Start Wearing Purple

"Start Wearing Purple" is a song by gypsy punk band Gogol Bordello, written by frontman Eugene Hütz. The song was packaged as a double single along with "Sally", and released as the band's second single in February 2006. It appears on their third album Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike. This version is a re-recording of the initial one which was featured in the band's first album, 1999's Voi-La Intruder. It also appears in the soundtrack for the 2005 film Everything Is Illuminated, in which Hütz stars as Alex.

"Start Wearing Purple"
Single by Gogol Bordello
from the album Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike
Released	February 2006
Recorded	2004–2005
Genre	Gypsy punk
Length	3:42
Label	SideOneDummy Records
Songwriter(s)	Eugene Hütz
Producer(s)	Steve Albini
Gogol Bordello singles chronology
"When the Trickster Starts a-Poking" (2002) "Start Wearing Purple" / "Sally" (2006) "Not a Crime" (2006)

The song was later featured in the 2024 animated television series Creature Commandos.^[1]

Music video

The video starts with Hütz wearing ladies shoes, and singing and dancing in the streets. This is followed by images of the band and many people dancing around while consuming copious amounts of alcohol.

Composition

Hütz said in an interview, "It's one of the very few songs I wrote for a girl. I just moved in with my girlfriend in New York. We had a neighbour: an old woman who was always dressed in purple head to toe. She was clearly bonkers. So whenever my girlfriend and I had an argument and she would start screaming at me, I would say: you might as well start wearing purple now".^[2]

Cover versions

• Covered live by Vernian Process
• Covered by the James Madison University Pep Band,^[3] its full marching band Marching Royal Dukes,^[4] and has become a de facto team song at James Madison Dukes sporting events.
• Has become a de facto team song of Major League Soccer team Orlando City SC.