In today’s piece by Tom Hoopes, we are reminded that there was a time when a secular pop icon could still write Christian themed songs without immediately being labeled and marginalized.
It sounds strange, I know: For years Prince has been one of the few artists I listen to during Holy Week.
He lists songs like The Ladder, The Cross, and Temptation. It may not be a stretch to find Christian themes in the work of an artist who’s music is notoriously hard to pin to a genre. In his 1999 interview with Larry King, Prince was asked how he would classify his own music. His response can be found at 13:18:
The only thing I could think of, because I really don’t like categories, but the only thing I can think of is Inspirational and I think that music from the heart falls right into that category. People really feel what it is that they do. Ultimately all music is or can be inspirational and that’s why it’s so important to let your gift be guided by something more clear.
In honor of the passing of this prolific and ever-mysterious artist that we ask readers to share their favorite Prince songs:
And today we celebrate...