Mariah Carey Sings A Special Tribute To Prince

The entertainment world is still reeling from the unexpected death of Prince, and the tributes to the icon from other musical legends continue to roll in. If you're a '90s kid, you might remember Mariah Carey's "One Sweet Day" as one of the most tear-inducing dedication songs of that time. In fact, listening to it now, the lyrics of this song still incite strong feelings for me as a fan. While on stage in Paris during her Sweet Fantasy Tour after Prince's death was announced, Mariah Carey sang "One Sweet Day" in her friend's memory, and it brought the singer herself to tears.

While she struggled to control her emotions, Carey spoke to the audience candidly about her connection to Prince. According to E! News, she said,

He was a friend to me, too, and he talked me through some times I really, really needed somebody. He was an incredible person if you never got to meet him. I'm sure his music has touched every single person in here, so let's have a moment of silence for Prince ... It's a very sad day, but we remember the life of somebody who will always be treasured.

Oh, how I would have loved to be in that audience to witness this special moment. I love hearing these dedications and stories from the lucky people who were blessed to have shared memories with the singer. Prince was an enigma, an artist, and almost a transcendent being for us fans, but to his friends, he was a supportive, kind, and wholly human force who was very real.

Carey was especially emotional and fighting back the tears when she sang the chorus, "And I know you're shining down on me from Heaven/ Like so many friends we've lost along the way." These lyrics are even difficult for me to get through while I sing along to them. The day was probably a very rough one for Carey; she also tweeted a short but powerful message and photo of herself and Prince:

In those few words on her Twitter, Carey summed up the shock of the news and what it means to lose someone like Prince. He is gone in the physical realm, but his talent and force will live on in his music and for those who loved him.