Minnesota State Senator Sponsoring Bill To Make Works By Music Legends Prince and Bob Dylan The State Songs

ST. PAUL (KVRR) — A bill introduced in the Minnesota Senate would make state songs out of works by two homegrown musical legends.

The bill would make Bob Dylan’s “Girl From the North Country,” and Prince’s “Purple Rain” official state songs.

The bill would also make, “Hail, Minnesota!” written by two University of Minnesota students in 1904, an official state song as well.

Democratic Sen. Rob Kupec of Moorhead is one of five senators who authored the bill and is the lead.

He says it came about after a constituent from the Detroit Lakes area recommended the songs.

“We think about the north country of Minnesota that that’s kind of the emblematic of that. And then “Purple Rain” is just kind of you know, Prince’s line of very classic song that was you know written here, the movie was shot here in Minnesota. And I think you know when you think about Prince, “Purple Rain is kind of that first song that kind of comes to mind,” said Kupec.

The bill has been referred to the State and Local Government Committee.