The incomparable Prince passed away more than two years ago but his music is demonstrating its vital power this month. On Aug. 21, Lee released an official music video for the discovered Prince rarity "Mary Don't You Weep," blending scenes and images from his BlacKkKlansman movie for a uniquely cinematic accompaniment to everything Prince still means to millions today.
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This past New Music Friday on Aug. 17, the Prince 37-track compilation Anthology: 1995–2010 was released, along with a massive release of the master's past albums on streaming services. All this and Piano and a Microphone 1983 is due out on Sept. 21, of which "Mary Don't You Weep" was the first taste.
The actor who plays Klansman David Duke in Lee's film, Topher Grace expressed surprise on Twitter at appearing in a Prince music video in 2018. Many have commented that the historical events in the movie feel eerily fresh although they happened long ago. The new appreciation for Prince's body of artistic work is less mysterious, as musical classics and rarities have long proven their power to come back to life, but Prince sure feels fresh this summer. Some things change, some things are lost, but cultural treasures have a special way that they just keep growing stronger.
