James Corden went above and beyond to pay tribute to Prince on The Late Late Show. Though last night’s show had already wrapped before news of Prince’s death broke, Corden returned to the studio to pay respects to an icon that he admits to seeing many, many times.
“It didn’t feel right to me to start an entertainment show without coming back here and turning the lights on and saying something about it before we begin,” he said.
In his heartfelt tribute, Corden said that Prince managed to be unique in a world where no one is.
“To be unique in this world is impossible,” he said. “Like almost all art is taken or borrowed from somewhere else and yet an artist like Prince stands alone. He is completely original.”
Corden joined in the spirit of many of the tributes that have sprung up, not mourning his death, but celebrating his life and the music that he created.
“What a thing to have been alive when Prince was making music. We are all incredibly lucky,” Corden said before quoting from the Parade track “Sometimes It Snows in April.”
“Sometimes I wish life was never-ending, and all good things, they say, never last.”
