Dua Lipa has been digging into plenty of cover songs on her Radical Optimism Tour as of late, as well as quite a few guest appearances. Earlier this month, she brought out Jamiroquai’s Kay Jay for a nostalgic rendition of “Virtual Insanity”. She also surprised her fans by inviting Charli XCX on stage to perform the latter’s “360”. And during a recent set in Dublin, Ireland on Friday, she decided to whip out an Irish classic from one of the country’s most beloved late singers, Sinead O’Connor. The song in question, of course, was the iconic ballad “Nothing Compares 2 U”.
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“Tonight, I am honored to perform a song by a late Irish legend,” Dua Lipa told the audience at Aviva Stadium. “If you know the words, please sing along.”
Her rendition was quite gorgeous, and a fine way to honor one of the country’s most loved musicians. And according to more than a few fans online, Dua Lipa did right by O’Connor.
“Doing Nothing Compares 2 U as the cover song for a Dublin crowd felt perfect,” said one fan.
You can watch a fan-filmed clip of the performance below.
Sinead O’Connor’s Classic Song Lives On
“Nothing Compares 2 U” was originally a song written by Prince. It first appeared on his 1985 album The Family. While that version was certainly popular, Sinead O’Connor’s cover, released in 1990 for the album I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got, was a massive international hit. It peaked at No. 1 on dozens of charts that year, including the Billboard Hot 100 and the Irish charts, among many others.
The song technically marks O’Connor as a one-hit wonder. None of her follow-up songs breached the Top 40 in the US again. But O’Connor is far from a one-hit wonder in spirit. Her music inspired millions, and her fearlessness as a protest singer is still revered today.
Dua Lipa is far from the first person to cover “Nothing Compares 2 U”, too. Aretha Franklin, Chris Cornell, Annie Lennox, and a number of other musicians covered the song after O’Connor’s rendition first hit the airwaves.
Dua Lipa’s most recent performance in Ireland marked the end of the European leg of her tour. Her current Radical Optimism Tour will hit North America in September.
Photo by Kevin Kane/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
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