Sinéad O’Connor is an Irish singer-songwriter who gained international recognition for her unique voice, powerful lyrics, and distinctive style. Born on December 8, 1966, in Glenageary, Dublin, she emerged as a prominent figure in the music scene during the late 1980s and 1990s.

 

Young Sinéad

 

O’Connor was born Sinéad Marie Bernadette O’Connor after Sinéad de Valera, the mother of the doctor who presided over her delivery, and Bernadette in honour of Saint Bernadette of Lourdes.

According to O’Connor in her 2021 memoir “Rememberings”, aside from beating her regularly, she was also taught to steal from the collection plate at Mass and from charity tins by her mom. In 1979 when she was 13, she went to live with her father. When she was 15, she was put in *Magdalene Asylum for 18 months due to her shoplifting acts and truancy. But even though she felt chafed inside the asylum, it is there where O’Connor thrived and developed her writing and music. Later, she attended Maryfield College in Drumcondra, then as a boarder at Newtown School in Waterford for her fifth and sixth year but did not sit the Leaving Certificate in 1985.

 

* Magdalene Asylum, also known as Magdalene laundries, these “laundries” were effectively operated as penitentiary workhouses. According to survivors, the strict regime in these institutions was often more severe than in prisons. It contradicted the perceived outlook which is to help women rather than punishing them.

 

When O’Connor was 18, her mother died in a car accident after losing control of her car and crashed into a bus on 10 February 1985.

 

Career

 

At the age of 15, she recorded a song with the band In Tua Nua called Take My Hand after the sister of the band’s drummer discovered O’Connor’s voice while singing Evergreen by Barbara Streisand. But the band felt that she was too young to join them.

In mid-1984, through an ad she placed in Hot Press (a monthly music and politics magazine in Dublin), she met Colm Farrelly. They then recruited a few other members and formed the band, Ton Ton Macoute. The door of the music industry opened up for O’Connor during her time with the band and eventually signed by Ensign Records, and also acquired Fachtna Ó Ceallaigh (former head of U2’s Mother Records) as her manager. Soon she had her first major assignment, to provide vocals for the song “Heroine” from the movie soundtrack, Captive, which she co-wrote with the U2 guitarist, The Edge.

In 1987, O’Connor released her debut album, The Lion and the Cobra, and this became a worldwide hit. According to her, the artists who influenced her for her first album were David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, The Pretenders, and Siouxsie and the Banshees.

 

Here is Sinéad O’Connor’s first US TV appearance performing Mandinka, the second single from her debut album, on Late Night with David Letterman in 1988

 

 

 

Followed by her 1990 album, I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got, O’Connor achieved massive success. It has sold over seven million copies worldwide. The lead single Nothing Compares to You was recognized by the Billboard Music Awards as the top world single of the year.

It was one of Sinead O’Connor’s most iconic moments when her cover of the song “Nothing Compares 2 U,” originally written by Prince, became a chart-topper internationally. The emotionally charged music video and her haunting rendition of the song propelled her to worldwide fame in 1990. The song’s success was a testament to her ability to convey deep emotions through her vocals and performances.

O’Connor’s music often delves into themes of love, loss, spirituality, and social issues. Her albums, including “The Lion and the Cobra” and “I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got,” received critical acclaim for their raw and introspective nature. She fearlessly tackled subjects such as abuse, religion, and personal struggles, making her a controversial and provocative artist in her time.

 

Let’s check out her Discography:

• The Lion and the Cobra (1987)
• I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got (1990)
• Am I Not Your Girl? (1992)
• Universal Mother (1994)
• Faith and Courage (2000)
• Sean-Nós Nua (2002)
• Throw Down Your Arms (2005)
• Theology(2007)
• How About I Be Me (and You Be You)? (2012)
• I’m Not Bossy, I’m the Boss (2014)

 

Fearless Sinéad

 

Throughout her career, Sinead O’Connor remained unafraid to express her opinions and stand up for what she believed in, even if it meant facing backlash. Her decision to tear up a photo of Pope John Paul II on live television during a performance on “Saturday Night Live” in 1992, as a protest against child abuse in the Catholic Church, is one such notable example.

 

Here are clips from CBC News and Entertainment Tonight:

 

Sinéad O’Connor Explains Tearing Pope Photo on SNL

 

Sinéad O’Connor on tearing up Pope photo in 1992 SNL performance

 

 

O’Connor’s career has been marked by both musical accomplishments and personal challenges. She continues to create music that reflects her unique perspective and continues to be an influential figure in the music world. Her impact on the alternative music scene, along with her outspokenness and willingness to address important issues, has solidified her place as an enduring and iconic artist.

 

End of Struggles

 

26 July 2023, according to The Guardian, the London Metropolitan Police were called for an “unresponsive woman” at a residential address in south London. “Officers attended. A 56-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Next of kin have been notified. The death is not being treated as suspicious. A file will be prepared for the coroner.” And the first outlet to report about O’Connor’s passing was the Irish Times. She was 56 and the cause of death was not stated.

On 8 August 2023, a private funeral was held in Bray, County Wicklow, and was attended by the President of Ireland, Michael Higgins.

Prior to her death, she was struggling with various mental health issues for decades. Aside from bipolar disorder, she also struggled with depression, complex post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicidal thoughts.

 

 

Let’s relive the Iconic Song of Sinéad O’Connor

 

Sinéad O’Connor – Nothing Compares 2 U (Live in Europe 1990)

 

 

And here’s the original studio version of Nothing Compares 2 U by Prince

 

“You praise her now only because it is too late. You hadn’t the guts to support her when she was alive and she was looking for you.”

-Morrissey