How long does it take to show true heartbreak? For Prince, it took less than five minutes. There are no special effects. There are no backup dancers. There is just a single light on his face against the darkness. We are not watching a pop star. We are watching a man alone with his feelings in his official “Nothing Compares 2 U” recording.
The song is about loneliness. He sings about it being “seven hours and 30 days” since his love left. His eyes look right at you, and they do not blink. He seems so strong, yet so broken. That is the whole story. It is the feeling of sitting alone in a room, remembering someone you cannot get back.
Prince – Nothing Compares 2 U (Official Music Video)
People who watch this often talk about one single moment. Near the end of the song, a single tear rolls down his cheek. It was not planned. It just happened. That one tear says more than all the lyrics combined. It is a quiet moment that everyone remembers because it feels so real, like a gut punch.
That quiet, lonely pain is what so many people connect with. It feels like a private diary entry we were allowed to see. Years later, Prince showed the world a different way to feel this same song. He was not alone in the dark anymore. He was home, on stage, for his 1999 live performance at Paisley Park.
Prince – Nothing Compares 2 U (Live At Paisley Park, 1999)
This time, he is not whispering. He is singing out, full of power. You can hear the band and the crowd. It is no longer a sad song just for one person. It feels like a big, soulful celebration. It is like he took all that old hurt and turned it into strength, sharing it with everyone in the room.
Prince could do it all. He could be quiet and small, or he could be the biggest personality on stage. He always shared his true feelings, whether it was sadness or joy. His music was a journey. Follow Prince on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. His art will always be here to help us feel.