Toni Cornell, daughter of late singer Chris Cornell, honored her father with a rendition of his cover of Prince‘s “Nothing Compares 2 U” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The cover of Prince’s 1985 song with The Family appeared last year on Cornell’s posthumously released covers compilation, No One Sings Like You Anymore.
The song’s somber piano intro sets the stage for Cornell, who performs alongside a string quartet and acoustic guitarist. From Prince to Sinead O’Connor to Chris, “Nothing Compares 2 U” demands an understated vocal talent that Toni confidently brings to the stage. The song’s central theme of loneliness is further exacerbated by Chris’s death as Toni mourns her father.
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The song’s history is ingrained in the Cornell family, just like the clan’s genetic singing ability. In 2015, the Soundgarden frontman shared his cover shortly after Prince’s passing, saying, “It has a timeless relevance for me and practically everyone I know.” Then on Father’s Day 2018, Toni shared a cover she recorded with her father a year after his tragic suicide. Last year, the cover was included on Cornell’s posthumous album No One Sings Like You Anymore. Both the cover and the album are nominated for Grammys.
Watch Toni Cornell pay tribute to her late father Chris as she performs “Nothing Compares 2 U” on Fallon.
Toni Cornell – “Nothing Compares 2 U” (Prince)