Watch Two US Congressmen Battle Each Other With Prince Songs


Wednesday marks the 30th anniversary of the release of Prince and The Revolution’s album Purple Rain, the soundtrack to the 1984 film of the same name. So, obviously, at least a couple lawmakers were going to mark the occasion by singing and strumming Prince music.

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), a congressman from Prince’s home state, picked up an acoustic guitar and sang a cover of “Purple Rain” (he got the lyrics wrong, but still). Here’s a Vine of his Prince tribute:

Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY) responded with his own acoustic Prince cover of “Raspberry Beret”—which isn’t from Purple Rain, but whatever:

The two Democrats later expressed a desire to jam, possibly to Bruce Springsteen. Perhaps Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) can weigh in next with “Let’s Go Crazy.”

Prince did not respond to Mother Jones‘ request for comment on what he thought about the elected representatives doing battle with his songs as glorious weaponry.

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