Prince Covers Christian Song “What If” and Kicks Off U.S. Leg Of Hit & Run Tour

Prince and his new band 3RDEYEGIRL recently released a cover of the Christian song “What If.” The song was originally written and performed by Christian singer-songwriter Nichole Nordeman and was a single from her album Brave (2005). The Purple One and his talented all-female trio put their own musical spin on the song. Their rendition has a more dynamic, hard-edged rock flavor to it—with louder guitars—than the original. The cover is also more electronic-heavy. However, they kept all the lyrics from the original intact. Prince and 3RDEYEGIRL drummer Hannah Welton share lead vocals on the song. Nordeman has said that the song is about the “transforming love of Jesus.”

Prince premiered the song on a local radio station in Louisville, Kentucky, where he and 3RDEYEGIRL launched the U.S. leg of their Hit & Run tour on March 14 at the Louisville Palace. It was the first of four concerts at the venue. (More dates for the tour will be announced in the coming days.) And kicking off the tour in Louisville had a special meaning for Welton, who's a Louisville native. The other two members of 3RDEYEGIRL are Ida Nielsen (bass) and Donna Grantis (guitar).

It’s not really surprising that Prince has covered a Christian song. There has always been a religious element to his music, even during his wild-and-risqué gender-bending Purple Rain period. His melding of sex and spirituality in his music is one of the things that has made him such an intriguing and provocative artist.

Prince’s spirituality has become more pronounced since he converted to the Jehovah’s Witness faith in 2001. He’s a devout follower of the faith and has even done some door-to-door proselytizing in its name. That must have been a trip for those unsuspecting folks whose houses His Royal Badness visited.

Nordeman is a well-known American contemporary Christian music artist. She has won several Gospel Music Association Dove awards. She is currently on tour and has some dates lined up for April of this year.

Prince & 3RDEYEGIRL's cover of the "What If"


Nichole Nordeman's original version of "What If"