The
Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor, who was renowned for her powerful and gorgeous
voice, her political beliefs, and the personal turmoil that characterized her in
her later years, has passed away at the age of 56 years.
Her passing
was not publicly disclosed or the reasons for this sad happening. Her family
made the announcement of her death on Wednesday, 26 July 2023. They paid a heartfelt
tribute in her remembrance by making the statement:
"It is with great sadness that we announce the passing
of our beloved Sinéad. Her family and friends are devastated and have requested
privacy at this very difficult time."
In the late 1980s, female singers defied commercial
expectations of what women should sound like and look like by filling
alternative radio with their voices. However, O'Connor stood out even among a
group that included Tracy Chapman,
Laurie Anderson, and the Indigo Girls.
Her first album's cover art was extremely striking when it
was first released in 1987. Her distinct appearance with a bald head, beautiful
face, and wrists that defensively clasped across her heart proved to be more
captivating for viewers. The album's title “Lion
and the Cobra” is a reference to a verse in Psalm 91 that speaks of
believers and the strength and tenacity of their faith.
She had been resilient throughout her life. She had told NPR
in 2014
"I grew up in a severely abusive situation, my mother
being the perpetrator. So much of child abuse is about being voiceless, and
it's a wonderfully healing thing to just make sounds."
O'Connor started making sounds for juvenile offenders after
being expelled from Catholic schools and repeatedly caught shoplifting as a
child. However, a nun gave her a guitar, and she soon began singing, first on
the streets of Dublin and later with the famous Irish band In Tua Nua.
O'Connor came to the notice of U2's guitarist The Edge and
signed a contract with the Ensign/Chrysalis label. Her second album named “Do Not Want What I Haven't Got”, reached
double platinum status in 1990, partly due to the hit love song "Nothing
Compares 2 U" which was written by Prince.
Her appearance on Saturday Night Live in 1992 was one to
remember as her performance expressed her eternal admonition towards rampant
racism and child abuse around the world. Then there was this hushed atmosphere
as the singer tore up the portrait of Late Pope John Paul II while ending her song with Bob Marley’s ‘War’ cover.
A clamor of outrage was spread in the media in the days that
followed. It overpowered a prophetic protest against abuse in the Catholic Church.
Years later, in 2010, O'Connor told NPR what was expected from her side. She
said:
"It was grand, to be honest," she said, "I
mean, I knew how people would react. I knew there would be trouble. I was quite
prepared to accept that. To me, it was more important that I recognized what I
will call the Holy Spirit."
O'Connor married four men in her life, and had children with
each of them. As she gained notoriety as rock music's Joan of Arc, her beliefs grew more erratic. O'Connor had been a
feminist before she stopped. Up until that point, she was a supporter of the
Irish Republican Army. Through a rogue sect, she received her ordination as a
Catholic priest. She became a Muslim. She changed from being celibate to being
too open about her sex preferences. Although she continued to release music
under her birth name, she changed her name several times, finally settling on Shuhada' Sadaqat after becoming a
Muslim. Furthermore, her musical style changed abruptly, veering from reggae to
opera to New Age.
After the death of this Irish singer, the prime minister of
Ireland posted a statement on social media:
“Really sorry to hear of the passing of Sinéad O'Connor. Her
music was loved around the world and her talent was unmatched and beyond
compare. Condolences to her family, her friends and all who loved her
music. Ar dheis Dé go Raibh a
hAnam [may her soul rest at the right hand of God]."
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