Prince Is Paid Tribute By Beck With A Cover Of ‘Raspberry Beret’

Prince was paid tribute by Grammy-award-winning musician Beck with his cover of The Purple One’s “Raspberry Beret” at the Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis, TN, over the weekend.

Beck introduced Prince’s song by saying, “I don’t have a raspberry beret but I do have this pink jacket.”

Beck performed “Raspberry Beret” to a cheering crowd while playing his acoustic guitar. Prince’s 1985 hit concluded with a sing-along from the crowd.

Rolling Stone reported that this was not the first time Beck has covered Prince’s “Raspberry Beret”; he also performed the fan favorite in Ireland during the Sea Change tour. Beck has also covered Prince’s “Purple Rain” on several occasions. The most memorable moment was when Beck teaches an audience member to pump the harmonica while he sings. He tells the fan she needs to “pump harder.” In the middle of the song, Beck says “I think Prince is crying right now somewhere.”

Although Beck’s performance of “Purple Rain” was far from perfect, the moment became a favorite for many concert attendees.

Prince was a huge influence and inspiration to many of today’s artists. Since his untimely death, a wide variety of musical artists have paid him tribute including Mariah Carey, Santana, Dixie Chicks, Bruce Springsteen, and Jennifer Hudson and the cast of The Color Purple. You can watch Hudson and the cast perform “Purple Rain” right there.

Prince’s fans and peers continue to mourn him. Stevie Wonder, music legend as well as a friend of Prince’s, told Rolling Stone how much Prince had meant to him and the world.

“Prince was so inspired, and so inspiring,” Wonder said. “He was kind, he was disciplined and he knew where he wanted to go. He was able to make big transitions. If Michael was the King of Pop, Prince should be the Emperor. Prince fought for his artistic freedom. He didn’t allow anyone or anything to get in his way. By following his own path, Prince took music to a whole other place, like the Beatles did. He wanted to change the way things were, like Marvin Gaye did. When you do that, you have to be very sure of yourself.”

After Prince’s death it seemed the whole world expressed their sadness. American landmarks turned purple including Niagara Falls, the Great Wheel in Seattle, and New Orleans Superdome. Even President Obama made a statement that he played “Purple Rain” in the legend’s honor.

Prince’s death remains somewhat of a mystery with contradicting stories being released to the media every day. His death has been blamed on everything from influenza to drugs, with some conspiracy theorists even pointing to the Illuminati, according to World News Wire.

The Inquisitr recently reported on the bombshell his sister dropped that Prince had no known will for his $300 million dollar fortune. Heirs Hunters International was researching into the possibility of Prince having a love child that could inherit everything.

Prince’s death was tragic and shocked the world, but whatever the cause, fans, friends, and peers of the music icon know he would want us to celebrate his life and his music. The musical tributes to Prince across the world show we are doing exactly that.

[Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images]