US singer Prince performs on October 11, 2009 at the Grand Palais in Paris. Prince has decided to give two extra concerts at the Grand Palais titled “All Day/All Night” after he discovered the exhibition hall during Karl Lagerfeld’s Chanel fashion show. AFP PHOTO BERTRAND GUAY (Photo credit should read BERTRAND GUAY/AFP/Getty Images)
Purple guitars, purple pianos, a movie called “Purple Rain” and “The Purple One” moniker.
All of those things are as big of a part of Prince’s brand and image as his masterful musicianship. But it turns out that purple wasn’t actually his favorite color. In fact, it wasn’t remotely close.
This mind-boggling news comes from Prince’s sister Tyka Nelson, who spoke to the Evening Standard about a London exhibit that’ll show her brother’s artifacts on Oct. 26.
“The standout piece for me is his orange Cloud guitar,” said Tyka. “It is strange because people always associate the color purple with Prince, but his favorite color was actually orange.”
Okay, have you let out a big old gasp yet? Is the shock starting to set in a little?
If it has, you’re probably not alone because there hasn’t been anyone more closely associated with the color purple than Prince, with the possible exceptions of Barney the dinosaur and the McDonald’s character Grimace from back in the day.
In fact, when Prince died from an opioid overdose in April 2016, there were numerous purple-lit tributes worldwide, including the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Empire State Building in New York City and the Superdome in New Orleans.
More on Prince:
Arsenio Hall Accepts Sinead O’Connor’s Apology for Prince Drug Accusations, Drops Libel Suit
Prince’s Half Sister to Release Jazz Song, Album from Their Late Father
Prince’s Longtime Drummer Dies at 43, Brain Tumor Suspected As the Cause
In other news on the beloved musician, Showtime is gearing up to air the concert film “Sign O the Times” on Sept. 16, which fans are undoubtedly thrilled about.
Plus, it doesn’t seem like the fight over the rights to Prince’s music has been completely settled, because although his songs are currently housed on JAY-Z’s streaming service, Tidal, the Brooklyn rapper still blasted his former attorney, L. Londell McMillian on “4:44.” He also accused the entertainment lawyer of trying to exploit the singer’s death.
“I sat down with Prince eye to eye / He told me his wishes before he died / Now Londell McMillan he must be color blind / They only see green from them purple eyes,” rhymed Jay, and there goes that reference to purple again, right?
But regardless of what Tyka Nelson said about the singer’s favorite color, it’s unlikely that people will start posting tributes to him in orange because if they did, can you imagine how loud and bright that would be?
