Sinéad O’Connor’s unforgettable performance of “Nothing Compares 2 U” in 1990 cemented her status as a global icon. However, the song, a raw and heart-wrenching ballad of loss, wasn’t originally hers. Penned by the legendary Prince, “Nothing Compares 2 U Original” first emerged in 1985, performed by his side project, The Family. While Prince’s songwriting genius is undeniable, it’s O’Connor’s emotionally charged interpretation that truly resonated with audiences and ultimately overshadowed the “nothing compares 2 u original” version.
Getty Images/Ringer illustrationBy Rob Harvilla • 15 min
This is the story of two versions of the same song, “Nothing Compares 2 U.” It’s a tale of authorship, interpretation, and how Sinéad O’Connor transformed Prince’s creation into a timeless classic that is, for many, definitively hers. While the “nothing compares 2 u original” holds its own unique charm, it’s O’Connor’s rendition that captivated the world, turning a relatively obscure Prince composition into a global anthem of heartbreak.
Prince, a prolific songwriter, was known for generously sharing his work. Many artists have benefited from his unreleased gems, and in some cases, these songs have arguably found greater acclaim in the hands of others. Think of The Bangles’ infectious “Manic Monday,” Chaka Khan’s funky “I Feel for You,” or Sheila E.’s vibrant “The Glamorous Life.” Even Cyndi Lauper’s spirited take on “When U Were Mine” is considered by some to surpass Prince’s own rendition. These examples highlight Prince’s songwriting versatility and how his compositions could take on new life through different voices.
However, Sinéad O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U,” featured on her groundbreaking 1990 album I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got, is a different phenomenon altogether. It’s not simply a cover; it’s a re-imagining, a complete emotional and artistic takeover. While acknowledging the brilliance of the “nothing compares 2 u original,” O’Connor infused the song with such raw vulnerability and personal pain that it became inextricably linked to her identity. Her version isn’t just a rendition; it’s an embodiment. It’s a testament to her audacity and the sheer force of her artistic vision that she could take a Prince song and make it so profoundly, indelibly her own.
Who was this artist who dared to claim ownership of a Prince song so completely? To understand O’Connor’s connection to “Nothing Compares 2 U,” it’s essential to delve into her personal history. Born in Dublin in 1966, Sinéad O’Connor’s early life was marked by trauma. In her memoir, Rememberings, she recounts a difficult childhood, including periods of abuse. She describes a fractured family and the emotional scars left by her experiences. This personal pain, this lived experience of loss and hardship, became the very fabric of her artistry, lending an unparalleled authenticity to her performances.
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The typical narrative of pop stardom often includes a period of ascent, a moment of basking in success. However, for O’Connor, even the peak of her fame was tinged with unease. She recalls learning about the chart-topping success of both “Nothing Compares 2 U” and her album while on a toilet – a starkly unglamorous setting for such monumental news. Her reaction wasn’t elation but tears, highlighting a deep-seated discomfort with the trappings of mainstream success.
Her debut album in 1987, The Lion and the Cobra, hinted at the complex duality within her – a blend of strength and vulnerability. The album title, drawn from Psalm 91, speaks to themes of protection and resilience:
If you say, “The Lord is my refuge”And you make the Most High your dwellingNo harm will overtake youNo disaster will come near your tent
The record label, however, seemed to misunderstand her image. They objected to the album cover, finding her shaved head and open mouth – captured mid-song – too aggressive. They preferred a demure, downcast image. But O’Connor’s artistic vision was unwavering. She wasn’t screaming; she was singing with raw, unfiltered emotion – and that was precisely the point.
“Mandinka,” the lead single from The Lion and the Cobra, was inspired by the miniseries Roots, reflecting her deep empathy for the oppressed. She connected the historical trauma of slavery with her own experiences of oppression, a bold and potentially controversial comparison, but one that underscored her commitment to speaking her truth, regardless of convention.
Her sophomore album, I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got, released in 1990, further explored themes of pain, forgiveness, and self-discovery. The title itself, revealed to her in a dream after communicating with her deceased mother through a medium, speaks volumes about her emotional landscape. The opening track, “Feels So Different,” directly addresses her relationship with her mother.
This album, and indeed O’Connor’s entire career, is driven by the profound realization that forgiveness can be a heavier burden than resentment. It’s a complex emotional terrain she navigates with unflinching honesty. Tracks like “I Am Stretched on Your Grave,” sampling James Brown’s “Funky Drummer,” and “Three Babies,” addressing her miscarriages, reveal the depth of her personal struggles woven into her art. Even “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” perhaps her most pop-leaning song, carries a sharp edge of defiance and self-assertion.
“Black Boys on Mopeds” tackled social injustice directly, referencing the deaths of two Black teenagers in London, showcasing her willingness to confront uncomfortable truths and use her platform for social commentary. This unflinching approach set the stage for her transformative rendition of “Nothing Compares 2 U.”
“Nothing Compares 2 U original” by The Family, fronted by St. Paul Peterson, was released in 1985. While a solid track, it remained largely within Prince’s dedicated fanbase. Prince himself, reflecting on the song in his memoir The Beautiful Ones, linked its themes of heartbreak to his parents’ divorce, a deeply formative and painful experience in his life. He acknowledged his “knowledge” of heartbreak as the source of his songwriting prowess in this realm.
However, when Sinéad O’Connor encountered “Nothing Compares 2 U,” she brought her own knowledge, her own pain, and her own narrative to the song. She transformed it into a lament for her mother, imbuing it with a layer of personal grief and longing that resonated with millions.
The music video for “Nothing Compares 2 U” was revolutionary in its simplicity and emotional impact. Largely consisting of a close-up of O’Connor’s face, shaved head stark against a black backdrop, it was a radical departure from the often-hyperactive, visually overloaded MTV norm of the time. The moment when tears well up in her eyes is intensely powerful, undeniably authentic. This visual minimalism, focusing solely on O’Connor’s raw emotion, amplified the song’s impact.
The shaved head itself was an act of rebellion, a direct response to record label pressures to conform to a more conventionally feminine image. Her refusal to be molded, her embrace of her own unique aesthetic, was integral to her artistic identity. The Greek barber who shaved her head reportedly even cried, underscoring the emotional weight and symbolic significance of the act.
In a landscape saturated with manufactured pop and superficiality, O’Connor’s raw honesty was a shock to the system. Her defiant lyrics, like the lines about the doctor who advised her to “have fun,” underscored her refusal to compromise her emotional truth for anyone.
He said “Girl you better try to have fun no matter what you do”But he’s a fool
In 1991, Rolling Stone readers recognized her impact, naming her Artist of the Year, I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got Album of the Year, and “Nothing Compares 2 U” Song of the Year. She was both celebrated and controversial, a polarizing figure who challenged norms and expectations. Her refusal to have the national anthem played at a New Jersey show sparked early controversy in America, signaling her independent spirit.
In interviews, O’Connor openly discussed her complex and ultimately negative experiences with Prince. She revealed a disturbing encounter where he allegedly physically threatened her, an incident that soured her relationship with the song and with Prince himself. While acknowledging a connection to “Nothing Compares 2 U,” she expressed a desire to distance herself from it, highlighting the personal toll of the experience.
In her memoir, she recounts a particularly unsettling encounter with Prince at his Los Angeles residence. Summoned to his home, she was met with a series of bizarre and aggressive behaviors, culminating in a disturbing pillow fight that escalated into a physical chase. This account, while troubling, adds another layer to the complex relationship between the two artists and further underscores O’Connor’s discomfort with fame and power dynamics.
Navigating the complexities of separating art from the artist is always a challenge. Prince’s legacy is undeniable, his musical genius unquestioned. Yet, acknowledging the darker aspects of his personality and behavior is crucial for a complete understanding. Similarly, O’Connor’s vulnerability and struggles are inextricably linked to the power of her art. To diminish one aspect is to diminish the whole.
In 2018, a posthumous release of Prince’s original 1984 studio recording of “Nothing Compares 2 U” offered a glimpse into his initial vision for the song. Hearing the “nothing compares 2 u original” version is undoubtedly moving, providing a new perspective on the song’s genesis.
But ultimately, it remains Sinéad O’Connor’s song. She described an ability to intuitively perceive the inner worlds of others, to “see in my mind the inside of their houses.” Her rendition of “Nothing Compares 2 U” feels like exactly that – an intimate glimpse into Prince’s emotional landscape, filtered through her own unique lens of pain and understanding.
While Prince’s Paisley Park persona projected an image of mystique and otherworldliness, O’Connor’s interpretation grounded the song in raw human emotion. She found depths in the lyrics, particularly in the simple word “try,” that perhaps even Prince himself hadn’t fully explored.
I know that livin’ with you baby was sometimes hardBut I’m willing to give it another try
Her performance transforms these lines from a statement of romantic longing into a desperate plea, laden with the weight of past hurts and the fragile hope for reconciliation.
O’Connor’s career was marked by moments of profound artistic brilliance and equally profound acts of defiance. Her 1992 Saturday Night Live performance, where she tore up a picture of Pope John Paul II to protest child abuse in the Catholic Church, remains one of the most provocative and unforgettable moments in television history. This act, born from deep conviction and personal experience, solidified her reputation as an artist who would always prioritize truth and justice over convention and career preservation. Regardless of one’s personal views on the act, it was undeniably a powerful statement, a punk rock gesture that resonated deeply with many.
In conclusion, while “nothing compares 2 u original” is a testament to Prince’s songwriting genius, it is Sinéad O’Connor’s interpretation that has become the definitive version. She took Prince’s beautiful melody and infused it with her own lived experience of pain and resilience, creating a timeless anthem of heartbreak that continues to resonate with audiences worldwide. Her “Nothing Compares 2 U” is not just a cover song; it is a masterclass in artistic transformation, a powerful example of how an artist can take a song and make it transcend its origins, becoming something entirely, and powerfully, their own.
Rob HarvillaRob Harvilla is a senior staff writer at The Ringer and the host/author of ‘60 Songs That Explain the ’90s,’ though the podcast is now called ‘60 Songs That Explain the ’90s: The 2000s,’ a name everyone loves. He lives with his family in Columbus, Ohio, by choice.
