Go4Know > Why Does Sinéad O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U" Still Break Our Hearts?

Why Does Sinéad O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U" Still Break Our Hearts?

When Sinéad O'Connor released "Nothing Compares 2 U" in 1990, the world wasn't ready for the emotional avalanche it would bring. Even today, decades later, the haunting ballad remains one of the most iconic and emotionally raw songs in pop music history. What is it about this song that continues to resonate with listeners across generations?

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The track was originally written by Prince in 1984 for a side project band called The Family. Their version of the song was released on their self-titled debut album in 1985 but received little attention. It wasn't until Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor recorded her version five years later that the song gained its legendary status. O'Connor infused it with a profound vulnerability and sincerity that struck a chord around the globe.

"Nothing Compares 2 U" tells the story of someone who is grappling with the devastating aftermath of a lost love. From the very first line - "It's been seven hours and fifteen days since you took your love away" - the listener is plunged into the emotional void left behind by someone who meant everything. The lyrics are deeply personal, recounting the mundane realities of life after the departure of a loved one - going out every night, trying to distract oneself, talking to doctors and mothers - but ultimately concluding that "nothing compares" to the person who is gone.

Sinéad's performance is what elevates this song into the stratosphere. Her voice trembles with pain, controlled yet searing with grief. In the accompanying music video, directed by John Maybury, O'Connor's face fills the screen in a stark close-up, tears visibly rolling down her cheeks. This visual vulnerability reinforced the authenticity of her emotion and made the song unforgettable. The crying was not scripted - she reportedly thought about her mother, who had died in a car crash in 1985, during filming. This raw emotion gave the video a level of realism and empathy rarely seen in mainstream pop at the time.

The song's composition is sparse, which gives her voice room to breathe and carry the emotional weight. There are strings, a subtle beat, and occasional background harmonies, but the spotlight remains firmly on O'Connor's vocal delivery. This minimalist approach made the heartbreak more intimate and immediate.

Though it was written by Prince, it's often hard to remember that this song isn't O'Connor's own, given how completely she made it her own. Prince reportedly had mixed feelings about her version. He was known to be protective of his music and had a famously complicated personality. While he never publicly condemned the rendition, there are conflicting reports about his private reactions, including rumors of a tense meeting between the two artists. Prince himself eventually released a live version of the song with his band, The New Power Generation, in the 1990s, which had more of a funk and soul vibe, showing how different artistic approaches could co-exist around the same core song.

Interestingly, "Nothing Compares 2 U" has had an enduring legacy far beyond the charts. It spent four weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and was a global hit, topping charts in the UK, Australia, and many other countries. It won several awards, including MTV Video Music Awards for Video of the Year and Best Female Video in 1990. The song also turned O'Connor into a global icon - and eventually, a lightning rod for controversy.

The emotional intensity of "Nothing Compares 2 U" became inseparable from Sinéad O'Connor's image. Her shaved head, piercing eyes, and fearless attitude challenged mainstream expectations of how female pop stars should look and behave. She defied the industry's standards and suffered for it, especially after her infamous appearance on Saturday Night Live in 1992, when she tore up a photo of the Pope to protest child abuse in the Catholic Church. That moment overshadowed much of her later work, but "Nothing Compares 2 U" remained untouchable - a moment of pure artistry.

Today, the song remains a powerful piece of musical storytelling. It speaks to anyone who has experienced profound loss, whether romantic, familial, or existential. It doesn't offer easy answers or uplifting conclusions. Instead, it sits with the pain, lingers in it, and gives it voice. That's why it endures. It's a song that doesn't try to fix you. It simply says: "I've been there too."

Sinéad O'Connor passed away in 2023, and with her passing came a renewed appreciation of her artistry. "Nothing Compares 2 U" stands as her greatest legacy - a song that will continue to break hearts and heal them in equal measure, long after we are all gone.

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Why Does Sinéad O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U" Still Break Our Hearts?

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