Purple Rain at Millennium Park’s Pritzker Pavilion
Given the collective mourning that has accompanied the loss of cherished pop musicians this year, few events felt as cathartic and community-healing as the Prince tribute screening of Purple Rain at Millennium Park’s Pritzker Pavilion. After the tragic too-early passing of the Purple One, the planet seemed to literally erupt with tributes, from spontaneous street sing-alongs in major cities to near-constant screenings of his films. But there was something special about the Millennium Park screenings, which drew a capacity crowd of tens of thousands to the park. Organized by the City of Chicago and local NPR affiliate WBEZ’s Sound Opinions, every tune became a sing-along that the crowd roared along with and, for one moment, this most divided of cities felt at one in its mourning and yet felt hope that when things get a little too much, they might find relief in just going crazy.
Best of Chicago 2016
