Skratch Bastid's Prince tribute gets big reaction online
Canadian DJ's 'totally awesome' video honours music legend as only he can
After he heard the news of Prince's sudden death on Thursday, music producer and DJ Skratch Bastid (a.k.a. Bedford, N.S., native Paul Murphy) reacted the same way a lot of fans did.
"At the end of our busy day, my wife and I listened to just about every Prince record we own," he posted on his Facebook page.
"And when we came across the doubles of the 'Kiss' 12" [record], I started messing around with it, having fun, and getting excited about his music, as I always do when it's played."
The result was a tribute video to the late music legend, which was watched hundreds of thousands of times within hours of publishing on Facebook Friday morning.
"Waking up and watching you and listening to this actually brought tears to my eyes. Thank you, Paul Murphy for helping me process the life we lost yesterday. That was beautiful," wrote one fan.
Another called it "something totally awesome which Prince deserves."
Tribute videos strike a chord
In January, Murphy's video tribute to David Bowie that was posted within hours of the news of his death went viral, with millions of views on Facebook.
Murphy told CBC by phone Friday that he wants to celebrate the work of many great musicians, not just those who have passed away.
"Since posting the Bowie routine, I've been getting tonnes of requests for tribute videos every time a musician passes away," he also wrote on his Facebook page.
"It's a pretty weird thing to deal with, to be honest. I'm all about giving our legends the respect they deserve, but I don't like to do it in the wake of their death or just because their name is in the headlines."
Murphy told his Facebook fans that he was moved to do the tribute video to Prince after spending the day listening to his work and discovering new songs of his through others sharing their own favourites.
"I will miss Prince dearly. I will continue to celebrate his music in my sets and in my spare time. The five times I saw him live are memories I hold dearly and inspiration that will never run out," Murphy wrote.