,' have you ever heard this live?
Oh my! 'Housequake,' 'Partyman' or 'My Name Is Prince.' Plus, of course, if the Vikings make it to the Super Bowl, 'Purple Rain' is definitely in order.
"
Nate Kranz, booking director, First Avenue: "Well, he probably shouldn't play 'Erotic City' or 'Shockadelica.' I think he'd be veering into Janet Jackson territory."
What song do you think Prince should sing at the Super Bowl?
Post your ideas on .
News RSS