John Legend’s tribute to Prince at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) has sparked heated reactions from fans. The Grammy Award-winning singer performed Prince’s iconic song, “Let’s Go Crazy,” on Wednesday night at Chicago’s United Center. Joined by longtime Prince collaborator Sheila E., the performance was one of the evening’s most discussed moments.
Mixed Reactions to Legend’s Performance
While some attendees and viewers appreciated Legend’s rendition, many took to social media to express their dissatisfaction. One social media user questioned, “Who the hell decided that John Legend was the perfect pick to perform Let’s Go Crazy? Don’t do that sh*t again. Sheila E. and that guitarist alone was fire!” Another frustrated fan wrote, “Why did they choose @johnlegend to perform a Prince song??? He can’t hit the notes and he has no vibe. What an insult to Prince’s legacy.”
For many, the stark difference between Prince’s vibrant style and Legend’s more soulful approach was jarring. One commenter noted, “It’s a testament to Prince and his immense talent that even a performer so effortlessly perfect as John Legend looks square and unconvincing trying to pull off one of his songs.”
Legend’s performance was one of several musical acts at the DNC, including appearances by Lil Jon, Patti LaBelle, and Mickey Guyton. His rendition of “Let’s Go Crazy” came just before Minnesota Governor Tim Walz accepted the party’s nomination for Vice President. However, the performance did not resonate well with many fans of the late Prince, a beloved icon in the music industry.
A Prince fan summed up the sentiment, sharing a gif from HBO’s “Succession” that expressed disappointment, captioned, “Prince in heaven seeing John Legend’s tribute to him.” Despite Legend’s strong support for Democratic nominee Kamala Harris and his praise for her leadership qualities earlier in the day, his tribute to Prince left many feeling underwhelmed. As one fan bluntly stated, “Leave it alone already. HAVE SOME RESPECT.”