Outspoken Singer Sinéad O'Connor Passes at 56

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Facts

  • On Wednesday, in a statement, the family of the famed Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor announced her passing at the age of 56. No cause of death was provided.1
  • O'Connor, from Dublin, released 10 albums throughout her career earning her three Grammy nominations. The singer was mostly known for her song "Nothing Compares 2 U," which reached number one in the world in 1990; the ballad was written by the late musician Prince.2
  • The artist was found unresponsive and pronounced deceased at her London home devastating her family, fellow artists, and fans. Artists like Annie Lennox immediately began paying tribute, saying that Sinéad was "fierce and fragile" with an "incredible voice."3
  • O'Connor was not only known for her music and evocative voice but she was also known to stir controversy to the detriment of her career. In 1990, she refused to perform at a New Jersey event if the US national anthem was played and she also she reneged on a scheduled appearance on Saturday Night Live (SNL) in protest of misogynistic comments made in the comedy act of a show host; in 1992 she famously ripped up a photo of Pope John Paul II during her SNL appearance.4
  • As an artist, O'Connor felt having a #1 record derailed her career. "The media was making me out to be crazy because I wasn't acting like a pop star was supposed to act...It seems to me that being a pop star is almost like being in a type of prison. You have to be a good girl."5
  • In 2003, O'Connor announced her retirement but continued to make music. In her final weeks of life, through tweets and Facebook posts, she appeared hopeful about the new music she was working on and the possibility of an international tour.6

Sources: 1NPR Online News, 2The Irish Times, 3BBC News, 4New York Times, 5FOX News, and 6People Magazine.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by New York Times. While Sinéad O'Connor lived a troubled life, often booed by crowds, mocked, and threatened, she taught the world about being resilient, triumphant, and authentic. She never strayed from who she felt she was and how she felt she should be seen by the world. She never wanted to fit neatly into a box as music producers and critics wished. Being her authentic self led to an awakening that resulted in her shining a spotlight on mental health and women's trauma across the globe. Instead of focusing on the controversy the world should remember her as a charismatic, personable, and caring human being who faced struggles just like the rest of us.
  • Narrative B, as provided by San Francisco Chronicle. Through all the controversies, decades later we now know that Sinéad O'Connor was right. When she stood on stage during Saturday Night Live performance and destroyed a photo of Pope John Paul II. She aimed to shine a light on the horrors bestowed upon children by members of the Catholic Church. It took nearly a decade between her performance and the exposure of the predators but there was no remorse for the backlash that O'Connor received. People were afraid to face the truth and for that, O'Connor had to live and die with a damaged career.