The song “Nothing Compares 2 U” has undergone significant re-invention with each iteration. It was first released on the 1985 eponymous Family album in a sparse arrangement, which heavily featured the lush string orchestrations of Clare Fischer. 

This presentation will compare and contrast four significant versions of the iconic song (The Family 1985, Sinead O’Connor 1990, Prince and Rosie Gaines 1993 Live Version, and the original Prince demo), with a discussion of the effect of changes in instrumentation, chords, and key.

Adam Rudegeair is a prolific composer, performer, filmmaker, and educator based in Melbourne, Australia. His music is rooted in jazz and funk, with significant influences from the sounds of New Orleans and Minneapolis. His current projects as a leader include Lake Minnetonka, The Bowie Project, and Retconned Bond.

In 2021 Adam completed his Masters studies at Box Hill Institute with the thesis, ‘Strange Changes: Re-imagining Jazz Structures for Improvisation Utilising the Compositions of David Bowie’.

Since 2008 Adam has presented the weekly jazz radio program Black Wax on PBS 106.7FM.