"Nothing Compares 2 U" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Single by Sinéad O'Connor | ||||
from the album I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got | ||||
B-side | "Jump in the River" | |||
Released | 8 January 1990 [1] | |||
Studio |
| |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 5:10 | |||
Label | Chrysalis | |||
Songwriter(s) | Prince | |||
Producer(s) |
| |||
Sinéad O'Connor singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Nothing Compares 2 U" on YouTube | ||||
Audio sample | ||||
"Nothing Compares 2 U" is a song written by the American musician Prince for his band the Family. It first appeared on their only album, The Family (1985). Its lyrics express the feelings of longing expressed by an abandoned lover.
The Irish singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor recorded a version for her second studio album, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (1990),co-produced with Nellee Hooper. It was released as the album's second single in early 1990 and became a worldwide hit. Its music video,directed by John Maybury,received heavy rotation on MTV. In December 1990, Billboard named "Nothing Compares 2 U" the "#1 World Single" of 1990 at its first Billboard Music Awards. [5]
In 1993,Prince released a live version of "Nothing Compares 2 U",with Rosie Gaines on guest vocals,on his compilation album The Hits/The B-Sides . His 1984 demo was released as a single in 2018 and included on the 2019 compilation Originals .
"Nothing Compares 2 U" was written by the American musician Prince,who recorded a demo in 1984. In 1985,Prince's funk band the Family released their sole studio album, The Family, including "Nothing Compares 2 U". It was not released as a single and received little recognition. Prince's demo was released in 2018. [6]
The Irish singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor recorded a version of "Nothing Compares 2 U" for her second album, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (1990),with a new arrangement by her and the producer Nellee Hooper. O'Connor's version is in the key of F major. [7]
Pre-production for the song was done at Hooper's house. Hooper enlisted Gota Yashiki,with whom he'd previously worked on Soul II Soul's debut studio album,to do arranging and programming of instrument and drum tracks for the song. Yashiki utilized an Atari ST computer running C-Lab Notator sequencing software and an Akai S1100 sampler. After recording sessions moved to Britannia Row Studios,live drum parts were overdubbed and the cello part,provided by the Akai sampler,was finalized. [2]
O'Connor's vocals were recorded in a single take,then double-tracked with another subsequent take,using an AKG C414B-ULS large-diaphragm condenser microphone. Per the singer's demands,absolutely no compression was to be utilized on her vocals. [2]
Directed by John Maybury,the music video consists mostly of a closeup of O'Connor's face as she goes through stages of sadness and anger while singing the lyrics;the rest consists of her walking through the Parc de Saint-Cloud in Paris. Toward the end of the video,two tears roll down her face,one on each cheek. O'Connor has said that her tears were real. She did not intend to cry but then thought,"I should let this happen." [8] She explained that the tears were triggered by thoughts of her mother,who died in a car accident in 1985. [8] She said she learned to channel her emotions with the "bel canto" singing style,which she compared to extreme acting methods. [9] In the middle and at the very end of the video,there is a shot from O'Connor's photo session for the I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got album cover.
The video won three "Moonmen" at the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards:Video of the Year (O'Connor was the first female artist to be awarded it),Best Female Video and Best Post-Modern Video. It was nominated for Breakthrough Video,Viewer's Choice and International Viewer's Choice during the ceremony. The video was also the subject of many parodies and spoofs,such as Gina Riley's parody "Nothing Is There" on Fast Forward, referring to the fact that O'Connor tended to shave her head bald. [10]
O'Connor's version was a worldwide hit,topping charts in O'Connor's native Ireland,Australia,Austria,Canada,Denmark,Germany,Mexico,Netherlands,New Zealand,Norway,Sweden,Switzerland,the United Kingdom and the United States (plus top five in France). It was certified platinum in Austria and in the United Kingdom,and gold in Germany and in Sweden.
In the United States it spent four weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100;in addition,it was number one on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart and reached number two on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart (held off the top position by Rod Stewart's "This Old Heart of Mine" for three weeks). In terms of its chart performance on the Hot 100 it ranked number three for 1990. In April 1990,it was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. On the second of its four weeks at number one,the record's parent album I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got started a six-week run at number one on the Billboard 200. In 2019,the single ranked 97 in a Hot 100 60th-anniversary Top 600 covering the period from 1958 to 2018.
In the United Kingdom the single ranked number two for the year,behind a re-release of the Righteous Brothers' "Unchained Melody". [11] In July 2023,days after O'Connor's death,"Nothing Compares 2 U" reappeared on the UK Top 100 at number 45, [12] and charted at number 1 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart. [13]
"A few times each year a song comes along that deserves extra-special recognition. Here's the first such entry of 1990. Since I've been shouting the praises of Sinéad's remarkable interpretation of this Prince-penned tune to many of you for over a month, it was safe to assume it would eventually end up on this page. Absolutely brilliant—and if you haven't caught the video, do yourself a favor and check it out NOW!"
—Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report talking about the song. [14]
O'Connor's version received mostly positive reviews. Jodi Cleesattle from American Eagle felt that "there is pain in Sinéad O'Connor's voice, and there probably always will be". She remarked that "loneliness and longing" are highlighted on the song, adding that O'Connor's voice "fits the song perfectly. Her vocals soar and leap unexpectedly but gracefully, making, the ballad, the loveliest of love songs." [15] Bill Coleman from Billboard declared it as a "brilliant interpretation of the melancholic lament." [16] Ernest Hardy from Cashbox called it a "genuine tear-jerker". [17]
Greg Sandow for Entertainment Weekly felt that it is a song "about how to carry on after losing love". [18] Tom Moon from Knight Ridder said she "adapts the breathy approach of a torch singer." [19] A reviewer from Los Angeles Times noted that the singer "match raw emotion with spare sounds" on "the quiet, desperate, lovelorn beauty". [20] Melody Maker wrote, "It should go without saying that her voice is brilliant, but this is a pointless and embarrassing over-sentimental paw. The zillions of strings don't help, they don't add poignancy, they merely serve to drag the momentum backwards. [...] A waste of talent." [21]
Pan-European magazine Music & Media stated that out of all the recent covers of Prince songs – Chaka Khan's "I Feel for You", Tom Jones' "Kiss" and Simple Minds' "Sign o' the Times" – "this is definitely the most convincing." The reviewer noted further that originally recorded by Minneapolis band the Family for their 1985 debut album, "O'Connor's emotionally charged version has immediate appeal", and is "destined to be her biggest hit to date." [22] David Giles from Music Week found that the song "is not one of Prince's finest moments, and O'Connor does little to disguise this fact bar a few token vocal somersaults. The string synths also have a dirge-like effect, dragging the rest of the arrangement along with them." [23]
The Network Forty's reviewer wrote that "when Sinéad sang 'Nothing Compares 2 U', seas calmed, angels wept and Top 40 radio stood still to listen to this powerful expression of unrequited love." [24] James Brown from NME said, "Pining for a recently departed love, Sinéad hits the lyrics with an immense range of vocal ability and passion. From a gossamer thin whisper to a searing plea she shows just how much catching up Kate Bush has to do." [25] Tom Doyle from Smash Hits felt that "it doesn't sound at all like any of her other stuff." [26]
In 2019, Bill Lamb from About.com wrote that O'Connor's "emotional, gutsy performance made it a classic. Painful loss meets stunning vocal beauty with a perfectly understated instrumental arrangement." [27] In their 2020 retrospective review, Matthew Hocter from Albumism described it as a song "deeply rooted in emotion and despair which would go on to certify O'Connor and that song as one of music history's most unforgettable moments." [28] AllMusic editor Steve Huey called the song "stunning" and noted its "remarkable intimacy". [29]
In 2010, Tom Ewing of Freaky Trigger noted it as a "very moving track", and added that it "captures the stasis, anger and devastation of a bad break-up with awful accuracy." He also complimented the music "whose stately, sympathetic pulse gives O’Connor the canvas she needs to be so devastating." [30] In an 2000 review, Steven Wells from NME said "it remains one of the best 'boo-hoo, my bloke's left me' pop songs ever recorded", and a "stark reminder that O'Connor is blessed with an amazing and unique voice". He concluded with that it "remains the outstanding highlight of her career to date. She's more than capable of surpassing it in the future. Less Sade and more Aretha, please." [31]
In 2009, Mark Richardson from Pitchfork stated that "you have to look pretty hard to find a better expression in pop music of the void that exists when a relationship ends." [32] In an 2015 retrospective review, Pop Rescue wrote that O'Connor "makes light work" of the track, and she's "having plenty of power to belt out the lyrics at the right points." The reviewer added that it is a "fantastic exhibit of 90s music". [33] In 2004, Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine felt that it perhaps is O'Connor's "greatest vocal achievement" and described it as a "classic torch song she quite simply owns." [34]
In 1993, Prince released a live version of "Nothing Compares 2 U", with Rosie Gaines on guest vocals, on his compilation album The Hits/The B-Sides . This version reached number seven on the US Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart in 1993 [35] and number 66 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in the Billboard issue dated January 15, 1994. [36] Following Prince's death in 2016, this version reached number 43 on the US Digital Songs Sales chart [37] and number 31 on the US R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales chart. [38] Prince also recorded a solo version for his concert film Rave Un2 the Year 2000 , and for his 2002 live album One Nite Alone... Live! .[ citation needed ]
Prince's 1984 demo (albeit in newly mixed form by Tony Maserati) [39] was released as a single in 2018 by Warner Bros. Records in conjunction with his estate. [6] It was accompanied by a music video, consisting of edited rehearsal footage shot in mid-1984. [40] [41] The single reached number 21 on the US Hot R&B Songs chart [42] and number eight on the US R&B Digital Song Sales chart in 2018. [43] It was included as the final track on Prince's 2019 posthumous compilation Originals.
Credits sourced from Duane Tudahl and Guitarcloud [44] [45]
|
|
Nothing Compares 2 U
| Jump in the River
|
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
All-time charts
|
"Nothing Compares 2 U" entered the Irish singles chart on January 11, 1990, reaching number one two weeks later. After a six-week run at the top, Sinéad O'Connor was replaced by "Love Shack" by the B-52's. The song left the chart on March 29, after twelve weeks.
In the UK Top 100 chart dated January 20, 1990, the single entered at number 30, then rocketed to number three, then to number one, where it stayed for four weeks, holding off a twin challenge from dance acts Technotronic and Black Box. The single slipped to number two in the chart dated March 3, replaced at the top by "Dub Be Good to Me" by Beats International. "Nothing Compares 2 U" completed its twelve-week run within the UK Top 40 in early April. "Nothing Compares 2 U" was Britain's biggest-selling new recording of 1990, ranking number two in the year-end chart behind a re-release of the Righteous Brothers' 1965 hit "Unchained Melody".
The single entered the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 at number 33, in the issue dated March 24, 1990. "Nothing Compares 2 U" rose steadily over the next four weeks – no doubt bolstered by the increasing exposure of the song's video on MTV – before reaching number one in the issue dated April 21. The single took just six weeks to reach number one – tied with Madonna's "Vogue" and New Kids on the Block's "Step by Step" as the year's fastest climber to the top. It spent four weeks at number one, as it did in the UK, with Jane Child's "Don't Wanna Fall in Love" and Calloway's "I Wanna Be Rich" stuck at number two.[ citation needed ] Madonna's "Vogue" replaced "Nothing Compares 2 U" at number one. The single spent ten weeks in the Top Ten – one of only four 1990 releases to do so – and finished its 15-week run in the US Top 40 in late June.
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [111] | 2× Platinum | 140,000^ |
Austria (IFPI Austria) [112] | Platinum | 50,000* |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [113] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
Germany (BVMI) [114] | Gold | 250,000^ |
Italy (FIMI) [115] sales since 2009 | Gold | 35,000‡ |
Netherlands | — | 175,000 [116] |
New Zealand (RMNZ) [117] | Platinum | 30,000‡ |
Sweden (GLF) [118] | Platinum | 50,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [119] 1990 sales + post 1994 sales | Platinum | 1,457,384 [120] [121] |
United States (RIAA) [122] 1990 sales | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
United States digital sales | — | 1,015,608 [123] |
Summaries | ||
Worldwide 1990 sales | — | 3,500,000 [124] |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Country | Release date |
---|---|
United Kingdom | January 8, 1990 |
Various | February 4, 1990 |
United States | February 11, 1990 |
Shuhada' Sadaqat was an Irish singer, songwriter, and activist. Her debut studio album, The Lion and the Cobra, was released in 1987 and achieved international chart success. Her 1990 album, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got, was her biggest commercial success, selling over seven million copies worldwide. Its lead single, "Nothing Compares 2 U", was honoured as the top world single of the year at the Billboard Music Awards.
I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got is the second studio album by Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor, released in March 1990 by Ensign/Chrysalis Records. It contains O'Connor's version of the Prince song "Nothing Compares 2 U", which was released as a single and reached number one in multiple countries. The album was nominated for four Grammy Awards in 1991, including Record of the Year, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, and Best Music Video, Short Form for "Nothing Compares 2 U", winning the award for Best Alternative Music Performance. However, O'Connor refused to accept the nominations and award. The album has sold over seven million copies worldwide.
"When Doves Cry" is a song by American musician Prince, and the lead single from his sixth studio album Purple Rain. According to the DVD commentary of the film Purple Rain (1984), Prince was asked by director Albert Magnoli to write a song to match the theme of a particular segment of the film that involved intermingled parental difficulties and a love affair. The next morning, Prince had composed two songs, one of which was "When Doves Cry". According to Prince's biographer Per Nilsen, the song was inspired by his relationship with Vanity 6 member Susan Moonsie.
"Peach" is a song by American musician Prince, released in October 1993 by Paisley Park Records and Warner Bros. Records from his 1993 compilations, The Hits 2 and The Hits/The B-Sides. He both wrote and produced the song, featuring a female gasp performed by American actress Kim Basinger. "Peach" peaked at number seven on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart; however, it did peak at number 14 in the United Kingdom. Its B-side, "Nothing Compares 2 U", charted at number 62 on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart. Prince performed the song live during his 1993 tour. It was the main sound theme of the Spanish-language talk show Corazón, Corazón in the mid 1990s. The accompanying music video was filmed inside and outside of Prince's residence, Paisley Park, and was included in The Hits Collection on home video.
"The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" is a song by American musician Prince, released in various forms on the 1994 remixes EP The Beautiful Experience and later on his seventeenth album, The Gold Experience (1995). In his singles chronology, it was his third major release since changing his stage name to an unpronounceable "Love Symbol". In his albums chronology, it along with the EP was his second release after changing his name.
"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the second track from their 1987 album The Joshua Tree and was released as the album's second single in May 1987. The song was a hit, becoming the band's second consecutive number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 while peaking at number six on the UK Singles Chart.
"The End of the Innocence" is the lead single and title track from Don Henley's third solo studio album of the same name, released in 1989. Henley co-wrote and co-produced the song with Bruce Hornsby, who also performed piano. Both artists regularly include the song in their live performances. The single peaked at number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming his fifth solo top-10 hit on the chart. "The End of the Innocence" also became his fourth number-one single on the Album Rock Tracks chart. In Canada, it reached number three on the RPM Top Singles and Adult Contemporary charts. The song received Grammy nominations for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
So Far... The Best Of is a greatest hits album released by Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor in 1997. The collection features songs appearing on O'Connor's first four studio albums, along with several non-album collaborations. "Heroine" and "Empire" are also included on O'Connor's 2005 compilation album Collaborations. The album was her last album with Chrysalis Records, as she later moved to Atlantic Records in 1998.
"Troy" is the debut single by Irish singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor, released in 1987 from her debut studio album The Lion and the Cobra. Written by O'Connor, the lyric is based on the poem No Second Troy by William Butler Yeats. In 2002, a dance version of the song was released as "Troy ", becoming a top-ten hit on several international dance charts, including the US Dance Club Songs chart.
"Get Up! " is a song by Belgian musical group Technotronic featuring Ya Kid K. It was released in January 1990 as the second single from the band's debut album, Pump Up the Jam: The Album (1989), on which it features as the second track. The single was successful in many countries, becoming a top 10 hit in Australia, Canada, and the US and topping the chart in Belgium, Finland, Spain and Switzerland. When the song entered the UK chart at number three, it completed the first ever UK top 3 composed entirely of acts from outside the UK or US, alongside the Australian Kylie Minogue and the Irish Sinéad O'Connor.
"Mandinka" is a song by Irish singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor, released as the second single from her debut album, The Lion and the Cobra (1987). The song peaked at number 17 on the UK Singles Chart and number six in Ireland. O'Connor performed it on Late Night with David Letterman, which was her first TV appearance in the US.
Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor released 10 studio albums: The Lion and the Cobra (1987), I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (1990), Am I Not Your Girl? (1992), Universal Mother (1994), Faith and Courage (2000), Sean-Nós Nua (2002), Throw Down Your Arms (2005), Theology (2007), How About I Be Me? (2012), and I'm Not Bossy, I'm the Boss (2014).
Prince released several hundred songs both under his own name and under pseudonyms and/or pen names, as well as writing songs which have been recorded by other artists. Estimates of the actual number of songs written by Prince range anywhere from 500 to well over 1,000. He has released 117 singles, 41 promotional singles, 24 internet singles, and eight internet downloads.
"The Emperor's New Clothes" is a song written and recorded by Irish singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor for her second studio album, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (1990). The song was released as the album's second single on 5 June 1990 by Ensign and Chrysalis Records and reached number three in Canada, number five in Ireland, and the top 20 in Australia, Italy and Switzerland. In the United States, the song topped the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart for a week. Its music video was directed by John Maybury.
"Wrecking Ball" is a song recorded by American singer Miley Cyrus for her fourth studio album, Bangerz (2013). It was released on August 25, 2013, by RCA Records as the album's second single. The song was written by Mozella, Stephan Moccio, Sacha Skarbek, with Dr. Luke and Cirkut, who also served as the producers, credited as co-writers along with David Kim. "Wrecking Ball" is a pop ballad which lyrically discusses the deterioration of a relationship.
"Success" is a song written by Johnny Mullins that was originally recorded by the American country artist Loretta Lynn. It was released as a single and became a major country hit in 1962. The song was among Lynn's first major hits as a recording artist. In 1992, the Irish singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor covered it as "Success Has Made a Failure of Our Home", which became an international hit.
"You Made Me the Thief of Your Heart" is a song by Irish singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor, written by Bono, Gavin Friday and Maurice Seezer for the soundtrack to the 1993 film In the Name of the Father, starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Emma Thompson. The song is produced by English musician Tim Simenon and does not appear on any of O'Connor's studio albums, but in 1997, it was included on her first compilation album, So Far... The Best Of. It was critically acclaimed and a top 5 hit in both Ireland and Poland, while peaking at number 19 in Finland and number 42 in the UK. On the Eurochart Hot 100, it reached number 43. The music video was directed by Jim Sheridan and nominated for an award at the 1994 MTV Music Awards.
"Thank You for Hearing Me" is a song by Irish singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor, released in 1994 by Chrysalis and Ensign as the first single from her fourth album, Universal Mother (1994). Co-written with her first husband John Reynolds and based on her recent breakup with English singer-songwriter Peter Gabriel, they also co-produced the song with English musician, composer and record producer Tim Simenon. It received positive reviews from music critics and was a sizeable hit in Europe. In Iceland, the song peaked at number five, and was a top 10 hit also in Poland, while it peaked at number 13 in the UK and number 14 in Scotland. The song's music video was directed by Richard Heslop.
"Three Babies" is a song by Irish singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor, released as the third single from her second studio album, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (1990), in October 1990. Written and produced by O'Connor, the single was issued by Ensign and Chrysalis Records. It received favorable reviews from many music critics, who also named it a highlight from the album. A moderate success in Europe, the song peaked at number 13 in Italy, number 19 in Ireland, and number 22 in Switzerland. In the UK, it reached number 42. A music video was also produced to promote the single.
...her cover was the greatest Gaelic blue-eyed soul performance since Van Morrison...