“Nothing Compares 2 U” is an iconic ballad performed by Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor, released in January 1990 with “Jump in the River” on the B-side as the lead single from her second studio album, I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got. Written by Prince, the song was originally recorded by his side project The Family in 1985 but remained relatively obscure until O’Connor’s emotive and haunting rendition turned it into a global phenomenon. The track became O’Connor’s signature song and is widely regarded as one of the greatest ballads of all time, praised for its raw emotion, sparse production, and O’Connor’s intensely vulnerable vocal delivery.

Sinéad O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2U - single cover

Prince wrote “Nothing Compares 2 U” about the sorrow and longing he felt after his personal assistant left his employ when her father died unexpectedly of a heart attack.. The song was first recorded by The Family, a band associated with Prince’s Paisley Park Records, but it did not gain significant attention at the time.

In 1990, Sinéad O’Connor reinterpreted the song, imbuing it with a deeply personal and emotional resonance. Her version transformed the track into a universal anthem of heartbreak, resonating with audiences around the world.

The lyrics of “Nothing Compares 2 U” express the profound grief and emptiness following the loss of a loved one. Lines like “It’s been seven hours and fifteen days since you took your love away” capture the acute pain and longing experienced in the aftermath of separation. O’Connor’s rendition of “Nothing Compares 2 U” is characterized by its minimalist production, emphasizing her voice and the song’s emotional weight. The arrangement, produced by Nellee Hooper, features gentle orchestration with subtle strings, keyboards, and a simple drumbeat.

Sinéad O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2U - Official Music Video

The music video for “Nothing Compares 2 U”, directed by John Maybury, is one of the most iconic in music history. It features a close-up of O’Connor’s face as she delivers the song, with minimal distractions or visual effects. Her intense, tearful performance, particularly the moment when a real tear rolls down her cheek, became emblematic of the song’s emotional authenticity.

“Nothing Compares 2 U” was a massive commercial success. It topped charts in over 15 countries, including the United States, where it reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. In the UK, it spent four weeks at No. 1 and became one of the year’s best-selling singles. The song’s success propelled O’Connor to international fame and helped her album I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got achieve multi-platinum status.

Sinéad O’Connor – Nothing Compares 2U – Lyrics