Can Robyn do no wrong? (A rhetorical question, really, as I’m looking forward to seeing her rock San Francisco for the second time this year on Tuesday.)

Robyn recently appeared with her band on the UK television program, On Track with SEAT, in which musicians record four songs direct to vinyl in one take at London’s Metropolis Studios. Besides three of their own tunes, the set includes one cover that’s been a major inspiration to the participating artist, who also designs the sleeve artwork for a limited-edition release that’s hot off the pressing plant in three hours.

For her On Track session, platinum-haired singer picked one of Prince’s signature hits. “When Doves Cry,” the lead single from Purple Rain, spent five weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 in the summer of 1984. Infamous for having no bass line and being otherwise musically spare, anyone who dares to cover “When Doves Cry” can only aim to approximate the palest shade of lavender against the Purple One’s bright peak moment.

But one of the many things that make Robyn so damn endearing is her sheer fearlessness, and tackling a classic like “When Doves Cry” takes some gumption. Considering what Prince nixed from his original production, Robyn and her band fill things in with some synths (as you might expect), but it’s really her performance, the emotional connection that makes this version a keeper and not just karaoke.

I’ll even forgive Robyn for singing “Animals like curious poses” instead of “Animals like curious poses.” I definitely like the Swede’s moves here:

 

It’s not the first time Robyn has covered Prince, either. She administered a vaudeville-piano treatment to “Jack U Off,” from 1981’s Controversy, recording it as a B-side to her 2005 Swedish single “Be Mine!”. A year later, the cover appeared on The Rakamonie EP, as well as the 2008 UK special edition of her eponymous album.

Robyn’s 2010 pop magnum opus, Body Talk, which collects five tracks each from the two Body Talk EPs she released earlier this year, plus five new songs, is out tomorrow.