Sinéad O’Connor’s rendition of “Nothing Compares 2 U” is undeniably one of the most heart-wrenching and iconic songs of the 1990s. Her powerful vocals and emotionally charged music video resonated deeply with audiences worldwide, cementing the song as a timeless classic. However, despite being indelibly linked with O’Connor, the question often arises: who wrote the song “Nothing Compares 2 U”? The answer, surprisingly to some, is not Sinéad O’Connor herself, but the legendary musical genius, Prince.
Many are unaware of the song’s origins, often assuming it to be a deeply personal creation of O’Connor’s, perfectly tailored to her raw and vulnerable performance style. This misconception is understandable; O’Connor’s delivery is so intensely personal, so imbued with her own pain and experience, that it feels intrinsically hers. Yet, the song emerged from the prolific songwriting catalog of Prince, initially intended for a side project before it found its way to Sinéad and into global superstardom. This article delves into the fascinating journey of “Nothing Compares 2 U,” exploring its creation by Prince, its transformation by Sinéad O’Connor, and the complex legacy surrounding this unforgettable ballad.
The Prince Genesis of “Nothing Compares 2 U”
To fully appreciate the story of “Nothing Compares 2 U,” we must journey back to the mid-1980s and the creative whirlwind that was Prince. At this peak of his prolific output, Prince was not only crafting hits for himself but also generating a wealth of material for various side projects and other artists. Among these projects was The Family, a band formed under Prince’s Paisley Park Records umbrella. In 1985, The Family released their self-titled debut album, and nestled within its tracklist was “Nothing Compares 2 U.”
Sung by Paul Peterson, known as St. Paul, the original version of “Nothing Compares 2 U” possesses a soulful charm characteristic of Prince’s associated acts. While undeniably a strong song with heartfelt vocals, The Family’s rendition remained relatively obscure, failing to achieve mainstream success. It was a hidden gem within Prince’s vast catalog, appreciated by devoted fans but largely unknown to the wider public. The original arrangement is smoother, more overtly R&B in its instrumentation, and lacks the stark, raw emotionality that would later define Sinéad O’Connor’s interpretation.
Prince himself reportedly penned the song for his then-girlfriend Susannah Melvoin, twin sister of Wendy Melvoin of Prince’s band The Revolution. While the lyrics are universally relatable in their expression of longing and heartbreak, understanding this personal context adds another layer to the song’s emotional depth. Prince, despite his public persona of confidence and bravado, was also capable of profound vulnerability, a quality that shines through in the lyrics of “Nothing Compares 2 U.” He tapped into a universal feeling of loss and the unique pain of a love that, once experienced, renders all subsequent experiences pale in comparison. This core emotional truth is what made the song resonate regardless of who performed it, yet it was Sinéad O’Connor who would unlock its full, transformative potential.
Sinéad O’Connor’s Transformative Rendition
Fast forward to 1990, and Sinéad O’Connor, a rising Irish singer-songwriter known for her shaved head and powerfully emotive voice, was preparing her second album, “I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got.” It was during this process that she encountered “Nothing Compares 2 U.” Accounts vary on exactly how she discovered the song – some suggest it was her then-manager who unearthed The Family’s album, while others indicate it was a demo tape floating within the music industry. Regardless of the precise path, the moment Sinéad heard “Nothing Compares 2 U,” she recognized its immense power and potential.
Sinéad’s genius lay not in simply covering the song, but in completely reimagining and inhabiting it. She stripped away the original R&B gloss, emphasizing the raw vulnerability and aching loneliness at the song’s core. Her vocal delivery is breathtaking in its intensity – alternating between fragile whispers and soaring, impassioned cries. She imbued the lyrics with her own personal experiences of loss and longing, particularly her complex relationship with her mother, transforming a song about romantic heartbreak into a broader lament about profound absence and emotional pain.
This personal connection is palpable in every note and nuance of her performance. Sinéad’s version is not just a song; it’s a visceral outpouring of emotion, a cathartic expression of grief and yearning. She slowed down the tempo, allowing the spaces between the notes to breathe and amplify the emotional weight of each line. The arrangement became stark and minimalist, primarily driven by piano and subtle instrumentation, placing the full focus squarely on her voice and the lyrical narrative. This transformation was nothing short of revolutionary, turning a relatively unknown Prince composition into a global anthem of heartbreak.
The Iconic Music Video and Cultural Impact
Adding another layer to the song’s iconic status was the accompanying music video, directed by John Maybury. In an era of often over-produced and visually cluttered music videos, “Nothing Compares 2 U” stood out for its stark simplicity and profound emotional impact. The video is predominantly composed of close-up shots of Sinéad’s face, her shaved head a striking visual statement against the black backdrop. This minimalist approach forced the viewer to confront the raw emotion etched on her face and conveyed through her performance.
The video’s most memorable moment, and one that became instantly iconic, is the genuine tears that well up in Sinéad’s eyes during the bridge of the song. These were not staged or manufactured tears; they were a genuine emotional response to the song’s lyrics and her own personal connection to them. This moment of authentic vulnerability resonated deeply with audiences, further solidifying the song’s emotional power and cementing Sinéad O’Connor’s image as an artist of unflinching honesty and raw talent.
MTV played the video in heavy rotation, propelling “Nothing Compares 2 U” to the top of charts worldwide. The song became a cultural phenomenon, defining the sound of early 1990s balladry and launching Sinéad O’Connor into international stardom. It garnered numerous awards, including MTV Video Music Awards for Video of the Year and Best Female Video, further solidifying its place in music history. The song’s success was not just commercial; it was a cultural moment, a testament to the power of raw emotion and authentic artistry in a pop landscape often dominated by artifice.
Prince’s Perspective and a Complicated Legacy
While Sinéad O’Connor’s version of “Nothing Compares 2 U” brought Prince’s songwriting to a global audience and generated significant royalties, his feelings about her rendition were complex and reportedly grew increasingly fraught. Initially, Prince seemed to acknowledge and even appreciate Sinéad’s success with his song. However, as her version eclipsed his original and became so definitively associated with her, reports suggest a sense of resentment began to brew.
In later years, Prince began performing “Nothing Compares 2 U” in his own concerts, sometimes in arrangements that seemed to deliberately contrast with Sinéad’s version – faster tempos, funkier instrumentation. There are even accounts of Prince subtly mocking Sinéad’s performance during live shows. This tension culminated in a reported physical altercation between the two artists, detailed in Sinéad O’Connor’s memoir “Rememberings.” According to her account, Prince summoned her to his house and, after a series of bizarre and unsettling interactions, physically attacked her. While the full truth of this encounter remains contested, it underscores the complicated and ultimately strained relationship between the two artists, particularly in relation to “Nothing Compares 2 U.”
Posthumously, Prince’s original 1984 studio recording of “Nothing Compares 2 U” was officially released in 2018. This release offered a fascinating opportunity to directly compare the two versions and to appreciate both Prince’s original songwriting and Sinéad O’Connor’s transformative interpretation. Prince’s version is undeniably beautiful and showcases his own vocal talent, but it lacks the raw, visceral emotionality that Sinéad brought to the song. Ultimately, while Prince wrote “Nothing Compares 2 U,” it is Sinéad O’Connor who truly made it iconic, imbuing it with a depth of feeling that resonated with millions and cemented its place as a timeless classic.
Conclusion: A Song of Two Artists
So, who wrote the song “Nothing Compares 2 U”? The definitive answer is Prince. He crafted the song, imbued it with his signature musicality and lyrical vulnerability, and initially released it through his side project, The Family. However, the story of “Nothing Compares 2 U” is not simply about its authorship; it’s about its journey and its transformation. Sinéad O’Connor took Prince’s creation and, through her unique vocal talent, raw emotionality, and iconic music video, elevated it to a global phenomenon.
While Prince may be the songwriter, Sinéad O’Connor is inextricably linked to “Nothing Compares 2 U” in the cultural consciousness. Her version is not merely a cover; it is a reinterpretation, a reclaiming, and a definitive statement of artistic ownership. The song stands as a testament to both Prince’s songwriting genius and Sinéad O’Connor’s transformative artistry, a powerful ballad that continues to resonate with listeners decades after its release, forever asking the poignant question: “Nothing Compares 2 U,” but whose “U” are we truly thinking of when we hear those words?
