Latest news with #NothingCompares2U
LeMonde
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- LeMonde
With 'Something Beautiful,' Miley Cyrus balances dance fervor and overly stylized pop
Life is not all glamour among the world's pop divas. After Céline Dion's health struggles with stiff-person syndrome and Selena Gomez opening up about her bipolar disorder, Miley Cyrus revealed on May 21 in an Apple Music podcast that she suffers from Reinke's edema. This rare condition has made the Tennessee-born singer's voice increasingly deep and raspy. Cyrus acknowledged the illness could affect her next tour, which has yet to be announced. Yet, the former Disney star (from the series Hannah Montana), now 32 years old, did not seem hindered during her televised performance in February for the anniversary episode of Saturday Night Live. With a powerful voice, she notably performed a duet with Brittany Howard (formerly of Alabama Shakes) of "Nothing Compares 2U", written by Prince. In the past, the "Flowers" singer – whose 2023 hit became a worldwide phenomenon – explored a range of genres: R'n'B-influenced pop on Bangerz (2013); country pop with Younger Now (2017); and FM rock on Plastic Hearts (2020). For Something Beautiful, the aesthetic leans into 1990s glamour and fashion. The album cover features the pop icon transformed into a cabaret revue leader, dressed in an outfit designed by Thierry Mugler in 1997.
The Spinoff
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Spinoff
Review: Atomic 2.0 was just what we needed
The local femme rock supergroup, reviewed in two cities. Alex Casey in Christchurch I peeped the posters for last year's Atomic concert and was thrilled by the novelty concept: some of the most talented women in New Zealand music, rocking out to the likes of Blondie, Hole, Alanis Morissette and Patti Smith for a whole night? Love a tribute band, love seeing a women-heavy lineup, love the chance to see gaggles of Christchurch ladies dressed up in their finest leather and leopard. When I made it along to the very first night of Atomic 2.0 at the Isaac Theatre Royal last week, the crowd did not disappoint. Among the typical uniform of Christchurch puffer jackets, there were people wafting about in long Stevie Nicks robes and beads, plenty of tight black jeans and thick eyeliner, and that's before we even get onto the outfits on stage. Vera Ellen's red leather pants! Boh Runga's velour jumpsuit! Dianne Swann's shaggy blonde mop! The ensemble group comprising Atomic 2.0 was made up of musical director Julia Deans (Fur Patrol) Boh Runga (stellar*), Dianne Swann (When the Cat's Away), Vera Ellen, and Jazmine Mary, backed by Karen Hu (drums), Rebel Reid (guitar), Mareea Paterson (bass), and Ladyhawke's Ilayda Tunali (keys). Swann immediately demanded everyone get up and out their seats, and by the second song ('Call Me' by Blondie) the aisles were full of people boogying. The hits came thick and fast, with songs from The Pretenders, The Cranberries, Patti Smith and even a tribute to Shona Laing. Helmed by Julia Deans in Courtney Love cosplay, there was an air of joyous chaos to the whole thing. 'Undies? No undies?' Deans asked the whooping crowd while hiking her skirt up (later, when she sat down on the stage, a cackling crowd member stood in front to cover her crotch, just in case). With a few false starts and flubs, it had the energy of a shambolic talent show – just one where the contestants happen to be the most talented people in the country. A huge highlight of the night was when guitarist Rebel Reid took the microphone to sing 'Cherry Bomb' by The Runaways. 'This is the biggest crowd I've ever sung in front of,' Reid muttered shyly, before basically ripping the roof straight off the Royal with a belting cover. It was difficult not to well up when Boh Runga stood back in wonder with her glittering water bottle to let the crowd sing most of 'Nothing Compares 2 U'. Vera Ellen strutting around the stage like Mick Jagger to 'I'm Just a Girl' by No Doubt was also an appropriate serve of fierce and silly for the current moment. Atomic 2.0 was a hugely fun night out, but it did leave me pondering a (potentially tedious) thought, especially during New Zealand Music Month. Is it a bleak sign of the times that these musicians can only fill a room this big with their powers combined and an arsenal of nostalgia covers? How many of the people in the audience would go and see them performing their own songs? Maybe the Venn diagram is two separate circles. Maybe it doesn't matter at all. Maybe nothing compares 2 seeing a bunch of women making bank and rocking tf out. Claire Mabey in Wellington I want whoever is in charge of these things to send me back as any one of the women in Atomic. I haven't seen anything so cool in ages and don't expect to top Julia Deans and Vera Ellen guitar battling in this lifetime. Or Boh Runga's black leather pants, or Dianne Swann's VOICE. My god! What a revelation. I am ashamed I didn't know more about Swann before this night of rock Wellington crowd was a woman-strong mob featuring a lot of grey hair and tight pants. My friend and I arrived in the nick of time and I felt immediately young which was a pleasant sensation given I'd eaten too many fried potatoes at Damascus just minutes before, and am not young. The show got immediately underway and I remembered why I have long harboured a crush on Julia Deans. Why is she not Dame Julia Deans yet? Even from way in the back of the stalls she exudes such energy and obvious love for her art and craft, and for the women on stage and for the songs that have inspired them. Deans is the musical director of this genius concept: cover bangers and get a whole opera house full of mostly women singing, dancing and screaming out 'You deserve equal pay!' The supergroup opened with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts' 'I Hate Myself for Loving You' which reminded me just how magnificent Boh Runga is. The pipes, the style, the presence! A massive highlight was Runga singing 'Nothing Compares 2 U' by the late Sinead O'Connor, who Runga said was one of her favourite artists of all time. It was a stunning rendition – deeply felt. There was a lot of love for Wellington's own Vera Ellen in the room. It was Ellen who roused the Wellington crowd by saying 'You know you're allowed to sing along and dance, eh? Christchurch did.' Then she launched into Blondie's 'Heart of Glass' and the gun shy horde stood up and surged forward, joining Julia Deans who'd jumped off the stage to boogie on the floor with the fans. Shout out to the group of women who wore cowboy hats with neon lights – beautiful work. For me, Dianne Swann and Jazmine Mary were revelations. Swann sounds exactly like Marianne Faithfull and pierced my very heart with Faithfull's ' The Ballad of Lucy Jordan '; and her version of Patti Smith's 'Gloria' was wild. Jazmine Mary absolutely nailed 'Zombie' by the Cranberries. I was hoarse by the end of it and had only just enough voice left to belt out 'You Outta Know' by Alanis Morrisette (sung by Deans who also did so good to Courtney Love with 'Celebrity Skin' by Hole). Vera Ellen shone in the second half of the show ('welcome to the 90s segment,' quipped Deans) with 'I'm Just a Girl' by No Doubt (Gwen Stefani really was something back in the day) and with Sheryl Crow's evergreen 'If It Makes You Happy'. It was a night of excellence – the musicians were incredible: Karen Hu was sublime on drums, Rebel Reid epitomised rock goddess on guitar, Mareea Paterson's bass entered directly to the bloodstream, and Ilayda Tunali was phenomenal on keys. Eilish Wilson on saxophone was tremendous – what an instrument, what a shirt, what a player. Going by Alex's review it sounds like this show was tighter than the Christchurch version: Atomic 2.0 Wellington was slick, it was joyful and the musicianship really shone out. After an encore of Florence & The Machine's 'Dog Days Are Over' sung by Runga, a thousand elated bodies poured out of the Opera House into the rain, impervious to the damp and refreshed by rock. Can't wait for Atomic 3.0.
Extra.ie
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Cynthia Erivo chooses an Irish classic as her final song to sing on earth
Cynthia Erivo has revealed the song she would sing during her final moments on earth and of course, it's an Irish classic. Chatting with Annie Mac on BBC Sounds, the Wicked star didn't even hesitate when asked what she would sing with her last five minutes on earth, quickly jumping into a rendition of Sinead O'Connor's world renowned hit, Nothing Compares 2 U. The podcast host was enamored by the song choice, admitting she should have worn her Sinead O'Connor t-shirt into the studio as a tribute. Cynthia Erivo has revealed the song she would sing during her final moments on earth and of course, it's an Irish classic. Pic: Kevin Mazur/'I mean you'd sing it how you want to sing it…but is it the way that Sinead sang it?' the host quizzed. 'As a marriage,' Cynthia responded. 'So, I do this song in concert a lot, and I've basically put the two versions together. So at the very top, it's very pure and it grows and by the end it's like a f*cking rock concert.' Chiming in, Annie said: 'The way that Sinead sang is quiet unique,' with Cynthia adding that Sinead's vocals were 'vulnerable' and 'raw.' 'Imperfectly perfect. That's what it was,' she praised. 'Not afraid of showing the imperfections, because of that, it was just beautiful.' Many were quick to agree with Cynthia, taking to the comments to praise her choice. 'The version @Cynthia Erivo sings is sooooo so perfect. I would LOVE to hear it live,' one user wrote. 'She loves that song. She sung it so passionately with the Florida Orchestra recently. Went a lil viral because she pulled the mic away and still sung the house down. She's phenomenal,' another added.
Irish Daily Star
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Star
Inside Sinead O'Connor's relationship with son Shane before their tragic deaths
The music world was mourning the loss of Sinead O'Connor, whose cause of death was revealed six months after her passing, which followed the devastating loss of her son. The 56-year-old singer was found "unresponsive" in her London residence in July 2023 , and authorities have now confirmed she passed away due to natural causes. The iconic voice behind "Nothing Compares 2 U" was not under any suspicion by the police, and she was "pronounced dead at the scene". Her death came a year and a half after the heartbreaking suicide of her 17-year-old son, Shane Lunny, who disappeared in January 2022. Read More Related Articles Mick Jagger had brutal reaction when he saw The Beatles perform live for first time Read More Related Articles Sam Heughan admits he will miss element of Outlander after season 8 filming wrapped David Holmes, a producer collaborating with O'Connor on her yet-to-be-released 11th album, reflected in a documentary about her life: "Even though Sinead was this incredibly resilient survivor, I totally believe that people can die of a broken heart.", reports the Express . Shane, whom Sinead lost custody of in 2013, vanished while under suicide watch at Tallaght Hospital. Sinead O'Connor had a close relationship with her son (Image: (Image: GETTY)) His body was found shortly after he went missing, and the grief-stricken singer announced his death on X, previously known as Twitter. She expressed her sorrow with the words: "My beautiful son, Nevi'im Nesta Ali Shane O'Connor, the very light of my life, decided to end his earthly struggle today and is now with God. "May he rest in peace and may no one follow his example. My baby. I love you so much. Please be at peace." Sinead O'Connor was a mother to four children from four different fathers, whom she described as "unusual, intelligent, loving, compassionate, spiritually advanced, funny, worthwhile, hard-working human beings" in her memoir titled "Rememberings". Shane was the third child Sinead O'Connor had with music producer Donal Lunny, with whom she collaborated on one of her albums. Sinead expressed: "It was produced by Dónal Lunny, as was my third child, Shane. If we had not made this album, we would not have made our beautiful son." She also mentions in her memoir "Rememberings" that Shane is "the child who is most like me, I believe, to look at and by nature." After his passing, Sinead shared a heartfelt message on social media, calling him "the love of my life, the lamp of my soul." Sinead O'Connor is remembered for her work in the music industry (Image: (Image: GETTY)) In her tribute, she penned: "We were one soul in two halves," and "He was the only person who ever loved me unconditionally. I am lost in the bardo without him." A week following Shane's tragic discovery, Sinead checked herself into a hospital after posting worrying messages online, stating "I've decided to follow my son. There is no point in living without him". Sinead's own funeral took place on August 8 in County Wicklow, where she resided for over a decade. This week brought news of a tribute concert set to celebrate both Sinead and her dear friend, the late Shane MacGowan, who passed away in November. The memorial concert, scheduled for March at New York's prestigious Carnegie Hall, will see performances from acts including Dropkick Murphys, Cat Power, Mountain Goats, and Glen Hansard.
Extra.ie
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
35 years ago: Sinéad O'Connor hit No.1 in the US with Nothing Compares 2 U
This week 35 years ago, Sinéad O'Connor kicked off a four-week run at No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Chart with her iconic rendition of the Prince-penned track 'Nothing Compares 2 U'. The single, which featured on Sinéad's second album, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got, topped charts around the world and has since been listed among the greatest songs of all time. To mark its anniversary, we're looking back at some special Hot Press reflections on 'Nothing Compares 2 U'. Over the years, Prince provided several memorable hits for other artists, including Manic Monday for The Bangles and Nasty Girl for Vanity 6. Perhaps the most iconic of all, however, was Nothing Compares 2 U, which became a career-defining smash for the extraordinary Sinéad O'Connor. Originally an obscure soul ballad tucked away on an album by funk group The Family, O'Connor and Bristolian trip-hop pioneer Nellee Hooper gave the track a dramatic new arrangement, topped off by O'Connor's epic, heart-wrenching vocals. Niall Stokes on 'Nothing Compares 2 U' published in Hot Press in July 2023, as part of a tribute to Sinad O'Connor: 1990. A week into the new year, Chrysalis released the headline single from Sinéad's second album, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got, her version of Prince's song, 'Nothing Compares 2 U.' The accompanying video was a masterstroke. Shot by John Maybury, it consists almost entirely of a close-up ofSinéad'ss face. As she navigates the song and delivers the lyrics, the emotional shifts are visible in the young singer's baleful expression. And then she hits the opening lines of the final verse. All the flowers you planted, Mama, she sang, In the back yard / All died when you went away…Sinéad would later say that singing the word Mama had reminded her of her own mother, who had died in a car accident early in 1985. That caused a tear to flow down one cheek. The camera didn't flinch. As the song neared its climax, a second tear flowed down the other cheek. It was a moment of accidental pop profundity, a marriage of music and video that achieved a riveting impact on what was, suddenly, the ultimate break-up song. The video captured the imagination, especially among the emerging generation of young women, catapulting the single to the top of the charts worldwide. Sinéad O'Connor was the hottest star on the planet. I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got followed, going to No.1 in almost 20 countries and selling over 2 million copies in the US alone. Sinad O'Connor on 'Nothing Compares 2 U' originally published in Hot Press in 2000: I still get told that the video for Nothing Compares 2 U is a landmark in videomaking, that it still stands up. Which is amazing and quite funny, because the concepts we had for it were not remotely what happened in the end. What happened was that during one of the setups, we originally had about 15, and all the emotion of the song kind of came up for me. All the associations I had, and all the things I'd been thinking about, that linked me with the song, suddenly came together at once. Cos, you know, I guess I'm the sort of performer where the stuff I do is quite emotional and all. I only sing songs that mean something to me personally. I'm not really, if you like, an Ooh, baby baby kind of singer. So I was sitting there, doing this one shot, and suddenly all the emotion of it occurred to me, and I couldn't help having a little cry for a minute. And in the end, when they looked at the rushes, they decided to just go with that one shot, which had never been done before. But it wasn't in the plan. Mind you, it wasn't in the plan to be crying, either. An extract from the late Bill Graham's review of I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got for Hot Press (1990): …the magnificent 'Nothing Compares 2 U' will endure long past most pop hits' natural radio shelf-life exactly because this song of supplication also so acutely conveys an undercurrent of sulky defiance in its confrontation of love love. I've already heard it sung on the last bus, and that's the ultimate compliment…
