Cynthia Erivo pulled out all the stops when she performed the Prince classic “Nothing Compares 2 U” at the Kennedy Center. The English singer has largely focused on film and television in recent years, but she sure hasn’t forgotten her roots as a musical star, which was on full display at her performance at the Kennedy Center.
Erivo wrung every inch of feeling out of the classic love song with a show-stopping R&B vocal. You can really tell when a performer loves the song they are singing, and you could definitely tell Erivo has a major soft spot for Prince. She gave such a passionate performance that really elevated the song to being more than just a cover, as she really made it her own. The song gained 1.4 million views on YouTube, making it one of the most popular live performances of the hit on the platform.
The band really turned it up to 11 for “Nothing Compares 2 U” on the night, grooving through a brilliant arrangement. Aside from the excellent performances from the musicians, the band created their own take on the song, which was different from both the Prince original and Sinéad O’Connor’s hit take on the tune. Of particular note was the fiery guitar solo just before the three-minute mark, which really took things to the next level.
Fans dropped into the comments to praise Erivo’s take on the song, as well as remember the late greats Prince and O’Connor. They added comments like “Why do I feel like every time Cynthia Erivo sings, someone needs to hand her a trophy. She’s a queen!” and “Cynthia is a naturally phenomenal talent. I just imagined that Prince was playing that guitar solo and just wept with tears. I truly miss him.” Another superb live version of “Nothing Compares 2 U” is Prince’s cut of it at Paisley Park.
“Nothing Compares 2 U” has a rather curious history to it. The song, which addresses a man’s lament over his absent lover, was released by Prince’s band, The Family, on their one and only studio album in 1985. Both the self-titled album and the song did not make much of a splash at the time. However, in 1990, when Sinéad O’Connor recorded her version of “Nothing Compares 2 U”, it became a worldwide hit for the Irish singer. The O’Connor version went to number one just about all over the world, including in her homeland, the US, and numerous European markets.
For more incredible performances by Cynthia Erivo, follow her on her social media platforms. You can find her on Facebook and Instagram. Don’t miss out on her passionate renditions and unique musical interpretations.