The recent passing of Sinéad O’Connor at the age of 56 has reignited conversations about her profound impact on music and culture. Among her vast and often provocative discography, one song stands out as particularly iconic: “Nothing Compares 2 U.” While forever associated with O’Connor’s raw emotional delivery and striking music video, the song’s origins lie with none other than Prince. This exploration delves into the fascinating journey of “Nothing Compares 2 U,” comparing Prince’s original composition with O’Connor’s masterful interpretation and examining why her version resonated so deeply with a global audience, arguably eclipsing the original in popular consciousness.
The Genesis of a Breakup Anthem: Prince and The Family’s “Nothing Compares 2 U”
Prince, a prodigious songwriter known for his boundless creativity, penned “Nothing Compares 2 U” in 1984. This was during a period of intense productivity for the artist, where songs flowed readily, many of which he generously shared with his associated acts. “Nothing Compares 2 U” was initially given to The Family, a Paisley Park Records side project, a band that featured members of Prince’s musical entourage. In 1985, The Family released their self-titled debut album, which included their rendition of “Nothing Compares 2 U,” sung by lead vocalist Paul Peterson, also known as St. Paul.
Prince’s version, while showcasing his signature melodic sensibility, was a more understated and arguably less emotionally charged affair than what it would later become. It was rooted in Prince’s personal experiences, specifically the profound impact of his parents’ divorce during his childhood. As Prince himself revealed in his memoir “The Beautiful Ones,” the raw pain of separation and longing for a lost connection informed his songwriting. He described his mother’s late-night phone calls to his father, begging him to return home, a scene witnessed by a young Prince, embedding in him a deep understanding of heartbreak. This personal history became the wellspring for songs exploring themes of loss and longing, with “Nothing Compares 2 U” being a prime example. While The Family’s version captured the song’s melancholic core, it remained a relatively obscure track, appreciated mainly by Prince’s dedicated fanbase.
Sinéad O’Connor’s Seismic Interpretation: Owning the Song
Five years later, in 1990, “Nothing Compares 2 U” was resurrected and reimagined by Sinéad O’Connor for her second album, I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got. This wasn’t merely a cover; it was a complete transformation. O’Connor seized the song, infused it with her own intensely personal pain, and delivered a version that resonated with millions on a profoundly emotional level. As Rob Harvilla aptly described it, O’Connor’s rendition was a “hostile takeover,” a bold act of artistic reappropriation where she not only covered a song but fundamentally redefined it, making it indelibly her own.
O’Connor’s interpretation stripped away any vestige of Prince’s original context and imbued the lyrics with a new, rawer meaning. Her vocal delivery was characterized by a breathtaking vulnerability, a palpable sense of heartbreak and longing that seemed to emanate from the depths of her soul. This wasn’t just singing; it was an emotional exorcism, a public display of private grief that was both captivating and disarmingly honest. The power of O’Connor’s version lay in its unflinching emotional transparency. She laid bare her pain, and in doing so, created a universal anthem of loss and longing that transcended individual experience.
The Weight of Personal History: Connecting Grief to Song
To understand the depth of emotion O’Connor poured into “Nothing Compares 2 U,” it’s crucial to consider her personal history. Her childhood was marked by trauma and a deeply damaging relationship with her mother, who, as O’Connor recounted in her memoir Rememberings, was physically and emotionally abusive. This painful past profoundly shaped O’Connor’s emotional landscape, imbuing her voice with a unique blend of fragility and fierce resilience.
When O’Connor sang “Nothing Compares 2 U,” it wasn’t simply about romantic heartbreak; it became a lament for a deeper, more primal loss. Many believe she channeled her complex and painful relationship with her mother into the song, transforming a breakup ballad into a broader expression of grief and the void left by absent or damaging figures in one’s life. This personal resonance is what gave her rendition its unparalleled emotional weight and universality. Listeners connected not just to the lyrics but to the palpable pain in her voice, recognizing in it their own experiences of loss, regardless of its specific source.
The Iconic Music Video: A Single Tear and Global Impact
The music video for “Nothing Compares 2 U,” directed by John Maybury, further cemented the song’s iconic status and amplified its emotional impact. Remarkably simple in its execution, the video primarily features a close-up of O’Connor’s face, her shaved head stark against a black backdrop. This minimalist approach focused all attention on her raw emotion and powerful performance. The video became instantly recognizable and frequently played on MTV, catapulting the song to global superstardom.
The shaved head itself was a statement, a deliberate act of rebellion against record industry pressures to conform to conventional feminine ideals. O’Connor recounted how record executives suggested she grow her hair and adopt a more traditionally “feminine” image. Her response was to shave her head, asserting her individuality and rejecting objectification. This act of defiance became intertwined with the song’s message of authenticity and emotional honesty.
Perhaps the most unforgettable moment in the video is the close-up shot during the line “all the flowers that you planted in the backyard are dead,” when a single tear rolls down O’Connor’s cheek. This tear, seemingly genuine and unrehearsed, became a symbol of the song’s raw emotional power. It was a moment of profound vulnerability captured on film, breaking down the artifice often associated with music videos and forging an immediate, intimate connection with viewers.
Chart-Topping Success and Cultural Phenomenon
Sinéad O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U” became a monumental success, topping charts worldwide, including the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got also reached number one on the Billboard 200 album chart, solidifying O’Connor’s status as a major musical force. The song garnered numerous accolades, including multiple Grammy nominations and Rolling Stone magazine naming her Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Album of the Year in their readers’ poll in 1991.
However, this period of immense success was also marked by the beginning of the controversies that would become a recurring theme in O’Connor’s career. Her outspoken nature and willingness to challenge societal norms, from her stance against the national anthem to the infamous Saturday Night Live performance where she tore up a picture of Pope John Paul II to protest child abuse in the Catholic Church, made her a polarizing figure. Even amidst the accolades for “Nothing Compares 2 U,” O’Connor faced backlash and criticism for her views and actions, highlighting the complex and often challenging relationship between artistic success and personal integrity.
Prince’s Reaction and the Posthumous Release
Prince’s feelings towards Sinéad O’Connor’s rendition of “Nothing Compares 2 U” were complex and reportedly ambivalent. While acknowledging the song’s massive success in O’Connor’s hands, he also expressed a sense of being violated and a desire to reclaim ownership of his work. O’Connor herself recounted a disturbing encounter with Prince where he physically intimidated her, an incident that further complicated her relationship with the song and its creator.
Following Prince’s untimely death in 2016, his original 1984 studio recording of “Nothing Compares 2 U” was posthumously released in 2018. This offered a direct comparison between Prince’s original vision and O’Connor’s transformative interpretation. Prince’s version, while beautifully sung and showcasing his distinctive vocal style, is arguably more restrained and less emotionally exposed than O’Connor’s. It is a testament to his songwriting prowess, but it lacks the raw, visceral pain that defines O’Connor’s rendition.
Why Sinéad’s Version Endures: Vulnerability as Strength
Ultimately, Sinéad O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U” endures because of its unparalleled emotional honesty and vulnerability. She took Prince’s song and made it a vessel for her own profound grief and longing, creating a performance that resonated with millions because it tapped into universal human experiences of loss and heartbreak. Her version is not simply a cover; it is a re-creation, a deeply personal and transformative act of artistic expression.
While Prince’s original song is a testament to his songwriting talent, it is Sinéad O’Connor’s voice, her shaved head, and that single tear that remain inextricably linked to “Nothing Compares 2 U” in the collective memory. Her version is a powerful reminder that vulnerability can be a source of immense strength, and that sometimes, the most impactful art is born from the deepest personal pain. Nothing truly compares to the raw emotional power and enduring legacy of Sinéad O’Connor’s rendition of “Nothing Compares 2 U.”
