The haunting image of Sinéad O’Connor, head shaved and eyes intensely gazing, often resurfaces when remembering the iconic Irish singer. This powerful image is intrinsically linked to her most enduring song, “Nothing Compares 2 U.” This ballad, released at the dawn of the 1990s, resonated globally, topping charts in over a dozen countries. While synonymous with O’Connor’s raw emotion, the song’s journey began with a different artist entirely. So, who wrote “Nothing Compares 2 U”?
The Prince Genesis: “Nothing Compares 2 U” and The Family
Contrary to popular association, “Nothing Compares 2 U” was penned by the legendary Prince. Five years before Sinéad O’Connor’s rendition captivated the world, Prince originally wrote the song for The Family, a band he conceptualized and signed to his Paisley Park Records label. In 1985, The Family debuted their self-titled album, which included the original version of “Nothing Compares 2 U.” This album would be their sole release under The Family moniker.
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The Family’s initial recording of “Nothing Compares 2 U” bears the distinct sonic fingerprints of the 1980s. Synthesizers and layered production create a lush soundscape, with lead vocalist St. Paul Peterson delivering a soulful performance. Despite its quality, the original version was not released as a single and remained largely undiscovered by the mainstream audience.
Sinéad O’Connor’s Global Breakthrough with “Nothing Compares 2 U”
By 1990, Sinéad O’Connor had already established herself on the global music scene with her debut album, “The Lion and The Cobra,” in 1987. However, it was her second album, “I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got,” released in 1990, that catapulted her to superstardom. The lead single chosen to launch this album was a strikingly vulnerable, stripped-down ballad cover of “Nothing Compares 2 U.”
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O’Connor’s rendition of “Nothing Compares 2 U” resonated deeply with listeners worldwide. Her powerful vocals and the song’s emotional rawness propelled the album to immense success. It garnered four Grammy nominations, with O’Connor winning Best Alternative Music Performance for “I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got,” largely fueled by the song’s popularity. Known for her outspoken nature and political activism, O’Connor famously boycotted the Grammy Awards, criticizing them as prioritizing commercialism over artistic integrity. By the close of 1990, “Nothing Compares 2 U” had sold over 3.5 million copies, and Billboard magazine recognized it as the number one World Single of the year.
The Unforgettable Music Video of “Nothing Compares 2 U”
The phenomenal success of “Nothing Compares 2 U” was significantly amplified by its iconic music video, a defining visual of the 1990s. The video is stark and emotionally charged, featuring O’Connor in a black turtleneck, staring directly into the camera with an expression of profound sorrow. In an extreme close-up, as she delivers the heart-wrenching lyrics, a single tear traces a path down her pale cheek.
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The intense emotion conveyed by O’Connor in the music video stemmed from the Bel Canto acting method, which encourages performers to tap into personal traumatic memories to evoke genuine emotion. O’Connor herself explained the source of her tearful performance in a BBC Radio 6 interview: “It’s always the same thing and it always works … I always think of my mother … which is why I had the little tear in the video. My mother died when I was 17 and it wasn’t long after that that I was making the video.” In an era where music videos were still a relatively evolving art form, the “Nothing Compares 2 U” video was groundbreaking. It earned O’Connor three MTV Video Music Awards in 1990, including the prestigious award for Video of the Year.
Prince’s Reclaiming of “Nothing Compares 2 U”
Following the widespread acclaim of O’Connor’s cover, Prince revisited “Nothing Compares 2 U” and released his own version in 1993, featuring Rosie Gaines, a former member of The Family, on backing vocals. However, it wasn’t until after Prince’s untimely passing in 2016 that his original, more rock-infused rendition began to gain traction and stand alongside O’Connor’s version in popularity.
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In 2018, Prince’s estate unveiled the definitive Prince version of “Nothing Compares 2 U” with the release of the original 1984 demo recording. This release was accompanied by a music video incorporating previously unseen footage of Prince & The Revolution during a 1984 recording session at Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, providing fans with a glimpse into the song’s creation.
A Song’s Generational Resonance
The enduring impact of “Nothing Compares 2 U” is further illustrated by its intergenerational appeal. Remarkably, just days before the 1984 Prince demo was released, Toni Cornell, the then 13-year-old daughter of the late Chris Cornell of Soundgarden, shared her own touching cover of the song featuring her father. Chris Cornell, a known admirer of Prince, had passed away the year before.
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Toni Cornell’s poignant rendition, released on Father’s Day, served as a heartfelt tribute to her father. “I miss your love everyday,” she shared at the time. “Recording this song with you was a special and amazing experience I wish I could repeat 100 times over and I know you would too. Happy Father’s Day daddy, nothing compares to you.” This cover underscored the song’s profound emotional depth and its ability to connect with audiences across generations.
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“Nothing Compares”: Documentary and Song Rights
In 2022, Sinéad O’Connor released a documentary titled “Nothing Compares,” chronicling her life, activism, and status as a feminist icon. Ironically, despite the documentary’s title, when “Nothing Compares 2 U,” her signature song, was featured, only silence filled the soundtrack. Prince’s estate had denied the filmmakers the rights to use O’Connor’s own recording of the song in the documentary. Sharon Nelson, Prince’s half-sister, explained the estate’s decision in a statement to Billboard, citing their preference for Prince’s live version with Rosie Gaines and the upcoming vinyl re-release of the “Hits 1” album featuring that version.
“I didn’t feel [Sinéad] deserved to use the song my brother wrote in her documentary so we declined. His version is the best.”
Despite the absence of its namesake song, “Nothing Compares” the documentary garnered critical acclaim, winning two British Independent Film Awards, highlighting the enduring power of O’Connor’s story, even without the inclusion of her most famous musical performance.
In conclusion, while Sinéad O’Connor indelibly etched “Nothing Compares 2 U” into the global consciousness with her emotionally charged performance, the song’s genesis lies with Prince. From its origins as a Prince composition for The Family, to O’Connor’s world-shattering cover, and Prince’s subsequent versions, “Nothing Compares 2 U” remains a testament to the power of songwriting and the diverse artistic interpretations that can elevate a song to iconic status.
