It’s a known fact that you should generally stay away from covering Prince songs, but that hasn’t stopped American talk-show host Jimmy Fallon from singing one of The Purple One’s tracks with his Tonight Show band The Roots, which hasn’t gone down too smoothly.
Despite Fallon being a huge fan of Prince, his (probably lip-synched) performance of the 1984 Prince And The Revolution song ‘Let’s Go Crazy’ at today’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York has come off, well, a little crazy.
As Complex points out, a number of Prince fans have taken to Twitter to share their disapproval…
The Roots are allowed to cover Prince. More than allowed. Jimmy Fallon is not.
— Jen Chaney (@chaneyj) November 23, 2017
Describe 2017 in a single quote. I'll start:
"And now here's Jimmy Fallon singing a cover of Prince's 'Let's Go Crazy.' "
— Dave Quinn (@NineDaves) November 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/UncommonNasa/status/933724341266800640
https://twitter.com/Princess_Holly/status/933734600785911808
…while a small group have also defended Fallon:
This discussion saddens me. I've heard Jimmy Fallon say incredibly respectful and loving things about Prince. And I just can't see him having a racist bone in his body. No he can't sing, can't we just leave it at that?
— Mark H Cohen (@markhcohen) November 23, 2017
While Fallon regularly performs alongside musical guests on The Tonight Show, we’re really hoping that Prince isn’t turning in his purple grave right now.
Watch Jimmy Fallon and The Roots perform ‘Let’s Go Crazy’ at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade below, and see for yourself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7PfaSRFtkE
That was so much fun!!! Thank you @theroots and @blackthought and of course Prince. We love you all and hope you have the best Thanksgiving. #MacysParade
— Jimmy Fallon (@jimmyfallon) November 23, 2017