The haunting voice of genius icon Prince graced us with his penetrating voice with the release of his original recording of “Nothing Compares 2 U.” According to Spin, the song, written and recorded by Prince is 1984, was released by his estate April 19, 2018. Sinead O’Connor, who famously re-contextualized the original with a raw and minimalist style, catapulted to stardom after the song became a giant hit in 1990. Where O’Connor’s version is authentic in its transparency, Prince’s original exemplifies his innate ability to mesh rhythmic audacity with emotional nuance by layering perfectly timed instrumentation with his affectingly modulated voice. The result is a journey through Prince’s personal time and space—an intimate experience.

The release is even more poignant considering the recent stories regarding Prince’s final days. According to mxdwn, some of Prince’s inner circle had grown increasingly alarmed by his opioid addiction and had been determined to get Prince the help he desperately needed. Prince’s last days, which unfolded like a Greek tragedy, ultimately met their conclusion when Prince accidentally overdosed on the aggressive opiate Fentanyl in his Paisley Park home. Additionally, mxdwn reported the accidental overdose of Fentanyl that ultimately killed Prince, will not result in any criminal charges considering there was no evidence found that detailed where Prince had obtained the lethal dose.