Nothing Compares 2 U - wikipedia Nothing Compares 2 U `` Nothing Compares 2 U '' Single cover Single by Sinéad O'Connor from the album I Do Not Want What I Have n't Got B - side `` Jump In The River '' Released January 8, 1990 Format CD single 7 '' single 12 '' single Genre Pop Length 5 : 10 Label Chrysalis Songwriter ( s ) Prince Producer ( s ) Sinéad O'Connor Nellee Hooper Sinéad O'Connor singles chronology `` Jump in the River '' ( 1988 ) `` Nothing Compares 2 U '' ( 1990 ) `` The Emperor 's New Clothes '' ( 1990 ) `` Jump in the River '' ( 1988 ) `` Nothing Compares 2 U '' ( 1990 ) `` The Emperor 's New Clothes '' ( 1990 ) Audio sample Sinéad O'Connor 's version of `` Nothing Compares 2 U '' ( in which she changes the first line of the song from `` 13 days '' to `` 15 days '' ) from I Do Not Want What I Have n't Got file help Music video `` Nothing Compares 2 U '' on YouTube `` Nothing Compares 2 U '' is a song written and composed by Prince for one of his side projects, The Family, for the eponymous album The Family. It was later made famous by Irish recording artist Sinéad O'Connor, whose arrangement was released as the second single from her second studio album, I Do Not Want What I Have n't Got. This version, which O'Connor co-produced with Nellee Hooper, became a worldwide hit in 1990. Its music video received heavy rotation on MTV. Its lyrics explore feelings of longing from the point of view of an abandoned lover. Contents 1 Background 2 Critical reception 3 Commercial performance 4 Music video 4.1 Concept 4.2 Reception 5 O'Connor's relationship with Prince 6 Prince version 7 Legacy 8 Track listings 9 Credits and personnel 10 Charts 10.1 Weekly charts 10.2 Year - end charts 10.3 Decade - end charts 11 Certifications 12 Release history 13 References Background In 1985, The Family, a funk band created as an outlet to release more of Prince 's music, released their first and only album, the self - titled The Family. `` Nothing Compares 2 U '' appeared on the album but it was not released as a single, and received little recognition. Prince performed the song as a live duet with Rosie Gaines, subsequently released on his 1993 compilations The Hits / The B - Sides and The Hits 1, and the 2006 Ultimate Prince compilation. Prince also recorded a solo version of the song for his concert film, Rave Un2 the Year 2000, as well as for his 2002 live album, One Nite Alone... Live ! Critical reception Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report wrote about the song : `` 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 Sinead '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 have n't caught the video, do yourself a favor and check it out NOW ! '' Commercial performance O'Connor's power ballad version of the song became a worldwide hit, topping charts in O'Connor's native Ireland, Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It also became a top - five single in France and a top - 20 in Denmark. The single was certified platinum in Austria and the United Kingdom, and gold in Germany and Sweden. In the United States it spent four weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, keeping Jane Child 's `` Do n't Wanna Fall In Love '' from reaching the top spot for three of them ; in addition, it was a number - one in Billboard Alternative Songs chart, and reached number two on Billboard Adult Contemporary chart ( held off the top position by `` This Old Heart of Mine '' by Rod Stewart for three weeks ). It became the third best - selling single of 1990, the 82nd best - selling single of the 1990s, and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America in April 1990. The song 's popularity sent I Do Not Want What I Have n't Got to the top of the Billboard 200 where it stayed for six consecutive weeks. Music Video The lone face of O'Connor made the video one of the most recognisable of the 1990s. Concept Directed by John Maybury, the clip consists mostly of a closeup on Sinéad O'Connor's face and her different stages of sadness and even anger as she sings the lyrics ; the rest consists of her walking through an area of Paris known as the Parc de Saint - Cloud. Toward the end of the video, two tears roll down her face, one on each cheek. O'Connor has stated that her tears were real. She did not intend to cry but then thought `` I should let this happen. '' She explained that the tears were triggered by thoughts of her mother who died in a car accident in 1985. She said she learned to channel her emotions with the `` bel canto '' singing style, which she compares to extreme acting methods. 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 Have n't Got album cover. Reception The clip won three `` Moonmen '' at the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards : Video of the Year ( O'Connor became the first female artist to be awarded with 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 also became the subject for 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. O'Connor's relationship with Prince Speaking about her relationship with Prince in an interview with Norwegian station NRK in November 2014 O'Connor said, `` I did meet him a couple of times. We did n't get on at all. In fact, we had a punch - up. '' She continued : `` He summoned me to his house after ' Nothing Compares 2 U. ' I made it without him. I 'd never met him. He summoned me to his house -- and it 's foolish to do this to an Irish woman -- he said he did n't like me saying bad words in interviews. So I told him to fuck off. '' O'Connor said : `` He got quite violent. I had to escape out of his house at five in the morning. He packed a bigger punch than mine. '' Prince version Prince released his own rendition of `` Nothing Compares 2 U '', with Rosie Gaines on guest vocals. This live version of the song was included on his 1993 compilation album, The Hits / The B - Sides. His version reached # 62 on the R&B chart in early 1994. Prince 's original 1984 recording of the song was not released until 2018, when it was issued as a single by Warner Bros. Records in conjunction with his estate. In addition, the Prince version was given its own music video, released in conjunction with the studio recording on April 19, 2018 ; the video consists of edited rehearsal footage shot in the summer of 1984. Legacy In 2007, VH1 ranked O'Connor's rendition number 10 of the `` 100 Greatest Songs of the 90s ''. In September 2010 Pitchfork Media included the song at number 37 on their Top 200 Tracks of the 90s. The song was listed at number 77 on Billboard 's `` Greatest Songs of All Time ''. TIME magazine included `` Nothing Compares 2 U '' in its 2011 ( unranked ) list of `` All - TIME 100 Songs ''. The song was simulcasted on radio stations throughout the United States to commemorate Prince 13 days after his death. The simulcast was timed to line up with the opening lyrics of Prince 's version of the song, `` It 's been 7 hours and 13 days, since you took your love away. '' Chris Cornell posted a link to his version on the day after Prince 's death. In an accompanying message, he wrote : `` Prince 's music is the soundtrack to the soulful and beautiful universe he created, and we have all been privileged to be part of that amazing world. I performed his song ' Nothing Compares 2 U ' for the first time a couple months ago. It has a timeless relevance for me and practically everyone I know. Sadly, now his own lyrics in this song could not be more relevant than at this moment, and I sing them now in reverence as I pay tribute to this unequaled artist who has given all of our lives so much inspiration and made the world so much more interesting. We will miss you Prince ! ! ! '' On Father 's Day in 2018, Cornell 's daughter Toni released a version of the song she recorded with her dad before his death in 2017. Track listings 7 '' single `` Nothing Compares 2 U '' -- 5 : 09 `` Jump in the River '' -- 4 : 13 CD maxi `` Nothing Compares 2 U '' -- 5 : 09 `` Jump in the River '' -- 4 : 13 `` Jump in the River '' ( instrumental ) -- 4 : 04 Credits and personnel Nothing Compares 2 U Sinéad O'Connor -- lead vocals, background vocals, producer, mixing Prince -- music and lyrics Nellee Hooper -- producing Chris Birkett -- engineering, mixing Fachtna O ' Ceallaigh -- mixing Jump in the River Sinéad O'Connor -- music and lyrics, lead vocals, producer, mixing Marco Pirroni -- music and lyrics Chris Birkett -- engineering, mixing Fachtna O ' Ceallaigh -- mixing Charts Weekly charts Chart ( 1990 ) Peak position Australia ( ARIA ) Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Wallonia ) Canadian Adult Contemporary ( RPM ) Canadian Top Singles ( RPM ) Denmark ( IFPI ) Finland ( Suomen virallinen lista ) France ( SNEP ) 5 Germany ( Media Control AG ) Iceland ( Íslenski Listinn ) Ireland ( IRMA ) Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) Norway ( VG - lista ) Poland ( Polish Airplay Top 100 ) Portugal ( AFP ) Sweden ( Sverigetopplistan ) Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) US Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) US Billboard Hot 100 Chart ( 2011 ) Peak position Denmark ( Tracklisten ) 19 Year - end charts Chart ( 1990 ) Position Australian Singles Chart Austrian Singles Chart Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) Dutch Top 40 German Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) 11 Swiss Singles Chart 6 UK Singles Chart US Billboard Hot 100 Decade - end charts Chart ( 1990 -- 1999 ) Position Irish Singles Chart 36 UK Singles Chart 61 US Billboard Hot 100 82 Certifications Region Certification Certified units / Sales Australia ( ARIA ) 2 × Platinum 140,000 Austria ( IFPI Austria ) Platinum 30,000 Germany ( BVMI ) Gold 250,000 Sweden ( GLF ) Platinum 50,000 United Kingdom ( BPI ) Platinum 600,000 United States ( RIAA ) Platinum 1,000,000 sales figures based on certification alone shipments figures based on certification alone Release history Country Release date United Kingdom 8 January 1990 ( 1990 - 01 - 08 ) Worldwide 4 February 1990 ( 1990 - 02 - 04 ) United States 11 February 1990 ( 1990 - 02 - 11 ) References Jump up ^ Gilbert, Sophie ( April 21, 2015 ). `` How ' Nothing Compares 2 U ' Endured ''. The Atlantic. Retrieved August 4, 2015. Jump up ^ Sholin, Dave ( March 9, 1990 ). `` Gavin Picks > Singles '' ( PDF ). Gavin Report. No. 1797. p. 52. Retrieved April 17, 2018. Jump up ^ `` The 21 best power ballads ''. ^ Jump up to : `` Nothing Compares 2 U by Sinéad O'Connor Songfacts ''. www.songfacts.com. Jump up ^ Laurence, Rebecca. `` Prince 's heartbreaking song about loss ''. Jump up ^ `` Gina Riley - Nothing is There ! ! ! From Fast Forward ''. YouTube. 2009 - 04 - 21. Retrieved 2016 - 09 - 01. Jump up ^ Kelly, Aoife ( 2014 - 11 - 18 ). `` ' I told him to f * * * off ' - Sinéad O'Connor reveals she had punch - up with Prince ''. Irish Independent. Retrieved 2015 - 09 - 27. Jump up ^ `` BROWN, Ruth '' ( PDF ). www.recordresearch.com. Retrieved April 26, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Listen to Prince 's Original Version of `` Nothing Compares 2 U '' ``. Pitchfork. April 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Prince - Nothing Compares 2 U ( OFFICIAL VIDEO ) ''. YouTube. April 19, 2018. Jump up ^ Miller, Matt ( April 19, 2018 ). `` Prince 's Only Recording of ' Nothing Compares 2 U ' Has Finally Been Released. It 's Incredible ''. Esquire. Retrieved April 26, 2018. Jump up ^ Breaking Dawn Soundtrack : Posted ( 2007 - 12 - 13 ). `` Top 100 Songs of the ' 90s VH1 Blog ''. Blog.vh1.com. Archived from the original on 2012 - 02 - 14. Retrieved 2011 - 11 - 01. Jump up ^ `` Staff Lists : The Top 200 Tracks of the 1990s : 50 - 21 Features ''. Pitchfork. 2010 - 09 - 02. Retrieved 2014 - 03 - 30. Jump up ^ ( 1 ) Archived October 1, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ `` ' Tightrope ' 100 Greatest Popular Songs : TIME List of Best Music TIME.com ''. Entertainment.time.com. 2011 - 10 - 21. Retrieved 2014 - 03 - 30. Jump up ^ `` Billboard Prince 's ' Nothing Compares 2 U ' Will Be Simulcast on Radio Stations Nationwide on Wednesday ''. Retrieved 2018 - 04 - 19. Jump up ^ `` CHRIS CORNELL : ' PRINCE 's Music Is The Soundtrack To The Soulful And Beautiful Universe He Created ' ''. 22 April 2016. Jump up ^ `` Chris Cornell and his daughter cover Prince 's `` Nothing Compares 2 U '' : Stream ``. 17 June 2018. Jump up ^ `` Australian-charts.com -- Sinéad O'Connor -- Nothing Compares 2 U ''. ARIA Top 50 Singles. Jump up ^ `` Austriancharts.at -- Sinéad O'Connor -- Nothing Compares 2 U '' ( in German ). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- Sinéad O'Connor -- Nothing Compares 2 U '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop 50. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- Sinéad O'Connor -- Nothing Compares 2 U '' ( in French ). Ultratop 50. Jump up ^ `` Adult Contemporary - Volume 51, No. 25, May 05 1990 ''. RPM. Archived from the original on September 6, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Top Singles - Volume 51, No. 25, May 05 1990 ''. RPM. Archived from the original on September 6, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Top 3 Denmark '' ( PDF ). Music & Media. Retrieved March 22, 2018. Jump up ^ Nyman, Jake ( 2005 ). Suomi soi 4 : Suuri suomalainen listakirja ( in Finnish ) ( 1st ed. ). Helsinki : Tammi. ISBN 951 - 31 - 2503 - 3. Jump up ^ `` Lescharts.com -- Sinéad O'Connor -- Nothing Compares 2 U '' ( in French ). Les classement single. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 single '' ( in German ). charts.de. Retrieved August 17, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Íslenski Listinn ( 1990 ) '' ( PDF ) ( in Icelandic ). Dagblaðið Vísir. Retrieved February 6, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Irish Singles Chart -- Search for song ''. Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved August 17, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Nederlandse Top 40 -- Sinéad O'Connor '' ( in Dutch ). Dutch Top 40. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- Sinéad O'Connor -- Nothing Compares 2 U '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Jump up ^ `` Charts.org.nz -- Sinéad O'Connor -- Nothing Compares 2 U ''. Top 40 Singles. Jump up ^ `` Norwegiancharts.com -- Sinéad O'Connor -- Nothing Compares 2 U ''. VG - lista. Jump up ^ `` Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia : : Związek Producentów Audio - Video ''. Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved August 3, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Top 3 Portugal '' ( PDF ). Music & Media. Retrieved March 22, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Swedishcharts.com -- Sinéad O'Connor -- Nothing Compares 2 U ''. Singles Top 100. Jump up ^ `` Swisscharts.com -- Sinéad O'Connor -- Nothing Compares 2 U ''. Swiss Singles Chart. Jump up ^ `` Official Singles Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` Sinéad O'Connor Chart History ( Adult Contemporary ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Sinéad O'Connor Chart History ( Alternative Songs ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Sinéad O'Connor Chart History ( Hot 100 ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Danishcharts.com -- Sinéad O'Connor -- Nothing Compares 2 U ''. Tracklisten. ^ Jump up to : `` ARIA End Of Year Singles 1990 ''. Australian Recording Industry Association. 1991. Retrieved January 26, 2018. Jump up ^ 1990 Austrian Singles Chart Austriancharts.at Archived December 17, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. ( Retrieved September 3, 2008 ) Jump up ^ `` Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1990 ''. RPM. Retrieved November 26, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Single top 100 over 1990 '' ( PDF ) ( in Dutch ). Top40. Retrieved April 12, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 Single - Jahreschart '' ( in German ). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved June 1, 2018. Jump up ^ `` End of Year Charts 1990 ''. Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 3, 2017. Jump up ^ 1990 Swiss Singles Chart Hitparade.ch Archived February 1, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. ( Retrieved September 3, 2008 ) Jump up ^ Music Week End of year Charts, 1990. pub. January 1991 Jump up ^ `` Billboard Top 100 - 1990 ''. Archived from the original on 2010 - 01 - 17. Retrieved 2009 - 09 - 15. Jump up ^ Geoff Mayfield ( December 25, 1999 ). 1999 The Year in Music Totally ' 90s : Diary of a Decade - The listing of Top Pop Albums of the ' 90s & Hot 100 Singles of the ' 90s. Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Austrian single certifications -- Sinéad O'Connor -- Nothing Compares 2 U '' ( in German ). IFPI Austria. Retrieved October 4, 2013. Enter Sinéad O'Connor in the field Interpret. Enter Nothing Compares 2 U in the field Titel. Select single in the field Format. Click Suchen Jump up ^ `` Gold - / Platin - Datenbank ( Sinéad O'Connor ; ' Nothing Compares 2 U ' ) '' ( in German ). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved October 4, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Guld - och Platinacertifikat − År 1987 − 1998 '' ( PDF ) ( in Swedish ). IFPI Sweden. Retrieved October 4, 2013. Jump up ^ `` British single certifications -- Sinéad O'Connor -- Nothing Compares 2 U ''. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 4, 2013. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Enter Nothing Compares 2 U in the search field and then press Enter. Jump up ^ `` American single certifications -- Sinéad O'Connor -- Nothing Compares 2 U ''. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 4, 2013. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH Prince singles 1970s `` Soft and Wet '' `` Just as Long as We 're Together '' `` I Wanna Be Your Lover '' 1980s `` Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad ? '' `` Still Waiting '' `` Sexy Dancer '' `` Uptown '' `` Dirty Mind '' `` Do It All Night '' `` Gotta Stop ( Messin ' About ) '' `` Controversy '' `` Let 's Work '' `` Do Me, Baby '' `` 1999 '' `` Little Red Corvette '' `` Delirious '' `` Automatic '' `` Let 's Pretend We 're Married '' `` When Doves Cry '' `` Let 's Go Crazy '' `` Purple Rain '' `` I Would Die 4 U '' `` Take Me with U '' `` Paisley Park '' `` Raspberry Beret '' `` Pop Life '' `` America '' `` Kiss '' `` Mountains '' `` Anotherloverholenyohead '' `` Girls & Boys '' `` Sign `` O '' the Times '' `` If I Was Your Girlfriend '' `` U Got the Look '' `` I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man '' `` Alphabet St. '' `` Glam Slam '' `` I Wish U Heaven '' `` Batdance '' `` Partyman '' `` The Arms of Orion '' `` Scandalous ! '' 1990s `` The Future '' `` Thieves in the Temple '' `` New Power Generation '' `` Gett Off '' `` Cream '' `` Diamonds and Pearls '' `` Money Do n't Matter 2 Night '' `` Insatiable '' `` Thunder '' `` Sexy MF '' `` My Name Is Prince '' `` 7 '' `` Damn U '' `` The Morning Papers '' `` Pink Cashmere '' `` Nothing Compares 2 U '' `` Peach '' `` The Most Beautiful Girl in the World '' `` Letitgo '' `` Space '' `` Purple Medley '' `` I Hate U '' `` Gold '' `` Dinner with Delores '' `` Betcha by Golly Wow ! '' `` The Holy River '' `` Somebody 's Somebody '' `` The Truth '' `` Extraordinary '' `` The Greatest Romance Ever Sold '' 2000s `` U Make My Sun Shine '' ( with Angie Stone ) `` When Will We B Paid ? '' ( with Audio Stepchild ) `` Supercute '' `` The Work, pt. 1 '' `` Days of Wild '' `` Musicology '' `` Cinnamon Girl '' `` Controversy ( Live in Hawaii ) '' `` S.S.T. '' `` Te Amo Corazón '' `` Black Sweat '' `` Fury '' `` Guitar '' `` F.U.N.K. '' 2010s `` Breakfast Can Wait '' Promotional singles `` When You Were Mine '' `` Erotic City '' `` Nothing Compares 2 U '' `` Love Sign '' ( with Nona Gaye ) `` Somebody 's Somebody '' `` The Rest of My Life '' `` 5 Women '' `` It 's About That Walk '' `` Man'O'War '' `` Call My Name '' `` The Song of the Heart '' Airplay - only songs `` International Lover '' Internet downloads `` One Song '' `` Glass Cutter '' `` Live from Paisley Park '' `` Strange Relationship '' `` Guitar ( original `` demo '' version ) '' EPs The Beautiful Experience NYC 1999 : The New Master Other songs `` I Feel for You '' `` When You Were Mine '' `` Private Joy '' `` How Come U Do n't Call Me Anymore ? '' `` 17 Days '' `` The Beautiful Ones '' `` Computer Blue '' `` Darling Nikki '' `` Baby I 'm a Star '' `` 4 the Tears in Your Eyes '' `` Sometimes It Snows in April '' `` Adore '' `` Do n't Talk 2 Strangers '' `` I Ca n't Make U Love Me '' `` La, La, La Means I Love U '' `` One of Us '' `` Everyday Is a Winding Road '' `` A Case of U '' Sinéad O'Connor Discography Studio albums The Lion and the Cobra I Do Not Want What I Have n't Got Am I Not Your Girl ? Universal Mother Faith and Courage Sean - Nós Nua Throw Down Your Arms Theology How About I Be Me ( and You Be You ) ? I 'm Not Bossy, I 'm the Boss Compilations So Far... The Best Of She Who Dwells‌ in the Secret Place of the Most High Shall Abide Under the Shadow of the Almighty Collaborations EPs Gospel Oak Singles `` Troy '' `` Mandinka '' `` Nothing Compares 2 U '' `` I Am Stretched on Your Grave '' `` Silent Night '' `` You Made Me the Thief of Your Heart '' `` Thank You for Hearing Me '' `` Fire on Babylon '' `` Do n't Cry for Me Argentina '' `` Chiquitita '' `` Troy ( Remix ) '' `` My Lagan Love '' `` I Do n't Know How to Love Him '' Featuring `` Blood of Eden '' `` Do n't Give Up '' `` Haunted '' `` Tears from the Moon '' `` Special Cases '' `` When a Child Is Born '' `` Do They Know It 's Christmas ? '' Other songs `` Some Day My Prince Will Come '' `` Mother '' `` You Do Something to Me '' `` Sacrifice '' `` My Man 's Gone Now '' `` You Make Me Feel So Free '' `` S / He Moved Through the Fair '' `` Foggy Dew '' `` Ode to Billie Joe '' `` Mná na hÉireann '' `` On Raglan Road '' `` Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace '' `` The Butcher Boy '' `` Someone to Watch Over Me '' `` Skibbereen '' `` Danny Boy '' `` Factory Girl '' `` I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls '' `` Regina Coeli '' `` O come, O come, Emmanuel '' `` The Ballad of Ronnie Drew '' `` I 'm Every Woman '' `` Song to the Siren '' `` When a Child Is Born '' `` Once in Royal David 's City '' `` Black Is the Colour '' `` Who Knows Where the Time Goes ? '' `` I Would Die 4 U '' `` Death of Samantha '' Video albums The Value of Ignorance The Year of the Horse Goodnight, Thank You, You 've Been a Lovely Audience Live at the Sugar Club MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year 1980s 1984 The Cars -- `` You Might Think '' 1985 Don Henley -- `` The Boys of Summer '' 1986 Dire Straits -- `` Money for Nothing '' Peter Gabriel -- `` Sledgehammer '' INXS -- `` Need You Tonight / Mediate '' Neil Young -- `` This Note 's for You '' 1990s Sinéad O'Connor -- `` Nothing Compares 2 U '' 1991 R.E.M. -- `` Losing My Religion '' Van Halen -- `` Right Now '' Pearl Jam -- `` Jeremy '' Aerosmith -- `` Cryin ' '' 1995 TLC -- `` Waterfalls '' The Smashing Pumpkins -- `` Tonight, Tonight '' Jamiroquai -- `` Virtual Insanity '' 1998 Madonna -- `` Ray of Light '' 1999 Lauryn Hill -- `` Doo Wop ( That Thing ) '' 2000s 2000 Eminem -- `` The Real Slim Shady '' Christina Aguilera, Lil ' Kim, Mýa and P ! nk -- `` Lady Marmalade '' 2002 Eminem -- `` Without Me '' 2003 Missy Elliott -- `` Work It '' OutKast -- `` Hey Ya ! '' 2005 Green Day -- `` Boulevard of Broken Dreams '' 2006 Panic ! at the Disco -- `` I Write Sins Not Tragedies '' 2007 Rihanna ( featuring Jay - Z ) -- `` Umbrella '' 2008 Britney Spears -- `` Piece of Me '' 2009 Beyoncé -- `` Single Ladies ( Put a Ring on It ) '' 2010s Lady Gaga -- `` Bad Romance '' 2011 Katy Perry -- `` Firework '' 2012 Rihanna ( featuring Calvin Harris ) -- `` We Found Love '' 2013 Justin Timberlake -- `` Mirrors '' 2014 Miley Cyrus -- `` Wrecking Ball '' 2015 Taylor Swift ( featuring Kendrick Lamar ) -- `` Bad Blood '' 2016 Beyoncé -- `` Formation '' 2017 Kendrick Lamar -- `` Humble '' Complete list ( 1980s ) ( 1990s ) ( 2000s ) ( 2010s ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nothing_Compares_2_U&oldid=847567282 '' Categories : 1990 singles 1990s ballads Billboard Hot 100 number - one singles Billboard Alternative Songs number - one singles Number - one singles in Australia European Hot 100 Singles number - one singles Number - one singles in Germany Irish Singles Chart number - one singles Number - one singles in Italy Dutch Top 40 number - one singles Single Top 100 number - one singles Number - one singles in New Zealand Number - one singles in Norway Number - one singles in Sweden Number - one singles in Poland Number - one singles in Switzerland RPM Top Singles number - one singles UK Singles Chart number - one singles MTV Video of the Year Award MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video Pop ballads Prince ( musician ) songs Sinéad O'Connor songs Songs written by Prince ( musician ) Torch songs Songs about loneliness Song recordings produced by Nellee Hooper 1985 songs Chrysalis Records singles Hidden categories : All articles lacking reliable references Articles lacking reliable references from April 2018 Webarchive template wayback links CS1 Finnish - language sources ( fi ) CS1 German - language sources ( de ) CS1 Icelandic - language sources ( is ) CS1 Dutch - language sources ( nl ) CS1 Swedish - language sources ( sv ) Articles with hAudio microformats Singlechart usages for Australia Singlechart usages for Austria Singlechart usages for Flanders Singlechart usages for Wallonia Singlechart usages for France Singlechart usages for Dutch40 Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart usages for New Zealand Singlechart usages for Norway Singlechart usages for Poland Singlechart called without artist Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Sweden Singlechart usages for Swiss Singlechart usages for UK Singlechart usages for Billboardadultcontemporary Singlechart usages for Billboardalternativesongs Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart usages for Denmark Certification Table Entry usages for Australia Certification Table Entry usages for Austria Certification Table Entry usages for Germany Certification Table Entry usages for Sweden Certification Table Entry usages for United Kingdom Certification Table Entry usages for United States Talk Contents About Wikipedia Български Čeština Dansk Deutsch Español فارسی Français Italiano Nederlands 日本 語 Polski Português Русский Suomi Svenska Українська Tiếng Việt 8 more Edit links This page was last edited on 26 June 2018, at 08 : 25 ( UTC ). 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Question: who is the original singer of nothing compares to you
Answer: Prince