Minnesota Vikings fans have been treated to an unusual sight during a number of home games this season: Minneapolis icon Prince packed into a luxury suite and enjoying the game.

If you've been wondering whether the diminutive pop legend had simply hitched a ride on the Brett Favre bandwagon like the rest of the state, wonder no more. The dude has recorded "Purple and Gold," a tribute to the Vikes in advance of their NFC Championship game versus the New Orleans Saints.

Personally, we think the song is friggin' awful. But what do Prince's biggest fans think of this insane development?

To find out, Asylum solicited the opinion of lifelong aficionado Rana Emerson, a woman who, in high school, went on a date with a record store clerk in exchange for a bootleg cassette copy of "The Black Album." She can also tell you what Vanity and Apollonia's latest projects are.

Keep reading for Emerson's critique and to hear a snippet of what we warn you is a remarkably painful song.

"I hate the song so much it has ruined my entire day -- nay, my entire week," Emerson tells Asylum. "I've been able to blow off Prince's recent suckiness for a long time now, but this is kind of the last straw for me. I'm not a sports fan, but I've heard decent inspirational fight songs. This isn't that it's about football -- it's about the fact that it's so bad."

The reaction among the Prince fan sites has been similarly forlorn. "It sounds like the national anthem of a small Baltic country," said poster Getwild on Princefams.com. Cborgman, posting on Prince.org, wrote, "It's like the most boring hymn ever, with a bad karaoke track ..."

On the other hand, on ESPN's Vikings-obsessed NFC North blog, there are a handful of commenters whose love of the team has trumped their musical taste. "That is the single greatest thing I've ever heard in my entire life," AZ_Vikings_Fan declared.

Take a look at the song and the lyrics, and tell us where you stand on this: Does Prince need to purify himself in the waters of Lake Minnetonka after this recording? Or does it leave you properly inspired for the matchup with the Saints on Sunday?


Purple and Gold Lyrics

the veil of the sky draws open
the roar of the chariots touch down
we r the ones who have now come again
and walk upon water like solid ground
as we approach the throne we won't bow down
this time we won't b denied

raise every voice and let it b known
in the name of the purple and gold

we come in the name of the purple and gold
all of the odds r in r favor
no prediction 2 bold
we r the truth if the truth can b told
long reign the purple and gold

the eyes say ready 4 battle
no need 4 sword in hand
we r all amped up like a rock n roll band
ready 2 celebrate every score
ready 2 fight the elegant war
ready 2 hear the crowd roar

that's what we came 4
and so much more
in the name of the purple and gold

r spirits may b tired
r bodies may b worn
but since this day is r destiny
r history – that's y we must b
4ever strong as the wind that blows the Vikings' horn
in the name of the purple and gold

CHORUS