On 8 January 1990, Sinéad O'Connor released her single "Nothing Compares 2 U". Rolling Stone described Nothing Compares 2 U as a “gripping performance”, noting the way O’Connor holds the camera – and therefore the viewer – for the full five minutes. Later, The Guardian ranked it No. 12 in its list of the 100 greatest UK No. 1 singles, arguing that her reading is clearly superior to the versions that emerged from Prince’s own camp. Rolling Stone’s 2021 overhaul of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time placed it at No. 184, quietly confirming that a song which began life as an obscure paisley-park album track had become part of the broader pop canon.
It's been seven hours and fifteen days
Since you took your love away
I go out every night and sleep all day
Since you took your love away
Since you've been gone I can do whatever I want
I can see whomever I choose
I can eat my dinner in a fancy restaurant
But nothing
I said nothing can take away these blues
'Cause nothing compares
Nothing compares to you
It's been so lonely without you here
Like a bird without a song
Nothing can stop these lonely tears from falling
Tell me, baby, where did I go wrong
I could put my arms around every boy I see
But they'd only remind me of you
I went to the doctor and guess what he told me?
Guess what he told me?
He said, "Girl, you better try to have fun no matter what you do,"
But he's a fool
'Cause nothing compares
Nothing compares to you
All the flowers that you planted, mama, in the back yard
All died when you went away
I know that living with you, baby, was sometimes hard
But I'm willing to give it another try
Nothing compares
Nothing compares to you
Nothing compares
Nothing compares to you
Nothing compares
Nothing compares to you