Previously unseen footage of legendary performer Prince covering Nothing Compares 2 U has left fans of the singer in tears.
The Purple Rain mastermind had provided a cover of the song, which would become a hit for Sinead O’Connor. A tape of the original studio version has been shared on the official Prince YouTube channel. A note from The Prince Estate before the song begins reads: “The following is previously unseen rehearsal footage of Prince and The Revolution from the summer of 1984. It was in this very room at Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse in Eden Prairie, Minnseota, that Prince created and committed to tape one of his most beloved and iconic compositions, which six years later would become a worldwide hit for Sinead O’Connor.
“Prince’s original studio version of Nothing Compares 2 U is presented here for the first time.” Though O’Connor’s version may be the most recognisable of the song, the Prince version shared by his estate is a masterful piece which has left listeners sobbing.
One fan shared: “This makes me cry. I don’t care what anyone says, Prince was such a rarity. I still cry over his loss. He understood more than people realised.” Another added: “This song is so beautiful. Prince was a music prodigy turned master.”
A third added: “Never heard Prince perform this song, only knew that he wrote it and O’Connor sang it. Now it’s even more beautiful to me than ever before.” O’Connor recorded a version of Nothing Compares 2 U for her album, I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got and topped the charts across the globe. It was number one in Australia, the UK, the US, and most of Europe too.
The lowest placing of the song comes in France, where O’Connor’s cover made it to number five. It was number four in Spain and second on the adult contemporary charts in the United States.
Prince would play Nothing Compares 2 U live a total of 430 times, and featured it in his last full performance. The show, just over a week before his death in 2016, saw him play a collection of hits including a cover of Bob Marley and The Wailers’ Waiting in Vain. A full setlist for Prince’s final show can be found below.
- When Will We Be Paid (The Staple Singers cover)
- The Max
- Black Sweat
- Girl
- I Would Die 4 U
- Baby I’m a Star
- The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
- Dark
- Indifference
- Eye Love U, But Eye Don’t Trust U Anymore
- Little Red Corvette / Dirty Mind
- Linus and Lucy (Vince Guaraldi Trio cover)
- Nothing Compares 2 U
- Cream
- Black Muse
- How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore
- Waiting in Vain (Bob Marley and The Wailers cover)
- If I Was Your Girlfriend
- Sometimes it Snows in April
- Purple Rain / The Beautiful Ones / Diamonds and Pearls
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