Ten years after his tragic death, there's a new release out by Prince's estate.
Prince recorded "With This Tear" in 1991, and gave it to Celine Dion, who included it on one of her albums.
In the version that just dropped, Prince composed, produced, and performed all the instruments to create the piano-driven ballad. Until now, it was among countless unreleased songs in Prince's vault at Paisley Park.
Bobby Z, the drummer for Prince's The Revolution, told the WCCO Morning News with Vineeta Sawkar Prince was constantly writing music, and constantly encouraging those in his inner-circle to write too.
"A wise man once said 'songs are the currency of the music business,' and he was just steeped in songs," Bobby Z explains. "And he would hear Celine Dion in this case, and he would say, 'well, I'm gonna write a song for her.' You know, he gave 'Manic Monday' to the Bangles, and he was just a wealth of songs. No style or limits. He seemed to be able to write freely in all genres."
Officials with Prince's estate say this is the first from a series of unreleased recordings leading up to a new vault album.
Prince died 10 years ago this Tuesday at age 57 of an accident overdose of fentanyl, and they're reflecting and remembering Prince at Paisley Park Tuesday.
"We're very honored to continue the legacy of Prince, but he is, he is missed," said Prince's nephew Johnny Nelson. "And we're doing everything we can to move it forward to the new generation, of course."
He told WCCO-TV that fans from all over the world are expected to attend a Day to Reflect and Night 2, remember Prince where he created his music, and with a big block party scheduled for early June at both Paisley Park, and in downtown Minneapolis.
Since Prince died, fans have been clamoring for new music coming out of Prince's vault, which reportedly contains many, many recorded but unreleased songs.
Long time friend Londell McMillan says they will offer tours of Paisley Park, and at 4:21 Tuesday, they will come together for a candle light service. That is going to be live-streamed.
"You have some that are very patient and understand that we have a legacy to preserve," McMillan adds. "And some just want it, want it, want it, want it. They want the whole vault now."
Bobby Z adds that Prince's proficiency for writing was staggering, adding to the mystique for fans as to what still remains in his vault of music.
"It seemed Like a song a day," he says. "I knew him for 42 years. He probably wrote a song a day for 42 years."
When it comes to the legacy of "The Purple One," Z said his legacy in music, especially in his hometown of Minneapolis, will never be matched.
"One thing I reflect on 10 years ago, was the purple lighting of the pyramids, and the Eiffel Tower, and the Sydney Opera House," he says. "You know, I mean, I don't know if anyone will ever unite us again in that way, like that as a musician."
The new song, "With This Tear," was recorded in 1991 when Prince gave it to Celine Dion
The new song, "With This Tear," was recorded in 1991 when Prince gave it to Celine Dion
