The music world suffered a devastating loss earlier today when news of Prince’s death reached the airwaves. According to his publicist, the 57-year-old pioneer was found dead in his Paisley Park home, though few other details surrounding his passing have emerged.
It’s safe to say that there will never be another performer quite like the Purple One. After all, how could there be? Everything from his music to his style to his reserved-yet-bombastic demeanor was decidedly unique, as if gifted to us Earthlings by some higher, otherworldly being.
And yet, if one had to go searching for an artist worthy of being called his peer, they would probably land on David Bowie. The Fates, it seems, have been cruel enough to take them both from us in the same year.
Prince was notoriously protective of his live concert footage, but we’re lucky to be able to share this gem with you. The video–shot at the 2014 Essence Festival in New Orleans–finds headliner Prince making a surprise appearance during Nile Rodgers’ rendition of Bowie’s “Let’s Dance” (Rodgers, it should be noted, produced the 1983 hit).
Prince shows up around the 2:45 mark. Take a look: