If you love P!nk, you need to watch one of her best performances. One of the most thrilling performances you can witness is when massive stars, accustomed to playing vast arenas, play in a quiet and intimate setting. In the UK, one of the best-loved of these venues is BBC Radio 2’s piano room.
Based at the Maida Vale studios in London, it has been graced by everyone from Dire Straits, Chris Rea to Ella Henderson. The performances are a big deal, and every musician who performs there always brings their A game. Often, they sing a song no one has heard before, and P!nk Was no exception.
She sang the haunting and beautiful ballad Nothing Compares 2 U. It was written by prolific musician and songwriter Prince and, despite earlier versions, it was made famous by Sinead O’Connor in 1990. The Irish singer recorded a simple video in which she performs against a black screen, looking striking with a shaved head. It’s raw and emotional and this may explain its popularity even today. P!nk had big shoes to fill.
Happily, she was more than up to the challenge. Backed by the BBC concert orchestra, she not only lived up to the Sinead O’Connor version, she actually gave it a run for its money. Because P!nk has a fun, poppy sound it’s easy to miss what a beautiful voice she has and how talented she is. This performance is a powerful reminder and so emotional it will bring a tear to your eye.
She perfectly expresses the sentiment of the song. Everyone has a person, be it a lover, family member or friend, whose loss will always break their heart. This song gives that heartbreak a voice. That may explain its enduring popularity. P!nk’s version has swept the internet and been viewed over 130,000 times in just three weeks. The comments are full of praise for her beautiful voice and how good her version is.
As one person explained, “I adore Pink, this song meant a lot to me as a teenager, Sinead is such an icon and this song is one I didn’t think could be covered so well. I loved it. She stayed true to the emotion. Beautiful”. If you haven’t seen it, take a minute now. This video is a must-see.