Prince and 3rdEyeGirl have released a new single called 'What If' about the about faith, doubt and the person of Jesus. It's a cover of Christian artist Nichole Nordeman's song from her 2005 album Brave.
Prince reportedly heard the song while listening to a Christian radio station. The song's lyrics include:
"What if He takes His place in history with all the prophets and the kings who taught us love and came in peace, but then the story ends? What then? But what if you're wrong? What if there's more? What if there's hope you've never dreamed of hoping for?"
Prince debuted the song on Louisville radio station WFPK to mark the start of the US section of his Hit & Run tour, beginning in Louisville, Kentucky.
Nordeman expressed her excitement about the cover on social media. "I don't really have the appropriate words for what an honor this is," she said on Facebook. "If you are a musician on any level, you will immediately absorb the weight of it. This man's talent is otherworldly. What's the non-musical equivalent? Tiger Woods asking to borrow your clubs? Neil Armstrong calling and asking if you'd like to take a walk?"
She added that she had been most impacted by the fact that Prince had heard it on a Christian radio station, and used it as an opportunity to encourage those working in Christian broadcasting.
"Far too often Christian radio is accused of existing solely to preach to the choir. Solely for the minivan driving mother of three who wants a safe listening choice for her family. But Prince heard a song about the transforming love of Jesus on Christian radio and now has given it a much wider audience than I ever did or could."
Prince became a Jehovah's Witness in 2001 and has talked – and sung – about his faith for a number of years.
Nordeman has won numerous awards for her music, including nine Dove Awards and has twice been the Gospel Music Association's Female Vocalist of the Year. She also performed a song for the VeggieTales 'Sweetpea Beauty' episode and recorded a song for the 'Music Inspired by the Chronicles of Narnia' album.
Listen to Prince's version:
And Nordeman's original recording:
