Chris Cornell, Nothing Compares 2 U - A Classical Musician’s First Listen and Reaction

#chriscornell
You have to listen to a piece of music all the way to the end, watch a movie all the way to the end, read a book all the way to the end… before making a final judgement. This performance ran the gamut for me… from dislike, all the way to finding myself with my eyes closed for the first time ever when listening to Rock music!
Here’s the link to the original song by Chris Cornell:
• Chris Cornell - "Noth...
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Amy Shafer, LRSM, FRSM, RYC, is a classical harpist, pianist, and music teacher, Director of Piano Studies and Assistant Director of Harp Studies for The Harp School, Inc., holds multiple degrees in harp and piano performance and teaching, and is active as a solo and collaborative performer. With nearly two decades of teaching experience, she teaches privately, presents masterclasses and coaching sessions, and has performed and taught in Europe and USA.
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Credits: Music written by Prince and performed by Chris Cornell
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[@jwickham65]

I've never heard this rendition by Cornell. I found it very moving, tearfully so.

[@DMKali]

You perfectly explained the magic of Chris Cornell. Yeah, we can talk about his range, but it was Chris’s ability to intimately connect with the listener, regardless of what he was singing. That is the true sign of a great singer….

[@markcronan1435]

He performed this just after Prince passed as a tribute

[@rodneygriffin7666]

It's a very painful song written by Prince. Each version of this song captures the same pain in each character in different ways. Absolutely Brilliant song, And a great tribute to a fantastic composer, Songwriter and musician named Prince. May he continue to inspire us all. Rest in peace. I wish you love. I wish you heaven.

[@petersattler22]

It is profoundly sad that this man is gone. 😢

[@christophedupin.artist]

Absolutely agree. When reading your comment, I couldn't help thinking: what a loss the other man is gone too." 💜 and then I thought: the girl is gone too 🍀💚

[@srudine]

Chris is magical. He brings so much emotion to his songs and brings so much emotion out of me. It is a shame that he decided to take his life. His music is so incredible. Thank you for covering it!

[@bidensucks6806]

I think he was killed

[@mehansen1772]

That's a really backwards compliment. I'm Gen X, so it's not a Gen Z thought... People die by suicide. Suicide is generally brought on by depression. Don't think he just decided to "take his life" from us one day😢

[@bidensucks6806]

@mehansen1772 I'm Gen X also. If you look into the scene of the death, it is very suspicious. The exercise band would have stretched to where he would be just sitting on the ground and not getting choked.

[@mehansen1772]

​@@bidensucks6806 I haven't invested much research into his death. So I can't really say anything to your reply about that. I have been an addict and severely depressed. It's not a reach for any of the artists souls we've lost to end things for themselves.

[@FriendofWigner]

Something to keep in mind; Sinead was in her early 20s when she recorded this song, and Chris is in his mid 50s. I think both performances capture how those words change with the age and life experiences of the singer.

[@odochartaighofodonegal2351]

Prince wrote it, Sinead performed it, but it took Chris to sing it.

[@kennethsmith6367]

@@odochartaighofodonegal2351Prince has an insane live version of this song.

[@jewels_the_one_and_only6287]

Chris imo to me is the goat singer/songwriter not talking about this cover 😢 miss him everyday it’s wild how he sings covers and makes them sound almost like a totally different song 😊☝️🫶

[@Suzismymom]

Chris Cornell had one of the most beautiful haunting voices ever. He was an incredible person, he and Chester Bennington were working on a documentary about child trafficking when he died... sorry, I'm not saying he didn't take himself out (being careful how I phrase things) but I find it extremely hard to believe he did, same with Chester. Not trying to be a conspiracy theorist, there's just something off. Not here to argue or anything like that, Chris was a beautiful gift taken from us too soon 💔

[@harlanmonk569]

Ill agree 1000%. Also Ill be more than happy to take up the conspiracy mantle and say that its hard to not see it any other way. Those monsters they were trying to expose would do anything to keep that info suppressed. Look at the Epstein files. As bad as it is knowing these so called elites participate in these evil activities ,the underlings of all walks of life are complicit also in helping them for that almighty dollar.

[@cdgee6399]

I suffer depression ... but still can't understand it getting THAT bad.

[@Suzismymom]

@@cdgee6399 I do too, I really have a hard time believing he did that to himself. The fact that he and Chester were working on that documentary about child trafficking makes me wonder if they found some information that somebody didn't want coming out.

[@RobGamesOn]

It makes sense. This was around the time of the Jeffery Epstein "suicide" as well.

[@jdbroders64]

Every time I watch this version, I choke up with emotion. Every. Single. Time. It hits home. We've all been there and his voice is so beautiful and expressive. RIP Chris. You were taken away from us way to early brother.

[@jewels_the_one_and_only6287]

Same I can’t listen to it without getting teary 🥲 eyed

[@jk123xyz]

He took himself away ….

[@blasater]

I really am a huge Cornell fan ...but Sinead singing this with tears in her eyes is truly otherworldly.

[@larrymenconi5287]

The absolutely amazing way he sung this song makes me want to be the one he’s singing too, and I’m a guy! He’s ridiculously good.

[@kcitsgt]

Two voices are the epitome of grunge. Eddie Vedder and Chris Cornell. RiP Chris. The world is a little less without you. I think this song lends itself well to a grunge style. It’s all about emotion and that’s what grunge did best.

[@garryiglesias4074]

I love this version, I love Prince, love Sinead version, and love Chris' work... This makes me cry each time.

[@anitaklein1198]

When you reacted to "Sunshower" earlier, I was hoping you would make this a Chirs Cornell weekend! I really love the artist focused weekends you have been doing. I saw Chris Cornell in concert with his acoustic guitar and the cellist. It was in a small venue, and he performed for about 3 hours. You are listening to "When I'm Down" next.... his performance of that song that night was memorable and very moving. His passing is a huge loss, but he left so much wonderful music behind with his various solo and band projects.

[@willasacco9898]

I agree. Her knowledge, deep appreciation of music and lyrics and her open-minded honesty are unique and captivating.

[@brendaotoole4012]

Yes! Chris is my favorite singer. I adore his version of this song❤😊

[@pablolazaromartinez3541]

Amy you should listen to Purple Rain by Prince ❤

[@xxmrbrooksxx]

Best version of this song.

[@horrorpowerfilms9481]

well, not exactly but it wasn't bad.

[@christophertaylor9100]

Chris Cornell has the most beautiful voice in rock, his death was such a sad loss.

[@topherj.kutsumann5420]

This cover is in my top 3. Hands down one of the best. On a side note. Other channels are now covering this song because you did. I assume to ride the algorithm. Yours are always top notch. Thanks again :)

[@mikeferris408]

What an incredible performance, 1 of my personal favorite live performances ive ever seen... so so powerful. Song and emotion, thats what its all about, feeling something so powerful n moving such as this. A absolute masterpiece.

[@davidt9841]

Loved Chris Cornell! It’s a great version. Prince thanked Sinead for her version.. he knew it was great! Sinead offered the definitive version.. it’s the best version. RIP ALL!!!

[@horrorpowerfilms9481]

Prince loved the original album recording by The Family too, were Sinead took the idea.

[@antoniumsolutions1791]

Chris's voice is just so awesome!!

[@ptepaul5173]

Chris is dead, Sinead is dead, Prince is dead, and my friend Sandy who inspired this song is dead. A beautifully bittersweet song.

[@theghostofsw6276]

Wish the song would've died with them.

[@YouTubeWatcher9000]

@@theghostofsw6276why? If you don’t like the song, don’t listen to it.

[@theghostofsw6276]

@@KZbinWatcher9000 Impossible, it's like herpes.....it was released into the world, and continues to fester amongst humans.

[@DanielRamirez-ce8ic]

Dumb lyrics. Really weak

[@rccola5167]

​@@KZbinWatcher9000crass much?

[@davaughan100]

A Prince weekend is a must.

[@ghost79ish]

This channel is beautiful! It's like being a child and rediscovering all this music I grew up with, but also with the bonus of Amy's experience in music on the other side of the spectrum. Having a little bit of a hard time articulating exactly what I mean, but just keep doing it! It's so fun and it reminds me of music I forgotten about a long time ago.

[@jacksonmyers3187]

Nice analysis. Sinead makes me feel something along the lines of "soaring despair." Chris starts off with a resigned melancholy that escapes, almost involuntarily, into a desperate hope. Rest in peace for both. As for Chris, in my estimation, his was the finest rock / popular voice of my generation. In pace requescat, Chris. I miss you every day, even though we never met.

[@geopapa80]

There's also another live performance of this song along with his daughter. And another brilliant performance using the lyrics of Metallica's song: "One" but with the music of U2's "One" song....Worth visiting also. What an artist!

[@fidge54]

I've learned alot from this lovely talented woman, and I love seeing her appreciation of music I've loved for years. This is a stunning perfomance. And so was Sinead O'Connor's

[@TheChrisSoria]

This is the first react channel that I subscribed to for the general analysis instead of just the reaction to some of my favorite songs.

[@harlanmonk569]

This brings tears to my eyes knowing that he is gone and deeply missed.

[@fidge54]

Beautifully haunting

[@WindmillChef]

The way that Sinead O'Conner expresses and delivers this song is so epic that for me the song belongs to her, I don't tire listening to it every time again. Chris Cornell knows this and he's just offering an interpretation. Yet it's hard to distance your listening to this voice, expression and arrangement choice. Simply wonderful.

[@drunkeroc]

Sinead was horrible singing this song.

[@horrorpowerfilms9481]

LOL! are you serious? Sinead's version was obvious and out of tune. The video and her style helped a lot, her version was basically a gimmick.

[@horrorpowerfilms9481]

@@drunkeroc Agree, Sinead's version was an obvious track to please the regular Rock fan of the era, the ones looking for an Alternative music anthem.

[@drunkeroc]

@@horrorpowerfilms9481 chris did it best

[@horrorpowerfilms9481]

@@drunkeroc actually Chris did it like the general generic country/rock power ballad, no imagination at all.

[@sandracassinelli5874]

The amount of pain and turmoil in his voice brings me immediately to tears. That voice. 😢

[@lisar6510]

Loved your reaction Amy! You are one of my favorites !!!!!

[@stevem2700]

Loved your reaction and in-depth analysis, as always. A wonderful performance by Chris, a shame he left so young. This far into your journey, and still no Moody Blues?

[@Carl.65]

No one sings like Chris anymore

[@michaelreed9805]

He made it his own....perfectly inperfect music is about a feeling, a memory.....tragedy and love. Imperfect by design. Interesting? I say brilliant

[@dennismason3740]

Chris, dude, you and yer mates on cello and guitar, so lovely to see you all, let's have a spontaneous session!

[@badm0t0rf1nger]

Soundgarden will forever be my band.... but Cornell's smaller scale one-man-and-an-acoustic-guitar solo shows let him play with the full range of his vocal dynamics (whereas SG shows were some of the loudest I've ever attended, & Cornell would be struggling to hear himself & belting his face off to be heard over the band!) Some of my favourite live concert moments are from those acoustic solo performances- he was *so* engaging in the more relaxed atmosphere with unlimited space to play with those dynamics. As a result, I feel he enjoyed playing those more than the stadium shows with Soundgarden or Audioslave. :)

[@fidge54]

I was waiting for you to succomb to the beauty of this. It was also hard for me to shake Sinead's version. I came to love them each equally and immensely

[@johnmcmanus7582]

the best music and its renditions can transform our perspectives without compromising them

[@suefantastic4584]

I love Chris Cornell. Thank you for listening with an open heart and considering a different interpretation of a song you have previously enjoyed thoroughly. I respect your expertise and comments. My view is a bit different as I feel Chris can do no wrong musically. RIP Chris.. love you xo

[@leonardosilveira-ep9vw]

So perfect.

[@proteusblack8913]

It's the delicate vulnerability in the tone and approach that we connect with.

[@RogerRedden-u2r]

No 1 can replicate Chris-I always imagine him in a late nite bar at closing time-last call

[@nyny]

I listened to Chris Cornell a lot growing up, finding new ways to appreciate him! Here are a couple suggestions off the beaten path: Ween, Elliot Smith, of Montreal

[@CapAnson12345]

This version is going to grow on you.

[@darylhunt7423]

This is what you do when you put your heart into your art. Don't over think it. Just enjoy it

[@juancarlosarmenta]

Closet your eyes when You listen to Chris Cornell, Jeff Buckley and Nick Clave. They deserve it without a doubt. I consider them the Best of the generación i belong to. GX

[@KathleenHandron]

Masterpiece.

[@horrorpowerfilms9481]

The Prince song is a masterpiece, but Cris version is almost like Creed covering Prince.

[@thomasedmondson3585]

This helps me understand nothing is forever but good time is never wasted

[@LeeKennison]

Another enjoyable reaction. I also would have liked the cello to be a little more in the mix, but overall a very good live performance. That forward nasally vocal and way of articulating words (or lack of fully articulating) is common to the grunge vocal style, in which of course Chris played a big part. The nasal sound of this vocal style never sounded like country twang to me, but a lot of people make that association. For whatever reason I like this characteristic in grunge, but I'm not normally a fan of the country twang sound.

[@falsedragon33]

Chris was a wonderful person and a good friend. It's sad what they did to him.

[@robertpetre9378]

I think it takes a lot of skill and talent for musician to take a very memorable piece of music and make it their own, but still retain a lot of the original that’s what I think made Chris Cornell great.

[@LordGrayworth]

In fact, Nothing Compares 2 U was originally written and recorded by Prince, but the most popular version of it is by Sinéad O'Connor

[@andymccabe6712]

Er........ Yeah...... Thee can be only a few people on the planet who don't know that......!?!?

[@horrorpowerfilms9481]

Well Prince never released the song as a single, he actually record it in 1985, but typical Prince he never wanted to be obvious or all about the money. Imagine all the amazing and beautiful songs he has in his vault

[@holysmokes5817]

Frankly, I believe that 'Prince' would have been brought to tears. The entire arrangement..beautiful really...

[@horrorpowerfilms9481]

Well Prince was way more sophisticated then that, I'm pretty sure he would not appreciate the typical power ballad of Cornell style, it is very generic and obvious.

[@blw3169]

You should listen to Chris Stapleton's live cover of this song around the time that Prince died.

[@SomeOneNew1029]

Chris's rendition of this song is absolutely chilling. It's the only version of this song that should ever be played.

[@andymccabe6712]

This is, clearly, total and utter, extremist nonsense..... .... You must know that.....!?!?

[@christophermartin5354]

I love this version

[@blackcrow4218]

I love his voice , you should listen to when I'm down live

[@thomasmeyer8798]

Chris was a true gem. So sad he had to go.

[@wendymessina4462]

You should listen to "say hello to heaven" chris sings that song so beautifully. Temple of the dog is the group name. Chris was very young when he was in that group. It was an album he wrote for his late friend.

[@arthursambi2511]

I think this is what Prince meant this song to sound like.

[@horrorpowerfilms9481]

Have you ever hear Prince or the Family version? it was the opposite. By 1985 (when Prince created The Family with the original NC2U recording), Prince was kinda tired of rock ballads (remember Purple Rain?), so he avoided the obvious route of the typical power ballads of the time. Cornell and Sinead version are unimaginative and pleasant.

[@rullvox5912]

It's amazing to me that he can sing like that while sitting down with his legs crossed, wow.

[@jonplesent3559]

Wonderful song 🎵

[@landontoney]

If you are enjoying Chris Cornell, you need to hear "hunger strike" by Temple of the dog. Chris and Eddie vedder are so powerful on that song

[@dougshield7622]

followed shortly by Eddie's live version of Black on mtv(saw it live, well on tv, ..you get it) :)

[@iForeverImmature]

would be nice if in the future you could check *Temple of the Dogs* while only one album it has a few really good songs. the two i would recommend would be *hunger strike* where he duets with *eddie vedder* from pearl jam and *say hello to heaven* which in my opinion is *chris cornell* best vocal performance. pls do the studio versions if you ever decide to check them. cheers !

[@brians8531]

Call me a dog

[@lowcc9311]

Lets do tori amos!!!

[@victorjohnson7512]

I Think this version is better than Sinead's.

[@andymccabe6712]

I think Sinead's version is better - so, we cancel each other out!!!

[@rodneygriffin7666]

Heartbreak is Human.❤

[@fidge54]

Oh man, I was just thinking today, I wonder if she'll' ever do Chris Cornell's Nothing Compares to You...

[@kennethsmith6367]

Is there a reason you avoided saying that Prince wrote and composed this song?

[@horrorpowerfilms9481]

Totally, she din't even wonder where those beautiful lyrics came from. Then she did the Prince's Purple Rain song reaction actually said that it wasn't epic. I see a pattern here.

[@212x3]

The voice of Gen X

[@Bananabear20]

can you actually listen to the creator of this song, Prince, next?

[@Bananabear20]

and live, please.

[@lanemeyer663]

Speaking of both Sinead and live performances..it would be amazing to see you react to the live Sinead performance of This is a Rebel Song from PBS Sessions at West 54th. It's a gorgeous and meaningful song with a deeper subject than a surface glance at the lyrics suggest. The song is from perhaps her last truly great album.

[@tcl5853]

Wonderful

[@olivierd5766]

There's a Chris Cornell song missing and it's, Chris Cornell Covers John Lennon's "Imagine" on the Howard Stern Show (2011)

[@betsyduane3461]

I saw Sinead do this in the rain in 1998

[@phillysdetailinggarage]

Chris Cornell had the most epic vocal range. He sings this way because he was a grunge based singer.

[@Mister_Samsonite]

OK, does any instrument sound more melancholy than a cello? Except maybe Jeff Beck making a guitar sound like a cello? Case in point - Elegy For Dunkirk.

[@rafaeldangelo]

You wanna see a perfect match between classical and metal? Try 'Fairy Tale' by Shaman, the Ritualive version. 100% sure you'll love it!

[@ianrusttattoos]

O'Connor plays around with her pitch a lot more; little microtonal bends and such.

[@terrykennedy-lares8840]

Now, since you've heard this version and O'Connor's version, you need to hear the original by Prince. Vlad.....you know what to do.

[@chipsfalling8625]

Curious if you think that the internal view the deliverer vs recipient, is measurably different, based on the two being women to man vs a rendition from man to woman? And perhaps how our innate direction prohibits us from appreciating the view of the other? Thanks for sharing.

[@robbob5302]

Please see Chris Cornell’s version of the MJ classic Billie Jean. Chris turns the whole song inside out. And it comes out INSANELY good.

[@horrorpowerfilms9481]

MJ songs are really cheesy and infantile.

[@paull8627]

The "nasal" head sound is called twang

[@longago-igo]

You really haven’t heard this song until you’ve heard jazz legend Jimmy Scott sing it with his uniquely emotive voice (from the album Holding Back the Years 1998).

[@SuperMcabral]

You being a Chris Cornell fan is surprising. Sinead O'Connor yes.

[@fakirpoo]

I hear this version and I just want to hear Sinead's cover.

[@agkatsivalis]

I would love to see you to analyze Radiohead. Specifically Paranoid Android. I think you’ll find it has a lot of parallels to classical music.

[@rccola5167]

That's the grunge closed mouth style of singing. Mushy vowels.

[@qthelost]

I always thought that Chris sounded a little Ray Charles-ish on this one.

[@horrorpowerfilms9481]

Beautiful song written by Prince, may be the only true genius of that generation.

[@TheNeonRabbit]

Why not do the definitive version?

[@radone5896]

I'm still wondering why you didn't watch the video of Sinead's version? Watching her very expressive eyes was half of the experience.

[@zannebrazeau]

his be my version though l didna know that it be originally a prince song l had only known it as a sinead o'conner song but when l youtubed prince's version l prefer hers to prince's and totally prefer chris cornell's to o'connor's

[@Mustaine1ify]

Never heard Cornell's voice discribed as "Thin and Reedy"... mmmmmmmm🤔

[@oceanse11]

When she speaks she reminds me of Zoolander.