Sinead O’Connor dies, aged 56
Tributes to Irish singer Sinead O’Connor are continuing to pour in, in the wake of the Irish singer’s death aged 56.
Thousands of fans, fellow musicians and public figures have shared their love for O’Connor since her family confirmed the Dublin-born musician had died.
O’Connor’s longtime friend, singer Bob Geldof, paid tribute to the “Mandinka” singer over the weekend at Ireland’s Cavan Calling festival.
Addressing the crowd, Geldof recalled the nature of his final texts with O’Connor before her death.
“Many, many times Sinead was full of a terrible loneliness and a terrible despair,” he said. “She was a very good friend of mine. We were talking right up to a couple of weeks ago. Some of her texts were laden with desperation and despair and some were ecstatically happy. She was like that.”
O’Connor spoke about living with bipolar disorder during a televised interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2007, explaining how she suffered from suicidal thoughts.
“I don’t think I was born with bipolar disorder – I believe it was created as a result of the violence I experienced,” she told Winfrey, referring to the abuse she’d experienced from her mother as a child.
Later, in 2013, O’Connor told fans that she’d been misdiagnosed and that she was instead suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
No medical cause given for Sinead O’Connor’s death
No medical cause was given in the death of Sinead O’Connor and an autopsy will be carried out, London Inner South Coroner’s Court said on Thursday (27 July).
The result of the autopsy may not be available for several weeks, according to a statement on the court website.
Inga Parkel31 July 2023 21:00
Rob Schneider recalls ‘eery’ aftermath of Sinead O’Connor’s pope stunt on SNL
Thirty years later, on the day of O’Connor’s death (26 July) at age 56, comedian Schneider, 59, paid tribute to the “gentle and lovely” artist, recounting one of her stand-out moments.
Rob Schneider and Sinead O’Connor on ‘SNL’
(Getty Images)
Irish singer was promptly banned for life by broadcaster after political protest
Inga Parkel31 July 2023 20:00
Music critic Helen Brown on Sinead O’Connor
“The voice was strangely soft, yet O’Connor reached deep into the awkward corners of every consonant like she was gouging at scabs,” writes music critic Helen Brown. “There was a scowl and a punch thrown as she ripped into the chorus.”
(PA)
O’Connor shot to fame in 1990 with her cover of Prince’s ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’, confronting the nation with all her trauma and vulnerability. Helen Brown pays tribute to a complicated, brilliant artist
Inga Parkel31 July 2023 19:00
The story of Sinead O’Connor’s ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ – and her eventful encounter with Prince
While many are paying homage to O’Connor’s expansive musical and political legacy, others are remembering the singer for her 1990 cover of “Nothing Compares 2 U”.
(PA Archive)
Dublin-born singer shot to fame with her cover of a previously forgotten Prince song
Inga Parkel31 July 2023 18:00
What did Prince think of Sinead O’Connor’s cover of ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’?
Prince and Sinead O’Connor famously did not have a good relationship. The Irish singer made a number of allegations against the “Purple Rain” musician – read more about that here.
Regarding O’Connor’s cover of his song “Nothing Compares 2 U”, however, Prince praised the song in 1990 – despite famously not being a fan of people covering his work.
(Getty Images / ITV)
Inga Parkel31 July 2023 17:30
Bob Geldof recalls last texts with Sinead O’Connor: ‘She was a very good friend of mine’
Geldof had been a friend of O’Connor for several years. During his appearance at Cavan Calling festival in Ireland on the weekend, the singer and activist took a moment to remember O’Connor, and spoke of how she experienced moments of extreme sadness as recently as “a couple of weeks ago”.
Bob Geldof and Sinead O’Connor
(Getty / PA)
Bob Geldof recalls last texts with Sinead O’Connor: ‘She was a very good friend of mine’
Singer and activist remembered fellow Irish artist during his performance Cavan Calling festival over the weekend
Inga Parkel31 July 2023 17:00
Food Fighters and Alanis Morisette pay special tribute to Sinead O’Connor
During the Foo Fighters concert at the Japan Fuji Rock Festival on Saturday (29 July), the rockers were joined by fellow singer Alanis Morisette.
Together they all performed a rendition of O’Connor’s 1987 single “Mandinka”.
“We’re singing this song for a reason tonight,” Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl announced.
“Yes, for a beautiful woman with high intelligence and deep empathy, way ahead of her time, who is no longer with us,” Morissette continued. “This is for her.”
Inga Parkel31 July 2023 16:30
Read Sinead O’Connor’s open letter to Miley Cyrus
After the release of her viral music video for her hit single “Wrecking Ball”, Cyrus (then 20 years old) told Rolling Stone magazine that she’d been inspired by the O’Connor’s accompanying visuals for “Nothing Compares 2 U” (1990).
In response, O’Connor wrote to Cyrus “in the spirit of motherliness and with love” and told her that it was not “cool” to be “naked and licking sledgehammers in your videos”.
Peony Hirwani31 July 2023 16:00
Pink and Brandi Carlile perform beautiful tribute to Sinead O’Connor
Pink and Brandi Carlile performed a beautiful tribute to the Irish singer during their Wednesday (26 July) night concert in Cincinnati, Ohio after news of her death broke.
The two singers belted a powerful rendition of O’Connor’s famous “Nothing Compares 2 U” track.
Peony Hirwani31 July 2023 15:30
Voices: I can’t believe I agree with Morrissey, but he’s right on Sinéad O’Connor
“I don’t often agree with Morrissey, but I thought he put it well when he raged that ‘the cruel play-pen of fame gushes with praise’ for Sinéad O’Connor now she has died, but ‘hadn’t the guts to support her when she was alive and she was looking for you,’” writes Chas Newkey-Burden.
Peony Hirwani31 July 2023 15:00