Her live version of this song from a concert in Santiago, Chile is one of the most devastating live performances I've seen. Her commitment is so consuming. And I so agree with Morrissey's rant. Nobody would help this woman when she needed support. But they sure can put the spotlight on themselves when they do "tributes". Her bringing the evils of the Catholic Church to light well before society decided to put a spotlight on it was one of the bravest things to do also. She is the face of the definition of "artist".
Yes, why I have loved Morrissey forever. He understands only too well. And, he has never backed down. May Miss O'Connor now find the peace that seemingly eluded her in life. So very sad. 🙏
She WAS a technical singer. It is just that her technique blends from different traditions. Every sound she made was intentional. And she kept her voice intact all her life.
When I first saw Sinead I thought she was not only beautiful, but how beautifully she sang "Nothing Compares 2 U." Her singing sounds like she's on the verge of crying, or even wailing-the emotion is so strong. I thoroughly respect Sinead for turning the hurt and pain, from her childhood, into empathy and caring for others. I appreciate your excellent in depth analysis of both versions of this song. And thank you Fil, for this lovely tribute to Sinead. She was one in a million, and I will miss her.
Sinead was a beautiful woman, and had a beautiful voice! She did an amazing job on this song! This was a beautiful analysis and tribute of Sinead. Thank you, Fil!
@@abcxyz2927you are a darn fool if you think that, just look at her other performances on you tube and tell me honestly if you believe she was underrated!
@@abcxyz2927That's downright cruel to say about her especially so close to her passing. Please show some respect. BTW she was right about her Pope protest on SNL. Everyone hated her and eventually the ugly truth about catholic priests was revealed
Totally Incorrect view of the music industry. With a voice like Sinead had and her early rise onto the music scene, there would have been dozens of offers from music producers who would have worked on and Co written new material with her. Following her snl protest, the doors were closed on her quickly. Of course it would have been an easier path to smile on snl and cash in on a further two or three albums but Sinead wasn't prepared to do that period. As for her music, she has many excellent songs just as good as this and in fact I would go on to say Mandinka is a better song.
Hearing this song as a kid....it made me feel sad and i never understood why. Thats the power of Sinead's vocals in this version -- they express emotion in a way, only perfectly captured humanity can. Thats what makes the best art transcendent. I cannot help but innately feel something, listening to this... Ill always love it for that. A great choice to spotlight this amazing performance. Rest in Peace Sinead O'Conner
As a Prince fan this song always makes me smile as I don’t think Prince would have ever thought it would be such a hit. If it hadn’t been for Sinead’s version no one other that hardcore Prince fans would have ever heard this amazing song. It would have stayed gathering dust on the floor of the vault in Paisley Park. I think Prince was just absolutely shocked that it became a mega hit the world over. Was he jealous? Yes. But more shocked I think. He was shocked he hadn’t recognised what an amazing song it was. Hence that’s why he started to incorporate it into his set list. He obviously couldn’t compete with Sinead’s version so he does a jazz version instead. He wanted people to know he wrote that song! 😅 It’s one thing that makes me really smile about Prince. In a way she brought Prince to the world and overnight he was suddenly more respected for his song writing skills. She gave him a different kind of kudos that he didn’t have previously. I don’t think anyone was more shocked than Prince himself. Yes, I think he was jealous but I think he was truly jealous that he had not seen the potential in his own song. It would be interesting to know how he had rated it previously. It’s one of the most beautiful and poignant songs he ever wrote. Possibly the best. It sounds like he’s not even trying. Yet he has so many Prince-isms in it. The first line is amazing. Possibly the best first line of a song ever. “It’s been 7 hours & 15 days / since you took your love away”. Who would ever write that apart from Prince? So simple, yet so clever. He makes you listen twice. He’s said something that people have said a million times eg “My wife has left me / I’m feeling blue”. But he says it in such a different way that you are captivated. That is the essence of him being the amazing song writer that he is. There are millions of songs about lost love, but why does this song stand out so much? And the fact Prince hadn’t recognised this made me smile even more 😊. RIP Sinead & Prince.
When I first heard this track back in the day, I thought Sinead's vocals were beautiful - while the song made me so incredibly sad. Listening to her voice without instrumentals is making me tear up - and bringing me chills. Her lovely voice went forever quiet way too soon...💜 THANK You for what You do, Fil.💕
Prince was a master musician, writer, and Sinead did him proud. Perfect lyrics. She is singing the theme song for Outlander this year. I did not know she passed away. She was a treasure. May she finally be able to find restful peace. 😢❤
Sinead's brokenness is what made her such a stand out... her eyes, her face, her voice, her emotions, her talent, her intelligence... all joined together to make her exceptional... God bless Sinead always and amen.
Listening to Alisis Morriset trying to pay tribute to Sinead and not been able hit the notes really hit home to me what a great singer she was. RIP Sinead and Dolorus O Riordan.
@@personY-wg7dyIf you want to see a recent epic performance of Nothing C to Y see the " Late Late Show" in Ireland. The one where Sinead is wearing the red dress with head scarf. She belts it out with a sence of rawness.
I was fortunate enough to see Sinead at Lollapalooza '95, in Vancouver. She was nervous, not having performed since her blacklisting, but, we loved her.❤
Thank you, Fil! No wonder Prince was angry at her for releasing this version :) When I was watching this video for the first time when it was shown on MTV, I couldn`t believe how beautiful this girl was, and I still can`t. R.I.P., darling Sinead!
Damn, Fil, it was even more heartbreaking, hearing the song this way. I think this poor girl was damned from the day of her birth. Every note, every undertone and overtone, you can hear, this song was her real experience.
Hi Fil, A very thought provoking and endearing look at Sinead O’Connor. This song really catapulted her into a level all her own. Vocally no where to hide on this song, and her ethereal yet mournful expression take this piece to a whole new musical realm. Very different in it’s time and I believe that holds true to even today. Stylistically dynamic and emotionally breathtaking. Great job on this analysis and tribute to Sinead… May She RIP….Debbie☮️😍
I had the good fortune to see Sinéad live once in the 90’s, when she was Peter Gabriel’s backup singer on his tour for the “Us” album. She was great (and so was Peter, by the way). Sinéad O’Connor was an amazing singer. What a voice she had. I’m so sorry that she had so many troubles in her life, but she’s freed from all of that now, and she will definitely live on through her recorded work. Rest now Sinead, and thank you for the music. And thank you Fil for the great tribute.
Sinead O'Connor was such a natural, brilliant vocalist and also an underrated songwriter (would love to see you check out her song 'Troy', Fil). I think that the underlying power of her singing was her suffering. One must have some deeply-rooted pain to deliver this song the way she did. Rest easy, Sinead - the void you left with your passing can never be filled.
Well said, she did suffer a great deal due a terrible abusive childhood. This pain resonates through her singing. Such a beautiful artist, i just love her. ❤❤
Thank you so much for this look at Sinéad's amazing version of this song. I remember the first time I saw this video. It was very impactful to me. This beautiful young woman selling this song of heartbreak as if it were her own story. The fact that it's a cover, and not her story at all, makes it even more impressive that we can hear and see the pain in her voice and on her face. She was certainly candid and forthright during her life, and spoke with candour about things that people weren't prepared to hear at the time. Despite being villified for what she said, she always spoke her truth, and never backed down from it. And, as it transpired, she had been right all along. It's so sad that she represented strength, courage, and fearlessness to so many women, and gave them the fortitude to speak and live their truth (including someone incredibly important to me), but she never seemed to be able to find her peace. I hope she's found it now. ❤
Terri in interviews she’s said she thought of her mother while singing a d filming the video so she interpreted the piece as her own story. Loved your comment btw :)
@@steelethescene That adds another layer to the song that I never knew about. Being able to take a song not written for her, and find a way to connect it to her own life, so that she could sing it with such powerful emotion, is a skill that not all singers have. I've heard so many technically proficient covers that left me feeling nothing, because the singer was more concerned with sounding good than sounding authentic, and, as a result, conveyed none of the emotion of the song.
If the soul and the heart can be contained in a voice here it is, absolutely superlative , gone but never forgotten 😢These videos are fascinating, thankyou for your passion and love of music and this tribute to an amazing artist.
Beautiful artist and poet that will never be forgotten. Still reeling from her sad tragic passing. Thank you for honouring Sinead's memory so respectfully and in such a lovely way. May her gentle soul rest in peace.
She did Princes song justice. She's got a beautiful angelic voice. I was blown away when i listened to her singing, Don't Cry for me Argentina. R.I.P Sinead...
Thanks too for not sentimentalizing her death, but treating her as an artist, in the same objective (but appreciative) manner that you do all the other artists you analyze for us.
She was a true vocal artist & an empathic person. She had an exceptional voice & she knew how to use it to make her audience feel the words. RIP Sinéad O'Connor.🖤🤘 Blackbird, fly, into the light of the dark black night.
Not usually my cup of tea but how can you not love this song. Sung with passion and emotion which is hauntingly beautiful. Awesome vid Fil, RIP Sinead Edit, not commented in a while but you better believe I watch all your vids and smash the 👍
Sharping notes, breath, half steps, nailing pitch ... all good stuff! Thank you FIL. we need you to deliver excellence so we can understand....FIL you are excellent !!!
I still cry when listening to her vocal take on this song, which still sounds gorgeously strong, yet tender and heartbreaking. She was one of a kind! Too bad Sinead and a young Bono never sang a duet together. They both sound like they are singing hymns in church - 100% strength and emotional conviction. God bless dear Sinead!
Great that Fil took the time to take a deeper insight into Sinead’s vocals and make it a “what a makes this song great” video. To me there are parts of her vocal performance that remind me of some of the great female country singers. As well there are parts that also remind me a bit of the 60s girl vocal groups.
As a friend told me about this song, which I agree with: "One of the world's best songs in my lifetime...so sad and beautiful. But Sinned is and was a great inspiration to always dare to stand up for things like justice and human rights....feels a little empty now in the world, but we who are left must continue in the same spirit - in love and for justice in small and big ways 😪💕🌹"
In memory of seeing a MTV interview. The reason for the closeup I do believe that the video is a recording of the song. She did this studio wise and it's a pre-release of the song to. Meaning it's not even lip-sync. The closeup is actually hiding the mic that we don't even know is there. Now I'm not sure if the vid was out with the song? Though I think this is the first time that a recording live was ever done as a professional video. It's indeed incredible!
Thank you Fil for this tribute to Sinead O'Connor. I feel both interpretations of the song are great in their own way. May Sinead O'Connor rest in peace.
This is excellent. You are so good at this. I have been intrigued with Sinead since her death and have listened to a lot. I listened to a video of her singing "Danny Boy" - I am of Irish heritage so this song is like an anthem - and I have never ever ever heard it sung like this. And it altered my understanding of the song. Amazing woman. Her pain is so clear.
I remember seeing this on MTV for the first time and crying with her. For me, a dude, that takes a powerful performance. As a long-time musician, I can appreciate the purity of her singing in this particular song. Bless her family. Rest well, Sinead.
Most recently Sinead recorded the theme song for Outlander season 7 and her voice reflects so much of the pain and sorrow she has experienced in her life since this performance. Her rendition of the Skye Boat Song is beyond beautiful! Would love to hear your reaction to this performance that is, I would imagine, is her last recording. Thank you! Judith Gehrig
Revealing and complete analysis of vocal expression, effects and variations used in this cover by S O'Connor. Your guitar demo and the isolated vocals were quite effective tools.
Good afternoon Fil! This was a great analysis indeed! Thank you so much for always providing such great insight and understanding of everybody you analyze...I really appreciate the incredible time and effort into sharing so graciously with everybody! Best wishes for a great day!
@@wingsofpegasus No problem! Oh...I'm not sure if you need me to send you the video of Il Divo performing Nights in White Satin again. And YES, I PROMISE I won't request that you analyze them again!!! 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂
Fil, this is an amazing analysis of Sinead's singing. I wonder though, if her beautiful Irish accent had something to do with her ability to inject such heartbreaking emotion in her singing.
Thanks so much for helping me understand the differences between the 2 versions. I know Prince is a genius, but Sinead's version (and whoever helped produce) really takes the song to the place it was meant to go. Thanks again.
Sinnead was musically grown in churches and that influnce is allover the place its like a priest hymn and is so amazing. I adore the sound and rythm and the feeling of clearence. it reminds me Purple rain katharsis (meaning clean up) lyrics. Its amazing only prince could do it and i bet he knew her and he never did wrong choosing her... Prince always knew the persons / artists before he sent his artistic aid if it was lyrics or melody. its true that he was not content with his output and gave it to Sinnead. I tell you this: How in sign o the times he chose Sheila E or Sheena Easton for his band or vocal support. When Prince met Sheila E...he told her...i know you when she introduced her to him...of course Sheila was legendary on timbales doughter of Pete Escovedo and baptised by Tito Puente the El Ray of Mambo !!! Prince adored Santana....too and he memorised his staff at an early age (its Jimmy jam that says so).... So i bet that he knew her story and vocal abilities. He made her stellar with the song. Do you know the story of the song Stand Back of Steive Nicks and Prince....?Its so deep sorry dudes but Prince is a whole musical world and not accepting it its just ...not good
Sínéad often leans towards the ancient Irish art of 'Sean-nós singing' which is unaccompanied traditional Irish vocal music. To truly understand Sínéad vocally it would be advantageous to study this genre.
This version is a challenge to sing as she performed it, especially capturing the emotional element. Thank you once again for your marvelous analysis, Fil. Another fine example of sublime artistry.
Thank you thank thank you for this Fil! ☘️🇮🇪💚. I never noticed that double tracking before. Not just a line of the chorus, but most of the song. Amazing. Also it helps to appreciate the depth of emotion expressed when you know, as Sinead herself said on more than one occasion, that when she sang this song she usually was singing it to her mother, who was killed in a car wreck when Sinead was 18. A mother that was both her only parental figure and someone from who she suffered years and years of terrible abuse. So mourning, relief, and forgiveness all at once.
I really appreciate the detailed, in-depth analysis you give on your videos...even if I do struggle to understand all the technicalities, being only Grade 2 music theory 🙄...and thank you for explaining why it is that I love that particular note so much....on the 'you'.
Thank you. With all due respect to the comment below, your analysis of Sinead's voice on this track is fascinating. The emotion made us all shed a tear. That little angsty, rebllious sharp in her voice will make her live on. A true artist. RIP Sinead O'Connor
Really interesting analysis and comparison to the original. I was going through a very tough break up shortly after this song came out, and I cried with Sinead many, many times. To me, nothing compares to this song in capturing the pain, vulnerability and desperation of dealing with a loss like this. Thank you for pointing out how she achieved that Fil.
As talented as Prince was, this song to me is one of the few times when you can say that one singer took another singer's song and made it their own and it is an authentic and valid comment, rather than some meaningless cliché trotted out by an X-Factor judge when they cannot think of anything else to say.
Thank You Fil. This was a tough one to watch - I had to wait a week to look at it. This loss was especially heartbreaking because we knew she was suffering. Thank you for celebrating her gift. 😘
as a young person, I was so moved. It's still one of my favorite songs for the beauty...now I get WHY it moves me so so so much. She's singing emotion....
Hi Phil, another great analysis that finally works out on a technical level what is so outstanding about Sinéad's cover version. Improving a Prince song takes extraordinary skill. RIP Sinéad O'Connor 😢
This song was the heartbreak of my life and the tender pain one feels of the first love and it happened in real time of my break up when it was released and your analysis is so incredible to the key change and how it makes the wrong chords that one feels when the breaking of the heart. The terrible beauty of the shattering of crystal and the purity of innocence gone. Thanks for the understanding of how nothing was right and the story of Sinead's death really brings this song into focus of the same song told a different way all due to the minor and major key change.
She was not only beautiful to look at (her eyes alone--wow!) but was a great talent and spoke out on uncomfortable truths that people wanted to keep quiet. Her loss is tragic, but I hope wherever she is that she's at peace. Thank you for this beautiful tribute.❤
It's against my religion to ever say anything bad about Prince but she owned this song! The original sounds a bit pimpy where as hers is her broken heart in your ears❤❤
