These YouTube videos of people “reacting” or “first time watching” Sinead O’Connor singing “Nothing Compares 2 U”.  I just can’t.  They’re late, they’re latching on just for attention and they are reiterative.  Because anybody anywhere, regardless of what language they speak or what kind of music they like, can’t deny the impact of Sinead’s gut-wrenching, emotion-soaked, and vocally superb rendition of Prince’s song. You would have to be lying, super-affected or simply a contrarian to say otherwise. 

“Mandinka” was the first Sinead record (45 with picture sleeve) of hers that I bought, and it just struck a chord with me simply because it had a good dance beat, interesting vocals and sounded like a B-52’s song.   

Then lightning in a bottle and MTV rotation created a superstar.  An unwilling superstar: one who couldn’t and wouldn’t be controlled.  The flurry of tabloid stories, public offenses, mental illness, personal tragedies, controversial opinions, religious statements, fluid sexuality – all of it – too much for the world to reconcile with the angel who sang “Nothing Compares 2 U”.  And I don’t think she wanted us to, either.  She was a true artist who had a monster hit.  And it’s my belief that the monster contributed to her mental spiral and ultimate death. 

Never forget that Sinead was much more than that one song.  Look at her version of Cole Porter’s “You Do Something to Me” in a long blond Veronica Lake wig, singing in a sexually fluid nightclub and you can see and feel how her magic and talent is simply sublime. 

Oh look, my autograph came with a COA.  It must be real.  Wrong.  As per my own authenticating guidelines (see Bobby’s Briefs on authentication), this signature simply does not match ANY of Sinead’s in person or successfully sold autographs.  The n and the e are always connected, the n is never extended downward, and she usually would put an X under her name.  I’m showing the certificate of authenticity, but not throwing the seller under the bus by disclosing his name, so that you can see how any schmo can generate a COA.  And any schmo (like me) might fall for it.  Lesson learned. 

Personal life tie-in: Her album title of “I Do Not Want What I Have Not Got” is a mini prayer of gratitude that I honestly embrace.  If we are content with whatever we already have, then we are truly blessed. 

And oh yeah … The ultimate dance version of “Nothing Compares to U” by Chyp-Notic is a great version on my workout playlist.