The 2004 Grammy Awards ceremony played host to one of the biggest musical collabs of the century: the time Prince and Beyoncé shared the stage, performing an iconic medley that’s still taking the world by storm!
Even 20 years on from their set’s first airing, this clip is still amassing millions of views online (6.9M to date!) and keeping pop fans spellbound at the majesty of this set, especially considering how the then-22-year-old Beyoncé had only just released her solo debut album, yet slayed this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform alongside Prince as if she’d already claimed the pop goddess crown she wears today.
Packing four hits into five minutes, Prince kicks off his set alone, performing his explosive, career-defining single “Purple Rain” in a violet suit with his signature purple Symbol guitar. Beyoncé’s first lyric identifies her before she’s even stepped out on stage, sporting a glittered, bubblegum pink dress serving pure Y2K aesthetics with a feathered skirt, corseted sides, and skimpy fit.
From her first verse, Beyoncé’s vocal runs are insane as Prince backs her on guitar, Beyoncé soon holding the mic for him to sing with her, all while Prince mirrors Bey’s melodies.
Together, Prince and Bey unleash their medley, jumping into Prince’s “Baby I’m A Star.” Their chemistry is addictive to watch, and we at The Music Man can’t believe this was the only set the two ever performed together – from the electric extravagance of this one Grammy Awards gig, the pop scene deserved a joint world tour!
Their joint harmonies were otherworldly as the stars shared their hits, the iconic brass intro of Beyoncé’s debut solo single “Crazy In Love” soon blaring as Beyoncé scurries in line with her pink-dressed backing dancers. Shockingly, Bey sings her “oh-oh” intro lyric completely off key (don’t miss the ultra-rare moment at the 3:30 timestamp!) before Prince pulls it back with a quickfire guitar solo, transitioning into his final hit of the night, “Let’s Go Crazy,” with a headbanging Beyoncé.
But it’s the duo’s outro which stole the show for most viewers; Prince finishing his heavy metal solo proclaiming, “Don’t hate us ‘coz we fabulous” and throwing his guitar to the floor.
Aside from the humility of Beyoncé to hold a mic for the legendary Prince, fans have pointed out how this set proves what a star-in-the-making Beyoncé was seen as by her heroes. One viewer poignantly commented, “Can you imagine being so young, winning five out of the six Grammys you’re nominated for your first solo album and performing with one of the biggest artists that ever lived. Whitney, Diana, Michael, Stevie, Mariah, George Michael and Prince knew and publicly stated very early into her career that Beyoncé had something special and they all predicted longevity for her. Talent recognizes talent.”
Prince and Beyoncé’s unforgettable Grammy performance continues to captivate audiences even decades later. Their incredible chemistry and stage presence during this legendary medley remain a testament to their artistry. For those eager to relive this iconic moment or dive deeper into the magic of their collaboration, find useful links below.
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