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https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jul/26/sinead-oconnor-dies-aged-56
Bit of a shock to read that, no age at all.
Great artist, Nothing Compares 2 U is no where near one of her best performances.
Ah, man. That’s unbelievable. Just saw that Sky are showing the Nothing Compares documentary next week too.
Saw her live back in the 90s, she was stunning.
Live performance of Troy is the one to look out for. Incredible.
Well, sh*t. Terribly sad.😕
Well I wasn't expecting to read that anytime soon! 🙁
Amazing singer, so sad. Didnt her son die recently aswell?
I'd assumed she was nearer 60, that's no age
That used to have me in tears… now … shit, devastating
<p>Poor soul in the words of Father Jack ****ING NUNS</p>
🙁 - any news of why/how she died?
<p>Gutted at this. What a voice and a huge talent. Lion and a Cobra on now ❤️. </p>
any news of why/how she died?
Not yet. She had had both physical and mental health troubles over the last 10 years.
Such a shame. For a long time I just thought she was the one who did Nothing Compares. When I finally heard the rest of her stuff I was absolutely blown away. Such an incredible voice.
This interview from last year is pretty startling - https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/may/29/sinead-oconnor-ill-always-be-a-bit-crazy-but-thats-ok-rememberings
Hope she's at peace now.
Sad news, too young, a brave and troubled soul with a beautiful voice. RIP
Always liked her version of this
Really sad, though not that surprising.
Absolutely unique and original. So many musicians are described that way, when in reality they are mundane and derivative. Not O’Connor, everything she did was unpredictable and fresh.
I especially liked her refusal to compromise and her directness. Other musicians are supposedly political and radical, but to me seem conformist. I liked lots of Sinead’s earlier songs, but I really sat up when I heard Black Boys on Mopeds:
Margaret Thatcher on TV
Shocked by the deaths that took place in Beijing
It seems strange that she should be offended
The same orders are given by her
I've said this before now
You said I was childish and you'll say it now
"Remember what I told you
If they hated me they will hate you"
Nobody else said it as straight as that
Sinéad O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U (Official Music Video) [HD] - YouTube
Stunning
Others have put it much better than me a beautiful voice and a truly brave and independent person.
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=GsOBninF7n0&feature=share
That Madison Sq Grdn clip just shows what complete morons American country fans are as far as I can tell. Couldn't be arsed to watch it all
That Madison Sq Grdn clip just shows what complete morons American country fans are as far as I can tell.
Then you understand very little
Couldn’t be arsed to watch it all
Oh right, well that explains it. You should, it's really very powerful stuff.
It's a bit 'ranty' for a gig tbf.
Sad news. I was only listening to The The’s Mind Bomb last week which is where I first heard her. Lucky enough to see her guest at one of their gigs too.
Incredible, unique and beautifully haunting voice and a hugely underrated artist. RIP
She was right about the Catholic Church. Her career was destroyed in the US for ripping up the photo of the Pope on TV. She was shabbily treated.
I've never seen the Troy vid above before - so so powerful. Such sad news.
Most has been said above, complicated and talented lady.
Lion and the Cobra is one of my all time favourite albums. RIP Sinead
Totally devastated. Huge fan. Seen her many a time from small gigs to Glastonbury. Incredible talent but she has had a hard life and been beaten down by an industry that didn’t give a shit about the mental health of its money conveyer belt.
For those who don’t know her outside of Nothing Compares 2u, obviously the first two albums but my favourite is the Gospel Oak EP plus the B side cover Damn Your Eyes, and the song she sang written by Bono for Name of the Father, Thief of your Heart
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
RIP Sinead. Very sad.
Amazing singer, so sad. Didnt her son die recently aswell?
Yes, less than two years ago.
@desperatebicycle.
Turns out that Madison Square Garden clip is from Bob Dylan's 30th anniversary concert.
What ever it was she shows courage.
Sad news, too young, a brave and troubled soul with a beautiful voice. RIP
Always liked her version of this
Indeed. One of my favourite songs - she did. After I heard it, it inspired me to find the original too.
Definitely too young to die - especially tragic after the loss of her teenage son.
The absolute best voice in popular music ever. She could do things vocally that no one else has got close to. If nothing else, her ability to switch from sweetly angelic to righteously demonic in the space of a single line tingles my spine every time.
Couple that with genuine conviction (whether you agreed with her or not), great (if not totally consistent) songwriting, and a fiercly honest intelligence and you get one of the most compelling artists of my generation.
I don't have many heroes, but she was close.
Will need to rewatch The Year Of The Horse now I reckon.
Troy has already been posted, so I'll go for these instead.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gD8QiWs9Hc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-VX3mKPOqw
Sad news. Her vocals on Empire by Bomb the Bass. 👌
+1 Empire by Bomb the Bass.
The vocals on Moorlough Shore are one of my favourites.
Apologies for being interested in such things, but do we know how she died?
do we know how she died?
Nope
Not long read her autobiography - she was planning to tour again in 2021...
There's a nice bit about Lou Reed - when she was on The White Room with him - she arrived and all the other acts there turned away and wouldn't talk to her because it was the trendy thing at the time. Lou Reed arrived, ignored all of them and went straight over and gave Sinead a massive hug. Two legends knew the rest were just wannabes. 🙂
Im truly reeling at the moment. I was a huge fan. Verging on the point of obsession (is it possible to be in love with someone you have never met?). I collected everything she ever released on vinyl up until the point she released CD only. Saw her live quite a few times (Albert Hall and Bridgewater Hall being favourites).
Was numb last night and shed a few tears this morning.
Such a strong spirit and such a troubled soul.
RIP x
I always liked her vocals on Massive Attack's A Prayer for England. Wonderfully haunting.
There’s a nice bit about Lou Reed – when she was on The White Room with him – she arrived and all the other acts there turned away and wouldn’t talk to her because it was the trendy thing at the time. Lou Reed arrived, ignored all of them and went straight over and gave Sinead a massive hug.
Not surprised both are thinkers and not followers of the herd
she arrived and all the other acts there turned away and wouldn’t talk to her because it was the trendy thing at the time.
@desperatebicycle what was that all about? I don't recall her becoming some kind of outcast. Iknow she disappeared for a long time but then that could just be the music biz combined with personal circumstance.
I get the impression, being that no-one is speaking of it and that everyone is talking of how troubled she was, that she may have taken her own life but that's me reading between the lines. Very sad but understandable given what she's gone through if that's the case.
@desperatebicycle what was that all about? I don’t recall her becoming some kind of outcast.
Yeah, that ripping the popes photo did make her a bit of an outcast. I'm sure there were other (true) things she was outspoken about, but back then it was "nutter!" and having nothing to do with her. Check the first 5 mins of the Madison Square Garden video and you can see how the sheep behaved.
<p style="text-align: left;">Morrissey has just had a rant about the media and others gushing about her being a legend etc now she,s gone when they were quick enough to ruin her and call her crazy and fat not very long ago... disgusting!! I'm inclined to agree with him on this point.</p>
So sad, amazing singer, amazing person.
Wow. Some watch. Weird just weird how the world works. I know nothing about her, but just had an idea she was a bit crazy, and perhaps unpleasant. No idea exactly whay that would be based on, but i guess short news clips etc over the years.
I still know very little about her, but now just enough to know what a **** i was for holding those views and how easily the uninformed can be lead and manipulated by the establishment.
Soz!
Not a huge fan of her's, but she had a great voice, very sad.
Love this one though (played loud)
Sad news indeed. That live version of Troy is simply stunning.
I’m inclined to agree with him on this point
He's spot on
My favourite quote of the day came from a colleague -
"Very beautiful lady but always made herself look awful"
I had no response.
Tracey Thorn
@tracey_thorn
I think what's so hateful about that Guardian Sinead obit is the way it frames her whole life in negatives - "she lacked the obsessive drive needed…never had another hit…inability to edit her pronouncements...constitutionally unable to compromise…" Talk about remove agency
I had no response.
Well you behaved better than I would have done.
My favourite quote of the day came from a colleague –
“Very beautiful lady but always made herself look awful”
MY understanding is that very early in her career her record company wanted her to dress and look like " the girl next door" Her response was to shave her head. that then became her signature look
She was gamine and gorgeous.
Oh I agree. However thats the story I heard. that the record company wanted to promote her as the pretty compliant girl next door and the shaved head was her response
The excellent documentary released last year "Nothing Compares" will be be available on Sky / Now TV on Saturday.
Shame they edited the original official video of Nothing Compares cutting the real tears etc, that was so moving.
The excellent documentary released last year “Nothing Compares” will be be available on Sky / Now TV on Saturday.
Yeah, that was already scheduled by Sky Docu channel for next week. Will be a difficult watch now 🙁
MY understanding is that very early in her career her record company wanted her to dress and look like ” the girl next door” Her response was to shave her head. that then became her signature look
Yeah, by "favourite" I meant the quote from my colleague was obviously ****ing stupid.
I seem to remember some story about her refusing to sing the US national anthem before some concert or event, because she wasn't an American, and then some american musicians refusing to work with her.
Yeah, that ripping the popes photo did make her a bit of an outcast
Just been reading about that. The next week, Joe Pesci did his smirking monologue on SNL, saying that if he'd been there, he would have "smacked her so hard". Frank Sinatra called her a "stupid broad". The US papers called her 'the face of pure hatred '. Madonna said she was ugly.
The state of those ****s.
She certainly was an outcast tho. But she was right.
She spoke out on racism, the Pope and Palestine, hence the attacks and sneering obit in eg the Guardian.
Not really a fan. Thought she was a bit too attention seeking. But would never wish her harm. It was terrible what happened to her son at only 17, I can only imagine how hard that must have been for her. RIP Sinéad, hope you found peace.
She didn’t seek attention for herself she sought it for others.
I was a huge fan and I cried when I heard the news. The last time I did that for someone I didn’t know was when those two kids were murdered by Ian Huntley and that was 20 years ago.
At least we still have Joe cocker.
We’ll always have Joe Cocker
I loved her outspoken views and thought the ripping of the popes photograph was much needed. The Catholic Church has been a negative influence and acted malevolently for much of its history.
Although I disagreed strongly with his anti-vax and lockdown views - Illegal Attacks by Ian Brown with Sinead O’Connor is still a favourite.
Catch Nothing Compares if you can. It’s a superb, fascinating documentary… I would’ve loved watching it if she hadn’t gone n bloody died.
Such a shame that during her life, she maybe didn't realise...But then, it seems you have to die before you're achievements are recognised. Shame, that.
Can’t say that’s entirely true in this case - the documentary was made in 2022 and clearly recognises how the world has come round to the causes she stood up for.
Quote Doris5000...
"Madonna said she was ugly"
**** off Madge, you're ugly on the inside AND outside you pretentious mercenary ****
Now Playing on 6 music (Sunday 6-8pm) this week was a Sinead tribute - worth a listen if you've a spare couple of hours
Came across this via a FB post, really nice version