Amanda Palmer & Jherek Bischoff – “Purple Rain” (Prince Cover)
Earlier this year, after we lost David Bowie, Amanda Palmer did her part to honor the man when she and the Los Angeles musician Jherek Bischoff, a frequent collaborator, got together to release an EP of Bowie covers. And now that we’ve lost another icon in Prince, Palmer and Bischoff have again paid tribute. Together, as Pitchfork points out, they’ve recorded a 10-minute string-quartet version of the beloved Prince power ballad “Purple Rain.” Palmer delivers the song’s lyrics in a tremulous voice, over weeping strings, and she also throws in the “Let’s Go Crazy” intro. Proceeds from the song are going to Sheila E.’s nonprofit Elevate Hope Foundation, which helps give music-based therapy to abused and abandoned kids. Listen to Palmer’s take on “Purple Rain” below.
You can buy the cover for $1 at Bandcamp.