On Sunday night, the SNL50: The Anniversary Special stage witnessed a moving tribute as Miley Cyrus and Brittany Howard joined forces to cover “Nothing Compares 2 U”. This iconic song, penned by Prince and immortalized by Sinéad O’Connor, resonated deeply as a highlight of the evening. The performance served not only as a powerful musical moment but also as a poignant nod to O’Connor’s complex history with Saturday Night Live.
Cyrus, known for her dynamic vocal range, and Howard, the powerhouse frontwoman of Alabama Shakes, delivered a rendition that was both respectful and uniquely their own. Howard’s soulful guitar riffs added an extra layer of emotion to the already heart-wrenching ballad. Miley Cyrus infused the melody with her signature raspy edge, creating a compelling contrast to O’Connor’s famously tender yet strong vocal delivery. The collaboration highlighted the enduring power of “Nothing Compares 2 U” to transcend generations and musical styles.
Sabrina Carpenter SNL50 Performance: Singer Sabrina Carpenter performing at the SNL50 anniversary show, part of the broader music performances during the event.
Sinéad O’Connor’s relationship with SNL was marked by both musical appearances and controversy. While she graced the show as a musical guest twice, she never performed her signature hit, “Nothing Compares 2 U,” on the SNL stage. The song achieved phenomenal success, dominating the Billboard Hot 100 chart for four weeks in 1990, solidifying its place in music history. O’Connor’s most remembered SNL appearance was in 1992 when she sang an a cappella version of Bob Marley’s “War.” In a moment that sparked immediate and lasting reaction, she concluded the performance by tearing up a photograph of Pope John Paul II in protest against child abuse within the Catholic Church. Her bold statement, “Fight the real enemy!,” resonated through the years, though it led to a performance ban from SNL until her passing in 2023.
Cyrus and Howard’s choice to perform “Nothing Compares 2 U” on the 50th-anniversary special can be interpreted as a thoughtful homage to O’Connor’s legacy and her impactful, albeit controversial, SNL history. Earlier in the SNL50 broadcast, Sabrina Carpenter and Paul Simon commenced the evening with a duet of “Homeward Bound,” another classic song with its own SNL ties, as Simon himself had previously performed it on the show with George Harrison. The SNL50: The Anniversary Special and the preceding SNL50: The Homecoming Concert underscored the show’s rich musical heritage and its ongoing influence on popular culture.
